BNC COCA Headword Lists (2K 3K 4K)

Paul Nation's BNC/COCA word family lists — headwords from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th thousand frequency bands. Based on frequency and range data from the British National Corpus and Corpus of Contemporary American English.

• 2K (1001–2000): High-frequency words; together with 1K, covers ~90% of most texts
• 3K (2001–3000): Upper high-frequency; combined 1K–3K covers ~93–95% of general text
• 4K (3001–4000): Mid-frequency; 1K–4K covers ~95–97% of general text

The 1K–2K lists were drawn from a 10-million-word corpus (6M spoken + 4M written). The 3K onwards used BNC/COCA rankings from Mark Davies.

2nd Thousand (2K) — 1000 headwords

accent access accident according account accuse ace active adapt admire adult advance advantage adventure advice advise affair affect agent aid alarm alcohol alive alter altogether amuse angel anger announce annoy anxious apartment appeal apple apply appoint appreciate approach april argue army arrest article aside asleep assist associate assume assure atmosphere attach attack attempt attend attention attitude attract august automatic available average avoid awake awkward background bacon bake balance banana band bang bare bark basis basket bat battery battle bay bean bee beef beer beg bell belong belt bend benefit bike bin bind biscuit bite bitter blame blank blanket bleed bless blind block blonde bloom boil bomb bond boom boot borrow boss bounce bow bowl brain brake branch brand brave breast breathe breed brick bridge brief brilliant broad brush buck bucket bug bump bunch burst bury butter button cable cage calculate calm camera canoe cans cap capable cape capital captain career carpet carrot cart cash cast castle casual ceiling cent centimetre century chain challenge champion channel chapter character charm chase chat cheat cheek cheer cheese chest chew chief chocolate chop cigarette circle circumstance citizen claim classic clever cliff clip cloth cloud clue coach coal coast combine command comment commerce commit committee common community compare competition complain complicate concentrate condition confuse connect conscious constant contact contain contract contribute convince cop cope copy correct cottage cotton cough council counter county cousin cow crack crash crawl cream create creature credit creep criminal crisp crowd crown cruel culture cure curious curl current customer damage dare dawn debt december decent decision deck decorate defence delight deliver demand deny department depress describe desert deserve design desire desk desperate destroy detail detect determine develop diet dine direct directed direction disappear disappoint discipline discuss disease disgust dish distance district disturb dive divide divorce doll dollar dozen drag dragon drama drawer drum duck due dump dust duty earn ease economy edit effect effort elder elect electric elephant email embarrass emotion empire encourage enemy energy engage engineer enormous entertain entire envelope environment equal equipment escape establish estate event eventually evidence evil exam examine example excellent exchange exercise exhaust exist expense expose extend extreme fail faint fairy faith familiar famous fan fancy fantastic fascinate fashion fault favour feather feature february female fence fetch file finance firm flag flame flash flight flip float flood flow fold folk fool foreign forgive forth fortnight fortune fox frame frankly frog frost fruit frustrate fry fund fur furniture future gain garage gate gather gay gear generation gentleman ghost giant gift glory goal golf gorgeous grab grace grade grand grant grin grocer guarantee guard guest guide guilty habit handy harm heap heaven hedge height hero hesitate hire hobby honey hook hotel identify idiot ignore ill illustrate image immediate impress improve inch include income increase incredible indicate individual industry influence injure innocent insist inspect instance instant instruct instrument intend intense intent interrupt interview introduce investigate invite iron item jacket jam january jaw jeans journey joy juice july june junior justice keen kilometre kindly knee knife knit knowledge laboratory labour lack lamb lamp lane language lasted lawn lawyer league lean leap legal lend length lesson library licence lid lightly likely limit lion loan locate log lone loose loss lower lump magazine magic mail maintain male mama manner map march marvel mask mass massive match mate material mathematics maximum measure meat medical medicine melt memory mental merry message metal metre microwave military mill minister minor minus mirror mission mix model modern monkey mood moon motor mount mouse mow mud murder muscle mystery nail nanny narrow nasty native navy neither nerve nervous nest newspaper non nor northern november nowhere nut oak object observe occasion occur october official onion operate opinion opportunity oppose opposite option ordinary organize original otherwise oven owe pan panic partner pat patch path patient pattern pause peace pen pension per percent perform period pet physical piano pie pig pile pin pine pink pipe pitch pity plain plane planet plastic plate pleasant pleasure plug pocket poem poet poison pole policy polish polite politics pollute pool popular population port positive possess potato pour practical practise pray prefer pregnant president pressure presume pretend prevent previous pride prime print privacy private process produce product profession progress project pronounce property propose protest proud prove provide pub pudding pump punch punish pup purchase pure purple purpose qualify quality quit quote range rapid rare rat ray react recall receive recipe reckon recognize recommend recover reduce refer refrigerator refuse regard region register regular relax release relief rely remain remark remind remove repair repeat replace represent require research reserve resist respect restaurant result retire rice ridiculous rip risk roar rob role roof root rope rot row royal rub rude ruin rush saint sake salad salary sale salt sand sandwich satisfy sauce sausage scale scene schedule score scratch scream screen screw seal search season seconds secret section seed seek select senior sentence separate september series sew shade shadow shame sharp shave shed sheep sheet shelf shell shelter shift shine shiver shock shore shove shower signal silence silver similar sink site ski skill skirt slave slide smart smash smooth snake snap social society sock soil soldier solid somewhat sore sorted soul soup southern spare species specific speech speed spell spin spirit split spoil spray spread stable staff stairs stamp standard starve states steady steak steam steel stiff stir stock stomach storm strawberry stream strength stress stretch string strip stroke struggle style success suck suffer sugar super supply surface surround survive suspect suspicion swallow swear sweep swing switch sword tale tank tap taxi tease technology teenage tempt tense tent th theatre therefore thief thin threat thus ticket tide tin tiny tip title toast toe toilet tomato tone tongue tool topic tough tour towel tower toy trace trade tradition traffic transfer trap tray trial trick truck trunk tune twin twist typical union unit unite university upper upset valley value various vary vegetable vehicle version victim village violent vote wage wander warn weak weapon weed weird welcome western whereas whip whistle wicked wing wipe wire wise witness wolf wool worm wound wrap yell

