Essential Words for the TOEFL (7th edition)
What vocabulary is necessary to score high on the TOEFL?
Why is it especially important to have a strong vocabulary for the current TOEFL?
Why must I improve my vocabulary and how can I succeed?
How can I be a better TOEFL test taker?
Essential Words for the TOEFL answers these questions and provides you with a proven plan for improving your English vocabulary while also preparing you for the TOEFL. The words and practice questions that appear throughout this book will help you to maximize your understanding of words that will likely appear in every section of the TOEFL. Important information about how to maximize your score on the TOEFL is given in addition to vocabulary building hints and exercises. By following the program and mastering the words in this book, you will be ready to earn a higher score on the TOEFL.
This 7th edition of Essential Words for the TOEFL has an extensive, revised list of 500 words with improved exercises and updated reading selections. This edition makes Essential Words one of the most thoroughly researched books of its kind. It is the product of extensive study of previous TOEFLs and academic materials from which the questions on the TOEFL are produced. The result of this research is this powerful book of words that will lead you to success on the TOEFL.
Speak Business English Like An American covers over 350 idioms and expressions you’re likely to encounter in today’s business world. Familiarize yourself with all of them.
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The activities in «4000 Essential English Words» are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 6: 600 words (Unit 1 — Unit 30).
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The activities in «4000 Essential English Words» are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 5: 600 words (Unit 1 — Unit 30).
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The activities in «4000 Essential English Words» are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 4: 600 words (Unit 1 — Unit 30).
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The activities in «4000 Essential English Words» are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 3: 600 words (Unit 1 — Unit 30).
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The activities in «4000 Essential English Words» are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 2: 600 words (Unit 1 — Unit 30).
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The activities in «4000 Essential English Words» are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 1: 600 words (Unit 1 — Unit 30).
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400 Must-Have Words for the TOEFL® will help you improve your score on the TOEFL test. In particular, this book will build your TOEFL vocabulary for the new Internet-based TOEFL of 2005.
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If you already speak some English and now would like to speak more like a native, “Speak English Like an American” will help you. One of the keys to speaking like a native is the ability to use and understand casual expressions, or idioms. American English is full of idioms. Speak English Like an American will help you understand and use idioms better. It contains over 300 of today’s most common idioms.
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Whether you like it or not, the TOEFL will have some words and terminologies that you are not familiar with. But why do you need to prepare for it anyway?
Here is why. As you study and enhance your vocabulary, these words gradually become part of your working language. Unconsciously, these words become part of your daily routines. They also aid you in gaining knowledge and concepts about other terminologies that are related and associated with them. THAT IS WHY.
If you want to know and study the essential words for the TOEFL, we have gathered them here in this article so please continue reading.
Essential Words for the TOEFL Test
What is TOEFL?
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test that non-native speakers take to determine their English language proficiency in order to enroll in English-speaking universities. It evaluates all four language skills in the same manner that IELTS and Duolingo English Test do:
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
Because it benefits candidates in each exam part, the TOEFL syllabus promotes sophisticated vocabulary.
The TOEFL is a collection of examinations, the most prominent of which are the TOEFL IBT and TOEFL Essentials. The TOEFL series also includes the TOEFL ITP (Institutional Testing Program), TOEFL Junior, and TOEFL Primary examinations.
Other TOEFL forms can only be obtained through students’ schools. The TOEFL PBT (Paper Based Test or Paper-delivered Test) has been phased out in April 2021.
Why is Studying Vocabulary Important for the TOEFL Exam?
One of the most dreadful aspects of studying for the exam is developing your abilities regarding the essential words for the TOEFL, but it is also one of the most vital.
Many TOEFL questions either ask you to define a word or require you to know the definition of a word to answer a question correctly. Which words do you need to know out of the millions in the English language?
Both understanding and output of language on the exam are dependent on vocabulary. You must comprehend a wide range of academic and everyday terms. On the test, you will also need a wide range of vocabulary that you can use fluently in your speaking and writing.
Additionally, many are concerned about how many essential words for the TOEFL they need to master. This is an excellent question to which there is no simple answer.
Your TOEFL score rather than any set vocabulary word count determines the number of new words you need to learn. While vocabulary is crucial on the TOEFL, your exam success is primarily determined by two factors: vocabulary range and technique.
Understanding TOEFL: Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Section
To do well on the TOEFL, you will need strong reading skills and an extensive vocabulary. This component of the TOEFL focuses on these abilities.
Many TOEFL test-takers say that they do not have enough time to carefully answer all of the questions in this section. That is why you must follow the recommendations in this article to utilize the time you have given.
The first questions will put your English vocabulary to the test. There are 30 academic sentences with a highlighted word in each. You must select the word from the four options with the same meaning.
Vocabulary
This portion of the TOEFL assesses your understanding of words and phrases that are regularly used in academic and non-academic contexts. Each word contains a sentence with one word or phrase underlined, which may or may not be taken from a published source.
Example:
The sense of smell receptors is positioned at the top of the nasal cavity.
- mouth
- division
- upper end
- inner edge
It is hard to convince young people to plan for their retirement years, which seems distant.
- fearful
- far away
- impossible
- observable
Reading Comprehension
This component of the TOEFL assesses your ability to read and comprehend brief paragraphs that secondary students who study English as a Foreign Language are most likely to come across. You will read a range of brief pieces on a number of academic topics. The test is followed by a sequence of material-related questions.
Example:
A new atomic clock for navigation satellites is being created that will outperform previous models. To create a tiny and lightweight package, the clock will use a new microwave cavity design and innovative electronic approaches to preserve long-term stability. Because it is steady to one second in three million years, the clock can provide exact navigation information. The time difference between four satellite signals arriving at one location can be used to calculate that location's position to within a few yards.
Which of the following features of the clock do you think will be the most impressive?
- its weight
- its accuracy
- its compact size
- its ability to measure distance
What is the passage's main purpose?
- To teach a lesson
- To back up a theory
- To impart knowledge
- To make a product sale
A Comprehensive List of Vocabulary for the TOEFL Test
Vocabulary is not something that can be acquired overnight. There are no shortcuts in this procedure; you must be patient and persistent. Therefore, you are strongly advised to work on improving your vocabulary weeks (or even months) before taking the TOEFL.
We have listed below the essential words for TOEFL that will help you get a high score.
