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

wage noun

Short meaning: money paid regularly for work.

Often used as “hourly wage” or “minimum wage.”

waist noun

Short meaning: the middle part of the body above the hips.

Example: A belt goes around the waist.

wait verb

Short meaning: to stay where you are until something happens.

Example: Please wait here.

waiter noun

Short meaning: a person who serves food and drinks in a restaurant.

Female form: waitress.

wake verb

Short meaning: to stop sleeping; to make someone stop sleeping.

Common form: wake up.

walk verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to move on foot at a regular pace.
Short meaning (noun): a short trip by walking.

Example: We walk to school.

walking noun

Short meaning: the activity of walking for exercise or pleasure.

Example: She loves early-morning walking.

wall noun

Short meaning: a vertical structure that divides or surrounds an area.

Example: A wall separates two rooms.

wallet noun

Short meaning: a small case for holding money, cards, etc.

Example: He lost his wallet.

wander verb

Short meaning: to walk slowly without a fixed plan or direction.

Example: Tourists wander around the old town.

want verb

Short meaning: to wish for something; to desire something.

Example: I want a break.

war noun

Short meaning: fighting between countries or groups over a long period.

Example: Many families were affected by the war.

warm adjective

Short meaning: having a pleasantly high temperature.

Example: It’s warm today.

warmth noun

Short meaning: the quality of being warm; heat or affection.

Example: the warmth of the sun / someone’s warmth

warn verb

Short meaning: to tell someone about danger or a problem in advance.

Example: They warned us about the storm.

warning noun

Short meaning: a statement or sign that danger or trouble may happen.

Example: The sign gives a clear warning.

wash verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to clean something using water.
Short meaning (noun): the act of cleaning something.

Example: Please wash your hands.

waste verb / noun / adjective

Short meaning (verb): to use something without purpose.
Short meaning (noun): materials that are no longer needed.
Short meaning (adj.): not used effectively.

Example: Don’t waste your time.

watch verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to look at something carefully over time.
Short meaning (noun): a small clock worn on the wrist.

Example: Watch the road while driving.

water noun / verb

Short meaning (noun): the clear liquid essential for life.
Short meaning (verb): to pour water on plants or land.

Example: Drink enough water daily.

wave verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to move your hand to greet someone.
Short meaning (noun): a raised movement on the surface of water.

Example: She waved goodbye.

way noun

Short meaning: a method of doing something; a path or direction.

Example: There’s no easy way to success.

we pronoun

Short meaning: the speaker and at least one other person.

Example: We are ready.

weak adjective

Short meaning: lacking physical strength or power.

Opposite: strong.

weakness noun

Short meaning: a lack of strength or something you are not good at.

Example: Public speaking is his weakness.

wealth noun

Short meaning: a large amount of money or valuable possessions.

Opposite: poverty.

weapon noun

Short meaning: something used for fighting or causing harm.

Example: Weapons are not allowed on board.

wear verb

Short meaning: to have clothes, shoes, or accessories on your body.

Example: She wears glasses.

wear away phrasal verb

Short meaning: to gradually disappear or become thinner by being used or rubbed.

Example: The paint has worn away.

wear out phrasal verb

Short meaning 1: to use something until it becomes too old or damaged.
Short meaning 2: to make someone very tired.

Example: Walking all day wore me out.

weather noun

Short meaning: the condition of the air outdoors, such as temperature, rain, sun, or wind.

Example: The weather is perfect today.

web noun

Short meaning 1: the system of connected pages on the internet.
Short meaning 2: a fine net made by a spider.

Example: I found the article on the web.

website noun

Short meaning: a set of connected pages on the internet, usually about a specific topic or group.

Example: LearnVocabularyFree.com is an educational website.

wedding noun

Short meaning: a ceremony where two people get married.

Example: The wedding will be held next month.

Wednesday noun

Short meaning: the day of the week between Tuesday and Thursday.

Example: The meeting is on Wednesday.

week noun

Short meaning: a period of seven days.

Example: I will finish the project this week.

weekend noun

Short meaning: the time from Saturday to Sunday when many people do not work.

Example: What are your weekend plans?

weekly adjective / adverb

Short meaning (adj.): happening once every week.
Short meaning (adv.): once a week.

Example: The class meets weekly.

weigh verb

Short meaning: to measure how heavy something is.

Example: The package weighs two kilos.

weight noun

Short meaning: how heavy someone or something is.

Example: Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight.

weird adjective

Short meaning: very strange or unusual.

Example: That sounds like a weird idea.

welcome verb / adjective / noun / exclamation

Short meaning (verb): to greet someone kindly when they arrive.
Short meaning (adj.): pleasing or gladly received.
Short meaning (noun): a friendly greeting.
Short meaning (exclamation): used to greet someone.

