Word List
Year 2 Vocabulary List
Year 2 learners can read fluently and are developing preferences as readers. This list supports both independent reading and structured writing across a range of topics.
Good for
Year 2 students and educators supporting early fluent reading.
Focus
Story vocabulary, topic language for science and humanities, and academic connectives.
Choose a print mode to keep a copy for offline study.
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001
Word
able
adjective
Meaning
Having the skill or power to do something.
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002
Word
action
noun
Meaning
The process of doing something to achieve a result.
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003
Word
addition
noun
Meaning
the process of adding numbers together to find a total
#
004
Word
adventure
noun
Meaning
an exciting experience that involves something new or unknown
#
005
Word
agree
verb
Meaning
To have the same opinion as someone else.
#
006
Word
allow
verb
Meaning
To let someone do something; to permit.
#
007
Word
although
conjunction
Meaning
even though; despite the fact that
#
008
Word
ancestor
noun
Meaning
a person from your family who lived a long time before you
#
009
Word
ancient
adjective
Meaning
very old; from a very long time ago
#
010
Word
anxious
adjective
Meaning
worried and a little scared about something that might happen
#
011
Word
appear
verb
Meaning
To start to be seen; to come into view.
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012
Word
argue
verb
Meaning
To give reasons for or against something; to disagree.
#
013
Word
artefact
noun
Meaning
an object made by humans in the past that has historical interest
#
014
Word
astronaut
noun
Meaning
a person trained to travel and work in space
#
015
Word
attention
noun
Meaning
The act of carefully watching or listening to something.
#
016
Word
attract
verb
Meaning
To make something or someone come towards you.
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017
Word
avoid
verb
Meaning
To keep away from something or someone.
#
018
Word
balance
noun
Meaning
A steady position without falling to one side.
#
019
Word
base
noun
Meaning
The bottom part of something that it rests on.
#
020
Word
battery
noun
Meaning
a small device that stores electrical energy to power other devices
#
021
Word
begin
verb
Meaning
To start doing something; to commence.
#
022
Word
border
noun
Meaning
the line that marks where one country or area ends and another begins
#
023
Word
bottom
noun
Meaning
The lowest part of something.
#
024
Word
calendar
noun
Meaning
a chart showing all the days, weeks, and months of the year
#
025
Word
camera
noun
Meaning
a device used to take photographs or record video
#
026
Word
camouflage
noun
Meaning
colours or patterns that help an animal blend in with its surroundings
#
027
Word
carnivore
noun
Meaning
an animal that eats only other animals
#
028
Word
category
noun
Meaning
a group of things that share similar features
#
029
Word
cause
noun
Meaning
the person, thing, or event that makes something happen
#
030
Word
celebration
noun
Meaning
a special activity done to mark a happy occasion
#
031
Word
ceremony
noun
Meaning
a formal event done to celebrate or mark a special occasion
#
032
Word
chance
noun
Meaning
The possibility that something might happen.
#
033
Word
chapter
noun
Meaning
one of the numbered sections that a book is divided into
#
034
Word
citizen
noun
Meaning
a person who belongs to and is part of a country or community
#
035
Word
classify
verb
Meaning
to sort things into groups based on what they have in common
#
036
Word
climate
noun
Meaning
the usual weather conditions in a particular area over many years
#
037
Word
communicate
verb
Meaning
to share information or feelings with others through speaking, writing, or signs
#
038
Word
compare
verb
Meaning
to look at two or more things to see how they are alike or different
#
039
Word
compost
noun
Meaning
rotted plant material used to improve soil for growing plants
#
040
Word
conclusion
noun
Meaning
the final decision or understanding reached after thinking something through
#
041
Word
confused
adjective
Meaning
not sure what is happening or what to do
#
042
Word
consonant
noun
Meaning
any letter of the alphabet that is not a vowel
#
043
Word
contain
verb
Meaning
To have something inside; to hold.
#
044
Word
continent
noun
Meaning
one of the seven very large areas of land on Earth
#
045
Word
continue
verb
Meaning
To keep doing something without stopping.