Anthropology
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
aborigines | noun | A person, animal, or plant who has lived in a country or region since the beginning |
allogeneic | adjective | Signifying, relating to, or involving genetically different tissues or cells that are immunologically incompatible, although being from the same species |
ancestry | noun | One’s family or ethnic descent |
animism | noun | The ascription of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena |
belligerent | adjective | Hostile and aggressive |
brachycephaly | noun | The rear of the skull flattens out, causing the head to broaden, and the forehead bulges out on occasion |
Caucasian | adjective | White-skinned with a European ancestry |
dicephalous | adjective | A fetus with two separate heads that is teratological |
diffusionism | noun | Dissemination, rather than separate discovery or development, is the belief that some similar customs, innovations, etc. that occur among different cultures or peoples are exclusively or mostly the product of diffusion |
ethnicity | noun | Fitting to a social cluster with a common national or cultural tradition is the fact or state of belonging to that group |
exogamy | noun | The practice of marrying someone from another group, clan, or tribe |
family | noun | A group of one or more parents and their children who live together |
indigenous | adjective | Native; originating or occurring natively in a certain location |
oblique | adjective | Not parallel nor at a right angle to be called a line |
tribal | adjective | Relating to a tribe |
Business
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
advertise | verb | To describe or call attention to (a product, service, or event) in public media in order to encourage sales or attendance |
allocate | verb | To distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose |
commodity | noun | A raw material or main agricultural merchandise that can be sold or bought, such as sugar or rice |
contract | noun | A written or verbal pact that is aimed to be legally enforceable, especially one involving employment, sales, or tenancy |
decline | verb | To diminish in strength or quality; deteriorate |
equity | noun | The worth of a pawned asset after deduction of charges against it |
export | verb | To send goods or services to be sold in another country |
import | verb | To take goods or services inside a country for the purpose of sale from another country |
inflation | noun | A universal surge in prices and reduction in the purchasing worth of money |
market | noun | A location or arena where commercial transactions take place |
net | noun | The complete productivity of a company when all expenditures and charges have been deducted from total revenue |
per capita | adjective | Relating or applied to each person |
regulate | verb | To regulate or sustain the degree or speed of a machine or process so that it functions right |
subsidy | noun | Money that is given by the government or a civic body to help a business so the price of a product or service may remain low or viable |
tangible | adjective | Perceptible by touch |
Career
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
attitude | noun | A steady mode of thinking or feeling about someone or something, usually shown in a person’s actions |
cluster | noun | A group of similar goods or persons that are grouped together or occur in close proximity |
communicate | verb | To convey information, news, or ideas |
diligent | adjective | Possessing or displaying attention to detail and conscientiousness in one’s work or responsibilities |
discriminate | verb | To make an unjust or biased disparity in the treatment of different groups of individuals, particularly based on sex, race, age, or handicap |
employee | noun | A person who is paid a salary, particularly at the nonexecutive level |
enterprise | noun | An undertaking that is tough or time-consuming in nature |
ethical | adjective | Relating to moral principles or the body of knowledge that deals with them |
interest | noun | The desire to understand or know more about something or someone |
lifestyle | noun | A person’s or a group’s way of life |
personality | noun | The set of features or qualities that define a person’s unique character |
producer | noun | A person, business, or country that manufactures, grows or sells items or commodities |
salary | noun | A fixed recurring payment to an employee, usually monthly or biweekly but often described as an annual sum, to an employee, especially a professional or white-collar worker |
supervisor | noun | A person who has the job of managing a person or an activity |
value | verb | Consider (someone or something) to be significant or advantageous; hold a favorable view of |
Culture
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
assimilate | verb | To absorb and integrate (people, ideas, or culture) into a wider society or culture |
cremation | noun | The discarding of a dead body by burning it to ashes, usually after a funeral ceremony |
dialect | noun | A variety of language that is unique to a particular place or social group |
diffusion | noun | The process of anything becoming more broadly disseminated |
domestic | adjective | Relating to the running of a family or home relation |
folklore | noun | The old-style customs, beliefs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth |
fossil | noun | The relics or imprint of a primeval creature conserved in petrified system or as a mold or cast in rock |
heritage | noun | An inheritance is a property that has been or may be inherited |
mores | noun | A community’s vital or distinguishing norms and conventions |
relic | noun | An item enduring from an earlier time, especially one of ancient or historical interest |
rite | noun | A spiritual or other sincere ceremony or act |
ritually | adverb | In a way that is done as a religious or solemn rite |
saga | noun | A long, involved story, account, or series of incidents |
traditional | adjective | Existing in or as part of a long-standing tradition |
vestige | noun | A trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists |
Education
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
college | noun | An educational establishment, especially one that offers higher education or specialized professional or vocational training |
curriculum | noun | The subjects making up a degree of study in a school or college |
distinctly | adverb | In a manner that is easily distinguished by the senses; clearly |
erudite | noun | Having or showing great knowledge or learning |
fortify | noun | Strengthen (someone) mentally or physically |
implicitly | adverb | In a technique that is not unswervingly stated; tacitly |
literacy | noun | Being able to read and write |
parochial | adjective | Relating to church or parish |
primary | adjective | Pertaining to children’s education between the ages of five and ten |
rigor | noun | An abrupt feeling of cold with shaking accompanied by an upsurge in temperature, often with copious sweating, especially at the onset or height of a fever |
roster | noun | A list or plan showing turns of duty or leaves for individuals or groups in an organization |
secondary | noun | A school that offers general, technical, vocational, or college-preparatory courses and is located halfway between elementary school and college |
secular | adjective | Signifying attitudes, actions, or other things that have no spiritual or spiritual foundation |
suspend | verb | To temporarily prevent from continuing or being in force or effect |
vocational | adjective | Referring to a job or a profession |
Environment
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
biodegradable | adjective | Having the ability to be disintegrated by bacteria or other living creatures |
biodiversity | noun | The diversity of life on the planet or within a certain environment or ecosystem |
bushfire | noun | A fire in the brush or forest, particularly one that spreads quickly |
climate | noun | The weather conditions that prevail in a given location or for a lengthy period of time |
conserve | verb | To preserve (anything, particularly a culturally or environmentally significant place or object) from injury or destruction |
deforestation | noun | The act of removing trees from a large region |
disposable | adjective | Intended to be used only once or until no longer usable, and then discarded |
drought | noun | A prolonged period of extremely little rainfall, ensuing in a water deficit |
earthquake | noun | As a result of changes within the earth’s crust or volcanic activity, there is a sudden and intense shaking of the ground, which can sometimes cause significant destruction |
energy | noun | The physical and mental stamina required for long-term physical or mental activity |
extinction | noun | The event or process of an animal or plant species, family, or another group going extinct |
flood | noun | A spilling of a significant amount of water beyond its customary boundaries, particularly over typically dry ground |
pollution | noun | The existence of a material or entity that has hazardous or deadly effects in the environment, or its introduction into the environment |
recycle | verb | To convert (waste) into reusable material |
renewable | adjective | A spring of energy that is not exhausted by use, such as wind, water, or solar power |
Experiences
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
empirical | adjective | Rather than theory or pure logic, based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience |
encounter | verb | An unplanned or informal meeting with someone or something |
enjoy | verb | To have a wonderful time |
event | noun | An occurrence, especially one of significance |
existential | adjective | Concerned with existence, particularly human existence as regarded in existentialist beliefs |
lesson | noun | A period of learning or teaching in which a certain amount of instruction is supplied at one time |
naive | adjective | Demonstrating a lack of knowledge, insight, or judgment |
nightmare | noun | A terrible or dreadful experience or possibility |
ordeal | noun | A traumatic or horrifying experience, especially one that lasts for a long time |
passion | noun | A powerful and uncontrollable feeling |
phenomenon | noun | A fact or occurrence that is observed to exist or occur, particularly one whose source or explanation is unknown |
relive | verb | Live through (an experience or feeling, especially an unpleasant one) over again in one’s imagination or memory |
suffer | verb | To go through or be exposed to something bad or unpleasant |
sustain | verb | Physically or mentally, strengthen or support |
transcendental | adjective | Having to do with the spiritual or nonphysical dimension |
Family
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
adoption | noun | The act or fact of officially adopting and raising another person’s kid as one’s own, or the fact of being adopted |
ancestor | noun | Someone from whom one is descended, usually one who is more distant than a grandmother |
divorce | verb | To allow a couple to formally end their relationship with someone |
eligible | adjective | Having the legal authority to do or obtain anything; meeting the necessary requirements |
estranged | adjective | Someone with whom you are no longer intimate or affectionate |
extended | adjective | Made larger; enlarged |
foster | adjective | To encourage or facilitate the growth of something, typically something regarded as good |
genealogy | noun | A line of ancestry that may be traced back to a common ancestor |
heiress | noun | A woman who has a legal claim to another’s property or rank upon that person’s death |
household | noun | A house and its inhabitants viewed as a unit |
juvenile | adjective | Of, for, or relating to young people |
marriage | noun | The unification of two people in a special connection who are legally or formally acknowledged as partners |
posterity | noun | All people in future generations |
relative | adjective | When compared to or proportioned to something else |
