Wiktionary:Frequency lists/Contemporary fiction in 60 categories
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This page includes the 2000 most frequently used words in contemporary fiction. The words are sorted into 60 categories by subject. The words are included in the subject categories associated with their more frequently intended definitions. The first 400 words are in the first column. The second 400 words are in the second column. The third 400 words are in the third column. The fourth 400 words are in the fourth column. The fifth 400 words are in the fifth column. This page also includes some opposites, non-vulgar alternatives, idioms, and other closely related words. Opposites and gender pairs are separated by a slash. Some proper nouns are excluded.
Amount
[edit]Anatomy
[edit]- back
- eye
- hand
- head
- face
- arm
- hair
- shoulder
- body
- mouth
- lip
- feet
- finger
- heart
- leg
- ear
- chest
- cheek
- neck
- stomach
- skin
- eyebrow
- nose
- foot
- throat
- knee
- bottom
- buttock
- teeth
- brain
- tongue
- forehead
- lap
- waist
- wrist
- chin
- jaw
- hip
- penis / vagina
- heel
- brow
- palm
- muscle
- wing
- elbow
- nail
- tail
- toe
- nerve
- bone
- thumb
- breast
- thigh
- gut
- abdomen
Change and Destruction
[edit]- change
- turn
- get
- death
- fire
- raise / cut
- break / fix
- clean
- remain
- become
- snap
- die / survive
- cut / mend
- tear
- hurt
- kill
- pop
- burst
- crack
- focus
- shift
- disappear
- grow / shrink
- wash
- fade
- rip
- burn
- crime
- cook
- switch
- widen
- double / halve
- split
- process
- destroy / build
- pierce
- wound
- scratch
- crush
- bruise
- murder
- natural / altered
- footstep
- rid
- spare
- damage
- stain
- tighten
- straighten
- tune
- soak / dry
- melt / freeze
- chill / warm
- fry
- explode
- blast
- bleed
- replace
Clothes
[edit]Cognition
[edit]- thought
- mind
- idea
- sleep
- know
- think
- remember / forget
- realize
- believe
- wonder
- attention
- asleep
- wake
- suppose
- understand
- dream
- figure
- consider
- learn / forget
- familiar
- memory
- experience
- emotion
- awake
- remind
- trust
- imagine
- recognize
- focus
- assume
- gather
- image
- information
- lesson
- blame
- judge
- lost
- mental
- opinion
- nightmare
- puzzle
- confuse
- suspect
- recall
- concentrate
Color
[edit]Nonverbal Communication
[edit]- smile
- laugh
- nod
- sigh
- grin
- cry
- sign
- movie
- picture
- music
- tone
- mark
- expression
- shrug
- scream
- glare
- wave
- smirk
- frown
- giggle
- groan
- art
- laughter
- blush
- chuckle
- mumble
- gasp
- draw
- growl
- gesture
- alarm
- image
- hiss
- scowl
- sob
- wince
- bow
- moan
- grunt
- beam
- squeal
- tune
- map
- signal
- shriek
- roar
- tremble
- pout
- bark
- flirt
- grimace
- whistle
Verbal Communication
[edit]- word
- question / answer
- ask / answer
- say
- tell
- call
- talk
- reply
- thank
- read
- story
- conversation
- note
- form
- sign
- deal
- promise
- expression
- song
- joke
- movie
- music
- book
- whisper / shout
- yell
- lie
- explain
- speak
- order
- mutter
- offer
- agree
- write
- mention
- admit / deny
- card
- letter
- response
- period
- message
- list
- comment
- type
- respond
- remind
- exclaim
- interrupt
- excuse
- study
- greet
- suggest
