5-Letter Words that Start With A | Ultimate List of 125+ Words

5-letter words that start with A are incredibly useful for anyone who loves word puzzles or wants to expand their vocabulary. They include familiar examples, like “apple” and “actor,” and rare gems, like “ascot” and “axiom.”

The curated lists below include 125+ words to help you solve today’s puzzle, score big in word games, and expand your knowledge. These 5-letter words starting with A are also useful for classroom vocabulary lists, word walls, or lesson plans on the letter A.

Looking for other types of words? QuillBot’s AI Chat can show you word lists based on any letter of the alphabet or theme, and it’s completely free to use.

5-letter words starting with A: The complete list

This comprehensive list of 5-letter words that start with A includes everyday terms and rare vocabulary. Browse the alphabetical groups below to find the exact word you need for your game, lesson plan, or writing project.

  • AB: Aback, abhor, abide, abode, abort, about, above, abuse, abuzz, abyss
  • AC: Acorn, actor, acute
  • AD: Adage, adapt, adept, adieu, admit, adobe, adopt, adore, adorn, adult
  • AF: Afoot, afoul, after
  • AG: Again, agate, agave, agaze, agent, agile, aglow, agony, agree
  • AH: Ahead, ahold
  • AI: Aisle
  • AL: Alarm, album, alert, algae, alias, alibi, alien, align, alike, alive, alley, allot, allow, alloy, alone, along, aloof, aloud, altar, alter
  • AM: Amass, amaze, amber, amble, amend, amino, amity, among, ample, amuck, amuse
  • AN: Angel, anger, angle, angry, angst, anise, annal, annex, annoy, antic, antsy, anvil
  • AP: Apart, aphid, apnea, apple, apply, apron
  • AR: Arbor, ardor, arena, argue, argon, argot, arise, armor, aroma, arose, array, arrow, arson, artsy
  • AS: Ascot, ashes, aside, askew, aspic, asset, aster
  • AT: Atlas, atone, attic
  • AU: Audio, audit, auger, aunty, aural
  • AV: Avert, avian, avoid
  • AW: Await, awake, aware, awash, awful, awoke
  • AX: Axiom
  • AZ: Azure

Best 5-letter Wordle openers starting with A

If you’re using a word that starts with A as your Wordle opener, the best strategy is to maximize vowel coverage or high-frequency consonants (R, S, T, L, N). Here are seven strategic picks:

  • Adieu: Uses four out of five vowels (A, I, E, U) in a single turn, helping you narrow down the word’s skeleton immediately
  • Arise: Combines three vowels with the two most common consonants (R and S), providing a balance of placement and elimination
  • Audio: Excellent for players who want to identify vowels early without the letter E
  • Alone: A top-tier choice for testing the frequency of L and N, which are two of the most common letters in 5-letter words
  • Abide: Shows whether the word follows the A_I_E pattern (e.g., “alike,” “alive,” “aside”), while also confirming if the word ends in a high-probability silent E
  • Asset: Tests if the target word contains a double S, a common trap
  • Alert: Uses common consonants (L, R, T) to help lock in the target word’s structure while still testing the two most frequent vowels (A, E)

High-scoring 5-letter words that start with A

When you need a 5-letter word that starts with A for Scrabble or Words With Friends, these choices will boost your score because they include high-value letters to offset the 1-point value of the letter A.

High-scoring 5-letter words starting with A
Word Scrabble points WWF points
Affix 17 18
Azure 14 15
Amaze 16 17
Ajiva 15 19
Adzes 15 15
Amuck 13 14
Axiom 14 15
Tip
These values are base point totals for the letters alone. In a real game, you can score significantly higher if you place these words on bonus squares, such as Double Letter (DL), Triple Letter (TL), or Triple Word (TW).

You or your opponent can also score points by adding verb endings to “affix” (e.g., “affixes”) or “amaze” (e.g., “amazed”).

5-letter words that start with A sorted by ending letter

If you’re looking for a 5-letter word that starts with A and ends with a specific letter, use the chart below to find the perfect match.

5-letter words that start with A sorted by ending letter
Ends with Word options
A Agora, aloha, alpha, aorta, apnea, arena, aroma
E Abase, abate, abide, abode, above, abuse, acute, adage, adobe, adore, afire, agape, agate, agile, agree, aisle, algae, alike, alive, alone, amaze, amble, ample, amuse, angle, anime, ankle, apple, argue, arise, arose, aside, atone, awake, aware, awoke, azure
Y Abbey, agony, allay, alley, alloy, amity, amply, angry, annoy, apply, aptly, array, artsy, assay, aunty
T Abbot, abort, about, adapt, adept, admit, adopt, adult, afoot, agent, alert, allot, aloft, angst, apart, argot, ascot, asset, audit, aught, avant, avast, avert
D Ached, acrid, acted, added, ahead, ahold, aided, ailed, aimed, aired, aloud, amend, amped, aphid, armed, asked, avoid, award
N Acorn, adorn, again, alien, align, apron, argon, arson, ashen, aspen
R Abhor, actor, after, alder, altar, alter, amber, anger, arbor, arear, armor, aster, auger

15 advanced 5-letter words that start with A

Improve your vocabulary with these unique 5-letter words and their meanings. They’re perfect for challenging word games or sophisticated writing.

