Words / G
English words starting with G
247 words, from Gadget to Gym. Levels A1 to C2. Each one opens a full lesson.
Gadgetnoun · A small useful device, often electronic.A2Gaietynoun · A lively, cheerful atmosphere (usually uncountable; rather formal or literary).B2Gainverb · To get something useful, such as time, money, or a skill.B1Gainsayverb · To deny or contradict (formal; often in cannot gainsay).C2Gaitnoun · A person’s manner of walking.C1Galanoun · A special public entertainment, sports meeting, or celebration, often to raise money.B2Galaxynoun · A huge system of stars; also (informal) a glittering group of people.B2Galenoun · A very strong wind.B2Gallerynoun · A building or room for showing art.A2Gallingadjective · Annoying because it is unfair or hard to accept.C1Gallonnoun · A unit of volume in the imperial system (a UK gallon is 4.546 litres).B2Galvaniseverb · To shock or excite people into taking action (British spelling).C1Gambleverb · To risk money on a game or result; also to take a risky chance.B1Gamenoun · An activity with rules that you play for fun, such as football or cards.A1Gangnoun · A group of people who do crime together; also a group of workers.B1Gangsternoun · A member of a violent organised-crime group.B2Gapnoun · A space or difference between two things or groups.B1Gap Yearnoun · A year out between school and university, often spent working or travelling (UK).B1Garagenoun · A building where you keep a car, or a place that repairs cars.A1Gardennoun · A piece of land by a house, with grass, flowers, or vegetables.A1Garden Centrenoun · A large shop that sells plants, pots, and garden tools (UK).B1Garlicnoun · A plant with a strong smell and taste, used in cooking.A1Garmentnoun · A piece of clothing (slightly formal or technical).B2Garrulousadjective · Talking a lot, especially about unimportant things (formal).C2Gasnoun · A fuel used for cooking or heating, or a substance like air.A2Gaspverb · To take a sudden sharp breath, from shock, pain, or lack of air; as a noun, that breath.B2Gatenoun · A door in a fence or wall, or the place where you board a plane.A2Gatewaynoun · An entrance; also a place or thing that gives access to something else.B2Gatherverb · To come together, or to collect things or information.B1Gatheringnoun · A meeting of people in one place, often for a shared purpose.B1Gaucheadjective · Socially awkward; lacking tact or polish (from French).C2Gaugeverb · To measure or judge the amount, level, or nature of something.C1Gauntadjective · Very thin, especially from illness, hunger, or strain; looking grim (from thin, already in the dictionary).C1Gavelnoun · A small hammer used by a chair or auctioneer to call order (from hammer, already in the dictionary).C1Gazeverb · To look at someone or something for a long time.B2Gearnoun · Equipment for a job or sport; also a vehicle’s speed setting.B1Gendernoun · The fact of being male, female, or another identity, especially in social and legal contexts.B1Genenoun · A unit of DNA that passes a trait from parent to child.B1Generaladjective · Not detailed; relating to most people or things, not one particular one.B1Generalisationnoun · A broad statement based on a few cases (UK spelling).B2Generaliseverb · To make a broad statement from particular cases (British spelling).C1Generallyadverb · Usually, or in most cases.B1Generateverb · To produce or create something.B2Generationnoun · All the people born around the same time.B1Generatornoun · A machine that produces electricity; also something that produces a stated result (a generator of growth).B2Genericadjective · Typical of a whole class, not of one particular thing; also, a non-brand product.C1Generositynoun · The quality of giving more than is strictly required, in money, time, or judgement.C1Generousadjective · Happy to give more money, help, or time than is usual.B1Generouslyadverb · In a way that gives more money, help, or time than is usual; also in large amount.B2Geneticadjective · Connected with genes and inherited traits.B1Geneticallyadverb · In a way that relates to genes or origin in DNA.C1Geneticsnoun · The scientific study of genes, heredity, and variation (usually uncountable).B2Geniusnoun · Exceptional intellectual or creative ability; also a person who has it.B2Genocidenoun · The crime of trying to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.C1Genrenoun · A type of art, film, or writing with a typical style.B1Genteeladjective · Polite and refined, or trying to appear so, often of a social class (from gentle, already in the dictionary, but not the same).C1Gentleadjective · Kind, calm, and not rough.A2Gentlemannoun · A polite word for a man; also a man with polite manners.A2Gentlyadverb · In a