Oxford 3000 Words Starting with B – Complete List with Meanings & Quizzes

baby noun

Short meaning: a very young child or newborn.

Common in family, health, and daily conversations.

back noun/adverb

Short meaning: (n) the rear part of something; (adv) returning to a place.

Used in directions, body parts, and movements.

background noun

Short meaning: the conditions or past events that form the context of something.

Important in profiles, stories, and visuals.

backward adverb

Short meaning: towards the back; in the opposite direction.

Used in movement, progress, and comparison.

bacteria noun (plural)

Short meaning: very small living organisms that can cause disease.

Common in science, health, and hygiene topics.

bad adjective

Short meaning: unpleasant, harmful, or of low quality.

One of the most common descriptive adjectives.

badly adverb

Short meaning: in a poor, harmful, or serious way.

Used for performance, quality, or urgency.

bag noun

Short meaning: a container made of cloth, paper, or plastic used for carrying things.

Used in travel, shopping, and daily life.

baggage noun

Short meaning: the bags and suitcases you take when traveling.

Common in airports, travel, and transport.

bake verb

Short meaning: to cook food using dry heat, usually in an oven.

Used in cooking, recipes, and food culture.

balance noun/verb

Short meaning: (n) a state of stability; (v) to make things equal in amount, weight, or importance.

Used in finance, health, lifestyle, and comparisons.

ball noun

Short meaning: a round object used in games and sports.

Common in sports, toys, and physical activities.

ban verb

Short meaning: to officially say that something is not allowed.

Used in law, rules, safety, and policy discussions.

band noun

Short meaning: a group of musicians; a thin strip of material.

Appears in music, fashion, and technical topics.

bandage noun

Short meaning: a strip of cloth used to cover and protect an injury.

Common in first aid and health contexts.

bank noun

Short meaning: a place where people keep, save, and manage money.

Essential in finance and daily life transactions.

bar noun

Short meaning: a place serving drinks; a long piece of solid material.

Used in restaurants, law (“bar exam”), and physics.

barely adverb

Short meaning: only just; almost not.

Used in results, limits, and comparisons.

bargain noun

Short meaning: something bought at a lower price than usual.

Common in shopping and money-saving context.

barrier noun

Short meaning: something that prevents movement or makes progress difficult.

Used in physical settings and abstract challenges.

base noun/verb

Short meaning: (n) the lowest or main part of something; (v) to use something as a foundation.

Appears in science, math, structure, and decision-making.

baseball noun

Short meaning: a sport played with a bat, a ball, and four bases.

Widely followed in the US and Japan.

basic adjective

Short meaning: simple, necessary, or forming the main part of something.

Used in learning, lifestyle, and core skills.

basically adverb

Short meaning: in the most important or simplest way.

Common in explanations and summaries.

basis noun

Short meaning: the main reason, support, or starting point for something.

Appears in arguments, rules, and research.

basketball noun

Short meaning: a sport where two teams try to score by throwing a ball through a hoop.

Popular globally; fast-paced and team-based.

bath noun

Short meaning: the act of washing your body in water.

Daily hygiene and relaxation usage.

bathroom noun

Short meaning: a room with a bath/shower and usually a toilet.

One of the most common household words.

battery noun

Short meaning: a device that stores electricity and provides power.

Used in phones, cars, electronics, and tools.

battle noun

Short meaning: a fight or major conflict between groups or armies.

Used literally (wars) and metaphorically (personal struggles).

bay noun

Short meaning: a part of the sea that curves inward into the land.

Often used in geography and coastal descriptions.

be verb

Short meaning: the most basic verb used to show identity, state, or existence.

One of the most important English verbs.

beach noun

Short meaning: an area of sand or stones beside the sea.

Common in travel, leisure, and geography contexts.

beak noun

Short meaning: the hard, pointed mouth of a bird.

Appears in biology and animal descriptions.

bear verb/noun

Short meaning: (v) to carry or tolerate; (n) a large strong wild animal.

Dual meaning: verb (support) and noun (animal).

beard noun

Short meaning: hair that grows on the chin and cheeks of a man.

Common in descriptions of appearance.

beat verb/noun

Short meaning: (v) to defeat or hit; (n) the regular rhythm of music.