3rd Thousand (3K) — 1000 headwords

abandon abort abroad absence absorb abstract abuse academy accelerate accommodate accompany accomplish accountable accumulate accurate ache achieve acknowledge acquire acquisition acre addict adequate adjust administration administrative administrator admission adolescent adopt advocate affection affirm agency agenda aggressive agriculture aim aircraft airline album alert alien allege alliance allocate ally alongside alternative amend analyse analyst ancient angle annual anticipate anxiety apology appropriate approve approximate archaeology architect architecture arise armed aspect assault assemble assembly assert assess asset assign assumption athlete atom attribute audience audit author authorise authority award bacterium ban bargain barrier beam behave behaviour belief bench bias bible bid biological bishop blast blend boost border boundary broadcast budget burden bureau cabinet campaign cancel cancer candidate capacity capture carbon carve catalogue category catholic cattle cease celebrate cell ceremony chairman chamber characteristic charity chart charter chemical chill circuit circulate cite civil civilian civilise clarify clause client climate clinic cluster coalition code coin coincide collaborate collapse colleague colony column combat comedy commission communicate communist companion compensate compete competent complaint complex component compose compound comprehensive comprise compromise conceive concept concert conclude conclusion concrete condemn conduct confer confess confidence confident confine confirm conflict confront congress consent consequence consequent conservative conserve considerable consist consistent constitute constitution constrain construct consult consume consumption contemporary contend content contest context continent contradict contrast controversy convention convert convey convict cooperate coordinate core corporate correlate correspond correspondent corridor corrupt counsel courage craft crew crisis criteria critic criticise criticism crop crucial cruise crush crystal currency curriculum curtain curve custom cycle damn damp data database debate decade declare decline decrease dedicate defeat defend defendant deficit define delay delegate deliberate democracy democrat demonstrate dense depict deposit deputy derive descend description designate despite destruction devastate device devote dialogue dictate differ digital dimension diplomat disabled disagree disaster disc discharge discount discourse discreet discriminate dismiss disorder display dispose dispute disrupt distant distinct distinguish distribute diverse division dna doctrine document domestic dominant dominate donate dose draft drain drift drill duke eager eastern echo edition effective efficient elaborate electronic element elevate eliminate elite embrace emerge emergency emit emphasis emphasise enable encounter endorse endure enforce enhance ensure enterprise enthusiasm enthusiastic entitle entrance entry episode equation equivalent era error essay essential estimate etc ethnic evaluate evident evolution evolve exceed exception excess exclude exclusive execute executive exhibit expand expansion expenditure experiment expert explicit exploit explore explosion export extension extensive extent external extract extraordinary fabric facilitate facility factor factory faculty fade failure false fantasy fate federal fee feminist fertile festival fibre fiction fierce filter firms flavour flee flesh flexible focus forecast formal format formation former formula foster foundation founded fragment framework frequency frequent fuel fulfil function fundamental funeral furthermore gallery gang gap gaze gender gene generate generous genetic genuine geography gesture global glow goods gradual graduate grain graphic grasp grateful grave gravity greet grip gross guideline guitar halt harbor harsh hazard headquarters heal heel hence heritage highlight highway hint hip holy horror host hostile household humour hypothesis ideal ideology immigrant immune impact imperial implement implicate