- warn
- sing
- welcome
- count
- dare
- demand
- argue
- swear
- tease
- contact
- invite
- convince
- apologize
- history
- sentence
- curse
- tip
- bill
- math
- station
- address
- lesson
- law
- magazine
- report
- hint
- complain
- charge
- cheer
- announce
- protest
- introduce
- beg
- insist
- urge
- threaten
- moan
- chat
- inform
- whine
- object
- grumble
- squeal
- sarcastically
- schedule
- statement
- clue
- ticket
- argument
- language
- map
- agreement
- retort
- interview
- remark
- teach
- discuss
- plead
- describe
- assure
- claim
- accent
- challenge
- command
- forgive
- insult
- post
- spell
- inquire
- flirt
Comparison
[edit]Conflict and Competition
[edit]Connection
[edit]- and
- on / off
- with / without
- or
- onto
- lean
- pull / push
- reach
- grab
- hold
- miss
- kiss
- upon
- drop / catch
- lock
- meet
- arrive
- get
- land
- press
- join
- brush
- rub
- touch
- hug
- hit
- knock
- kick
- beat
- apart
- knot
- handle
- sex
- relationship
- married / single
- marry / divorce
- visit
- tie
- grip
- stick
- contact
- wipe
- punch
- slap
- bridge
- wedding
- mate
- separate
- split
- crash
- click
- clutch
- tug
- grasp
- clench
- stroke
- tap
- pat
- scratch
- choke
- smack
- whip
- popular
- friendship
- marriage / divorce
- chain
- embrace
- connect
- link
- dial
- hook
- yank
- bump
- strike
Consumption
[edit]- water
- use
- food
- breakfast
- brunch
- lunch
- dinner
- supper
- coffee
- eat
- drink
- cream
- chocolate
- orange
- sugar
- ingredient
- bite
- suck
- sip
- bake
- hungry
- honey
- cookie
- tap
- beer
- tea
- pizza
- drug
- meal
- bread
- potato
- fish
- chicken
- meat
- fruit
- vegetable
- produce
- soda
- dessert
- waste
- swallow
- cook
- cake
- milk
- juice
- sandwich
- dish
- apple
- wine
- chip
- egg
- alcohol
- tray
- candy
- pot
- cheese
- dine
- feed
- lick
- chew
- gulp
- exhaust
- supply
- fry
Contraction
[edit]- I'm
- don't
- didn't
- it's
- wasn't
- you're
- that's
- I'll
- couldn't
- can't
- he's
- I'd
- wouldn't
- I've
- she's
- he'd
- hadn't
- doesn't
- what's
- we're
- she'd
- won't
- there's
- isn't
- they're
- you've
- you'll
- we'll
- haven't
- weren't
- aren't
- you'd
- gonna
- they'd
- shouldn't
- we've
- who's
- we'd
- it'll
- he'll
- would've
- gotta
- she'll
- wanna
- they'll
- hasn't
- kinda
- ain't
- they've
- how's
- it'd
- let's
Definition
[edit]Direction
[edit]Emotion
[edit]- sure
- sorry
- care
- hope
- wonder
- worry
- surprise
- please
- miss
- bother
- feel
- love / hate
- happy / sad
- calm / nervous
- glad
- fun
- angry
- annoy
- enjoy
- fear
- shock
- trouble
- interest
- confuse
- scare
- afraid
- mad
- certain
- emotion
- relief
- mood
- anger
- disgust
- doubt
- bore
- embarrass
- concern
- amaze
- excite
- relax
- upset
- aware
- curious
- proud / ashamed
- innocent / guilty
- jealous
- angrily
- happily
- excitement
- spirit
- nerve
- panic
- alarm
- confusion
- respect
- frighten
- regret
- amuse
- startle
- disappoint
- relieve
- scary
- tense
- desperate
- frustration
- rage
- horror
- joy
- nightmare
- disbelief
- pressure
- stress
- pleasure
- content
- ease
- desire
- concentrate
- charm
- satisfy
- attitude
- pity
- surprisingly
- pride
- stun
- frustrate
- terrify
- irritate
- disturb
- puzzle