spouse | noun | A husband or wife viewed in the context of their partner |
Feelings
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
acceptance | noun | The act of agreeing to accept or do anything that has been provided |
affection | noun | A pleasant sensation of liking or fondness |
agony | noun | A great deal of bodily or mental anguish |
amazed | adjective | Greatly surprised; astounded |
awe | noun | A sense of reverent regard tinged with fear or wonder |
calm | adjective | Nervousness, rage, or other strong emotions are not seen or felt |
certain | adjective | Proven beyond a shadow of a doubt |
comfortable | adjective | Facilitating physical comfort and relaxation |
content | noun | In a state of blissful tranquility |
frisky | adjective | Playful and energizing |
impulsive | adjective | Performing or doing anything without thinking about it |
liberated | adjective | Demonstrating independence from societal conventions or traditional notions, particularly in relation to sexual roles |
receptive | adjective | Prepared to consider or accept new ideas and recommendations |
thrill | verb | To cause someone to experience a surge of joy and enthusiasm |
understanding | noun | The ability to comprehend something |
Food
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
appetite | noun | A natural drive to fulfill a biological requirement, particularly for food |
batter | verb | To strike with strong blows on a regular basis |
bland | adjective | Uninteresting because of lack of strong features or attributes |
brisket | noun | A chunk of flesh taken from an animal’s breast, usually a cow’s |
broil | verb | To heat meat or fish by contact to direct, strong radiant heat |
chef | noun | A professional cook, typically the chief cook in a restaurant or hotel |
cuisine | noun | A cooking style or method that is distinctive to a certain country, area, or establishment |
diet | noun | The kinds of food that a creature, animal, or group consumes on a regular basis |
digest | verb | To break down meals into substances that may be absorbed and utilized by the body |
diner | noun | A modest roadside eatery with a long counter and booths that were initially built to seem like a train dining car |
edible | adjective | Suitable for consumption |
flax | noun | A blue-flowered herbaceous plant grown for its seed (linseed) and textile fiber produced from its stalks |
gastronomy | noun | The act of selecting, preparing, and enjoying good food |
menu | noun | A list of foods offered in a restaurant |
munch | verb | To eat something by moving the jaws in a continuous and typically noisy motion |
Groups
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
arrange | verb | To create plans for or organize a future event |
associate | verb | In one’s mind, to connect someone or something with something else |
bracket | noun | A group of persons or objects that are similar or fall within certain parameters |
categorize | verb | To place in a specific class or group |
department | noun | A section of a big institution dealing with a certain subject, item, or area of activity, such as a government, university, corporation, or store |
emblem | noun | A heraldic device or symbolic object used as a national, organizational, or family badge |
genre | noun | A kind of creative creation defined by resemblances in form, style, or topic matter, as in theater or music |
hierarchy | noun | A system or organization in which individuals or groups are ranked in order of status or authority |
index | noun | A sequential list of names, subjects, and other objects, usually found at the conclusion of a book, with references to the places where they appear |
legion | noun | A large group, swarm, or swarms of people or things |
network | noun | A collection or organization of people or things that are linked together |
pattern | noun | A regular and comprehensible form or sequence can be discerned |
phylum | noun | A group of languages that are less closely linked to one another than those that comprise a family, especially if the links are disputed or uncertain |
quantum | noun | A discrete tiny voltage contributed to the observed end-plate potential by a single synaptic vesicle’s release of acetylcholine at a neuromuscular junction |
union | noun | The deed or element of joining or being joined, especially in a political context |
Health
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
abstinence | noun | Refraining from indulging in something, usually alcohol |
acupuncture | noun | A type of integrative medicine that entails pricking the skin or tissues with needles to relieve pain and treat a variety of physical, mental, and emotional problems |
addictive | adjective | Creating or likely to induce addiction in someone |
anorexic | adjective | An eating disorder marked by extremely low body weight, a strong fear of gaining weight, and a distorted view of weight |
athletic | adjective | Strong, fit, and active on a physical level |
cardiac | adjective | Relating to the heart |
collapse | verb | To faint and become unconscious, typically through disease or injury |
diagnostic | adjective | Interested in determining the cause of illness or other issues |
discipline | noun | The process of teaching people to follow norms or a code of conduct by employing punishment to correct the transgression |
endurance | noun | The ability to persevere through an unpleasant or challenging activity or event without succumbing |
epidemic | adjective | A large-scale outbreak of an infectious disease in a community at a specific moment |
fracture | noun | A hard object or material cracking or shattering |
habit | noun | A long-standing or consistent habit or behavior, especially one that is difficult to abandon |
hormone | noun | A regulatory chemical produced by an organism and transmitted via tissue fluids like blood or sap to activate certain cells or tissues |
immune | adjective | Resilient to a specific infection due to the existence of definite antibodies or sensitized white blood cells |
Leisure
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
attend | verb | To present yourself at an event, meeting, or function |
croquet | noun | A sport where colored wooden balls are hammered through a series of wickets with mallets performed on a lawn |
entertain | verb | To bring fun or pleasure to someone |
explore | verb | To learn about or familiarize oneself with an unfamiliar country or area |
extreme | adjective | Reaching a pinnacle or pinnacle level; enormous |
gamble | verb | To play sports of chance for cash; bet |
hobby | noun | A pleasurable pastime carried out on a regular basis in one’s spare time |
hunt | verb | To chase and slaughter a wild animal for sport or sustenance |
pamper | verb | To allow oneself to be spoiled by lavishing attention, comfort, and compassion |
relax | verb | To reduce or eliminate tenseness or anxiety |
scenery | noun | The natural aspects of a landscape are valued for their aesthetic value, especially when beautiful |
trail | noun | A mark or a sequence of marks or things left behind by someone or something who has passed through |
triathlon | noun | A three-event sports competition that often includes swimming, cycling, and long-distance running |
vacation | noun | A period of extended relaxation and amusement, especially one spent away from home or while traveling |
wine | noun | A fermented grape juice-based alcoholic beverage |
People
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
adversary | noun | One’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute |
character | noun | The mental and moral characteristics that distinguish a person |
cohort | noun | A cluster of people who have developed a bond or are considered as a unit |
confidant | noun | Someone with whom one communicates a secret or private subject in the confidence that they will not reveal it to others |
crony | noun | A close acquaintance or friend |
descendant | adjective | A creature that descended from a particular ancestor |
foe | noun | An enemy or opponent |
inhabitant | adjective | A person or animal who inhabits or lives in a space |
mortal | adjective | Subject to death |
occupant | adjective | A person who resides or is present in a house or any place at a given time |
populace | noun | The individuals who live in a specific country or region |
resident | noun | A person who lives in a setting permanently or for an extended period of time |
socialite | noun | A well-known member of elegant society who enjoys social events and entertainment |
steady | adjective | Not swaying or moving; firmly anchored, held, or balanced |
youth | noun | The state or quality of being young, particularly as it relates to vitality, freshness, or immaturity |
Personality
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
affable | adjective | Pleasant, good-natured, or approachable |
aggressive | adjective | Characterized by or stemming from violence; eager or likely to attack or confront |
ambitious | adjective | Possessing or demonstrating a great ambition and resolve to succeed |
attract | verb | To cause to come to a place or participate in a venture by giving something of interest, better conditions, or breaks |
behavior | noun | The style in which one acts or conducts himself/herself, particularly toward others |
charm | noun | The ability or attribute of delighting or inspiring adoration |
conduct | noun | The way a person acts, particularly on a specific occasion or in a specific situation |
decorous | adjective | Polite and restrained; in line with good taste and propriety |
extrovert | adjective | A person who is outgoing and highly expressive |
improve | verb | To make or become better |
introvert | adjective | A person who is more interested in their own ideas and feelings than with the outside world |
mingle | verb | To combine or cause to combine |
prudent | adjective | Behaving with or demonstrating concern for the future |
robust | adjective | Strong and healthy; vigorous |
zany | adjective | Eccentric and amusingly unconventional |
Places
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
amuse | verb | To deliver an interesting and pleasant work setting for someone |
ancient | adjective | Relating to a long-ago era and no longer in existence |
boutique | noun | A tiny shop that sells trendy clothing and accessories |
boring | adjective | Uninteresting and tiresome |
bustling | adjective | Full of activity |
cathedral | noun | The diocese’s main church, with which the bishop is officially linked |
compact | adjective | Densely packed and neatly packed together |
contemporary | adjective | Living or taking place at the same moment |
cosmopolitan | adjective | Including people from many various countries |
crowded | adjective | With little or no room for movement; crammed |
fascinating | adjective | Incredibly intriguing |
monument | noun | A statue, building, or other structure created to honor a famous or noteworthy person or event |
museum | noun | A structure in which historical, scientific, aesthetic, or culturally significant things are preserved and displayed |
picturesque | adjective | Visually appealing, especially when done in a quaint or lovely manner |
tourist | noun | A person who is leisurely going or visiting a location |
Politics
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
advocate | verb | A person who openly supports or endorses a particular cause or policy |
authority | noun | The power or prerogative to give orders, make decisions and requires obedience |
bamboozle | verb | To fool or cheat |
benefit | verb | To get a competitive advantage; profit |
bitterly | adverb | In an angry, hurt, or resentful way |
candidate | noun | Someone who wants to apply for a job or is nominated for election |
coalition | noun | An alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states |
contest | verb | Engross in rivalry to attain a position of power |
democracy | noun | A form of government in which the entire population or all eligible members of a state are represented by elected representatives |
