A2 Adjectives
A2 adjective vocabulary in alphabetical order with definitions and example sentences.
able
Having the skill, intelligence, opportunity, or means needed to do something.
Example
You must be able to speak French for this job.
all right
Acceptable; in an acceptable manner.
Example
Is the coffee all right?
alone
Without any other people.
Example
not alone in, Tom is not alone in finding Rick hard to work with.
ancient
Belonging to a period of history that is thousands of years in the past.
Example
Archaeologists are excavating the ruined temples of this ancient civilization.
asleep
Sleeping.
Example
I waited until they were all fast asleep (= sleeping deeply).
average
Calculated by adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the total by the number of amounts.
Example
The average age of participants was 52 years.
awful
Very bad or unpleasant.
Example
That's an awful colour.
based
If one thing is based on another, it uses it or is developed from it.
Example
The movie is based on a real-life incident.
blank
Empty, with nothing written, printed or recorded on it.
Example
Sign your name in the blank space below.
bright
Full of light; shining strongly.
Example
bright light/sunshine
brilliant
Extremely clever or impressive.
Example
What a brilliant idea!
broken
That has been damaged or injured; no longer whole or working correctly.
Example
a broken window/plate
careful
Giving attention or thought to what you are doing so that you avoid hurting yourself, damaging something or doing something wrong.
Example
Be careful!
certain
Strongly believing something; having no doubts.
Example
I think it was him, but I can't be certain.
classical
Relating to classical music.
Example
a classical composer/musician/pianist
clear
Easy to understand and not confusing.
Example
She gave me clear and precise directions.
close
Near in space or time.
Example
I had no idea the beach was so close.
closed
Shut.
Example
Keep the door closed.
comfortable
Making you feel physically relaxed; pleasant to wear, sit on, etc.
Example
It's such a comfortable bed.
connected
(of two or more things or people) having a link between them.
Example
We do not believe that the incidents are connected.
creative
Involving the use of skill and the imagination to produce something new or a work of art.
Example
a course on creative writing (= writing stories, plays and poems)
crowded
Having a lot of people or too many people.
Example
We made our way through the crowded streets.
curly
Having a lot of curls or a curved shape.
Example
long curly hair
daily
Happening, done or produced every day.
Example
Many people still read a daily newspaper.
dead
No longer alive.
Example
My mother's dead; she died in 2017.
deep
Having a large distance from the top or surface to the bottom.
Example
a deep hole/well/river
digital
Using a system of receiving and sending information as a series of the numbers one and zero, showing that an electronic signal is there or is not there.
Example
a digital camera
divorced
No longer married because your marriage has been legally ended.
Example
My parents are divorced.
double
Twice as much or as many as usual.
Example
a double helping
downstairs
On a floor of a house or building lower than the one you are on, especially the one at ground level.
Example
a downstairs bathroom
dry
Not wet or sticky; without water or moisture.
Example
Is my shirt dry yet?
electric
Connected with electricity; using, produced by or producing electricity.
Example
an electric car/vehicle
electrical
Connected with electricity; using or producing electricity.
Example
an electrical fault in the engine
electronic
Having or using many small parts, such as microchips, that control and direct a small electric current.
Example
Airline passengers no longer have to turn off all electronic devices while on the plane.
empty
With no people or things inside.
Example
an empty box/glass/bottle
enormous
Extremely large.
Example
an enormous house/dog
everyday
Used or happening every day or regularly; ordinary.
Example
Change is a part of everyday life in business.
exact
Correct in every detail.
Example
The new palace is an exact replica of the original building.
excellent
Extremely good.
Example
an excellent book/article
expert
Done with, having or involving great knowledge or skill.
Example
to seek expert advice
extreme
Very great in degree.
Example
We are working under extreme pressure at the moment.
fair
Acceptable and appropriate in a particular situation.
Example
a fair deal/wage/price
female
Being a woman or a girl.
Example
a female student/employee/artist/athlete
flat
Having a level surface, not curved or sloping, and without holes or any bits sticking out.
Example
low buildings with flat roofs
following
That is/are going to be mentioned next.
Example
Answer the following questions.
formal
Very correct and suitable for official or important occasions.
Example
ladies in formal evening wear
general
Affecting all or most people, places or things.
Example
books of general interest (= of interest to most people)
gold
Bright yellow in colour, like gold.
Example
The company name was spelled out in gold letters.
heavy
Weighing a lot; difficult to lift or move.
Example
a heavy weight/load
helpful
Able to improve a particular situation.
Example
helpful advice/information
huge
Extremely large in size or amount; great in degree.
Example
The sums of money involved are potentially huge.
human
Of or connected with people rather than animals, machines or gods.
Example
the human body/brain
ill
Suffering from an illness or disease; not feeling well.
Example
Her father is seriously ill in St Luke's hospital.
included
Contained as part of something.
Example
all of Europe (Britain included)
incredible
Impossible or very difficult to believe.
Example
an incredible story
independent
Having its own government.
Example
an independent state/nation/country
individual
Considered separately rather than as part of a group.
Example
We interviewed each individual member of the community.
inside
Forming the inner part of something; not on the outside.
Example
the inside pages of a newspaper
intelligent
Good at learning, understanding and thinking in a logical way about things; showing this ability.
Example
a highly intelligent child
international
Connected with or involving two or more countries.