Example: You are always welcome here.

well adverb / adjective / exclamation / noun

Short meaning (adv.): in a good or satisfactory way.
Short meaning (adj.): healthy; not ill.
Short meaning (excl.): used to show surprise or to start a sentence.
Short meaning (noun): a deep hole that supplies water.

Example: I hope you get well soon.

well-known adjective

Short meaning: known by many people; famous or familiar.

Example: She is a well-known writer.

west noun / adjective / adverb

Short meaning (noun): the direction where the sun sets.
Short meaning (adj.): in or towards the west.
Short meaning (adv.): towards the west.

Example: The city is to the west of here.

western adjective

Short meaning: in, from, or related to the west part of a region or the Western world.

Example: Many people enjoy western movies.

wet adjective / verb

Short meaning (adj.): covered in water or another liquid; not dry.
Short meaning (verb): to make something wet.

Example: My clothes are wet from the rain.

what pronoun / determiner / adverb

Short meaning: used to ask for information about something.

Example: What is your name?

whatever pronoun / determiner

Short meaning 1: anything or everything that; no matter what.
Short meaning 2: used to show you do not mind which thing.

Example: You can choose whatever you like.

wheel noun

Short meaning: a round object that turns and helps vehicles or machines move.

Example: The front wheel of the bike is broken.

when conjunction / adverb / pronoun

Short meaning: used to ask or talk about the time something happens.

Example: When did you arrive?

whenever conjunction / adverb

Short meaning: at any time; every time that something happens.

Example: Call me whenever you need help.

where adverb / conjunction / pronoun

Short meaning: used to ask or talk about the place something is or happens.

Example: Where do you live?

whereas conjunction

Short meaning: used to compare or show a difference between two facts.

Example: He likes loud music, whereas I prefer quiet places.

wherever conjunction / adverb

Short meaning: in any place or every place.

Example: I will support you wherever you are.

whether conjunction

Short meaning: used to talk about a choice between two possibilities; if.

Example: I don’t know whether he will come.

which pronoun / determiner

Short meaning: used to ask or talk about one or more specific things or people.

Example: Which book do you prefer?

while conjunction / noun

Short meaning (conj.): during the time that something else happens; although.
Short meaning (noun): a period of time.

Example: Please wait while I check.

whisper verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to speak very softly.
Short meaning (noun): a quiet, soft voice.

Example: She whispered the answer to me.

whistle verb / noun

Short meaning (verb): to make a high sound by blowing air through the lips.
Short meaning (noun): the sound produced.

Example: He whistled a happy tune.

white adjective / noun

Short meaning: the color of snow or milk.

Example: She wore a white dress.

who pronoun

Short meaning: used to ask or talk about a person.

Example: Who is at the door?

whoever pronoun

Short meaning: the person who; anyone who.

Example: Whoever did this should apologize.

whole adjective / noun

Short meaning (adj.): complete; all of something.
Short meaning (noun): the entire amount or thing.

Example: She ate the whole cake.

whom pronoun (formal)

Short meaning: used as the object form of “who,” often in formal writing.

Example: To whom did you send the email?

whose pronoun / determiner

Short meaning: used to ask or talk about who something belongs to.

Example: Whose keys are these?

why adverb

Short meaning: used to ask about the reason for something.

Example: Why are you late?

wide adjective

Short meaning: having a large distance from side to side.

Example: The road is very wide here.

widely adverb

Short meaning: by many people; over a large area.

Example: The book is widely read.

width noun

Short meaning: the measurement of something from one side to the other.

Example: The width of the table is 80 cm.

wife noun

Short meaning: a married woman; a woman in a marriage.

Example: He lives with his wife and two children.

wild adjective

Short meaning: living or growing in nature; uncontrolled or extreme.

Example: The island is full of wild animals.

wildly adverb

Short meaning: in an uncontrolled or extreme way.

Example: The crowd cheered wildly.

will modal verb

Short meaning: used to talk about the future or show intention/decision.

Example: I will call you tomorrow.

willing adjective

Short meaning: ready or prepared to do something.

Example: She is willing to help.

win verb

Short meaning: to achieve first place or succeed in a competition or contest.

Example: They hope to win the final match.

wind noun

Short meaning: moving air; a breeze.

Example: The wind was very strong today.

window noun

Short meaning: an opening in a wall with glass that lets in light or air.

Example: She looked out of the window.

wine noun

Short meaning: an alcoholic drink made from grapes.

Example: They shared a bottle of wine.

wing noun

Short meaning: one of the parts that birds or airplanes use to fly.

Example: The bird injured its wing.

winner noun

Short meaning: the person or team that wins.