election | noun | A formal and organized choice by a vote of a person for a political office or other position |
inaugurate | verb | To begin or introduce a system, policy, or period |
incumbent | adjective | An official or regime currently holding office |
policy | noun | A principle of action assumed or planned by a party, government, business, or individual |
poll | noun | The process of voting in an election |
pundit | noun | An expert in a specific area or sector who is frequently called upon to express public thoughts about it |
Relationships
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
annul | verb | To declare ineligible an official agreement, decision, or result |
apologetic | adjective | Recognizing or excusing an offense or failure with sorrow |
blaze | noun | Used as a euphemism for “hell” in various expressions of rage, amazement, or surprise |
casual | adjective | Relaxed and unconcerned |
date | verb | To go out with someone with whom one is romantically attracted |
endearment | noun | A phrase or word that expresses love or affection |
engagement | noun | A formal agreement to marry |
impress | verb | To inspire regard and respect in someone |
partner | noun | Either a member of a married pair or a long-term unmarried couple |
private | adjective | Pertaining to or for the use of one particular person or group of persons only |
rival | noun | A person or entity that is competing with another for the same goal or superiority in the same field of endeavor |
separate | verb | To leave someone else’s company |
significant | adjective | Sufficient in magnitude or importance to merit notice; notable |
smitten | verb | To be drawn to someone or something intensely |
unrequited | adjective | Not returned or rewarded in any way |
Religion
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
belief | noun | An acknowledgment of the truth of a proposition or the existence of something |
church | noun | An institutionalized religion as a political or social force |
cult | noun | A tiny group of people whose religious ideas or activities are considered weird or malevolent by others |
deity | noun | A god or goddess in a polytheistic faith |
divine | adjective | Of, from, or like God or a god |
faithful | adjective | Remaining loyal and steadfast |
fasting | noun | Refrain from all or some types of food or drink, particularly as a spiritual observance |
ontology | noun | The study of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being |
pantheon | noun | A group of people who are highly regarded, well-known, or influential |
preach | verb | To deliver a sermon or religious presentation to a congregation, typically in a church |
prophet | noun | A person who is thought to be an inspired teacher or proclaimer of God’s will |
sacred | adjective | Related to God (or the gods), or dedicated to a religious goal, and so worthy of respect |
spiritual | adjective | In contrast to material or physical things, connected to or influencing the human spirit or soul |
theory | noun | A hypothesis or a set of ideas meant to explain something, particularly one based on general principles unrelated to the subject of the explanation |
worship | verb | To respect and admiration for (a god); religious practices to honor |
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
campaign | verb | To work toward a specific goal, usually a political or social one, in an organized and energetic manner |
clickbait | noun | A content whose primary aim is to entice attention and boost visitors to click on a link to a particular web page |
feed | noun | Widgets created by social media aggregators and include content from a variety of social networking accounts |
filter | verb | To classify one’s social media networks |
follower | noun | Refers to users who have subscribed to a specific piece of material, as well as other users, interests, or businesses. |
hack | verb | To get illegal access to data in a system using a computer |
hashtag | noun | A word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#) that is used to identify digital content on a given topic on social networking websites and applications |
meme | noun | A funny image, movie, prose, or other pieces of media that is quickly reproduced (typically with minor alterations) and distributed by internet users |
netizen | noun | An internet user, especially one who is a frequent or passionate user |
platform | noun | A method of sharing information to a select set of followers over the Internet |
post | verb | To make something public, to share something on social media |
trending | adjective | Currently popular or widely discussed on the internet, particularly on social media platforms |
troll | noun | People who post controversial or unpleasant remarks on the internet with the goal of attracting attention, causing difficulty, or upsetting someone |
viral | adjective | Pertaining to or involving an image, video, item of information, or other media that is quickly and extensively sent from one internet user to another |
vlogger | noun | A person who maintains a vlog by posting small videos on a regular basis |
Sports
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
amateur | adjective | Nonprofessional; participating or engaged in without money |
arena | noun | A level area where there are seats for spectators, in which sports, entertainments, and other public events are held |
compete | verb | To attempt to gain or win something by defeating or outperforming those who are attempting to do the same |
cue | noun | A phrase or action that instructs an actor or other performer to commence or begin their speech or performance |
defeat | verb | To win a battle or other conflict against someone |
defend | verb | To fend off an attack on someone or something; keep someone or something safe from harm or danger |
draw | noun | A game or contest that concludes with the score even; a tie |
dugout | noun | A low shelter with seating by the side of a baseball field from which a team’s coaches and non-playing players can watch the game |
fitness | noun | The condition of being physically fit and healthy |
gym | noun | A club where you can use machines, weights, and other equipment to exercise |
league | noun | A group of individuals, countries, or organizations that band together for the same goal, usually mutual protection or collaboration |
lose | verb | To fail to win |
professional | adjective | Affianced in a precise activity as one’s key paid career |
quiver | verb | To tremble or shake with a sudden motion |
spectator | noun | A person who watches at a show, game, or other events |
Travel
Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
---|---|---|
destination | noun | The place to which someone or something is heading or being directed |
embark | verb | To board a ship, plane, or other vehicles |
extravagant | adjective | Lacing of self-control when it comes to spending money or utilizing resources |
foreign | adjective | Originating in, occurring in, or resembling a country or language other than one’s own |
globetrotter | noun | A person who goes on a lot of trips |
keepsake | noun | A tiny object retained in the memory of the person who gifted it or was the first owner |
luggage | noun | Suitcases or other bags are used to transport personal belongings |
memorable | adjective | Worth remembering or easily remembered, particularly if it is unique or remarkable |
passenger | noun | A traveler who is not the driver, pilot, or crew on a public or private transport |
postcard | noun | A card with a picture or other image on one side for writing a message by mail without an envelope |
route | noun | A route or path is taken to get from a starting point to a destination |
scenic | adjective | Views of remarkable or magnificent natural scenery are provided or related to |
visa | noun | An authorization on a passport demonstrating that the bearer is permitted to enter, depart, or remain in a country for a set amount of time |
voyage | noun | A long journey that includes maritime travel or space travel |
wander | verb | Stride or move in a leisurely, casual, or drifting way |
How to Study Vocabulary Words
While preparing for the essential words for the TOEFL, there are a plethora of ready-to-use vocabulary lists available online and in books that you could choose from.
However, we suggest that you compile your own list. Every student absorbs these words at their own pace; some people may pick up on word definitions quickly, while others may struggle with new concepts.
- Determine your present vocabulary level:
Taking a practice test is the simplest method to do this. That way, you will be able to determine your weak spots and the vocabulary categories you need to brush up on.
- Make your own unique vocabulary list:
This will save you time and effort in the long run.
Remember that no English test has a specific vocabulary component, but these lists are a wonderful place to start when constructing a personalized vocabulary list so you can face the test with confidence. You will be appraised on your ability to use the proper words rather than how many you know.
- Start slowly but surely:
The majority of these vocabulary lists have up to 5,000 words on them. That may seem like a lot, but do not worry, no one expects you to memorize 5,000 words in one sitting!
You should learn five new words every day.
- Categorize your words:
This is both an efficient and effective method. Have a list of words classified into certain situations, dialogues, or themes.
This will make it easier for you to remember the words and their meanings because they are connected and related.
- Utilize the words you learn in your daily routines:
Lastly, studying these words is useless if you do not use and apply them in your daily conversations.
Ensure that you use them in the right context and by the time you have to take the TOEFL, you are good to go.
Make sure you are revising your vocabulary on a daily basis, but also that you are having fun while doing so!
There are many words memorizing games and applications available you can utilize to help you prepare for the essential words for the TOEFL.
Remember, however, that what works for others might not work for you. Pick the one that works best for you.
Here are some of our favorite apps that will help you study for the essential words for the TOEFL.
- Taboo
- Scrabble
- Quizlet
- Words with Friends
- Learn Vocabulary with Wozzol
- Vocab Victor English Word Game
Best Apps for TOEFL Test Preparation
Additionally, you can also make your own flashcards to help you prepare for the essential words for the TOEFL.
Make it a point that you write the words in different paper colors depending on the category. You can perform this alone and repeat it when required.
Additional FAQs — TOEFL Vocabulary — Essential Words
What Level of Fluency is Expected from You?
There are four proficiency levels in the TOEFL. They are Advanced, Intermediate, Low Intermediate, and Below Low Intermediate.
For you to be able to pass the TOEFL, your fluency level should either be in the Intermediate and Advanced level.
That means that out of the 30 questions in each component – Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, you should at least get a score of 20.
Why is it Important to Have a Vocabulary List Based on Categories?
You should have your vocabulary classified based on different categories because it is just what is both efficient and effective. Memorizing a 200-word list is difficult.
However, memorizing 20 sets of topics with 10 words each is way easier. It also paves for better comprehension because the words are connected and related.
How Many Words are in Essential Words for the TOEFL?
In order to get a high score for the TOEFL, you are expected to have at least 5000 words in your vocabulary. This might seem quite a lot but since the TOEFL is a test for non-native English speakers, it will put your English abilities to the test.
To get your desired band score, prepare and study well. Follow the tips and strategies we have listed in this article. (see above)
How Can I Memorize the TOEFL Vocabulary?
