500+ High-Frequency Words [With Example Sentences]

High-frequency words are the most commonly used words in English.

Mastering them is essential for fluent communication, whether you’re reading, writing, or speaking. In this guide, we’ll explore a massive list of unique high-frequency words categorized and explained with example sentences.

Single-Syllable High-Frequency Words

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Male Teacher in a classroom -- High-Frequency Words — *I made this image with AI — High-Frequency Words*

These foundational high-frequency words are essential building blocks of English.

The – The cat is sleeping on the mat.
Is – The sky is blue today.
It – It looks like a sunny day.
To – I’m going to the market.
In – The keys are in the drawer.
At – We’ll meet at the park.
On – The vase is on the table.
A – I saw a bird in the tree.
I – I enjoy reading books.
You – You should try this recipe.
He – He loves playing soccer.
She – She painted a beautiful picture.
We – We should leave soon.
Be – Be kind to everyone.
By – She sat by the window.
Do – What do you want to eat?
Go – Let’s go for a walk.
My – This is my favorite song.
Me – Can you hand it to me?
No – No, I haven’t seen him.
So – So, what are you going to do?
Up – The balloon floated up into the sky.
Us – The teacher praised us for our work.
Am – I am feeling happy today.
If – If it rains, we’ll stay indoors.
Of – The lid of the jar is stuck.
As – As soon as she arrives, we’ll start.
An – I saw an owl flying overhead.
Or – Would you like coffee or tea?
Be – It’s important to be yourself.

Two-Syllable High-Frequency Words

These slightly longer high-frequency words form the backbone of everyday conversations.

About – Tell me about your weekend.
Before – Please wash your hands before dinner.
After – We went for a walk after dinner.
Over – The airplane flew over the mountains.
Under – The cat is hiding under the bed.
Many – There are many stars in the sky.
Other – Do you have any other ideas?
Happy – She felt happy to see her friend.
Little – The little boy laughed at the joke.
Every – Every person has a unique story.
Always – I always enjoy a good book.
Family – The family gathered for a holiday meal.
People – The park was full of people enjoying the sun.
Better – She felt better after taking a nap.
Never – I never forget to say thank you.
Around – We walked around the block.
Again – Please explain that again.
Summer – Summer is my favorite season.
Winter – Winter mornings are frosty and cold.
Morning – She enjoys running in the morning.
Evening – We watched a movie together in the evening.
Longer – This movie is longer than expected.
Number – What’s your favorite number?
Inside – We stayed inside because it was raining.
Outside – We had lunch outside on the patio.
Friend – My best friend is moving away.
Others – Some people stayed while others left.
Today – Today is a beautiful day.
Tomorrow – We’ll finish this task tomorrow.
Ready – Are you ready to leave?

Common Verbs

These action-packed words describe what we do every day.

See – I can see the mountains from here.
Look – Look at this beautiful painting.
Think – What do you think about the plan?
Know – I know the answer to that question.
Come – Can you come to the meeting tomorrow?
Make – Please make some tea for us.
Take – Take a moment to relax.
Give – I’ll give you the book later.
Get – I need to get some groceries today.
Go – Let’s go for a walk in the park.
Walk – We walk to school every morning.
Run – The children love to run around the playground.
Play – Do you want to play a board game?
Help – Can you help me carry this bag?
Call – I’ll call you when I get home.
Talk – Let’s talk about the meeting agenda.
Ask – Can I ask you something?
Write – She likes to write poetry in her journal.
Read – I read an interesting article yesterday.
Watch – Let’s watch a movie tonight.
Tell – Tell me what happened earlier.
Eat – We’ll eat dinner together at 7.
Drink – I need to drink more water every day.
Sleep – She went to sleep early last night.
Work – He works hard to support his family.
Rest – Take some rest if you’re feeling tired.
Clean – We need to clean the house this weekend.
Build – They are building a new playground in the park.
Fix – He fixed the broken chair with some glue.
Finish – She finished her homework in record time.