imply import importance impose impression incentive incident incorporate independence independent index inevitable infant infect inflate ingredient inhabit inherit initial initiate inject innovate input inquire insert insight inspire install instinct institute institution integrate intellectual intelligence interact interfere interior internal international interpret intervene intimate invasion invent invest irony isolate jail jet joint journal journalist jury justify label landscape latter laughter launch layer leak lease leather lecture legend legislate legitimate liable liberal liberate liberty likeness link liquid literal literary literature lobby lodge logic loyal luxury magnet majority manifest manipulate manual manufacture margin marine mature mayor meanwhile mechanic mechanism media medium menu mere merge method migrate mild miner minimum ministry missile mixture mobile mode moderate modest modify module molecule monitor monster moral moreover mortal mortgage motion motive multiple museum mutual myth naked narrate negative neglect negotiate net network neutral nevertheless nod nominate notion novel nuclear numerous objected objective oblige obtain occupation occupy ocean offence offend opera opponent oral organ organic oriented origin outcome outline output outrage overall overcome overlook overseas overwhelm pace pad palace pale palm panel paragraph parallel parish parliament participant participate passage passenger passion patients pave peak peasant peer penalty pepper perceive perception permanent permission permit persist personality personnel perspective persuade petrol phase phenomenon philosophy phrase pilot pit platform plot poll portion portrait pose potential poverty powder practitioner praise precede precise predict premise presence preserve priest primary principal principle prior priority privilege prize probe procedure proceed professor profile profit profound prohibit prominent promote prompt proof proportion prosecute prospect prosper protein province provision provoke psychiatry psychology publication publish pupil pursue puzzle quantity racial radiate radical rage raid rail rally random rank rape ratio rational raw rear rebel receiver reception recession recognition recruit reflect reform refuge regime regret regulate reinforce reject relative relatives relevant relieve religion religious reluctant remedy remote render reproduce republic reputation request rescue resemble reside resign resolution resolve resort resource respective respond response restore restrain restrict resume retail retain retreat reveal revenue reverse review revise revive revolution reward rhythm ritual rival romantic route routine rumour rural sacrifice sample sanction satellite satisfaction scan scandal scatter scheme scholar scope sculpt secretary sector segment seize senate senses sensible sensitive sequence session severe shield shortly shrug sigh significance significant silent silk simultaneous sin slice slope software sole solution solve sophisticated source sovereign specify speculate spill sponsor squeeze stain stake statistic status statute stem stimulate strain strategy strict structure studio stun submit subsequent subsidy substance substantial substitute subtle suburb succeed succession sufficient suicide sum summary summit superior supervise supplement supreme surgery survey suspend sustain sweat swell symbol sympathy symptom tackle tactic talent target task technical technique temperature temporary tender tennis territory terror text theme theoretical theory therapy thereby thorough thrill tissue ton toss tournament tragedy trail transact transform transition translate transmit transport treasure treaty tremendous trend tribe trigger triumph troop tube tunnel ultimate undergo underlie undertake uniform unique unity universe update urban urge urgent utility vague valid variety vast venture versus vessel veteran via vice victory violate violence virtual virtue virus visible vision visual vital volume voluntary volunteer vulnerable wealth weave weigh welfare whisper withdraw yield youth zone