Memorizing the essential words for the TOEFL is not as challenging as it seems. You just have to do it slowly and continuously. Try learning 5 words a day.
If you feel like you are improving and need to level up your pace, you can have 6 then 7 and 8 words per day. It is up to you. Just keep in mind that constant practice is the key.
Do I Need to Learn Words for TOEFL?
Yes, you need to learn the essential words for the TOEFL. The TOEFL is a vocabulary test, so you must enhance your vocabulary before taking the test.
Read magazines, newspapers, and articles. Watch the news and the television.
Listen to podcasts and, more importantly, have a list of words based on different categories. These are the best ways to prepare and study for the essential words for the TOEFL.
What are TOEFL words?
The essential words for the TOEFL are the terminologies that you have to master before taking the test. These are the words that will enable the examiners to identify your fluency level. There are no specific lists that you need to study.
However, bear in mind that the topics in the TOEFL are from various areas and themes, and you need to study as many words as possible.
Additional Reading – TOEFL Vocabulary
Additional Reading – TOEFL Vocabulary
As I’ve mentioned before, Barron’s is one of the best sources for unofficial TOEFL prep. (Besides Magoosh, of course! 😉 ) And Barron’s Essential Words for the TOEFL is yet another great Barron’s book I can happily recommend. Let me give you a closer look at what this book offers.
The Structure of the Book
This is a short book with carefully structured lesson material. The structure I’m going to outline below will tell you everything you need to know about what this book offers. Read on for a guided tour of Barron’s Essential Words for the TOEFL.
Chapters 1-4: Tips and Tricks
Barron’s Essential Words for the TOEFL starts with four short chapters of tips and tricks for building TOEFL Vocabulary.
The first and second chapters describe the exam itself; these chapters do accurately describe the importance of vocabulary on the test, but the descriptions and examples reflect the old format of the TOEFL rather than the new version rolled out in 2019.
In these first two chapters, there is a special emphasis on TOEFL Reading, the section where vocabulary is tested the most rigorously. The second chapter focuses exclusively on the Reading section.
Chapters 3 and 4 are impressive resources for improving and building vocabulary. The tips, tricks, and study supports in these chapters are fantastic! Reading those chapters, I found myself wishing I’d known about this book when I first started teaching the TOEFL. It would have been a great resource for my students.
Chapters 5 and 6: Practice, Practice, Practice
“Chapter” 5 of this book is not so much a chapter as it is a large section. This chapter is over 250 pages long and contains 30 vocabulary lessons. Each individual lesson introduces students to 17 new vocabulary words that are common on the TOEFL. Definitions and example sentences are given for each word, followed by a synonym-matching exercise and a set of TOEFL vocabulary-in-context Reading questions.
Once you’ve learned these 510 words, the book will continue with its emphasis on vocabulary use in TOEFL Reading. In Chapter 6, you’ll go through a full TOEFL Reading section, with three passages and three question sets. This Reading section is patterned after the pre-2019 TOEFL exam, but it really isn’t that different from the current version of the test. Each passage comes with extra questions beyond the 10 questions per passage in the current exam. But the styles of passage and types of question remain accurate.
The Index
Last but not least, at the end of the book there is an alphabetical index of all the vocabulary words. This is very useful, because the vocabulary words in the 30 lessons found in Chapter 5 are not presented in alphabetical order.
Should You Buy This Book?
While I do like this book, it’s not necessarily for everyone. If you are already feeling confident in your vocabulary with the free resources you currently have access to (such as Magoosh TOEFL’s free flashcards), you may not need this book. But if you want to give your vocabulary learning an extra boost, or if vocabulary is an especially important challenge for you as you prepare for the TOEFL, this book is a helpful, affordable option.
-
David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT.
David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles, his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru.
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320 Essential Words to Learn For the TOEFL and IELTS Tests.
A solid knowledge of academic vocabulary is the key to attaining a high score in the TOEFL or IELTS tests.
Below is a list of 320 essential words for passing the TOEFL or IELTS test including definitions and sample sentences.
Whilst learning huge volumes of vocabulary may seem daunting to most people if you leave yourself plenty of time, enough to learn say 5 to 10 words per day correctly, then the process should be easier, and less stressful.
Also, reading a wide variety of materials, specifically academic ones that are related to the subjects covered in the tests will help a considerable amount. Articles can be found in magazines or websites and help to put the words into an understandable context.
I hope that this list of vocabulary helps you with your test preparation.
Good luck and good studying.
The 320 Words That You Need to Know in Order To Maximize Your Score In The TOEFL Test.
Word | Definition | Sample Sentence |
Abundant | Present in large quantities. | Living close to a lake means we have an abundant supply of water. |
Accumulate | To gradually collect. | Each fall, leaves accumulate in our driveway. |
Accurate | Correct; free from errors. | Make sure your address is accurate before submitting your online order. |
Accustomed | Used to something. | Having 8AM classes means I’m accustomed to getting up early. |
Acquire | To come into possession of. | When my grandmother died, I acquired her cookbook collection. |
Adamant | Refusing to change an opinion. | The defendant was adamant that he was innocent. |
Adequate | Enough to suit your needs. | Our house isn’t big, but it’s adequate for the two of us. |
Adjacent | Close to or next to. | The park is adjacent to the school. |
Adjust | To change something so it serves its purpose better. | The bike seat may be too high; you’ll probably need to adjust it. |
Advantage | Something that makes it easier to achieve success. | His height gives him an advantage in basketball. |
Advocate | To publicly support. | My aunt is a major advocate for women’s’ rights. |
Adverse | Unfavorable; against one’s desires. | I had an adverse reaction to my medication and had to stop taking it. |
Aggregate | To combine. | We should aggregate our resources to share them more easily. |
Aggressive | Assertive and pushy. | The salesperson was very aggressive when trying to get us to buy the television. |
Allocate | To put aside for a specific purpose. | The village needs to allocate funds for building the new school. |
Alternative | Another option or choice. | If the ATM is broken, an alternative solution is to stop by the bank. |
Amateur | Someone who is inexperienced or not highly skilled in a particular area. | He’s an amateur soccer player and is still learning the rules of the game. |
Ambiguous | Having several potential meanings; unclear and difficult to understand. | When I asked the HR manager what my chances were of getting the job, she gave me a very ambiguous reply. |
Ambitious | Having large goals. | My son is very ambitious and hopes to be a millionaire by the time he’s thirty. |
Amend | To change for the better; to improve. | I believe we should amend our country’s tax laws. |
Ample | Plentiful. | Our new apartment has ample space for the two of us. |
Anomaly | Deviation from the norm. | The basketball player is the team’s best free thrower, so his missing both shots was an anomaly. |
Annual | Occurring yearly. | The annual company barbeque takes place every August. |
Antagonize | To tease or be hostile towards a person or group. | The boy loves to antagonize his little sister by pulling her hair. |
Attitude | Manner or feeling. | After she got grounded, the teenager had a bad attitude for the rest of the day. |
Attribute | To give credit. | Be sure to attribute credit to your sources when writing a research paper. |
Arbitrary | Based on a whim or random decision. | Flipping a coin is an arbitrary way to make a decision. |
Arduous | Requiring a lot of effort. | After you cross the bridge, there’s an arduous walk up the hill. |
Assuage | To lessen a negative feeling. | The mother assuaged her child’s fear of the dark. |
Assume | To suppose without solid proof. | I assumed he was rich because he worked as a lawyer. |
Augment | To increase or make larger. | She augments her regular salary by babysitting on the weekends. |
Benefit | Something positive or advantageous. | A benefit of doing homework on Friday is that your weekend will be free. |
Berate | To scold. | Our neighbor berated us after we broke his window playing baseball. |
Bestow | To give as a gift. | The medal was bestowed upon him by the president. |
Boast | To brag or talk with excessive pride. | He always boasts of his talents after he wins a game. |
Boost | To help raise or increase something. | I gave him a pep talk to boost his self-esteem before his speech. |
Brash | Rude and tactless. | The brash man always asked inappropriate questions. |
Brief | Short (in terms of time). | It will only have a brief meeting, so you’ll still have plenty of time for lunch. |
Brusque | Abrupt to the point of rudeness. | After being away for so long, I expected more than her brusque greeting. |
Cacophony | A harsh, unpleasant mixture of noise. | The cuckoo clock shop lets off a cacophony every hour. |
Cease | To stop. | I wish they would cease arguing. |
Censure | To express strong disapproval. | Every parent in our district censured the education cuts. |
Chronological | Arranged in order of time or date. | Put the historical events in chronological order to make them easier to study. |
Clarify | To make clear; to remove confusion. | I didn’t understand the instructions, so I asked the teacher to clarify them. |
Coalesce | To combine or grow together. | The people on the street eventually coalesced into a group. |
Coerce | To force someone to do something against their will. | The young boy was coerced into stealing by his friends. |
Cognizant | Being aware or having knowledge of something. | Before mountain climbing, you need to be cognizant of the risks. |
Cohesion | Uniting; becoming one. | Water molecules show strong cohesion when they stick together. |
Coincide | To occur at the same time. | This year Thanksgiving coincided with my birthday. |
Collapse | To fall down or break down. | The old building finally collapsed, leaving nothing but a pile of rubble. |
