Learn English adjectives with examples, collocations and practice

The right adjective changes the picture. A meal can be generous or disappointing; a room can be spotless; a person can feel worried or excited. Learning the adjective with its usual partners helps you move beyond repeating nice, good and bad.

Bored or boring?

I am bored describes how I feel. The meeting is boring describes what causes that feeling. Try changing the situation: the film, a journey, a lesson or a long afternoon.

Who is this book for?

Learners developing more precise descriptions in English and teachers who want vocabulary to lead into speaking. The vocabulary is organised from A2 to C2, so readers can choose a suitable starting point.

Make the word useful

Read the example, notice the collocations, compare similar words, then write one true sentence and ask a follow-up question. Use the adjective to describe something specific rather than memorising a definition alone.

Choose your next vocabulary focus

For phrases and their meanings, explore Expressions, Collocations & Idioms. For advanced word partnerships, see Nouns + Verbs in Action.