- impress
- suffer
- appreciate
Extent
[edit]- so
- just
- only
- too
- much
- really
- how
- long / short
- very
- enough
- almost
- slightly / quite
- over / under
- pretty
- a little / a lot
- high / low
- completely
- especially
- nearly
- exactly
- barely
- serious
- simply
- within
- seriously
- further
- totally
- practically
- slight
- hardly
- lightly
- mostly
- somewhat
- extremely
- beyond
- bare
- heavily
- basically
- fully
- entirely
- lack
- kind of
- particularly
- plenty
- halfway
- badly
- deeply
- merely
- fairly
- exact
- brief
- mid
Family and Friends
[edit]- mother / father
- mom / dad
- parent
- sister / brother
- friend / enemy
- family
- mum / dad
- girlfriend / boyfriend
- daughter / son
- aunt / uncle
- wife / husband
- cousin
- grandma / grandpa
- niece / nephew
- great-grandmother
- great-grandfather
- stepchild
- stepparent
- in-law
- mama / dada
- mommy / daddy
- mate
- partner
- spouse
- baby
- honey
- dear
- love
- lover
Focus and Origin
[edit]- to
- from
- the / a
- this / that
- of
- about
- an / the
- any
- these / those
- himself / herself
- myself
- yourself
- matter
- within
- focus
- concern
- center
- main
- subject
- self
- themselves
- itself
- base
- random
- feature
- clue
- among
- detail
- local
- personal
- distract
- social
- natural
- purpose
- issue
- concentrate
- display
- mental
- general
- nature
- background
- topic
- major
Frequency
[edit]Future
[edit]Geometry
[edit]Group
[edit]Interjection
[edit]Location
[edit]- place
- home
- side
- point
- lot
- seat
- beginning / end
- front / back
- inside / outside
- in / outside
- at
- there / here
- over / under
- by
- around
- where
- close / far
- ahead / behind
- between
- Sun
- ground
- street
- corner
- park
- world
- town
- middle
- edge
- state
- land
- ring
- road
- city
- sky
- top / bottom
- far / near
- high / low
- beside
- above
- field
- center
- trail
- area
- path
- scene
- earth
- forest
- hole
- within
- beneath / above
- present / absent
- surround
- river
- camp
- level
- entrance / exit
- country
- hill / valley
- beach
- stream
- yard
- sea
- mountain
- below / above
- everywhere / nowhere
- beyond
- nearby
- garden
- address
- surface
- dump
- presence / absence
- underneath / above
- among
- local
- float
- lake
- moon
- bush
- corridor
- background
- campus
Method
[edit]- quickly / slowly
- suddenly
- anyway
- by
- how
- way
- fast / slow
- quietly / loudly
- softly
- gently
- quick
- tone
- rush
- sudden / gradual
- somehow
- carefully
- easily
- practically
- honestly
- perfectly
- silently
- hurry
- tightly
- nervously / calmly
- directly
- normally
- careful / careless
- system
- pace
- particular
- gentle
- direct
- steady
- sarcastically
- firmly
- casually
- desperately
- sadly
- mentally
- fairly
- closely
- abruptly
- style
- manner
- accent
- fashion
Movement
[edit]- go / stay
- turn
- come
- walk
- still
- pull / push
- close / open
- put
- move
- get
- leave / return
- run
- step
- rest
- roll
- pass
- follow / lead
- continue / stop
- head
- fall
- rain
- shower
- trip
- slip
- drop / catch
- jump
- raise / lower
- lift
- climb
- dance
- bring
- carry
- fill / empty
- drive
- park
- ride
- shake
- enter / exit
- cross
- breathe
- lay
- throw
- remain
- motion