Collide | To hit one another with a forceful impact. | The two cars collided on the freeway. |
Commitment | Dedication to a cause or activity. | Joining a school play is a big commitment. You’ll need to practice every evening. |
Community | A group of people who live or work together. | The Chinese community in my city is hosting a New Year celebration next week. |
Conceal | To hide. | The mountains concealed the ocean from view. |
Concur | To agree. | He believes women should be paid as much as men, and I concur. |
Conflict | A disagreement or fight. | The conflict between the two families has been going on for generations. |
Constrain | To restrict or repress. | You should move your plant to a bigger pot, otherwise you’ll constrain its roots. |
Contemplate | To consider thoughtfully. | I spend a lot of time contemplating what career I want to have. |
Continuously | To go on without stopping. | My neighbors have been continuously blasting their music since last night. |
Contradict | To give the opposite opinion. | I told the employees that sales were down, but my boss contradicted me and said sales were actually up. |
Contribute | To give something (usually money or time) to a common fund or cause. | Every roommate contributes part of his paycheck to the grocery bill. |
Convey | To make known. | I’ve conveyed my interest in working for that company. |
Copious | Abundant. | He always takes copious notes during class to study later on. |
Core | Central; of main importance. | Although many employees left the company, the core leadership remained. |
Corrode | To gradually wear away. | The rust corroded the paint on my car. |
Cumbersome | Burdensome; clumsy | Trying to carry four grocery bags at once was very cumbersome. |
Curriculum | The courses given by a school or program. | Our school needs to add more music courses to its curriculum. |
Data | Facts, statistics, or pieces of information. | The data from these graphs show that yearly temperatures are increasing. |
Decay | To decline in health or excellence. | After the tree died, its wood began to decay. |
Deceive | To trick or mislead. | He deceived me by pretending to be a millionaire. |
Decipher | To find the meaning of. | The spy deciphered the secret code. |
Declaration | An announcement. | He made a declaration to the office that he was quitting. |
Decline | 1. To politely refuse 2. To deteriorate (especially in terms of health.) |
1. I declined his offer of a ride home.
2. Her health has declined ever since she turned 70. |
Degrade | To lower in quality. | My attempt at cake degraded into a crumbly mess. |
Demonstrate | To show. | Let me demonstrate the proper way of throwing a football. |
Deny | To state that something isn’t true. | He denied being the robber. |
Deplete | To significantly decrease. | Your shopping sprees have depleted my savings. |
Deposit | To deliver and leave an item. | Please deposit your books in the bin outside the library. |
Desirable | Worth having or wanting. | Bravery is a desirable trait for firefighters to have. |
Despise | To hate. | I despise early morning classes. |
Detect | To locate something. | The police dog detected the missing child’s scent. |
Deter | To discourage. | The warning signs on the house deterred trespassers. |
Deviate | To differ from the norm. | I decided to deviate from my normal route home and took a shortcut. |
Devise | To plan or create. | The coach devised a plan for winning the game. |
Diatribe | A sharp criticism or attack. | The politician went into a diatribe against her opponent. |
Digress | To wander from the main subject. | The teacher digressed from the lecture to discuss the weather. |
Dilemma | A situation where one must choose between two difficult choices. | The student faced the dilemma of attending school sick or missing her exam. |
Diminish | To shrink or reduce. | Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet to diminish the stain. |
Dispose | To get rid of. | I need to dispose of this trash. |
Disproportionate | Too large or small when compared to something else. | The piece of pie I received was disproportionately small. |
Disrupt | To interrupt by causing a disturbance. | The protesters disrupted the politician’s speech. |
Distort | To misrepresent. | The camera filter distorted the image. |
Distribute | To give portions of something. | Distribute the materials evenly among the class. |
Diverse | Showing a lot of variety. | This city has a very diverse population. |
Divert | To cause a change of course. | Because of the accident, the police had to divert traffic down a side street. |
Dynamic | Constantly changing. | The theater has dynamic shows, so you never know what you’ll see. |
Ease | To reduce unpleasantness or difficulty. | This prescription will ease your allergies. |
Efficient | Maximizing productivity. | Now that I’m following a schedule at work, I’m much more efficient. |
Eliminate | To remove. | Our team lost the match and was eliminated from the competition. |
Elite | A select, above-average group. | The elite detective team were also sent for when there were big crimes. |
Eloquent | Moving speech or writing. | Her eloquent writing has gained her many fans. |
Emphasize | To give special importance to when speaking or writing. | The teacher emphasized the due date of the project. |
Endure | To suffer through something difficult with patience. | He has endured four knee operations so far. |
Enhance | To intensify or magnify. | The falling snow enhanced the beauty of the small village. |
Epitome | A perfect example of something. | The duchess is the epitome of class. |
Equivalent | Equal. | Twenty-four is equivalent to two dozen. |
Erroneous | Incorrect. | He apologized for his erroneous statement. |
Estimate | An approximate value. | Try to get an estimate of the number of people attending the concert. |
Evade | To avoid or escape. | By hiding in the bathroom, we were able to evade the intruder. |
Evaluate | To assess. | At the end of the class, every student will evaluate how well the professor taught. |
Evidence | Facts or information that help prove or disprove something. | These fossils are evidence of evolution. |
Evolve | To gradually change. | The small school evolved into a world-class institution. |
Exemplary | Worthy of imitation. | She is an exemplary student, and you should copy her study habits. |
Exclude | To leave out. | The young boy was excluded from his friends’ soccer game. |
Exclusive | Not admitting the majority. | We may not be able to get in since that club is very exclusive. |
Expand | To increase in size. | Adding air to bike tires will cause them to expand. |
Expertise | Expert knowledge or skill in a particular field. | The surgeon’s expertise is knee surgeries. |
Exploit | To use selfishly. | The company exploited its workers by making them work long hours. |
Expose | To reveal or unmask. | The emails presented exposed the company’s corruption. |
Extension | An act of making something longer. | If you’re sick on the day the paper is due, the teacher may give you an extension on the due date. |
Extract | To get or remove something. | The dentist extracted one of my teeth. |
Famine | A time when there is an extreme lack of food. | Millions of children in Ethiopia died due to the famine there. |
Feasible | Possible to do. | This study plan you made for me sounds feasible, even with my work schedule. |
Finite | Having an end or limits. | Remember that life is finite; you’re not immortal. |
Flaw | A feature that ruins the perfection of something. | I got the diamond for a reduced price since the stone had a flaw. |
Fluctuate | To change continually. | I’m not sure what to wear since the temperature has been fluctuating so much. |
Focus | The central point or idea. | The program is going to focus on environmental issues. |
Fortify | To strengthen. | The king decided to fortify the castle walls to protect them during attacks. |
Framework | A skeletal structure designed to support something. | Skyscrapers must have a strong framework to support all the floors. |
Frivolous | Unnecessary; of little importance | You must stop spending your money on frivolous purchases. |
Function | A purpose natural to a person or thing. | The function of petals is to attract insects to the plant. |
Fundamental | Of primary importance. | Learning scales is fundamental to being a good piano player. |
Gap | A space in between to objects. | Be careful to avoid the gap between the two steps. |
Garbled | Communication that is distorted and unclear. | Our answering machine is so bad that people’s voices are always garbled. |
Generate | To produce. | The fire generates heat, which keeps the room warm. |
Grandiose | Pompous; overly important. | The actress had only one small part before she got grandiose ideas of her fame. |
Hackneyed | Overused and unoriginal. | HIs poems contain many hackneyed phrases. |
Haphazard | Lacking planning. | There was no schedule, so the event was very haphazard. |
Harsh | Not gentle; unpleasant. | Her comments on my performance were very harsh and not kind at all. |
Hasty | In a hurry. | In order to avoid the police, the robbers made a hasty retreat. |
Hazardous | Full of risk. | The nuclear reactor has a lot of hazardous waste. |
Hesitate | To pause, often due to reluctance. | She hesitated before entering the abandoned building. |
Hierarchy | A ranking system. | In the office hierarchy, the manager is higher than the associate. |
Hindrance | Something that causes delay or resistance. | Her hatred of public transportation is a hindrance when trying to get around New York City. |
Hollow | Empty inside. | The dead tree is hollow. |
Horror | An intense feeling of fear. | The haunted house filled me with horror. |
Hostile | Extremely unfriendly. | My ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend was very hostile towards me. |
Hypothesis | An unproven idea that attempts to explain something. | You’ll need to conduct an experiment to test your hypothesis. |
Identical | Exactly the same. | The twins were completely identical. |
Illiterate | Unable to read. | Because he’d never been able to attend school, the man was illiterate. |
Illustrate | To explain by using an example. | The professor illustrated the lesson with a personal story. |
Impact | Effect or influence. | His moving words had a large impact on me. |
Impair | To worsen. | Drinking alcohol will impair your driving abilities. |
Implement | To carry out. | We will implement the new schedule starting next semester. |
Imply | To strongly suggest. | My mother implied that I was the one who forgot to take out the trash. |
Impose | To force upon. | After the riots, the mayor imposed a curfew on the town. |
Impoverish | To reduce to poverty. | These medical bills are going to impoverish me. |
Incentive | A reason to do something. | I hate my job, but the big paychecks are a good incentive to stick with it. |
Incessant | Continuing without pause. | I can’t sleep because of the dog’s incessant barking. |
Incidental | A minor part. | Don’t worry about your grade on this quiz; it’s only an incidental part of your grade. |