Adjectives

Adjectives add detail and color to our sentences.

Big – That is a big dog!
Small – The small kitten looked adorable.
Good – You did a good job today.
Bad – It was a bad decision to skip breakfast.
Happy – She looked happy when she received the gift.
Sad – He felt sad after losing the game.
Fast – The train was fast and efficient.
Slow – The internet connection is slow today.
Hot – The soup is too hot to eat.
Cold – It’s cold outside, so wear a jacket.
Bright – The bright sun lit up the room.
Dark – The forest was dark and eerie.
Clean – The kitchen is clean and organized.
Dirty – Her shoes were dirty from the rain.
Kind – It was kind of you to help out.
Mean – Why are you being mean to your brother?
Loud – The music was too loud at the party.
Quiet – The library is a quiet place to study.
Safe – This is a safe area for kids to play.
Dangerous – The road is dangerous when it’s icy.
Strong – She is strong enough to lift the box.
Weak – He felt weak after recovering from the flu.
Pretty – The flowers in the garden are pretty.
Ugly – The graffiti on the wall looked ugly.
Friendly – The new neighbors are very friendly.
Expensive – That watch is too expensive for me.
Cheap – We found a cheap place to eat nearby.
Calm – The lake was calm and peaceful.
Angry – He looked angry after the argument.
Sweet – The candy was sweet and delicious.

Time Words

High-frequency words related to time are essential for structuring events in sentences.

Now – I need your help right now.
Then – We went to the park and then to the café.
Soon – She’ll arrive soon to join us.
Later – We can finish this project later.
Early – I arrived early to the meeting.
Late – Don’t be late for dinner tonight.
Today – Today is a great day to start something new.
Tomorrow – We’re planning a picnic tomorrow afternoon.
Yesterday – I watched a movie yesterday.
Morning – The morning sun feels warm and comforting.
Afternoon – Let’s meet in the afternoon to discuss the project.
Evening – The stars were bright in the evening sky.
Night – Night falls earlier in the winter.
Week – This week has been extremely productive.
Month – The festival happens once a month.
Year – This year has been full of new experiences.
Hour – It takes about an hour to bake the cake.
Minute – Give me just a minute to get ready.
Second – She paused for a second before answering.
Always – I always enjoy walking in the park.
Sometimes – Sometimes, I prefer tea over coffee.
Often – We often go hiking in the mountains.
Rarely – She rarely eats fast food.
Never – I never forget my friends’ birthdays.
Last – Last night, we watched an incredible play.
Next – What’s next on your to-do list?
Once – He visits his grandparents once a month.
Twice – I’ve seen that movie twice this year.
Past – The past few days have been hectic.
Soon – I hope to finish this soon.

Prepositions

Prepositions help describe relationships between objects and ideas.

At – We’ll meet at the park after lunch.
By – The house is by the river.
For – This present is for you.
With – We went to the zoo with our family.
About – I want to know more about your plan.
Of – This is the best part of the day.
To – She walked to the market early in the morning.
Into – The kids ran into the playground excitedly.
Onto – The cat jumped onto the roof.
Over – The airplane flew over the ocean.
Under – The shoes are under the bed.
Through – We drove through a long tunnel.
Across – We saw a bridge across the river.
Around – We jogged around the neighborhood.
Near – There’s a small café near the bookstore.
Behind – The car is parked behind the building.
Beside – The lamp is beside the bed.
Between – There’s a walkway between the buildings.
Among – The park is hidden among the trees.
Along – The path runs along the beach.
Toward – We walked toward the setting sun.
Against – The ladder is leaning against the wall.
Out – The dog ran out into the yard.
In – I found the book in my bag.
On – The keys are on the counter.
Above – The clouds drifted above the mountain tops.
Below – The basement is located below the main floor.
Beneath – The treasure was hidden beneath the sand.
Within – The truth lies within the story.
Without – I can’t imagine life without music.