#
046
Word
culture
noun
Meaning
the ideas, customs, and way of life shared by a group of people
#
047
Word
dangerous
adjective
Meaning
able to cause harm or injury; not safe
#
048
Word
delighted
adjective
Meaning
very happy and pleased about something
#
049
Word
descendant
noun
Meaning
a person who is related to someone who lived long ago
#
050
Word
determined
adjective
Meaning
very decided about doing something and not giving up
#
051
Word
diagram
noun
Meaning
a drawing that explains how something works or what it looks like
#
052
Word
dialogue
noun
Meaning
the words spoken by characters in a story
#
053
Word
dictionary
noun
Meaning
a book that gives the meanings and correct spellings of words
#
054
Word
digital
adjective
Meaning
relating to information stored or sent as numbers, used in computers and phones
#
055
Word
discovery
noun
Meaning
finding something that was previously unknown
#
056
Word
distance
noun
Meaning
how far it is from one place to another
#
057
Word
drought
noun
Meaning
a long period when there is very little or no rain
#
058
Word
earthquake
noun
Meaning
a sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement in the Earth's crust
#
059
Word
effect
noun
Meaning
a change that is caused by something else happening
#
060
Word
electricity
noun
Meaning
a form of energy that powers lights, machines, and appliances
#
061
Word
embarrassed
adjective
Meaning
feeling awkward and self-conscious because of something
#
062
Word
energy
noun
Meaning
the power to do work or be active
#
063
Word
enjoy
verb
Meaning
To get pleasure from something.
#
064
Word
enormous
adjective
Meaning
very, very large in size
#
065
Word
environment
noun
Meaning
the natural world of land, water, plants, and animals around us
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066
Word
equator
noun
Meaning
an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, equally distant from both poles
#
067
Word
estimate
verb
Meaning
to make a careful guess about an amount without counting exactly
#
068
Word
evidence
noun
Meaning
information or signs that help show whether something is true
#
069
Word
example
noun
Meaning
one thing that shows what a group is like
#
070
Word
expect
verb
Meaning
To think something will happen or someone will arrive.
#
071
Word
experiment
noun
Meaning
a test done carefully to find out what happens under certain conditions
#
072
Word
festival
noun
Meaning
a time set aside to celebrate something, often with music, food, and activities
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073
Word
fiction
noun
Meaning
a story about people or events that are made up, not real
#
074
Word
finally
adverb
Meaning
at the end, after everything else has happened
#
075
Word
firstly
adverb
Meaning
before anything else; to begin with
#
076
Word
flood
noun
Meaning
when so much water covers the land that it causes damage
#
077
Word
foundation
noun
Meaning
the base on which a building or idea is built
#
078
Word
frequent
adjective
Meaning
happening often; common
#
079
Word
frustrated
adjective
Meaning
feeling annoyed because you cannot do something easily
#
080
Word
generation
noun
Meaning
all the people born and living at about the same time
#
081
Word
glossary
noun
Meaning
a list at the back of a book that explains what special words mean
#
082
Word
government
noun
Meaning
the group of people who make decisions and rules for a country
#
083
Word
grateful
adjective
Meaning
feeling thankful for something good that has happened
#
084
Word
gravity
noun
Meaning
the force that pulls everything towards the Earth's surface
#
085
Word
grumpy
adjective
Meaning
bad-tempered and a little angry
#
086
Word
habitat
noun
Meaning
the natural place where an animal or plant lives
#
087
Word
happen
verb
Meaning
To take place or occur.
#
088
Word
harvest
noun
Meaning
the time when crops are gathered in from the fields
#
089
Word
heading
noun
Meaning
a title at the top of a section of text
#
090
Word
herbivore
noun
Meaning
an animal that eats only plants
#
091
Word
heritage
noun
Meaning
the things passed down from earlier generations, like customs and buildings
#
092
Word
history
noun
Meaning
the study of things that happened in the past
#
093
Word
horizon
noun
Meaning
the line in the distance where the sky appears to meet the land or sea
#
094
Word
horrible
adjective
Meaning
very unpleasant or frightening
#
095
Word
however
adverb
Meaning
but; in a different way than what was said before
#
096
Word
hundreds
noun
Meaning
the place value column with three digits, meaning groups of one hundred
#
097
Word
illustrator
noun
Meaning
the person who draws the pictures in a book
#
098
Word
improve
verb
Meaning
to make something better than it was before
#
099
Word
include
verb
Meaning
to have something as a part of a larger whole
#
100
Word
increase
verb
Meaning
To become larger in number or amount.
#
101
Word
independent
adjective
Meaning
able to do things on your own without needing help
#
102
Word
information
noun
Meaning
facts and details about something
#
103
Word
instead
adverb
Meaning
In the place of something else; as an alternative.