- storm
- wind
- chase
- pack
- shove
- drag
- escape
- fly
- blink
- settle
- send
- approach
- shift
- flip
- jerk
- suck / blow
- stretch
- toss
- squeeze
- spread
- gather / scatter
- pour
- sink
- circle
- twist
- slide
- swing
- wander
- remove
- movement
- flight
- pace
- speed
- tip
- rise
- travel
- shiver
- stumble
- snort
- charge
- drift
- faint
- load
- swim
- introduce
- spin
- stream
- bury
- hop
- cough
- skip
- flow
- cast
- ship
- float
- spill
- dump
- stall
- collapse
- weather
- breeze
- tour
- flick
- duck
- flush
- bounce
- sneak
- dig
- tuck
- tilt
- pitch
- tremble
- emerge
- shuffle
- dash
- shudder
- jog
- proceed
- leap
- flop
- shoot
Number
[edit]Object
[edit]- bed
- car
- table
- phone
- book
- chair
- bag
- paper
- desk
- tire
- box
- lock
- glass
- case
- couch
- ring
- bus
- gun
- key
- brush
- rock
- picture
- card
- bar
- ball
- bottle
- mirror
- star
- TV
- cup
- computer
- handle
- bell
- clock
- plate
- button
- pillow
- board
- page
- guitar
- cloud
- screen
- truck
- football
- stone
- sheet
- van
- blanket
- bowl
- camera
- towel
- machine
- wheel
- bench
- cigarette
- knife
- purse
- plane
- screw
- frame
- pen
- backpack
- bow
- leaf
- bike
- toy
- ship
- whip
- nail
- object
- weapon
- magazine
- radio
- file
- CD
- fan
- rope
- television
- boat
- tent
- hook
- ticket
- doll
- trap
- tank
- tape
- sofa
- pin
- branch
- puzzle
- bullet
- film
- dish
- jeep
- notebook
- string
- pencil
- photo
- tray
- chain
- engine
- map
- quarter
- pot
- feather
- strap
- drawer
- pad
- bubble
Organism
[edit]Parallel
[edit]- even
- just
- such
- as
- again
- do-over
- too
- while
- also
- both / neither
- each
- another
- reply
- answer
- follow / lead
- along
- during
- either
- agree
- besides
- peer
- twin
- response
- fit
- mirror
- match
- repeat
- pretend
- respond
- fair
- nor
- image
- reaction
- echo
- mock
- record
- similar / different
- common
- uniform
- exact
- whilst
- photo
- video
- balance
- copy
- trace
- react
Past Tense
[edit]- did
- got
- thought
- made
- knew
- went
- felt
- took
- came
- told
- left
- saw
- heard
- found
- began
- stood
- gave
- ran
- shook
- would
- could
- sat
- read
- seen
- been
- done
- held
- fell
- kept
- caught
- met
- lost
- meant
- shot
- rose
- brought
- spoke
- threw
- became
- broke
- spent
- stuck
- hung
- gone
- taken
- known
- gotten
- given
- sent
- led
- rang
- drove
- woke
- wore
- grew
- slid
- bought
- laid
- forgot
- drew
- drunk
- broken
- forgotten
- lit
- flew
- ate
- slept
- paid
- understood
- spun
- swung
- bent
- won
- fallen
- written
- torn
- born
- grown
- hidden
- thrown
- wrote
- built
- struck
- chose
- blew
- fought
- bound
- froze
- spat
- rode
- worn
- drawn
- spoken
- eaten
- frozen
- begun
Person
[edit]- I
- you
- her / him
- she / he
- me
- they
- we
- them
- girl / boy
- us
- people
- woman / man
- guy
- everyone
- kid
- Mrs. / Mr.
- person
- someone
- anyone
- women / men
- baby
- lady / gentleman
- child / adult
- children
- teacher
- doctor
- student
- human
- jerk
- sir
- Ms. / Mr.
- nobody / everybody
- peer
- guard
- police
- driver
- idiot / genius
- twin
- gay / straight
- queen / king
- player
- nurse
- officer
- princess / prince
- stranger
- guest
- member
- Dr.