Question Words

These words are vital for asking and answering questions.

What – What are you planning for today?
When – When will the party start?
Where – Where is the closest grocery store?
Why – Why is the sky blue?
Who – Who is going to the concert?
Whose – Whose phone is ringing?
Which – Which flavor of ice cream do you prefer?
How – How do you bake this cake?
Can – Can you help me with this task?
May – May I borrow your book?
Will – Will you come to the meeting tomorrow?
Shall – Shall we begin the presentation now?
Should – Should I bring a jacket?
Would – Would you like tea or coffee?
Could – Could you explain that again, please?
Do – Do you understand the assignment?
Does – Does she know about the event?
Did – Did you see the new movie?
Are – Are we ready to start the show?
Is – Is this your book?
Am – Am I late for the appointment?
Was – Was it raining this morning?
Were – Were you at the party last night?
Have – Have you finished your homework?
Has – Has he left for work yet?
Had – Had you met her before today?
Might – Might you consider joining us?
Must – Must we leave so soon?
Why – Why didn’t you call earlier?
How – How does this machine work?

Pronouns

Pronouns are used to replace nouns and simplify communication.

I – I enjoy long walks on the beach.
You – You are always welcome here.
He – He loves to play the guitar.
She – She is an excellent cook.
We – We are planning a trip this weekend.
They – They decided to adopt a puppy.
Me – Can you tell me what happened?
Him – She gave him a thoughtful gift.
Her – I asked her to join us for dinner.
Us – The teacher thanked us for our efforts.
Them – We invited them to the party.
It – It looks like rain today.
This – This is my favorite chair.
That – That was an amazing performance.
These – These flowers smell lovely.
Those – Those shoes look great on you.
Myself – I made this cake all by myself.
Yourself – You should treat yourself to a break.
Himself – He built the table himself.
Herself – She completed the project herself.
Ourselves – We enjoyed ourselves at the festival.
Yourselves – You must take care of yourselves.
Themselves – The children cleaned the room themselves.
Someone – Someone left their phone on the table.
Anyone – Is anyone else joining us?
Everyone – Everyone stood up to cheer.
Nobody – Nobody knew the answer to the question.
Something – There’s something special about this place.
Anything – Do you need anything else?
Everything – Everything will be fine in the end.

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs support the main verbs in constructing meaning.

Is – She is preparing for the exam.
Are – They are enjoying the concert.
Am – I am studying for the final test.
Was – The cake was delicious.
Were – We were watching TV when the phone rang.
Be – It’s important to be kind to everyone.
Been – She has been working all day.
Being – Being honest is always the best policy.
Have – I have already completed my homework.
Has – He has been very helpful lately.
Had – She had left before I arrived.
Do – Do you want to go for a walk?
Does – Does this dress suit me?
Did – Did you see the fireworks last night?
Can – Can you hear the music from here?
Could – Could you help me with this task?
Shall – Shall we start the meeting now?
Should – You should try this recipe—it’s amazing.
Will – I will call you tomorrow.
Would – Would you like to join us?
May – May I ask a question?
Might – I might visit you next weekend.
Must – We must finish this project by tomorrow.
Need – I need to find my keys.
Dare – How dare you accuse me of lying?
Use – I use this app to track my workouts.
Hasn’t – She hasn’t completed her task yet.
Isn’t – It isn’t as hard as it seems.
Aren’t – Aren’t we supposed to leave soon?
Haven’t – Haven’t you read this book before?

Descriptive Words

Adjectives and descriptive words enhance sentences by adding more detail.

