English Reference

00 / About

A dictionary that helps teachers explain English.

Most dictionaries stop at the definition. The difficult part is knowing when a word sounds natural, whether it's formal or informal, which words it commonly appears with, and whether it's appropriate for your level.

English Reference was built for learners of English and the teachers who support them. Every entry goes beyond the definition to explain how the language is actually used — and across the site, you'll find:

01 / What it gives you

  • CEFR levels

    A1–C2

    so you learn vocabulary appropriate to your ability.

  • Register

    showing whether a word is formal, neutral, informal, or slang.

  • Collocations

    so you learn the words native speakers naturally use together.

  • Example sentences

    3 tiers

    written at different difficulty levels to reinforce understanding.

  • Teacher notes

    practical context and usage guidance, not just a definition.

  • Grammar guides

    by CEFR level

    level-tagged grammar explanations with practice, for the patterns behind the words.

02 / Contact

Our goal is simple: to help learners write and speak English that sounds natural and confident — and to give teachers the material to guide them there.

English Reference is an independent project. The site was created by linguists and educators who believe modern learners deserve better language resources than static word lists and definitions. We have no investors, no content farm, and no editorial agenda—only a commitment to producing accurate, practical, and trustworthy English reference material.

If you spot an error, have a suggestion, or would like to get in touch, please visit our Contact page.