33,469 Words That Start With "S"
33,469 words that start with "S" in our 199K-word dictionary.
Browse the complete list of 33,469 English words starting with "S". Each word in the grid below shows its IPA pronunciation, CEFR difficulty level (A1 beginner up to C2 mastery), and a one-line plain-English definition. Click any word to open its full dictionary entry. Use the filters to narrow by length, part of speech, or learner level.
Most Common Words That Start With "S" (Top 1k)
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Sad /sæd/adj A1
Feeling unhappy or upset about something that happened.
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Sale /seɪl/noun A1
When a store sells products to customers, or when prices are reduced to sell more items quickly.
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Say /seɪ/verb A1
Use your voice to speak or tell words.
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Sea /siː/noun A2
A large area of salt water with land around it.
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See /siː/verb A1
To encounter or have a meeting with someone face-to-face.
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Seem /siːm/verb A2
To look like or appear to be something, based on what you see or hear.
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Seen /siːn/verb A1
The third form of the verb see, used with have/has/had in perfect tenses.
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Sees /siːz/verb A1
When he/she/it perceives something by looking; the -s form for present tense.
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Sent /sɛnt/verb A1
Past form of send — you sent a message means you made it go to someone.
Less Common Words That Start With "S" (Top 5k+)
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Safe /seɪf/adj A1
Not in danger; protected and able to be without worry about being hurt.
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Saga /ˈsɑːɡə/noun C2
A long story about events happening over many years, often told within a family or community; a sprawling narrative.
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Sail /seɪl/verb B1
To move across water in a boat, often using the wind to push the sails forward.
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Salad /ˈsæləd/noun A1
A healthy meal or side dish made from vegetables that are usually eaten cold and covered with sauce.
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Salt /sɔːlt/noun A1
A white mineral powder that tastes salty and is used to flavor food and preserve meat or vegetables.
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Same /seɪm/adj A1
Exactly like another person or thing.
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Sand /sænd/noun A1
Small grains of rock on the beach.
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Sauce /sɔːs/noun B1
A flavorful liquid or mixture you add to food for taste and moisture.
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Save /seɪv/verb A1
Put something away so you can use it later, or keep someone from danger.
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Scale /skeɪl/noun A2
A device for weighing things, or a series of levels or sizes.
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Scene /siːn/noun A2
A moment in a movie or play, or something you see happening.
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Scent /sent/noun A2
A smell that you notice, often from flowers, perfume, or food.
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Scoff /skɔːf/verb C1
Reject or criticize something in a rude, contemptuous way. Express strong disbelief or scorn about an idea.
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Scope /skəʊp/noun B2
The range or limits of what something covers. How much or how far something goes. The space or opportunity to do something.
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Score /skɔːr/noun A1
The number of points you earn in a game or test.
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Scrum /skrʌm/noun B2
A method where teams work in short cycles to build and improve products quickly with regular feedback.
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Seam /siːm/noun A2
The line connecting two pieces of material stitched together in clothing or fabric.
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Seas /siːz/noun A2
Multiple large bodies of salt water, such as the Mediterranean Sea or Caribbean Sea.
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Seed /siːd/noun A1
The tiny part of a plant that you put in soil to grow a new plant.
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Seek /siːk/verb A2
To look for or try to find someone or something.
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Self /sɛlf/noun B1
You as an individual; your own mind and body.
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Sell /sɛl/verb A2
Give something to someone and receive payment in return.
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Send /sɛnd/verb A1
Make something travel from one place to another person.
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Sense /sens/noun B1
One of five ways you perceive the world (seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling); or the ability to understand situations and make good decisions.
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Serve /sɜːrv/verb A1
To give or provide something to someone, usually food, drink, or help.
566 More Words That Start With "S" (definitions coming soon)
Words That Start With "S" by Length
2 Letter Words That Start With "S" (20)
See all 20 2-letter words that start with "S" →
3 Letter Words That Start With "S" (132)
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Sad /sæd/adj A1
Feeling unhappy or upset about something that happened.
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Say /seɪ/verb A1
Use your voice to speak or tell words.
See all 132 3-letter words that start with "S" →
4 Letter Words That Start With "S" (555)
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Safe /seɪf/adj A1
Not in danger; protected and able to be without worry about being hurt.
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Saga /ˈsɑːɡə/noun C2
A long story about events happening over many years, often told within a family or community; a sprawling narrative.