Soft – The blanket is soft and warm.
Hard – This chair feels hard to sit on for too long.
Sweet – The cake was sweet and delicious.
Sour – The lemonade tasted a little sour.
Bitter – This coffee has a slightly bitter flavor.
Warm – The soup was warm and comforting.
Cold – It’s cold outside; don’t forget your coat.
Wet – Her hair was wet from the rain.
Dry – The soil is too dry for planting.
Bright – The bright sun lit up the entire room.
Dark – The tunnel was dark and a little scary.
Clean – The kitchen is clean and organized.
Dirty – The dog’s paws were dirty from playing outside.
Quick – She gave a quick response to the question.
Slow – Traffic was slow during rush hour.
Kind – It was kind of you to help with the dishes.
Mean – He made a mean comment that hurt her feelings.
Friendly – The staff at the café were very friendly.
Quiet – The library is a quiet place to study.
Loud – The music at the concert was loud but enjoyable.
Strong – He has strong arms from lifting weights.
Weak – After her illness, she felt weak for days.
Pretty – The garden is full of pretty flowers.
Ugly – The graffiti on the wall looked ugly.
Happy – The happy couple celebrated their anniversary.
Sad – He was sad when his team lost the game.
Fast – The train moved incredibly fast.
Calm – The sea was calm in the morning.
Safe – This is a safe neighborhood to raise children.
Dangerous – The icy roads were dangerous to drive on.

Connecting Words

These small words help build relationships between phrases and ideas.

And – She bought apples and oranges.
Or – Would you like tea or coffee?
But – I wanted to go, but I was too tired.
So – It was late, so we decided to stay in.
Because – She stayed home because it was raining.
Although – Although he was tired, he kept working.
While – She read a book while waiting for the train.
Since – Since it’s raining, we’ll stay inside.
If – If you finish your work early, we’ll go for ice cream.
Though – Though she was nervous, she gave a great speech.
Until – We waited until the bus arrived.
Before – Let’s eat before we leave.
After – We’ll go shopping after the movie.
Yet – He tried hard, yet he couldn’t solve the puzzle.
Even – Even the smallest gesture can mean a lot.
Both – She likes both tea and coffee.
Either – We can either watch a movie or go for a walk.
Neither – Neither option is ideal for us.
Not – I’m not feeling well today.
Only – This is the only pencil I have left.
Also – She’s talented and also very hardworking.
Otherwise – You need to hurry; otherwise, you’ll miss the bus.
However – It was raining; however, we still went for a hike.
Moreover – She’s smart; moreover, she’s kind.
Furthermore – Furthermore, the project exceeded expectations.
Therefore – The experiment failed; therefore, we had to redo it.
Meanwhile – Meanwhile, I was preparing dinner.
Instead – Let’s stay home instead of going out.
Besides – Besides, it’s too cold to go outside.
As – As we walked, the sun began to set.

High-Frequency Action Words

Jump – The children love to jump on the trampoline.
Climb – We watched the hikers climb the mountain.
Swim – Can you swim across the lake?
Dance – They love to dance to their favorite songs.
Laugh – Her joke made everyone laugh.
Cry – He started to cry when he lost his toy.
Skip – We decided to skip breakfast this morning.
Hop – The rabbit began to hop across the field.
Sing – She loves to sing in the choir.
Rest – Let’s take a moment to rest after the hike.
Chase – The dog began to chase its tail.
Catch – Can you catch the ball?
Throw – Throw the frisbee toward me.
Pull – Please pull the door to open it.
Push – You need to push harder to move the cart.
Hide – The children hide behind the trees during the game.
Find – Did you find the missing book?
Show – Can you show me how this works?
Point – He asked me to point toward the exit.
Ride – I love to ride my bicycle on the weekends.
Walk – We decided to walk to the store instead of driving.
Run – The dog loves to run in the open field.
Sit – Can you sit on the bench for a moment?
Stand – Please stand when the teacher enters the room.
Clap – Everyone began to clap after the performance.
Cheer – The fans cheer loudly at every game.
Fix – He offered to fix the broken chair.
Fold – Can you fold the laundry neatly?
Break – The strong winds might break the branches.
Build – We decided to build a birdhouse for the garden.