kind, careful, or soft way.A2Genuineadjective · Real, true, and not fake.B1Genuinelyadverb · In a real and honest way; not pretended.B1Geographicaladjective · Connected with the features of the earth’s surface and where places are.B1Geographynoun · The study of the earth, countries, maps, and weather.A2Geologynoun · The study of rocks and the Earth’s structure; also the rock structure of a place.B2Geometrynoun · The branch of mathematics that deals with shapes, lines, and angles.B2Germnoun · A very small living thing that can make you ill.A2Germaneadjective · Relevant and appropriate to the subject being discussed.C2Gerrymanderverb · To draw electoral or other boundaries so as to favour one side (from boundary, already in the dictionary).C1Gesturenoun · A movement of the hands or head that communicates; also an action that shows a feeling.B1Getverb · To receive, buy, or become.A1Ghostnoun · The spirit of a dead person in stories, often white and see-through.A1Giantadjective · Extremely large; as a noun, a huge person or company.B1Giftnoun · Something that you give to someone as a present.A2Gignoun · A live performance by a musician or comedian; also an informal paid job (the gig economy).B2Giganticadjective · Extremely large.B2Giggleverb · To laugh in a silly or nervous way; as a noun, that laugh.B2Gildverb · To cover with a thin layer of gold, or to make something seem better than it is (from gold, already in the dictionary).C1Gingernoun · A hot-tasting root used in cooking and in drinks.A1Giraffenoun · A tall African animal with a very long neck and long legs.A1Girlnoun · A female child.A1Girlfriendnoun · A woman or girl that someone is in a romantic relationship with.A1Gistnoun · The main point or general meaning of a text or speech.C1Giveverb · To put something in someone’s hand or let them have it.A1Givenpreposition · When you consider something (given that / given the delay).B1Glacialadjective · Extremely slow; of ice; very cold in manner (from glacier, already in the dictionary).C1Glaciernoun · A slow-moving mass of ice formed from compacted snow on land.B2Gladadjective · Pleased and happy about something.A2Glanceverb · To look quickly; as a noun, a quick look (at a glance).B1Glarenoun · A strong, unpleasant light; also an angry stare.B2Glassnoun · A container you drink from, or the hard clear material in windows.A1Glassesnoun · Two pieces of glass or plastic in a frame, worn to help you see. Usually plural.A1Gleamnoun · A small, often brief, bright light; as a verb, to shine that way; also a sudden sign of a feeling (a gleam of hope).B2Gleanverb · To collect information slowly, in small amounts, often with effort.C1Glibadjective · Fluent and easy, but shallow or not sincere (disapproving).C2Glideverb · To move smoothly and quietly, with little apparent effort.B2Glimpsenoun · A very brief look; as a verb, to see something for a moment.B1Globaladjective · Relating to the whole world.B1Globalisationnoun · The process by which trade, culture, and ideas become worldwide (British spelling).C1Globaliseverb · To make something operate or compete worldwide (British spelling).C1Globallyadverb · In a way that affects the whole world.B1Globenoun · The world; also a round model of the earth.B1Gloomnoun · Near darkness, or a feeling of sadness and little hope (usually uncountable).B2Gloomyadjective · Dark, or making you feel sad.A2Gloriousadjective · Deserving great praise; also (of weather) beautifully bright.B2Glorynoun · Great fame and honour; also great beauty.B2Glossverb · To treat a problem as smaller or smoother than it is (gloss over); also to add a brief explanation.C1Glossarynoun · An alphabetical list of specialist terms with short definitions, usually at the back of a text.C1Glovenoun · A covering for the hand with separate parts for the fingers.A2Glovesnoun · Clothes for your hands, with a part for each finger. Usually plural: a pair of gloves.A1Glownoun · A steady light without flames, or a warm colour in the face; as a verb, to give out that light.B2Glowerverb · To look at someone in an angry or sullen way.C1Gluenoun · A sticky substance used to join paper, wood, or other things.A1Glue Sticknoun · A solid stick of glue in a twist-up tube, used for paper.B1Gluttonnoun · A person who eats too much; also someone with a great appetite for something (from greedy, already in the dictionary).C1Goverb · To move or travel to a place.A1Goadverb · To provoke or annoy someone so as to make them react (from provoke, already in the dictionary).C1Goalnoun · Something that you want to achieve.A2Goalkeepernoun · The player who stands in the goal and stops the ball.A1Goatnoun · A farm animal with horns that eats grass and leaves.A1Gobsmackedadjective · So surprised