About English Reference
A dictionary that teaches you how to use English naturally—not just what words mean.
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:
| Feature | 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. |
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.