Descriptive Adjectives

Simple – This recipe is simple and quick to follow.
Hardworking – She’s a hardworking and dedicated employee.
Silly – The movie was so silly that it made everyone laugh.
Quiet – The quiet room was perfect for studying.
Brave – The firefighter was brave in rescuing the family.
Polite – He was polite to everyone he met at the event.
Rude – Her behavior was considered rude by the guests.
Cheerful – The cheerful child spread joy wherever he went.
Curious – She was curious about the strange noise outside.
Lazy – The lazy cat spent the entire afternoon napping.
Noisy – The noisy crowd made it hard to concentrate.
Fresh – The bread was fresh out of the oven.
Tired – I’m feeling tired after a long day.
Empty – The glass was empty after she drank all the water.
Full – The basket was full of fresh fruit.
Boring – The movie was so boring that I fell asleep.
Exciting – The trip to the amusement park was exciting.
Huge – The huge elephant walked gracefully across the field.
Tiny – The tiny insect landed on the leaf.
Hungry – I’m feeling hungry after the long hike.

High-Frequency Adverbs

Quickly – She quickly packed her bag and left.
Slowly – He slowly opened the door to avoid waking anyone.
Loudly – The children laughed loudly at the joke.
Softly – She spoke softly so as not to disturb the baby.
Always – She always starts her day with a cup of tea.
Never – He never misses a chance to watch his favorite show.
Rarely – They rarely go out for dinner.
Often – We often visit the local farmers’ market.
Sometimes – I sometimes enjoy listening to classical music.
Hardly – He hardly noticed the changes in the room.
Suddenly – The car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.
Barely – She barely managed to catch the last train.
Nearly – They nearly missed their flight because of traffic.
Clearly – She explained the instructions clearly to the team.
Happily – The kids played happily in the yard.
Sadly – He sadly walked away after hearing the bad news.
Quickly – The waiter quickly brought their food to the table.
Carefully – She carefully carried the fragile vase.
Quietly – He entered the room quietly to avoid disturbing anyone.
Gracefully – The dancer moved gracefully across the stage.

More Common Nouns

Farmer – The farmer worked hard to harvest the crops.
Teacher – The teacher explained the concept clearly.
Student – The student raised her hand to ask a question.
Doctor – The doctor checked the patient’s health.
Nurse – The nurse helped the child feel better.
Driver – The driver waited patiently at the traffic light.
Pilot – The pilot announced the landing time.
Artist – The artist painted a beautiful landscape.
Singer – The singer performed on stage to a cheering crowd.
Baker – The baker decorated the cake with fresh cream.
Neighbor – Our neighbor watered the plants while we were away.
Visitor – The museum was crowded with visitors.
Leader – The leader gave an inspiring speech.
Friend – My friend helped me with my homework.
Partner – She is my partner in the dance competition.
Parent – A parent always wants the best for their child.
Stranger – A stranger offered to help carry the heavy bags.
Child – The child ran happily through the garden.
Family – We’re having a family dinner tonight.
Customer – The customer left a generous tip for the waiter.
House – The house stood tall.
Home – She felt home warmth.
Room – The room felt cozy.
Door – The door creaked open.
Window – A window framed by sunlight.
Car – The car moved quickly.
Bus – The bus arrived late.
Train – The train departed now.
Plane – The plane soared high.
Boat – The boat rocked gently.
Street – The street bustled outside.
Road – The road stretched far.
City – The city glowed brightly.
Town – The town slept peacefully.
Village – The village remained quiet.
Country – The country looked green.
Farm – The farm-bred animals.
Market – The market sold fruit.
Shop – We shop often here.
Store – The store stocked well.
School – The school taught math.
Class – The class listened intently.
Office – The office stayed busy.
Building – A building towered above.