Used in sports, fighting, and music.

beautiful adjective

Short meaning: very pleasant to look at or experience.

Common in appearance, nature, art, and compliments.

beautifully adverb

Short meaning: in a very attractive or impressive way.

Used for actions, performances, and descriptions.

beauty noun

Short meaning: the quality of being very pleasing to see or experience.

Also used in expressions like “the beauty of it is…”.

because conjunction

Short meaning: for the reason that something happens.

Used to explain causes or reasons in sentences.

become verb

Short meaning: to begin to be something or change into something.

Common with adjectives: become tired, become famous.

bed noun

Short meaning: a piece of furniture used for sleeping.

Also appears in phrases: go to bed, stay in bed.

bedroom noun

Short meaning: a room in a house where people sleep.

One of the core household vocabulary words.

beef noun

Short meaning: meat that comes from cows.

Used in cooking, restaurants, and food labels.

beer noun

Short meaning: an alcoholic drink made from malt and hops.

Common in social, cultural, and dining contexts.

before prep/adv/conj

Short meaning: earlier in time than something else.

Used in time expressions, events, and ordering.

begin verb

Short meaning: to start doing something.

Common in instructions and process descriptions.

beginning noun

Short meaning: the first or early part of something.

Used in stories, timelines, and processes.

behalf noun

Short meaning: as a representative of someone or in someone’s interest.

Common in formal writing: “on behalf of…”

bend verb/noun

Short meaning: to curve or cause something to curve.

Used for physical movement and shapes.

beneath prep./adv.

Short meaning: in a lower position; under something.

Common in descriptions and instructions.

benefit noun/verb

Short meaning: a good or helpful effect; to gain something positive.

Used often in work, health, and education contexts.

bent adjective

Short meaning: not straight; curved or folded.

Example: a bent nail, bent metal.

beside preposition

Short meaning: next to or close to someone or something.

Used frequently in descriptions and stories.

best adj./adv./noun

Short meaning: the highest quality; better than all others.

Comparative/superlative form of "good".

bet verb/noun

Short meaning: to risk money or a guess on an outcome.

Often used in informal speech: "I bet you can do it."

better adj./adv./verb

Short meaning: of higher quality; an improved version.

Comparative form of "good".

between preposition

Short meaning: in the space separating two or more things.

Used in time expressions, comparisons, and positions.

beyond prep./adv.

Short meaning: farther than; outside the limit of something.

Example: beyond control, beyond the mountains.

bicycle noun

Short meaning: a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pedaling.

Common in travel, school, and everyday life.

bid verb/noun

Short meaning: to offer a price for something, especially at an auction.

Common in business and auction contexts.

big adjective

Short meaning: large in size or importance.

Very common in everyday English.

bill noun

Short meaning: a statement of money owed; or a proposed law.

Used in shops, restaurants, and legal contexts.

biology noun

Short meaning: the scientific study of living things.

Found in academic and science contexts.

bird noun

Short meaning: an animal with feathers and wings.

Common in nature and everyday language.

birth noun

Short meaning: the act of being born.

Often used for life events and personal information.

birthday noun

Short meaning: the anniversary of the day someone was born.

Very common in social and family language.

bit noun

Short meaning: a small piece or amount of something.

Common in everyday English.

bite verb/noun

Short meaning: to cut or press with the teeth.

Used for food or animal actions.

bitter adjective

Short meaning: having a strong, unpleasant taste; or feeling angry/upset.

Used for taste and emotions.

bitterly adverb

Short meaning: in an angry, hurt, or very disappointed way.

Often used to express strong negative emotion.

black adj./noun

Short meaning: the darkest color; also refers to people or things that are black.

Common descriptive word.

blade noun

Short meaning: the sharp cutting edge of a knife or tool.

Used in tools, weapons, machines.

blame verb/noun

Short meaning: to say or think someone is responsible for something bad.

Common in daily disagreements and news.

blank adj./noun

Short meaning: empty or without writing; showing no expression.

Used for pages, screens, and facial expressions.

blind adj./verb/noun

Short meaning: unable to see; also used metaphorically.

Examples: blind person, blind trust.

block noun/verb

Short meaning: a solid piece of material; or to stop movement.

Shows up in sports, streets, and everyday tasks.

blond adj./noun

Short meaning: having pale yellow hair; also refers to a blond person.