4th Thousand (4K) — 1000 headwords

abnormal aboard abrupt absent absurd abundant accountant accustom acid acquaint activate acute adhere adjacent administer adverse aesthetic affiliate aggression agony align alike alley alpha alternate aluminium amateur ambassador ambiguous ambition ambitious ambulance amid ancestor anchor animate ankle anniversary anonymous anthropology antique appal applicable applicant appraise arch archive arena armour arouse array arrogant arrow articulate artificial ash aspire assassin astonish astronomy attain attorney auction audio authentic automobile autonomy avenue await axe aye ballet balloon ballot bankrupt barn barrel baseball basement basin bass bastard bathe battered bead beard beast behalf belly beneficial betray bicycle biography biology bizarre blade blaze blink blur boarder boast bold bolt bonus booking bounds boxed brass breach breeze brew bride briefed broker bronze bruise brute bubble bulb bulk bull bullet bully bundle bureaucracy bureaucrat butterfly buzz cab cabin cafe calendar calorie campus canal candle canvas capitalism capitalist cargo carriage cartoon casualty cater cathedral caution cautious cave celebrity cemetery censor census certificate certify champagne chancellor chaos chapel chef chemistry chin choir choke cholesterol chronic chronicle chunk cinema civic clash classification classify clay clerk click cling clone closure clutch coffin cognitive coherent collar colonel comic commentator commodity commute compact comparative compatible compel competence compile complement compliance comply comprehend compress con conceal concede concession confidential configure conform congratulate congregate conscience consensus consistency console consolidate conspiracy constituency contaminate contemplate contempt contingent contrary convenience convenient conversion copper copyright cord corn corps costume couch counterpart coup courtesy credible critique crude crumble crust cube cult cultivate curse custody cynical dam dash deadline deaf debut decay decisive deduct deem deer defect defer deficiency defy delicate demography depart departure dependence deploy deprive despair despatch destination destiny detach detain deter deteriorate devil devise diabetes diagnose diagnosis diagram dial diameter diamond diary dictionary differentiate digest dignity dilemma dim diminish dioxide dip disadvantage discard disclose disclosure discourage disguise disperse displace dissolve distort distract distress dividend divine dock documentary dolphin domain dome donor dot drip drown dual dull duration dwell dynamic eagle earl ecological ego elbow electron elegant elementary eligible embassy embody emperor empirical enact enclose endeavour endow enlarge enlighten enrich enrol entity entrepreneur envy equity erect erupt escort essence et ethical ethics evacuate eve evenly evoke exaggerate excavate exclaim exclusion exempt exert exile exit exotic expedition expertise explode eyebrow faction fake fame fare fatal fax federate feminine ferry fever fined fiscal fist flank flap flaw fleet flick flicker fling flock flour flourish fluid flush fog fond forbid fore forehead foresee forge fork fort forum fossil foul fraction fracture fragile franchise fraud fringe frontier frown furious furnish fuse galaxy gallon gamble garlic gasp gauge genius genre geology geometry glamour glare gleam glide glimpse gloom glove glue goat gospel gossip graph gravel graze grease greed greenhouse grid grief grill grim grind guardian guerilla gulf gut habitat hammer handicap handsome harass hardware harmony harvest haste hatch haul haunt heir helicopter helmet herb herd hierarchy hollow homosexual hood hop horizon horizontal hormone horn hostage hug humble humiliate hurricane hut hybrid hydrogen identical ideological idle illuminate illusion imitate immense immigrate impair