More Descriptive Adjectives

Thin – A thin sheet ripped.
Thick – A thick rug lay.
Tall – A tall tree swayed.
Short – A short line formed.
Wide – A wide gap showed.
Narrow – A narrow path appeared.
Young – A young child ran.
Old – An old clock ticked.
Fresh – Fresh air entered.
Stale – Stale bread crumbled.
Curious – A curious mind wonders.
Brave – A brave act shines.
Polite – A polite reply pleases.
Rude – A rude tone stings.
Silly – A silly story amused.
Lazy – A lazy cat lounged.
Noisy – A noisy crowd shouted.
Tired – A tired worker rested.
Empty – An empty bowl awaits.
Full – A full cup spilled.
Boring – A boring task dragged.
Exciting – An exciting match thrilled.
Huge – A huge whale surfaced.
Tiny – A tiny ant crawled.
Hungry – A hungry dog waited.
Thirsty – A thirsty runner drank.
Famous – A famous actor appeared.
Unknown – An unknown caller rang.
Modern – A modern home dazzled.
Ancient – Ancient ruins amazed visitors.
Healthy – A healthy meal nourished.
Sick – He felt sick inside.
Smart – A smart student solved.
Dull – A dull blade struggled.

More High-Frequency Adverbs

Very – I am very sure.
Quite – It is quite late.
Really – I really care.
Surely – Surely we agree.
Simply – We simply relax.
Mostly – It was mostly calm.
Exactly – Exactly correct indeed.
Truly – I truly understand.
Honestly – Honestly, I tried.
Easily – We finished easily.
Barely – He barely won.
Fully – It is fully done.
Partly – It is partly cloudy.
Brightly – Stars shine brightly.
Deeply – He sighed deeply.
Firmly – She held firmly.
Gently – Move gently, please.

More Verbs

Bring – Bring that here.
Keep – Keep this safe.
Hold – Hold it tight.
Cut – Cut paper evenly.
Paste – Paste the label.
Mix – Mix the batter.
Divide – Divide the portions.
Add – Add some sugar.
Remove – Remove the lid.
Draw – Draw a circle.
Paint – Paint the wall.
Explain – Explain your idea.
Guess – Guess the answer.
Imagine – Imagine bright futures.
Remember – Remember this moment.
Forget – Never forget kindness.
Accept – Accept the gift.
Refuse – Refuse bad offers.
Include – Include all details.
Decide – Decide now quickly.
Compare – Compare both options.
Choose – Choose wisely, please.
Meet – We meet today.
Join – Join the team.
Follow – Follow that sign.
Lead – Lead them forward.
Agree – We agree now.
Allow – Allow more time.
Appear – Clouds appear suddenly.
Happen – Events happen daily.

More Adjectives

Rich – A rich flavor emerged.
Poor – A poor family struggled.
Wrong – The wrong road misled us.
Right – The right answer helped.
Busy – A busy day passed.
Free – A free gift arrived.
Curly – Curly hair bounced.
Straight – Straight hair gleamed.
Crowded – A crowded room buzzed.
Hard – A hard surface hurt.
Soft – A soft pillow cushioned.
Sharp – A sharp pencil drew.
Rough – A rough texture scraped.
Smooth – Smooth fabric comforted.
Gentle – Gentle words healed.
Fierce – Fierce winds howled.
Real – A real story touched hearts.
Fake – A fake smile faded.
Glad – I feel glad now.
Proud – A proud parent beamed.
Serious – A serious tone emerged.
Funny – A funny joke echoed.
Clear – A clear view helped.
Possible – A possible solution exists.
Impossible – Impossible odds vanished.
Adequate – Adequate food sufficed.
Different – Different ideas clashed.
Similar – Similar tastes align.
Familiar – A familiar face smiled.
Strange – A strange noise startled me.

If you’re teaching kids or just want a fun way to learn high-frequency words, watch this video:

YouTube Video by Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel — High-Frequency Words

Final Thoughts: High-Frequency Words

Once you master high-frequency words, there is still much more to learn.

Check out the word guides below. I think you will enjoy them and that they will help you on your language journey.