See all 555 4-letter words that start with "S" →
5 Letter Words That Start With "S" (1,690)
See all 1,690 5-letter words that start with "S" →
6 Letter Words That Start With "S" (2,969)
See all 2,969 6-letter words that start with "S" →
7 Letter Words That Start With "S" (4,230)
See all 4,230 7-letter words that start with "S" →
8 Letter Words That Start With "S" (5,558)
See all 5,558 8-letter words that start with "S" →
9 Letter Words That Start With "S" (5,345)
See all 5,345 9-letter words that start with "S" →
10 Letter Words That Start With "S" (4,454)
See all 4,454 10-letter words that start with "S" →
11 Letter Words That Start With "S" (3,192)
See all 3,192 11-letter words that start with "S" →
12 Letter Words That Start With "S" (2,286)
See all 2,286 12-letter words that start with "S" →
13 Letter Words That Start With "S" (1,513)
See all 1,513 13-letter words that start with "S" →
14 Letter Words That Start With "S" (986)
See all 986 14-letter words that start with "S" →
15 Letter Words That Start With "S" (539)
Words That Start With "S" by Part of Speech
Nouns That Start With "S" (262)
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Salary /ˈsæləri/noun A2
Money that a person earns from their job, paid regularly by their employer.
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Sale /seɪl/noun A1
When a store sells products to customers, or when prices are reduced to sell more items quickly.
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Sea /siː/noun A2
A large area of salt water with land around it.
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Sex /sɛks/noun A2
Whether someone or an animal is male or female; the physical difference between males and females.
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She /ʃiː/noun A1
A word that means a female person or animal; you use 'she' instead of repeating the woman's or girl's name.
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Ship /ʃɪp/noun A1
A large boat that carries people or goods across the sea.
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Shirt /ʃɜːrt/noun A1
A piece of clothing for the upper body, usually with sleeves.
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Side /saɪd/noun A1
The right or left part of something, not the front or back.
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Sight /saɪt/noun A1
Your ability to see things with your eyes.
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Sir /sɜːr/noun A1
A respectful word to speak to or about a man.
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Six /sɪks/noun A1
The number between five and seven, written as 6.
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Sky /skaɪ/noun A1
The space above you with clouds, sun, and stars.
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Son /sʌn/noun A1
A boy or male child of a mother and father.
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Sport /spɔːrt/noun A1
An activity where people compete or exercise, like football or tennis.
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Spring /sprɪŋ/noun A1
The time of year when it gets warmer and plants start to grow.
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Square /skwɛər/noun A1
A shape with four equal corners and sides.
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Step /stɛp/noun A1
One footfall or a stair surface you stand on.
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Street /striːt/noun A1
Road with buildings, for traffic and walking.
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Strength /streŋθ/noun A2
Power and ability to do hard things.
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Sum /sʌm/noun A1
The result when you add two or more numbers or amounts together.
See all 262 nouns that start with "S" →
Verbs That Start With "S" (126)
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Say /seɪ/verb A1
Use your voice to speak or tell words.
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See /siː/verb A1
To encounter or have a meeting with someone face-to-face.
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See /siː/verb A1
Use your eyes to view or look at something.
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See /siː/verb A2
Understand an idea or situation; to comprehend.
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Seem /siːm/verb A2
To look like or appear to be something, based on what you see or hear.
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Seen /siːn/verb A1
The third form of the verb see, used with have/has/had in perfect tenses.
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Sees /siːz/verb A1
When he/she/it perceives something by looking; the -s form for present tense.
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Sent /sɛnt/verb A1
Past form of send — you sent a message means you made it go to someone.
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Set /sɛt/verb A1
To put something down or arrange it in a specific place or way.
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Shine /ʃaɪn/verb A1
To give off light or to make something bright and polished.
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Should /ʃʊd/verb A1
What is right, proper, or expected to do.
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Shown /ʃoʊn/verb A1
Used after 'have' to show something was revealed or explained. He has shown me how.
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Sign /saɪn/verb A1
To write your name on a paper to show it is yours or that you agree.
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Sit /sɪt/verb A1
Stay in a chair with your body resting.
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Smile /smaɪl/verb A1
Show a happy face by turning up the corners of your mouth.
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Start /stɑːrt/verb A1
To begin or commence an activity, event, or process.
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Sail /seɪl/verb B1
To move across water in a boat, often using the wind to push the sails forward.
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Save /seɪv/verb A1
Put something away so you can use it later, or keep someone from danger.
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Seek /siːk/verb A2
To look for or try to find someone or something.
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Sell /sɛl/verb A2
Give something to someone and receive payment in return.
See all 126 verbs that start with "S" →
Adjectives That Start With "S" (96)
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Sad /sæd/adj A1
Feeling unhappy or upset about something that happened.
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Successful /səkˈsɛsfəl/adj B1
When you achieve what you wanted.
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Safe /seɪf/adj A1
Not in danger; protected and able to be without worry about being hurt.
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Same /seɪm/adj A1
Exactly like another person or thing.
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Sharp /ʃɑːrp/adj A2
Having a fine edge or point that can cut or hurt; not dull or smooth.
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Short /ʃɔːrt/adj A1
Small in length, height, or time; the opposite of long or tall.