impatient implicit impulse incidence incline inclusion indifferent indigenous indirect induce indulge infer infinite inflame informal infrastructure inherent inhibit ink inn innovative insect insulate insult intact integral integrity intelligent interface interim interval intimidate intrigue invade invoke irritate jar jazz jerk jewellery judicial jungle jurisdiction juvenile keyboard kidnap kilogram kin kit kneel knot lace ladder landlord lap laser laundry leaf legacy legislature leisure lemon lens lesbian lever lick lieutenant likewise limb linear linger linguistic literacy lively liver longing loom loop lounge lung lyric magnificent magnitude mammal mandate manuscript marble marched mat matrix maximise meantime medal mediate medieval melody merchant mercy merit metaphor metropolitan mid mighty militant milligram mineral minimal minimise miracle miserable mist mobilise mock moisture momentum monarch monetary monopoly monument mould mourn ms multiply municipal murmur mushroom mutter navigate necessity needle nightmare noble nonetheless nonsense noon norm notorious nought nursery nutrition obey obscure obsess obstacle obstruct odour offset olive omit ongoing oppress opt optic optimist orbit orchestra organism originate orthodox ounce outfit outlet outlook overhead overlap overnight oversee owl oxygen ozone packet parade paradox parameter particle passive patent patience patriot patrol patron pearl peculiar peel peered pencil penetrate periphery petition physician physics pilgrim pill pillow pinch pioneer plague plaintiff plea plead pledge plunge plural poke polar pond pope portfolio portray poster postpone preach precious predator predecessor predominant prejudice preliminary premier premium preoccupy prescribe prescription presidency prestige prevail prevalent prey primitive privatise proclaim prolong prop proposition prostitute protocol publicity pulse pursuit questionnaire quota rack ram ranger rap rattle realm receipt recipient reconcile recreation recur recycle refine refresh regain regress rehabilitate rehearse reign relevance repay repress resent residue retrieve rhetoric rib ridge rifle rigid rigour riot roast robot rocked rocket rod romance roses rotate rubber rug sack sacred salmon sane satisfactory savage scar scarce scenario scent sceptic scholarship scout scramble scrap scrape script scrutiny secular seldom seminar senator sensation sentencing sentiment sergeant shaft shallow shatter sheer sheriff shrink signature simulate sincere sip sketch skip skull slam slap sleeve slim slot slump snatch soak soap soar soccer socialist sociology sodium solar solo span spark sparkle spatial specimen spectacle spectacular spectrum sphere spice spike spine spit splash spontaneous spoon spouse spur spy squad stab stack stadium stagger stall stance startle statue steep steer stereotype stern stimulus sting stitch straightforward strand strap straw streak stride stripe stroll stuffed stumble subjected subjective subordinate subscribe subsidiary sued suite summon superb supper suppress surge surgeon surplus surrender swift syndrome synthesis tablespoon tag tangle telecom telescope temple tenant terminal terminate terrace terrify testament testimony textile texture theft theology thesis thigh thou thread threshold thrive thrust thumb thunder tick tiger tile tilt timber tobacco tolerate torture toxic tragic trait transcript transplant trauma tremble triangle tribunal tribute trim trophy tropics trousers trustee tuck tug tumble tumour turnover tutor undermine unify upgrade upwards utilise utter validate vanish veil vein vendor venue verbal verdict verify verse vertical veterinarian viable vibrate vigorous villa virgin vitamin vivid vocal vocation volcano wagon waist waiter wan ward warehouse warrant warrior wax weary webs weep wells whale whiskey widow wit worship wreck wrist