Incite | To urge on. | The ringleader incited the soldiers to rebellion. |
Inclination | A preference. | My inclination is to go to bed early. |
Incompetent | Incapable; lacking ability. | The incompetent worker was fired from his job. |
Inconsistent | Changing randomly. | His pitching has been very inconsistent all season. |
Indefatigable | Untiring. | She is an indefatigable hiker and can walk all day. |
Indisputable | Not able to be challenged. | She’s the indisputable star of the basketball team. |
Ineffective | Not producing any major impact. | The drug was shown to be ineffective at curing cancer. |
Inevitable | Unable to be avoided. | Even if you’re healthy, death is inevitable in the end. |
Infer | To guess based on evidence. | I inferred that she was annoyed based on her body language. |
Inflate | To increase in size. | Getting a promotion has really inflated his ego. |
Influence | The ability to have an impact of something. | The older sister has been a positive influence on her younger siblings. |
Inhibit | To hinder or restrain. | This cleaning spray inhibits the growth of bacteria. |
Initial | The first. | She was the initial president of the company. |
Inquiry | An investigation to determine the truth. | Congress launched an inquiry after the senator was accused of taking bribes. |
Integral | Necessary to complete the whole. | You can’t quit. You’re an integral part of this team. |
Integrate | To combine. | When making a cake, you need to fully integrate the wet and dry ingredients. |
Interpret | To explain the meaning of something. | I need you to interpret this German speech for me. |
Intervene | To come between people, objects, or an event and change what is happening. | When the toddlers couldn’t share their toys, their mothers had to intervene. |
Intrepid | Fearless. | The intrepid mountain climber reached the top of Mt. Everest. |
Intricate | Highly detailed. | The pattern on this blanket is so intricate. |
Invasive | Intrusive. | We found the stranger’s questions too personal and very invasive. |
Investigate | To examine or study. | The police are going to investigate the crime scene. |
Irascible | Easy to anger. | Even though my grandfather seems irascible, he’s actually very loving. |
Irony | The use of words to give a meaning opposite to their literal meaning. | “I love spending my Friday nights doing homework,” she said with irony. |
Irresolute | Uncertain. | Not sure which direction to go in, he stood irresolute. |
Jargon | Words specific to a certain job or group. | To be a successful doctor, you’ll need to learn a lot of medical jargon. |
Jointly | Together. | The newlyweds jointly opened up a bank account. |
Knack | A special talent or skill. | My brother has a real knack for solving tricky math problems. |
Labor | Work or effort. | Building a house requires a lot of labor. |
Lag | To fall behind. | I stayed with the front group of runners for the first few miles, but after that I began to lag. |
Lampoon | To mock or ridicule. | The cartoonist lampooned the president’s speech. |
Languish | To become weak; to be neglected. | During winter break, my plants languished since I was visiting my parents and couldn’t water them. |
Lecture | A talk given to an audience. | The professor will give a 30 minute lecture before the quiz. |
Leery | Wary. | I’m leery of taking the dark-looking shortcut. |
Legitimate | Lawful. | The way he became mayor is completely legitimate. |
Lenient | Merciful; less harsh. | The judge gave the criminal a lenient sentence due to his bad childhood. |
Likely | Probable. | I don’t have much homework, so it’s likely I’ll be able to go out tonight. |
Ludicrous | Ridiculous. | His claims about me are absolutely ludicrous. |
Maintain | To continue at the same level. | She has maintained the same weight since high school. |
Major | Very important. | This test is a major part of your final grade. |
Manipulate | To influence, especially in an unfair way. | He tried to manipulate the results of the election. |
Maximize | To increase to the greatest possible size. | The store’s goal this year is to maximize its profit. |
Measure | To find the size and dimensions of something. | By measuring the tree, I found it was seven feet tall. |
Mediocre | Ordinary, average. | The meal the chef made was only mediocre. |
Mend | To fix. | My mother will mend the hole in my shirt. |
Method | A way of doing something. | Her method for making bread takes three days. |
Migrate | To move from one place to another. | Every fall, the geese migrate to Florida. |
Minimum | The smallest or lowest amount possible. | You need to get a minimum of 70% on the test to pass the class. |
Misleading | Giving the wrong idea. | The advertisement for the weight loss pills is very misleading since studies have shown they’re ineffective. |
Modify | To change. | I need to modify my style so it looks more professional. |
Morose | Gloomy, depressed. | The boy was morose after hearing he didn’t make the football team. |
Negligent | Lazy, neglectful. | The negligent babysitter invited her friends over while the children were upstairs. |
Nonchalant | Indifferent, unexcited. | I was hurt when my friend greeted me so nonchalantly. |
Obey | To follow orders or instructions. | My dog always obeys me when I ask her to sit. |
Obtain | To get. | The spy obtained the secret codes we need. |
Obvious | Easily understood. | The large poster of Michael Jackson over her bed made it obvious who her favorite singer was. |
Opponent | Someone on the opposite side for a game or contest. | The soccer player blocked her opponent’s shot at the goal. |
Oppress | To unfairly burden. | For the past ten generations the royal family has oppressed the peasants by keeping them in poverty. |
Origin | The source; where something began. | The explorers are trying to find the origin of the Nile. |
Paradigm | A typical example of something. | This work of art is a paradigm of the period; you’ll see many examples of it in the museum. |
Parsimonious | Frugal, stingy. | The parsimonious woman only donated a dollar to charity. |
Partake | To join in. | My leg was feeling much better, so I decided to partake in the soccer match. |
Partial | Preferring one option over others. | We can get strawberry ice cream, but I’m actually more partial to chocolate. |
Paucity | Something existing in very small amounts; scarcity. | During the drought, the town had a paucity of fresh water. |
Peak | The highest or most important point. | Winning the championship was the peak of his career. |
Peripheral | Located on the side or edge. | There are some peripheral fights going on at the outdoor concert. |
Permeate | To penetrate or pass through. | Let the maple syrup permeate your waffles before eating them. |
Persist | To continue, especially when facing opposition. | I may have lost my last six games, but I will continue to persist trying to win. |
Pertain | Relate. | How does your question pertain to the lecture? |
Phase | A period or stage in a process. | In high school, I went through a phase where I only wore black clothes. |
Poll | A record of opinions or votes. | The polls show that my candidate is going to win the election. |
Potent | Powerful. | Only take one sleeping pill since they’re very potent. |
Pragmatic | Practical, sensible. | Your boyfriend is too dramatic. I think you need a more pragmatic man. |
Praise | To give approval or admiration. | The book is the best I’ve ever read; I can’t praise it enough. |
Precede | To come before. | The flower girls preceded the bride when they walked down the aisle. |
Precise | Exact. | When collecting data, it’s important that your measurements are very precise. |
Prestigious | Having a high reputation. | Harvard is one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States. |
Prevalent | Widespread. | If more people don’t start washing their hands, disease will become more prevalent. |
Primary | First; most important. | Maeve’s primary goal in life is to become a doctor. |
Prior | Previous or earlier. | Prior to becoming a teacher, Elena worked as a book editor. |
Proceed | To continue doing something. | I’m sorry for interrupting; please proceed with your speech. |
Progeny | Offspring. | The dog’s progeny all have yellow fur. |
Promote | To further to progress of something. | I’m promoting this new indie movie so that more people will buy tickets to it. |
Prosper | To do well. | Dave hopes his new business will prosper and make him a millionaire. |
Proximity | Nearness in time or space. | The twins hated to be apart, so they bought houses in close proximity to each other. |
Quarrel | Disagreement or fight; to have an argument. | Nina and her boyfriend always quarrel over money. |
Range | The distance between two things, often the maximum and the minimum. | The range of ages at the concert spanned from 12 to 65. |
Rank | An official position or station. | Archibald was promoted to the rank of first captain. |
Rebuke | To sternly disapprove or reprimand. | After staying out too late, Grace received a rebuke from her parents. |
Recapitulate | To give a brief summary. | At the end of his speech, the politician made sure to recapitulate his main points. |
Recede | To retreat. | Two days after the flood, the seawater finally began to recede from our house. |
Recommend | To present someone with confidence and approval. | I need to ask Mr. Smith if he’ll recommend me for this leadership position. |
Reform | To make changes that improve something. | Melanie’s father is in charge of reforming to school system. |
Regulate | To supervise or control a process so that it functions correctly. | Ben needs to regulate how much he eats in order to stay at a healthy weight. |
Reinforce | To strengthen with added support. | The builders reinforced the house’s wooden frame with steel beams. |
Reject | To say no to something that is offered. | Lydia rejected my invitation to the homecoming dance. |
Release | To free; to allow to be known. | The CEO decided to release the company’s profits from last year. |
Rely | To depend on. | I rely on coffee to get my through my mornings. |
Reproach | To express disapproval or disappointment. | The coach reproached the players for failing to play their best. |
Require | To need for a specific purpose. | The camping trip requires that every participant bring their own food and sleeping bag. |
Resent | To feel bitterness or anger towards someone or something. | I’ve always resented my sister because she is my mother’s favorite child. |
Resign | To give up an office or position. | Due to his declining health, the mayor decided to resign from office. |
Resist | To withstand the effect of. | Resist the impulse to have ice cream for breakfast. |
Resolve | To come to a firm decision. | Matt resolved to get better grades next semester by studying every night. |
Restrict | To confine or keep within limits. | My doctor told me to restrict myself to one glass of wine a day. |
Retain | To continue to do something or keep something. | I’ve decided to retain my normal hairstyle. |
Retract | 1. To draw back in.