Example
international trade/law
last
After anyone or anything else; at the end.
Example
He came last in the race.
lazy
Unwilling to work or be active; doing as little as possible.
Example
He was not stupid, just lazy.
loud
Making a lot of noise.
Example
loud laughter
low
Not high or tall; not far above the ground.
Example
a low wall/building/table
lucky
Having good luck.
Example
His friend was killed and he knows he is lucky to be alive.
male
Being a man or boy.
Example
a male friend/colleague/partner
medical
Connected with illness and injury and their treatment.
Example
medical care/treatment
middle
In a position in the middle of an object, group of objects, people, etc.; between the beginning and the end of something.
Example
Pens are kept in the middle drawer.
missing
That cannot be found or that is not in its usual place; that has been removed, lost or destroyed.
Example
I never found the missing piece.
mobile
Connected with mobile phones, tablets, etc.
Example
What's your mobile number?
musical
Connected with music; containing music.
Example
musical styles/tastes
narrow
Measuring a short distance from one side to the other, especially in relation to length.
Example
Stray dogs wander the steep narrow lanes of the old town.
national
Connected with a particular nation; shared by a whole nation.
Example
Decide whether it would be better to advertise in a national or a local newspaper.
necessary
That is needed for a purpose or a reason.
Example
It may be necessary to buy a new one.
nervous
Anxious about something or afraid of something.
Example
I felt really nervous before the interview.
noisy
Making a lot of noise.
Example
noisy children/traffic/crowds
ordinary
Not unusual or different in any way.
Example
an ordinary sort of day
outside
Of, on or facing the outer side.
Example
The outside walls are damp.
particular
Used to emphasize that you are referring to one individual person, thing or type of thing and not others.
Example
There is one particular patient I'd like you to see.
physical
Connected with a person’s body rather than their mind.
Example
physical activity/fitness
plastic
Made of plastic.
Example
a plastic bag/bottle/cup
pleased
Feeling happy about something.
Example
You're coming? I'm so pleased.
public
Connected with ordinary people in society in general.
Example
The campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the issues.
recent
That happened or began only a short time ago.
Example
a recent study/report/survey
regular
Following a pattern, especially with the same time or space in between each thing and the next.
Example
regular breathing
round
Having a shape like a circle or a ball.
Example
a round plate
safe
Protected from any danger, harm or loss.
Example
The children are quite safe here.
scared
Frightened of something or afraid that something bad might happen.
Example
The thieves got scared and ran away.
scary
Frightening.
Example
It was a really scary moment.
secret
Known about by only a few people; kept hidden from others.
Example
secret information/meetings/talks
separate
Forming a unit by itself; not joined to something else.
Example
They have begun to sleep in separate rooms.
serious
Bad or dangerous.
Example
a serious illness/offence/crime
silver
Shiny grey-white in colour.
Example
a silver car
simple
Not complicated; easy to understand or do.
Example
a simple solution/explanation/question/task/example
single
Only one.
Example
He sent her a single red rose.
social
Connected with activities in which people meet each other for pleasure.
Example
She has a busy social life.
soft
Changing shape easily when pressed; not stiff or hard.
Example
soft margarine
specific
Connected with one particular thing only.
Example
specific needs/requirements
square
Having four straight equal sides and four angles of 90°.
Example
a square room
straight
Without a bend or curve; going in one direction only.
Example
a straight road
strange
Unusual or surprising, especially in a way that is difficult to understand.
Example
A strange thing happened this morning.
stupid
Showing a lack of thought or good judgement.
Example
a stupid mistake/question/idea
successful
Achieving your aims or what was intended.
Example
The experiment was entirely successful.
surprised
Feeling or showing surprise.
Example
a surprised look
surprising
Causing surprise.
Example
It’s not surprising (that) they lost.
sweet
Containing, or tasting as if it contains, a lot of sugar.
Example
a cup of hot sweet tea
traditional
Being part of the beliefs, customs or way of life of a particular group of people, that have not changed for a long time.
Example
traditional dress/music/art/culture/dance
typical
Having the usual qualities or features of a particular type of person, thing or group.
Example
a typical Italian cafe
underground
Under the surface of the ground.
Example
an underground bunker/tunnel
unhappy
Not happy; sad.
Example
to feel/look/seem/sound/become unhappy
united
Joined together as a political unit or by shared aims.
Example
the United States of America
upstairs
On a floor of a house or other building that is higher than the one that you are on.
Example
an upstairs room/window/bathroom
weak
Not physically strong.
Example
She is still weak after her illness.
wet
Covered with or containing liquid, especially water.
Example
wet clothes/hair/grass
whole
Full; complete.
Example
Let's forget the whole thing.
wide
Measuring a large distance from one side to the other.
Example
It's a wide, fast-flowing river.
wild
Living or growing in natural conditions; not kept in a house or on a farm.
Example
wild animals/birds/flowers
wooden
Made of wood.
Example
a wooden box/door/floor
working
Having a job for which you are paid.
Example
the working population
worried
Thinking about unpleasant things that have happened or that might happen and therefore feeling unhappy and afraid.
Example
Don't look so worried!
worse
Of poorer quality or lower standard; more unpleasant.
Example
The rooms were awful and the food was worse.
worst
Of the poorest quality or lowest standard; worse than any other person or thing of a similar kind.
Example
It was by far the worst speech he had ever made.