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Sick /sɪk/adj A1
Feeling ill or not healthy.
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Silly /ˈsɪli/adj A2
Foolish or not serious; acting in a funny, careless way.
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Slow /sloʊ/adj A1
Moving or happening without speed.
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Small /smɔːl/adj A1
Not big in size.
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Smart /smɑːrt/adj A2
Intelligent and clever.
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Smooth /smuːð/adj A2
Having a flat, even surface that is pleasant to touch.
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Soft /sɒft/adj A1
Not hard or rough; easy to press down; also means gentle or quiet.
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Solar /ˈsəʊlər/adj B1
Powered by or coming from the sun.
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Sole /səʊl/adj B1
The only one; no others.
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Solid /ˈsɒlɪd/adj A2
Something that is hard and keeps its shape.
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Spare /spɛr/adj B1
Extra or additional; kept for use in case of need.
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Spiritual /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əl/adj B2
Related to inner feelings, beliefs, and connection to something beyond the physical world. Often about personal faith, not necessarily organized religion.
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Sure /ʃʊr/adj A1
Feeling confident that something is true or will happen.
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Sweet /swiːt/adj A1
Having the taste of sugar; tasting pleasant and sugary. Also means kind or lovable.
See all 96 adjectives that start with "S" →
Adverbs That Start With "S" (16)
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So /səʊ/adv A1
Very or to that degree. You use "so" to show how much of something there is.
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Still /stɪl/adv A1
Yet, continuing to happen now, or not moving.
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Suddenly /ˈsʌdənli/adv A2
When something happens fast with no warning.
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Soon /suːn/adv A1
In a short time from now; in the near future.
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Shortly /ˈʃɔːrtli/adv A2
Very soon; in the near future.
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Simply /ˈsɪmpli/adv A1
In an easy way; without making something hard or complicated.
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Slightly /ˈslaɪtli/adv A2
A little bit, not very much.
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Slowly /ˈsloʊli/adv A1
Moving or doing something not fast.
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Somehow /ˈsʌmhaʊ/adv A2
By some method or way that you do not know exactly how.
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Somewhat /ˈsʌmwɒt/adv B1
A little bit; not very much, but more than just slightly.
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Strongly /ˈstrɔŋli/adv A2
Done with power or intensity; in a firm way.
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Seriously /ˈsɪəriəsli/adv A2
In a way that shows you are not joking or being light.
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Similarly /ˈsɪmələrli/adv B1
In almost the same way; like something else; also.
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Sometimes /ˈsʌmtaɪmz/adv A1
At certain times, but not always; occasionally or now and then.
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Somewhere /ˈsʌmweə(r)/adv A1
In a place, but you are not sure which place or do not say which place.
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Specifically /spɪˈsɪfɪkli/adv A2
In an exact or precise way; highlighting one particular thing.
How to Use Words That Start With "S"
Scrabble and Word Games
In Scrabble and Words With Friends, words starting with "S" can be valuable when you need to play through an existing tile on the board. Higher-tier letters like J, Q, X, and Z multiply your score quickly when stacked on bonus squares — scan the list below for short words that contain them. Two and three-letter words starting with "S" are especially useful for parallel plays where you build along an existing word and earn points for every adjacent tile.
Crossword Puzzles
For crossword puzzles, the most useful entries are mid-length common words — 5 to 8 letters — that fit standard grid patterns. Filter the list by length to match the cells in your clue. Pay attention to the CEFR level: clues from mainstream newspapers favour B1–B2 vocabulary, while themed and cryptic puzzles draw on rarer C1 and C2 words. The IPA shown on each card also helps confirm a guess — a clue marked "two syllables" should match a word with a simple stress pattern.
Creative Writing and Poetry
Writers and poets often look for groups of words starting with "S" to build alliteration, rhythm, or near-rhymes. Sort the list by length, scan the rare and C1+ words for fresh imagery, and use the linked dictionary entries to confirm connotation before you commit. The plain-English definitions are intentionally short so you can scan dozens of options without losing flow.
Longest Word That Start With "S"
Frequently Asked Questions About Words That Start With "S"
- How many words starting with "S"?
- There are 33,469 words starting with "S" in our 199,000-word English dictionary. The list ranges from common everyday words to rarer specialised vocabulary.
- What is the longest word starting with "S"?
- The longest word starting with "S" in our list is "SABERMETRICALLY" — 15 letters long. Tap the word to see its full definition.
- Are these words valid in Scrabble?
- Most of the words in this list are valid in Scrabble and similar word games (we cross-reference standard tournament dictionaries). A handful of proper nouns and very rare technical terms may not be — when in doubt, double-check with the official Scrabble dictionary used in your league.
- How many 5-letter words starting with "S"?
- 1,690 5-letter words starting with "S" — useful for Wordle, daily puzzles, and short crosswords. Filter by length above to see only 5-letter results.