- female / male
- judge
- fool
- somebody
- dude
- lord
- manager
- boss
- local
- fan
- bastard
- partner
- leader / follower
- cop
- soldier
- roommate
- enemy / friend
- master
- hunter
- character
- principal
- passenger
- teenager
- general
- neighbor
- anybody
- whoever
- captain
- owner
- coach
- suspect
- customer
- teen
Physical
[edit]- little / big
- short / long
- small / large
- soft / hard
- shallow / deep
- clean / dirty
- tiny / huge
- narrow / wide
- round
- short / tall
- cold / hot
- tight / loose
- light / heavy
- dry / wet
- thin / thick
- heat
- weight
- sharp / dull
- smooth / rough
- flat
- wooden
- thin / fat
- height
- length
- width
- golden
- weather
- giant
- pure
- physical
- pressure
- frozen
Portion
[edit]Position
[edit]Possession
[edit]- her
- his
- my
- your
- their
- our
- its
- own
- give / receive
- has
- have
- get
- take
- keep
- mine
- free
- money
- dollar
- pound
- euro
- shop
- pay
- hers
- yours
- poor / rich
- present
- treat
- worth
- value
- lose / gain
- buy / sell
- share
- spend / save
- accept / reject
- whose
- support
- bill
- exchange
- cash
- check
- credit card
- debit card
- gift
- property
- tip
- charge
- belong
- feature
- include
- cheap / expensive
- public / private
- master
- owner
- balance
- debt
- loan
- borrow
- rent
- owe
- steal
- collect
- supply
- snatch
- contain
Power and Ability
[edit]- on / off
- life
- head
- can / cannot
- live
- let
- able / unable
- smart / stupid
- alive / dead
- possible / impossible
- strong / weak
- free
- stuck
- chance
- power
- sense
- may
- corner
- catch / release
- force
- allow
- control
- lead / follow
- drunk
- possibly
- block
- handle
- accept / reject
- refuse
- queen / king
- president
- prime minister
- strength / weakness
- energy
- law
- rule
- choke
- blind
- deaf
- powerful
- leader / follower
- captain
- master
- principal
- general
- opportunity
- ability / disability
- skill
- charm
- direct
Production
[edit]Profanity
[edit]Protection and Privacy
[edit]Quality
[edit]- well
- good / bad
- right / wrong
- good / evil
- okay
- kind / mean
- better / worse
- best / worst
- great
- nice
- fine
- pretty
- beautiful / ugly
- perfect / flawed
- clean / dirty
- funny
- smart / stupid
- strange
- weird
- normal
- easy / difficult
- trouble
- state
- safe / dangerous
- crazy
- serious
- dear
- sick / well
- healthy
- practical
- simple
- awkward
- poor
- worthy
- valuable
- wonderful
- sharp
- cute
- usual
- odd
- special
- health
- shape
- fault
- grade
- plain
- fair
- horrible
- rich
- fresh / stale
- ruin
- unfortunately
- silly
- wild / tame
- gorgeous
- friendly
- terrible
- ridiculous
- lovely
- accident
- plus
- mistake
- handsome
- common
- awesome
- rough
- golden
- rude
- pure
- shy
- famous
- fancy
- exact
- luckily
- insane
- pathetic
- cheap
- awful
- dull
- charm
- tune
- nightmare
- character
- nature
- risk
- beauty
- condition
- flop
Question
[edit]Reality
[edit]- no / yes
- not
- non
- really
- right / wrong
- yeah
- maybe
- actually
- probably
- might
- sure
- real / fake
- true / false
- definitely
- perhaps
- fact
- truth
- lie
- certain
- absolutely
- seriously
- honestly
- certainly
- trick
- pretend
- honest
- innocent / guilty
- indeed
- truly
- likely
- reality
- fool
- exist
- prove
- surely
- correct
- exact
- nature
- risk
Reason
[edit]Recreation
[edit]Religion and Mythology
[edit]Selection
[edit]Sensation
[edit]- light / dark
- sound
- notice
- glance
- stare
- find / lose
- show
- look
- see
- feel
- seem
- watch / ignore
- hear
