4000 CPE Vocabulary List

Preparing vocabulary for the CPE (C2, Cambridge Proficiency) test is a smart move! Since vocabulary plays a huge role in all parts of the exam (Reading, Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking), here’s a focused vocabulary to help you build and remember the right words effectively.

In addition to the vocabulary, we also provide online tools and exercises to support your studies, along with helpful tips and printable materials.

We organize these 4000 words into 14 groups. Group one is open to all visitors. The rest of the groups are only fully accessible to VIP users.

abstain  
v. refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice
After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race.
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abstruse  
a. obscure; profound; difficult to understand
She carries around abstruse works of philosophy, not because she understands them but because she wants her friends to think she does.
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abundant  
a. plentiful; possessing riches or resources
At his immigration interview, Ivan listed his abundant reasons for coming to America: the hope of religious freedom and the prospect of employment.
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abysmal  
a. bottomless; very profound; limitless; very bad
She spent hours sitting alone, in abysmal misery, because it seemed to be in plain sight, yet she couldn't define it.
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accede  
v. agree; give consent, often at the insistence of another; concede
The idea that one of the two chief executives should eventually accede to the role, as has happened in the past, would raise fresh doubts about the board's independence.
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accessibility  
n. the attribute of being easy to meet or deal with
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