Spelling varies: blond/blonde.

blood noun

Short meaning: the red liquid that flows through the body.

Common in health, biology, and danger situations.

blow verb/noun

Short meaning: to move air; or hit/strike as a noun.

Examples: blow the candle, a heavy blow.

blue adj./noun

Short meaning: the color of the sky or sea; also describes something sad.

Common color word in daily use.

board noun/verb

Short meaning: a flat piece of wood; or to get onto a plane, ship, or bus.

Used in travel, school, and construction.

boat noun

Short meaning: a small vehicle for traveling on water.

Seen in travel, lakes, rivers, and coastal scenes.

body noun

Short meaning: the physical structure of a person or animal; a group or mass.

Core vocabulary in health, science, and everyday life.

boil verb/noun

Short meaning: heat a liquid until it bubbles; also a noun for a skin infection.

Common in cooking and recipes.

bomb noun/verb

Short meaning: an explosive weapon; as a verb, to attack with bombs.

Appears in news and military contexts.

bond noun/verb

Short meaning: a strong connection or attachment; or to form that connection.

Used in finance, relationships, chemistry.

bone noun

Short meaning: the hard parts inside the body that form the skeleton.

Common word in biology and anatomy.

book noun/verb

Short meaning: noun: a written work; verb: to reserve something.

Examples: book a flight, read a book.

boot noun/verb

Short meaning: a type of shoe that covers the ankle; also to start a computer.

British English: the trunk of a car.

border noun/verb

Short meaning: the line between two countries or areas; also to be next to something.

Common in maps, travel, and politics.

bore verb

Short meaning: to make someone feel uninterested or tired.

Often used when talking about dull activities or talks.

bored adjective

Short meaning: feeling uninterested or tired because nothing exciting is happening.

A common emotion word.

boring adjective

Short meaning: not interesting; dull.

Opposite: interesting, exciting.

born adjective

Short meaning: brought into life; used with “be born.”

Example: born in 1998, born to succeed.

borrow verb

Short meaning: to take something for a time and return it later.

Opposite: lend.

boss noun

Short meaning: the person in charge at work.

Used in business and workplace situations.

both determiner/pronoun

Short meaning: referring to two people or things together.

Example: both of them, both books.

bother verb/noun

Short meaning: to annoy or interrupt someone; or a problem/trouble.

Example: Don't bother me now.

bottle noun/verb

Short meaning: a container for liquids; or to put something into a bottle.

Used for drinks, oils, sauces, and packaging.

bottom noun / adjective

Short meaning: the lowest part of something.

Common in descriptions and directions.

bound adjective / verb

Short meaning: certain to happen; heading towards a place.

Useful in travel and prediction contexts.

bowl noun

Short meaning: a round dish used for holding food or liquid.

Daily-use household word.

box noun / verb

Short meaning: a container with flat sides; to fight with fists.

Dual meaning—object and action.

boy noun

Short meaning: a male child.

Very common everyday vocabulary.

boyfriend noun

Short meaning: a man who someone is having a romantic relationship with.

Frequently appears in conversations and stories.

brain noun

Short meaning: the organ inside your head that controls thoughts and actions.

Used in science, health, and figurative expressions.

branch noun / verb

Short meaning: a part of a tree; a part of an organization.

Important for business and nature topics.

brand noun / verb

Short meaning: a product identity by a company.

Common in business, marketing, and product reviews.

brave adjective

Short meaning: showing courage and not being afraid.

Frequent in stories, news, and character descriptions.

bread noun

Short meaning: a common food made from flour and water, baked.

Example: sliced bread, fresh bread.

break verb/noun

Short meaning: to separate into pieces; or a short pause.

Common in everyday use: break a glass, take a break.

breakfast noun

Short meaning: the first meal of the day.

Often used in morning routines.

break in phrasal verb

Short meaning: to enter a building illegally or by force.

Also used for making new shoes comfortable.

breast noun

Short meaning: the front part of the body between the neck and stomach.

Common in medical and biological texts.

breath noun

Short meaning: the air taken into or let out of the lungs.

Not to be confused with “breathe.”

breathe verb

Short meaning: to take air into your lungs and let it out.