  • Abyss: A pit or chasm that’s so deep it seems bottomless (e.g., “The deep-sea divers encountered an abyss full of glowing creatures.”)
  • Adage: A short, popular saying (aka proverb) about what people should do or what the world is like (e.g., “A penny saved is a penny earned.”)
  • Agate: A semiprecious variety of quartz with reddish-brown and milky-gray colors (e.g., “The agate pendant looked like the dusty clouds of a desert storm.”)
  • Agile: Able to move quickly and easily or mentally sharp (e.g., “The agile gymnast performed a flawless backflip.”)
  • Amble: To walk or move very slowly (“The herd of elephants ambled toward the watering hole.”)
  • Anise: A plant with seeds that smell and taste like licorice or the cooking spice made from this plant’s seeds (“Level up your favorite sugar cookie recipe by adding anise.”)
  • Aphid: A tiny (barely visible) insect that eats plant leaves (e.g., “Aphids can do a lot of damage to a rose bush, but ladybugs are a perfect natural solution.”)
  • Arbor: A shaded garden shelter (e.g., “Silas carved his initials on a bench under the arbor.”)
  • Array: An impressive and extensive display or assortment (e.g., “The bakery features an array of scones and pastries”).
  • Aster: A prairie flower that attracts pollinators and one of the most common flowers that start with A (e.g., “A butterfly sipped nectar from the bright yellow center of a purple aster.”)
  • Atone: To make amends for a mistake (e.g., “She atoned for her lateness by helping the host with the dishes.”)
  • Avert: To turn away or prevent (e.g., “If the sun is too bright, avert your eyes, and put on sunglasses.”)
  • Avian: Related to birds (“The scientist studied avian migration patterns.”)
  • Axiom: A self-evident truth (e.g., “A basic axiom of physics is that every action has an equal reaction.”)
  • Azure: A bright blue color (e.g., “The tropical postcard showed palm trees against a brilliant azure sky.”)
Tip
When teaching new vocabulary to students, display the words with relevant images to help students learn them faster. QuillBot’s free image generator is a quick and easy way to make custom images for classroom word walls, flashcards, and more.

Frequently asked questions about 5-letter words that start with A

How many 5-letter words start with A?

Approximately 900 5-letter words start with A in most dictionaries, and 150–200 common words start with the letter A. These include:

  • About
  • Above
  • Actor
  • Adapt
  • Admit
  • Adopt
  • Adult
  • After
  • Again
  • Agree
  • Alike
  • Amaze
  • Apple
  • Arrow
  • Award

When you’re searching for 5-letter words that start with A, try QuillBot’s free AI Chat.

How many 5-letter words are in the English language?

Depending on the dictionary you’re using, approximately 14,000 5-letter words are in the English language. Some of the most common 5-letter words include:

  • About
  • Above
  • Could
  • First
  • Found
  • Horse
  • Money
  • Other
  • Point
  • Right
  • Should
  • Their
  • There
  • Today
  • Watch
  • Which
  • Would
  • Write

QuillBot’s free AI Chat can show you lists of 5-letter words based on any theme.

What are some 5-letter words that start with AS?

There are at least seven commonly-used 5-letter words that start with AS in the English language:

  • Ascot
  • Ashes
  • Aside
  • Askew
  • Aspic
  • Asset
  • Aster

There are also over 100 5-letter words that start with A.

Looking for words that begin with other letter pairs or that fit a certain theme? QuillBot’s AI Chat can show them to you, and it’s completely free to use.

What are some 5-letter words that start with A and end in LE?

There are several 5-letter words that start with A and end in LE. Here are some of the most popular choices for word games, vocabulary building, and writing:

  • Addle
  • Agile
  • Aisle
  • Amble
  • Ample
  • Angle
  • Ankle
  • Apple

Of the many 5-letter words that start with A, these are popular in word games because they use two or more vowels.

If you’re looking for words that end in other letter pairs, QuillBot’s AI Chat is fast, convenient, and completely free to use.

What are some 5-letter words that start with A and end in OR?

5-letter words that start with A and end in OR include:

  • Abhor
  • Actor
  • Arbor
  • Ardor
  • Armor

If you’re looking for words that end in other letter pairs, QuillBot’s AI Chat is a fast, free, and convenient resource.

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Routh, N. (2026, January 14). 5-Letter Words that Start With A | Ultimate List of 125+ Words. Quillbot. Retrieved January 17, 2026, from https://quillbot.com/blog/word-finder/5-letter-words-that-start-with-a/

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Nicole Routh, M.Ed

Nicole has a master’s in English Education and detailed expertise in writing and grammar instruction. She’s taught college writing courses and written handbooks that empowered students worldwide.

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