2. To withdraw something after it’s found to be untrue. |
1. I felt calmer after the lion retracted its claws.
2. After numerous errors were found, the newspaper retracted the story. |
Retrieve | To bring back. | Alexis got out of the car to retrieve the ball her little brother had thrown. |
Rhetorical | Used just for style or impact. | You aren’t expected to actually answer rhetorical questions. |
Rigid | Stiff; unyielding. | The boys’ father was happy to see the base of the treehouse was rigid and sturdy. |
Rotate | To turn. | Rotate the sculpture so I can see the other side. |
Safeguard | Something that serves as protection or ensures safety. | A retirement fund is one way to safeguard your finances for the future. |
Scrutinize | To very carefully examine. | The judges were looking for perfection, so they scrutinized every entry. |
Section | A part of the whole. | This section of the stadium dressed completely in red. |
Select | To choose. | Jane selected a blue dress to wear to the wedding. |
Sequence | Things that follow each other in a certain order. | Librarians need to know how order books in the correct sequence. |
Severe | 1. Harsh or strict.
2. Grave, critical. |
1. The robbers suffered severe consequences for stealing.
2. My uncle is currently battling a severe illness in the hospital. |
Shallow | Not deep. | You don’t need to worry about getting your dress wet. The water is very shallow here. |
Shelter | To protect from something harmful. | The empty barn gave the men shelter during the storm. |
Shrink | To become smaller. | Hopefully this cream will cause my scar to shrink. |
Significant | Important, noteworthy. | The Gettysburg Address was a significant event during the Civil War. |
Source | A person, place, or thing where something was obtained. | You shouldn’t use Wikipedia as a source when writing school papers. |
Sparse | Thinly scattered. | The farm was almost empty; there were just a few sparse trees here and there. |
Specify | To clearly indicate which one. | You need to specify which size shirt you want before I can order it. |
Speculate | To form a theory without strong evidence. | My sister loves to speculate on the private lives of celebrities. |
Solitary | Alone; without others. | The hermit lives a solitary existence deep in the mountains. |
Somber | Gloomy; depressing. | After losing the competition, the chess players were very somber. |
Soothe | To calm or comfort. | The mother sang a lullaby to soothe her crying baby. |
Squalid | Filthy and unpleasant. | The shelter was squalid and overcrowded. |
Stable | Unlikely to change or fail. | We’re lucky to live in a country with such a stable government. |
Stagnant | Sluggish, showing little movement. | With few new jobs created, the economy has remained stagnant for the past five years. |
Strategy | A plan to reach a desired outcome. | The football team will need a good strategy to win the game tomorrow. |
Subsequent | Coming after something in time. | The first king was a good ruler, but subsequent kings have all been corrupt. |
Substitute | A person or thing acting in place of another. | If you don’t have sugar, honey makes a good substitute for this recipe. |
Subtle | Difficult to notice right away. | Maya’s perfume was very subtle; you had to get close to her to smell it. |
Sufficient | Enough to serve a particular purpose. | Make sure you have sufficient food for the camping trip. |
Summarize | To briefly give the main points. | The class didn’t have time to read the book, so the professor summarized it for them. |
Supervise | To oversee work or a process. | My dad didn’t think we were old enough to build the fort on our own, so he supervised us. |
Supplant | To take the place of something else. | The king was supplanted by his treacherous younger brother who locked him in the dungeon. |
Suspend | 1. To temporarily stop.
2. To hang something from somewhere. |
1. The power outage suspended the school concert.
2. The lamp is suspended from the high ceiling. |
Suspicious | Having the belief that someone is doing something dishonest or illegal. | The couple became suspicious when they saw strange men removing their neighbor’s expensive electronics during the night. |
Sustain | To keep going. | I stopped trying to sustain the friendship after he made fun of how I looked. |
Symbolic | Serving as a symbol. | A cross is symbolic of Christianity. |
Technical | Relating to a specific subject or craft. | The laptop manual is full of technical terms only a computer expert can understand. |
Terminal | Situated at the end. | Everyone on the train must get off at the terminal stop. |
Tolerate | To put up with. | I tolerate the rude man since he is my husband’s best friend. |
Transfer | To move from one place to another. | Ben’s work is going to transfer him from Chicago to Detroit. |
Transition | Changing from one state or condition to another. | The transition from student to employee can often take awhile to get used to. |
Transparent | 1. See-through material.
2. Easy to detect. |
1. The glass vase is completely transparent.
2. Her attempt to flatter the movie star was very transparent. |
Tuition | The fee for instruction at a school. | College tuition prices have gone up in recent decades. |
Unobtrusive | Not attracting attention. | The prince’s bodyguards had mastered the art of being unobtrusive. |
Unscathed | Unharmed. | Ian was lucky to walk away from the car crash unscathed. |
Upbeat | Happy; optimistic. | Even when she’s having a bad day, my mom always has an upbeat attitude. |
Unjust | Unfair. | Since I tried my hardest on the exam, I felt my teacher’s criticism of me was unjust. |
Vacillate | To waver or be indecisive. | She vacillated between the two dresses before finally deciding to wear a skirt. |
Valid | Just; well-founded. | The soldiers had valid concerns about the battles they’d be facing. |
Vanish | To disappear quickly. | The plane vanished behind the clouds. |
Vary | To be different from something else in a group. | |
Verdict | A judgement or decision. | The jury delivered a guilty verdict. |
Vestige | A small trace of something that is disappearing or has already disappeared. | The empty castle still had a few vestiges of its former wealth. |
Vial | A small container used to hold liquids. | The chemist carefully filled the vial with the bubbling solution. |
Vilify | To speak poorly of; to slander. | Mark was vilified by his angry ex-girlfriend. |
Voluminous | Taking up a lot of space. | The puffy wedding dress had voluminous sleeves. |
Whereas | On the contrary. | I always save my money whereas my brother is constantly in debt. |
Wholly | Completely. | The monk is wholly devoted to his faith. |
Widespread | Occurring over a large region. | There is widespread poverty across that country. |
Wilt | To droop and become limp. | Plants will wilt if you don’t water them regularly. |