Often used in fitness, health, and stress contexts.

breathing noun

Short meaning: the act of taking air in and letting it out from the lungs.

Example: deep breathing exercises.

breed verb/noun

Short meaning: to reproduce; or a type of animal.

Common in animals, farming, and biology.

brick noun

Short meaning: a small rectangular block used for building.

Seen in construction, architecture, and design.

bridge noun

Short meaning: a structure built over a river, road, or gap to allow people or vehicles to cross.

Common in travel, engineering, and geography topics.

brief adj./noun

Short meaning: short in time or length; a quick summary.

Useful in meetings, reports, and instructions.

briefly adverb

Short meaning: in a short or quick manner.

Example: “Let me explain briefly.”

bright adjective

Short meaning: giving a lot of light; intelligent or full of hope.

Common: bright light, bright student, bright future.

brilliant adjective

Short meaning: extremely clever or impressive; very bright.

A strong positive adjective used in many contexts.

bring verb

Short meaning: to take someone or something with you to a place.

Common phrasing: bring along, bring back, bring in.

broad adjective

Short meaning: wide; covering a large area or range.

Example: a broad range of topics, broad shoulders.

broadcast verb/noun

Short meaning: to send out radio or TV signals; a program that is aired.

Used widely in media, journalism, and communication.

broadly adverb

Short meaning: generally; not in detail.

Example: “Broadly speaking, the results were positive.”

broken adjective

Short meaning: damaged or not working; separated into pieces.

Common phrases: broken heart, broken system, broken glass.

brother noun

Short meaning: a male sibling.

Very common in family conversations and descriptions.

brown adj./noun

Short meaning: the color of wood, soil, or chocolate.

Used for colors, clothing, objects, and nature.

brush noun/verb

Short meaning: (n) a tool with bristles; (v) to clean or smooth using a brush.

Examples: hair brush, paint brush, brush your teeth.

bubble noun

Short meaning: a round pocket of air or gas in liquid.

Also used metaphorically: economic bubble, social bubble.

budget noun

Short meaning: a plan for how to spend and manage money.

Key in finance, economics, and personal planning.

build verb

Short meaning: to make or construct something.

Used in construction, software, teams, and ideas.

building noun

Short meaning: a structure with walls and a roof.

Examples: office building, residential building.

bullet noun

Short meaning: a small piece of metal fired from a gun.

Also used metaphorically: “bite the bullet.”

bunch noun

Short meaning: a group of things of the same type.

Common: a bunch of grapes, a bunch of keys, a bunch of people.

burn verb

Short meaning: to destroy or damage something by fire or heat.

Used in cooking, injuries, energy, and emotions.

burn down phrasal verb

Short meaning: to be destroyed by fire until nothing remains.

Used for buildings and large structures.

burst verb

Short meaning: to break open suddenly.

Example: balloons burst, pipes burst.

bury verb

Short meaning: to put something under the ground.

Also used figuratively: bury feelings, bury differences.

bus noun

Short meaning: a large road vehicle for carrying passengers.

Common in daily travel and public transport.

bush noun

Short meaning: a small, leafy plant or shrub.

Used in gardening, nature, and landscapes.

business noun

Short meaning: work related to buying, selling, or providing services.

Core word for economics, jobs, and organizations.

businessman noun

Short meaning: a man who works in business.

Profession word; related to entrepreneurship.

businesswoman noun

Short meaning: a woman who works in business.

Modern, gender-specific profession term.

busy adj.

Short meaning: having a lot of work or activities to do.

Daily communication word: “I’m busy today.”

but conjunction

Short meaning: used to introduce contrast or exception.

Core conjunction for sentence structure.

butt noun

Short meaning: the thick or end part of something.

Example: the butt of a cigarette.

butter noun

Short meaning: a soft yellow food made from milk.

Used in cooking, baking, and breakfast foods.

button noun

Short meaning: a small object you press or use to fasten clothes.

Common for shirts, devices, and controls.

buy verb

Short meaning: to get something by paying money.

Key verb for shopping and economic actions.

buyer noun

Short meaning: a person who buys something.

Important term in business and marketing.

by preposition

Short meaning: near, using, or before a time.

Essential for instructions, location, and deadlines.

bye exclamation

Short meaning: a friendly and informal way to say “goodbye.”

Common in everyday conversation.