#
104
Word
instruction
noun
Meaning
directions that tell you how to do something step by step
#
105
Word
invention
noun
Meaning
a new thing or process created by someone for the first time
#
106
Word
jealous
adjective
Meaning
upset because someone else has something you want
#
107
Word
join
verb
Meaning
To connect things together; to become part of a group.
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108
Word
journey
noun
Meaning
travel from one place to another, often taking some time
#
109
Word
keyboard
noun
Meaning
a set of keys on a computer or typewriter used to enter text
#
110
Word
laboratory
noun
Meaning
a room or building where scientists do experiments
#
111
Word
landmark
noun
Meaning
a well-known place or object used to help find your way
#
112
Word
list
noun
Meaning
a number of items written one after another
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113
Word
magical
adjective
Meaning
so wonderful that it seems like it could be magic
#
114
Word
magnet
noun
Meaning
an object that attracts iron and certain other metals towards it
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115
Word
mammal
noun
Meaning
a warm-blooded animal that feeds its babies with milk
#
116
Word
manufacture
verb
Meaning
to make goods in large numbers, usually using machines in a factory
#
117
Word
material
noun
Meaning
what something is made of, such as wood, plastic, or metal
#
118
Word
meanwhile
adverb
Meaning
at the same time as something else is happening
#
119
Word
microphone
noun
Meaning
a device that picks up sound and converts it to electrical signals
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120
Word
microscope
noun
Meaning
a scientific instrument that makes very tiny things look bigger
#
121
Word
migration
noun
Meaning
the movement of animals from one place to another as seasons change
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122
Word
modern
adjective
Meaning
of recent times; new and up to date
#
123
Word
monument
noun
Meaning
a structure built to remember an important person or event
#
124
Word
multiply
verb
Meaning
to add a number to itself a certain number of times
#
125
Word
mystery
noun
Meaning
something that is not known or cannot be easily explained
#
126
Word
narrator
noun
Meaning
the voice that tells the story to the reader
#
127
Word
nature
noun
Meaning
the physical world including plants, animals, rivers, and weather
#
128
Word
nonfiction
noun
Meaning
writing about real people, events, and facts
#
129
Word
nutrient
noun
Meaning
a part of food that your body uses to stay healthy
#
130
Word
offer
verb
Meaning
To present something for someone to take or use.
#
131
Word
omnivore
noun
Meaning
an animal that eats both plants and other animals
#
132
Word
opinion
noun
Meaning
what you personally think or believe about something
#
133
Word
orbit
noun
Meaning
the curved path an object takes around a larger object in space
#
134
Word
order
noun
Meaning
The arrangement or sequence of things.
#
135
Word
organise
verb
Meaning
to arrange things in a sensible order
#
136
Word
paragraph
noun
Meaning
a group of sentences about one main idea
#
137
Word
particular
adjective
Meaning
specific; relating to one person, group, or thing
#
138
Word
partner
noun
Meaning
A person who shares something with another.
#
139
Word
planet
noun
Meaning
a large ball of rock or gas that moves around a star such as the Sun
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140
Word
plot
noun
Meaning
the series of events that happen in a story
#
141
Word
pollution
noun
Meaning
harmful substances put into the environment, making it dirty or unsafe
#
142
Word
population
noun
Meaning
the number of people or animals living in a particular place
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143
Word
practise
verb
Meaning
to do something many times in order to get better at it
#
144
Word
predator
noun
Meaning
an animal that hunts and eats other animals
#
145
Word
prepare
verb
Meaning
to get ready for something in advance
#
146
Word
present
verb
Meaning
to show or tell something to an audience
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147
Word
produce
verb
Meaning
to make or grow something
#
148
Word
property
noun
Meaning
a quality or feature of an object, like being shiny or hard
#
149
Word
punctuation
noun
Meaning
marks like full stops and commas that help make writing clear
#
150
Word
quarter
noun
Meaning
one of four equal parts that something is divided into
#
151
Word
rainforest
noun
Meaning
a dense forest with a lot of rainfall and huge variety of plants and animals
#
152
Word
reach
verb
Meaning
To stretch out to get something; to arrive at a place.