that you cannot speak (UK informal).B1Godnoun · A being that people worship; in some religions, God is the one creator.A2Gogglesnoun · Special glasses that fit close to your face, used for swimming or safety. Usually plural.A1Goingverb · Used with be to talk about a future plan (be going to).A1Goldnoun · A valuable yellow metal used for jewellery and coins.A2Goldenadjective · Made of gold, or the colour of gold; also excellent.A2Goldfishnoun · A small orange fish that people keep as a pet in a bowl or pond.A1Golfnoun · A sport in which you hit a small ball into holes with clubs.A2Goodadjective · Of a high quality, or what you want.A1Good-Lookingadjective · Attractive in appearance.B1Goodbyeexclamation · A word you say when you leave.A1Goodnessnoun · The quality of being kind and good; also used in My goodness!A2Goodnightexclamation · A word you say in the evening when someone goes to bed or leaves.A1Goodsnoun · Things that are made to be sold.A2Goosenoun · A large bird with a long neck, often white, that lives near water.A1Gorgeousadjective · Extremely beautiful or attractive; also (informal) very pleasant.B2Gorillanoun · A very large strong African animal like a huge ape.A1Gospelnoun · One of the biblical accounts of Jesus, or that teaching; also a style of Christian music; the gospel truth means the complete truth.B2Gossipnoun · Informal talk about other people’s private lives, often unkind (uncountable).B1Gotverb · The past form of get: received or obtained.A1Governverb · To rule a country or organisation; also to control how something works.B1Governancenoun · The way an organisation or country is run and held to account.C1Governmentnoun · The group of people who run a country or area.B1Governornoun · A person who helps run a school, prison, or bank; also the head of some regions.B1Gownnoun · A long dress for a special event, or a loose hospital coat.A2Grabverb · To take something quickly or suddenly, sometimes roughly.B1Gracenoun · Elegant movement; also extra time (a period of grace); also polite goodwill.B2Gracefuladjective · Moving in an elegant way; also polite even when refusing.B2Gradenoun · A mark that shows how well you have done in a test or piece of work.B1Gradientnoun · A slope; in maths, the steepness of a line.B2Gradualadjective · Happening slowly, in stages, not all at once.C1Graduallyadverb · Slowly, over a period of time.B1Graduateverb · To complete a university degree.B1Graffitinoun · Words or pictures drawn on walls in public without permission (usually uncountable).B1Grainnoun · The seeds of crops such as wheat; also a tiny amount (a grain of truth).B1Gramnoun · A metric unit of mass (symbol g; 1 000 g = 1 kg).B2Grammarnoun · The rules for how words work in a language.A2Grammaticaladjective · Correct according to the rules of grammar.B1Grandadjective · Impressive in size or style; also (informal) a thousand pounds.B2Grandchildnoun · The child of your son or daughter.A2Grandeurnoun · The quality of being impressive and magnificent (often of buildings or landscape).B2Grandfathernoun · The father of your mother or father.A2Grandiloquentadjective · Using long, pompous words to impress (formal / disapproving).C2Grandioseadjective · More complicated or impressive than is necessary, often unrealistically.C2Grandmanoun · An informal word for your grandmother.A1Grandmothernoun · The mother of your mother or father.A2Grandpanoun · An informal word for your grandfather.A1Grandparentnoun · The parent of your mother or father.A2Grantverb · To officially give or allow something.B1Granularadjective · In fine, detailed pieces, not a vague whole (of data or description).C1Grapenoun · A small round fruit that grows in bunches, green or purple, used for eating or wine.A1Grapefruitnoun · A large round fruit, yellow or pink, with a slightly bitter taste.A1Graphnoun · A drawing that shows how numbers or amounts are related.B1Graphicadjective · Very clear and detailed, often in an unpleasant way; as a noun, an image or design.B1Graphicsnoun · Images, charts, or design work, especially on a screen (usually plural).B1Grappleverb · To struggle to hold or deal with something difficult (from struggle, already in the dictionary).C1Graspverb · To understand something fully, or to take and hold it firmly.C1Grassnoun · A green plant with thin leaves that covers fields and gardens.A1Grasshoppernoun · A green insect that jumps high and makes a noise in grass.A1Gratefuladjective · Feeling that you want to thank someone.B1Gratefullyadverb · In a way that shows you are pleased and want to thank someone.B2Graternoun · A kitchen tool with sharp holes, used to shred cheese or vegetables.B1Gratifyverb · To please someone, or to satisfy a wish or feeling.C1Gratitudenoun · The feeling of being thankful.C1Gratuitousadjective · Done without a good reason; uncalled-for (often of harm or insult).C2Graveadjective · Very serious and worrying (not the burial place in this sense).C1Gravitasnoun · Serious dignity of manner that makes people take you seriously.C2Gravitynoun · Seriousness; also the force that pulls objects toward the Earth.C1Gravynoun · A brown sauce made from meat juices, often with roast dinner (British).A1Greatadjective · Very good, or very large and important.A1Greatlyadverb · Very much (slightly formal).B1Greednoun · A strong wish for more money or food than you need (uncountable).B1Greedyadjective · Wanting more food, money, or things than you need.A2Greenadjective · The colour of grass and many leaves.A1Greengrocernoun · A person or shop that sells fruit and vegetables.A2Greenhousenoun · A glass building for growing plants; also greenhouse gases / the greenhouse effect.B1Greetverb · To say hello or welcome someone.A2Greetingnoun · A word or action when you meet someone, such as hello.A2Gregariousadjective · Liking to be with other people; sociable.C2Greyadjective · The colour of clouds or an elephant; between black and white.A1Gridnoun · A network of lines or of power cables; the National Grid supplies electricity.B1Gridlocknoun · A complete standstill of traffic; also a total block in decision-making.C1Griefnoun · Deep sadness, especially after a death (uncountable).B1Grievancenoun · A formal complaint, or a real cause for complaint.C1Grieveverb · To feel great sadness, especially after a death (grieve for / over).B2Grievousadjective · Very severe or serious, especially of harm or a fault (from grief, already in the dictionary).C1Grillnoun · The part of a cooker that heats food from above (British).A1Grimadjective · Very serious and unpleasant; also looking hopeless.B1Grinnoun · A wide smile; as a verb, to smile that way.B2Grindverb · To crush into powder; also to move with difficulty (grind to a halt).B1Gripnoun · A firm hold; also control of a situation (lose your grip).B1Groanverb · To make a deep sound of pain, despair, or disapproval; as a noun, that sound.B2Groceriesnoun · Food and other household items that you buy regularly.A2Grocerynoun · A shop that sells food, or food from such a shop.A2Grossadjective · Before tax or other costs (gross pay); also very unpleasant; also obviously wrong (gross misconduct).B1Grotesqueadjective · Comically or repulsively distorted; bizarre and unnatural.C1Groundnoun · The solid surface of the earth that you walk on.A2Ground Floornoun · The floor of a building at street level (UK; US first floor).B1Groundbreakingadjective · Using new ideas or methods; innovative in an important way.C1Groundworknoun · Work done to prepare for something.B2Groupnoun · A number of people or things together.A1Grovenoun · A small group of trees, often of one kind.B2Grovelverb · To show too much respect in a way that humiliates you, or to crawl low.C2Growverb · To become bigger, or to keep plants so they get bigger.A1Growthnoun · An increase in size, number, or importance.B1Gruellingadjective · Extremely tiring and demanding (British spelling).C1Guaranteeverb · To promise that something will happen or is true.B1Guardnoun · A person whose job is to protect a place, people, or things.B1Guardiannoun · A person legally responsible for a child; also someone who protects a place or idea.B1Guerrillanoun · A member of a small independent armed group; also used of unofficial, surprise tactics (guerrilla marketing).B2Guessverb · To give an answer without being sure it is right.A2Guestnoun · A person you invite to your home or to an event.A2Guidancenoun · Help and advice about what to do (uncountable).B1Guidenoun · A person who shows people around a place.A2Guidebooknoun · A book with information for visitors to a place.A2Guidelinenoun · Official advice about how to do something.B1Guilenoun · Clever, often dishonest, cunning.C2Guiltnoun · The fact of having done something wrong; also the unhappy feeling after it (often uncountable).B1Guiltyadjective · Having done something illegal or wrong, or feeling bad about it.B1Guinea Pignoun · A small furry pet with short ears, often brown, black, or white.A1Guisenoun · An outward appearance that hides the real nature of something (in the guise of).C1Guitarnoun · A musical instrument with strings that you play with your fingers.A2Gulfnoun · A large gap between people, groups, or amounts; also a sea inlet.C1Gullibleadjective · Too ready to believe what people say; easily deceived.C1Gunnoun · A weapon that fires bullets.A2Guttedadjective · Extremely disappointed (UK informal).B1Guynoun · A man (informal).A2Gymnoun · A place with equipment for physical exercise.A2