- voice
- cold / hot
- cool / warm
- quiet / loud
- silent
- bright
- sweet
- blonde
- obviously
- silence
- pain
- color
- shock
- knock
- song
- music
- beat
- tone
- fire
- smell
- spot
- hide
- listen / ignore
- hurt
- check
- sense
- gaze
- appear
- comfortable
- obvious
- apparently
- clearly
- sight
- pop
- flash
- noise
- shadow
- comfort
- darkness / light
- murmur
- heat
- view
- focus
- experience
- study
- slam
- count
- taste
- search
- hungry
- echo
- bang
- cough
- vision
- flame
- click
- glow
- shine
- discover
- blind
- deaf
- painful
- appearance
- pleasure
- beauty
- warmth
- scent
- sensation
- blast
- flicker
- trace
- chill
- stun
- ache
- sniff
- irritate
- examine
- peek
- scan
- suffer
- display
Status and Progress
[edit]- head
- back / forward
- previous / next
- beginning / end
- initially / finally
- done
- over
- set
- start / finish
- pass / fail
- follow
- first / last
- second
- third
- fourth
- fifth
- sixth
- seventh
- eighth
- ninth
- tenth
- order
- situation
- matter
- begin / end
- important
- favorite
- complete
- ahead / behind
- main
- grade
- count
- stage
- trail
- initial / final
- manager
- level
- skip
- condition
- master
- general
- major
- chapter
- favor
- proceed / regress
Structure
[edit]- room
- door
- school
- house
- floor / ceiling
- wall
- window
- kitchen
- stair
- hall
- office
- bathroom
- bathtub
- shower
- toilet
- restroom
- store
- apartment
- bedroom
- street
- road
- track
- bar
- club
- hallway
- counter
- sink
- pool
- locker
- hospital
- college
- closet
- slide
- swing
- upstairs
- downstairs
- church
- stage
- doorway
- gate
- station
- tap
- faucet
- hotel
- restaurant
- base
- frame
- classroom
- support
- bridge
- dorm
- driveway
- library
- stall
- elevator
- cafeteria
- porch
- mall
- carpet
- court
- bank
- tent
- roof
- fence
- sidewalk
- curtain
- cage
- cabin
- gym
- corridor
- garage
- tower
- building
- structure
- motel
- university
Substance and Material
[edit]Time
[edit]- now
- then
- time
- when
- before / after
- wait
- early / late
- new / old
- young / old
- moment
- since / until
- already
- soon
- yet
- fast / slow
- past / future
- present
- ago
- anymore
- immediately
- during
- age
- quick
- eventually
- forever
- period
- instantly
- till
- whenever
- due
- hesitate
- lately
- awhile
- used to
- instant
- briefly
- brief
- recently
- afterward
- sometime
Time and Date
[edit]Time Unit
[edit]Unit
[edit]Variable
[edit]Violence and Crime
[edit]Want and Need
[edit]- like
- want
- need
- should
- must
- miss
- love / hate
- have to
- had better
- rather
- supposed to
- wish
- dream
- unless
- favorite
- demand
- jealous
- extra
- spare
- lack / glut
- deficit / surplus
- vision
- belong
- deserve
- gotta
- wanna
- desperate
- necessary
- hopefully
- desperately
- term
- condition
- purpose
- goal
- aim
- favor
- desire
- require
- prefer
Work
[edit]- hard / easy
- do
- try
- start / stop
- work
- help / hinder
- use
- stop / continue
- rest
- sleep
- easy / difficult
- break
- problem
- job
- business
- teacher
- student
- doctor
- does
- act
- manage
- hire / fire
- pause
- busy
- position
- shift
- action
- test
- guard
- police
- driver
- attempt
- paint
- train
- struggle
- practice
- treat
- involve
- homework
- math
- project
- effort
- process
- nurse
- officer
- judge
- manager
- boss
- cook
- charge
- serve
- support
- relieve
- security
- purpose
- favor
- service
- ease / difficulty
- cop
- soldier
- master
- principal
- captain
- coach
- teach
- tend
- strain
- employ / layoff