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153
Word
recycle
verb
Meaning
to process used materials so they can be used again
#
154
Word
region
noun
Meaning
a large area of land that has features different from surrounding areas
#
155
Word
relieved
adjective
Meaning
feeling much better after something you were worried about is over
#
156
Word
renewable
adjective
Meaning
something that can be replaced or replenished naturally over time
#
157
Word
reptile
noun
Meaning
a cold-blooded animal with scales, like a snake or lizard
#
158
Word
research
noun
Meaning
careful study of a subject to discover new facts
#
159
Word
resource
noun
Meaning
something useful that is available to be used, like water or timber
#
160
Word
responsibility
noun
Meaning
something you are in charge of and must take care of
#
161
Word
rubbish
noun
Meaning
things you throw away because they are no longer needed or wanted
#
162
Word
rural
adjective
Meaning
relating to the countryside and farming areas
#
163
Word
satellite
noun
Meaning
an object that moves around a planet; the Moon is Earth's satellite
#
164
Word
scene
noun
Meaning
A view of a place; a part of a play or film.
#
165
Word
screen
noun
Meaning
the flat surface of a device that displays images and text
#
166
Word
search
verb
Meaning
To look for something carefully.
#
167
Word
sense
noun
Meaning
One of the five ways of knowing the world; good judgement.
#
168
Word
sequence
noun
Meaning
the order in which things happen or are arranged
#
169
Word
ship
noun
Meaning
A large vessel for travelling on water.
#
170
Word
side
noun
Meaning
A flat surface or edge of something.
#
171
Word
similar
adjective
Meaning
almost the same as something else but not exactly
#
172
Word
since
conjunction
Meaning
From a time in the past until now.
#
173
Word
size
noun
Meaning
How big or small something is.
#
174
Word
skeleton
noun
Meaning
all the bones inside a body that give it shape and support
#
175
Word
skin
noun
Meaning
The outer layer covering a person's or animal's body.
#
176
Word
solar
adjective
Meaning
relating to or using energy from the Sun
#
177
Word
space
noun
Meaning
An empty area; the region beyond Earth's atmosphere.
#
178
Word
speaker
noun
Meaning
a device that produces sound from an electrical signal
#
179
Word
speed
noun
Meaning
The rate at which something moves.
#
180
Word
spend
verb
Meaning
To use money to pay for something; to pass time.
#
181
Word
spoke
verb
Meaning
Past tense of speak; said something.
#
182
Word
staff
noun
Meaning
The people who work for an organisation.
#
183
Word
stage
noun
Meaning
A period of development; a raised platform for performances.
#
184
Word
stand
verb
Meaning
To be in an upright position on your feet.
#
185
Word
state
verb
Meaning
To say something clearly and definitely.
#
186
Word
suddenly
adverb
Meaning
happening very quickly and without being expected
#
187
Word
suggest
verb
Meaning
to offer an idea for someone to think about
#
188
Word
summarise
verb
Meaning
to give a short description covering the main points
#
189
Word
surprising
adjective
Meaning
unexpected; causing you to feel surprise
#
190
Word
survival
noun
Meaning
managing to stay alive, especially in difficult conditions
#
191
Word
syllable
noun
Meaning
a single beat of sound in a word — "cat" has one, "kit-ten" has two
#
192
Word
symbol
noun
Meaning
a picture or object that stands for something else
#
193
Word
technology
noun
Meaning
machines, equipment, and systems developed using scientific knowledge
#
194
Word
telescope
noun
Meaning
a device with lenses that makes faraway objects look closer
#
195
Word
temperature
noun
Meaning
the measure of how hot or cold something is
#
196
Word
terrific
adjective
Meaning
very good and impressive; excellent
#
197
Word
therefore
adverb
Meaning
for this reason; as a result
#
198
Word
timeline
noun
Meaning
a diagram showing events in the order they happened
#
199
Word
tiny
adjective
Meaning
very, very small in size
#
200
Word
tornado
noun
Meaning
a violent spinning column of air that touches the ground, causing destruction
#
201
Word
tradition
noun
Meaning
a custom or way of doing things passed down through families over time
#
202
Word
transport
noun
Meaning
a way of moving people or goods from one place to another
#
203
Word
understand
verb
Meaning
to know the meaning of something
#
204
Word
unusual
adjective
Meaning
not common or ordinary; different from what is expected
#
205
Word
urban
adjective
Meaning
relating to a town or city
#
206
Word
valuable
adjective
Meaning
worth a lot; very important or useful
#
207
Word
vegetation
noun
Meaning
all the plants that grow in a particular place
#
208
Word
visible
adjective
Meaning
able to be seen with the eye
#
209
Word
vowel
noun
Meaning
the letters a, e, i, o, u that make open sounds
#
210
Word
wonderful
adjective
Meaning
making you feel amazed and full of delight
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