Example: The winner will receive a medal.

winning adjective / noun (gerund)

Short meaning (adj.): successful; resulting in a win.
Short meaning (noun): the act of winning.

Example: Their winning strategy impressed everyone.

winter noun

Short meaning: the coldest season of the year.

Example: It snows here every winter.

wire noun

Short meaning: thin metal in the form of a thread, used in electrical or mechanical work.

Example: The lamp won't work because the wire is broken.

wise adjective

Short meaning: having good judgment and understanding gained from experience.

Example: She gave me some wise advice.

wish verb / noun

Short meaning (v.): to want something to happen.
Short meaning (n.): a desire or hope for something.

Example: I wish you a safe journey.

with preposition

Short meaning: used to show being together, having something, or using something.

Example: She came with her brother.

withdraw verb

Short meaning: to remove or take something away; to take money from a bank.

Example: She withdrew $100 from her account.

within preposition / adverb

Short meaning: inside something; not beyond a time or distance limit.

Example: Please finish the work within two days.

without preposition

Short meaning: not having or not using something.

Example: He left without his phone.

witness noun / verb

Short meaning (n.): a person who sees an event happen.
Short meaning (v.): to see something happen.

Example: Several witnesses saw the accident.

woman noun

Short meaning: an adult female human.

Example: She is the first woman to become mayor.

wonder verb / noun

Short meaning (v.): to think about something and want to know more.
Short meaning (n.): a feeling of great surprise or admiration.

Example: I wonder what will happen next.

wonderful adjective

Short meaning: extremely good; very pleasant or enjoyable.

Example: We had a wonderful time.

wood noun

Short meaning: the material that comes from trees; also a small forest.

Example: The table is made of wood.

wooden adjective

Short meaning: made of wood.

Example: She bought a wooden chair.

wool noun

Short meaning: thick, soft hair from sheep used to make warm clothes and fabric.

Example: This sweater is made of pure wool.

word noun

Short meaning: a single unit of language that has meaning.

Example: I can’t find the right word to explain it.

work noun / verb

Short meaning (n.): tasks or activities you do, usually to earn money.
Short meaning (v.): to do a job or perform a task.

Example: She works at a hospital.

worker noun

Short meaning: a person who works, especially in a specific job or industry.

Example: Factory workers start early in the morning.

working adjective

Short meaning: having a job; functioning or operating correctly.

Example: She is a working mother.

world noun

Short meaning: the earth and all the people, places, and things on it.

Example: English is spoken all over the world.

worried adjective

Short meaning: feeling anxious or concerned about something.

Example: She looks worried about the exam.

worry verb / noun

Short meaning (v.): to feel anxious or think too much about problems.
Short meaning (n.): a feeling of concern or fear.

Example: Don’t worry — everything will be fine.

worrying adjective

Short meaning: making you feel anxious or concerned.

Example: The news about the storm is worrying.

worse adjective / adverb

Short meaning: of lower quality or in a poorer condition than before.

Example: His cold is getting worse.

worship verb / noun

Short meaning (v.): to show deep respect and love, especially for a god.
Short meaning (n.): the act of showing religious praise.

Example: They worship at the temple every week.

worst adjective / adverb / noun

Short meaning: the lowest quality or most unpleasant level of something.

Example: That was the worst storm of the year.

worth adjective

Short meaning: having a particular value or deserving effort, time, or attention.

Example: This book is worth reading.

would modal verb

Short meaning: used to talk about imagined situations, past habits, or polite offers.

Example: I would help you if I had time.

wound noun

Short meaning: an injury to the body caused by a cut, blow, or other damage.

Example: The soldier had a deep wound on his arm.

wound verb (past of wind)

Short meaning: past form of “wind,” meaning to turn or twist something around.

Example: She wound the rope around the pole.

wounded adjective

Short meaning: injured, especially by a weapon.

Example: Several people were wounded in the accident.

wrap verb

Short meaning: to cover something by folding paper, cloth, or another material around it.

Example: She wrapped the gift in red paper.

wrist noun

Short meaning: the joint between your hand and your arm.

Example: He wore a watch on his left wrist.

write verb

Short meaning: to produce words, letters, or symbols on paper or a screen.

Example: She writes in her journal every night.

writer noun

Short meaning: a person who writes books, articles, or other texts.

Example: She hopes to become a professional writer.

writing noun

Short meaning: words written on a page; the activity or skill of writing.

Example: His writing is clear and easy to read.

written adjective / past participle

Short meaning: recorded in written form; past participle of “write.”

Example: Please keep a written record of your expenses.

wrong adjective

Short meaning: not correct; not the right thing.

Example: Your answer is wrong.

wrongly adverb

Short meaning: in a way that is not correct or fair.

Example: He was wrongly accused of the crime.