The 327 Best Words to Know: Ultimate TOEFL Vocabulary List

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The 327 Best Words to Know: Ultimate TOEFL Vocabulary List

Developing solid TOEFL vocabulary skills can be one of the most challenging parts of studying for the exam, but it’s also one of the most important. Many TOEFL questions either ask you the definition of a word outright or require you to have knowledge of certain words in order to answer a question correctly. With so many words in the English language, which are the ones you need to know?

We’ve done the hard work for you and determined the 327 most useful TOEFL words to know. They’re all listed below, along with a definition and sample sentence for each. We also end with tips on how to use this list most effectively in order to be prepared for vocabulary on the TOEFL.

How Did We Compile This TOEFL Vocabulary List?

To create this list, we first read through official TOEFL practice materials and made a list of all the words a person taking the TOEFL might struggle with. This was our primary source and finds words that you’re more likely to see on the real test. Next, we cross-referenced our list with TOEFL vocabulary lists from other sites, such as Magoosh and TOEFL Vocabulary, and examined their overlap with our list.

Words that appeared especially frequently from our research was automatically added to the final TOEFL vocabulary list you see below, as well as a selection of other words deemed particularly useful to know for the TOEFL. Once the list of 327 best words was compiled, we added a definition and sample sentence to each one to help you better understand the words and how they are used.

 

The 327 TOEFL Words You Need to Know

Below are the 327 best TOEFL vocabulary words, in alphabetical order.

 

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.

 

  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.

 

How to Use This TOEFL Vocabulary List

First, you should read through the list and identify any words you don’t know or are unsure of. If you’re even slightly unsure of a TOEFL vocabulary word, you’ll want to study it. Be sure to read the definition and sample sentence of words you feel confident on to be sure you understand them fully.

Once you have your TOEFL word list that you need to study, you’ll want to work on memorizing their definitions. You don’t need to memorize the sample sentences, but you should review them to ensure you understand how the word is used. You can also search for individual TOEFL words in Google news to find articles that include the word and give you an even better idea of how the word is actually used.

Flashcards are a great way to study TOEFL vocab words because they allow you to easily flip between the word itself on one side and its definition and sample sentence on the other side. You can make your own TOEFL flashcards or use a site such as Quizlet which lets you make online flashcards for free from your TOEFL vocabulary list.

 

The Best Way to Use Your TOEFL Flashcards

We recommend using the waterfall method to learn TOEFL words. If you’re not sure what the waterfall method is, we break it down for you below.

Once you have your TOEFL vocabulary flashcards, you’ll go through those cards one by one. For each card whose definition you know easily, you’ll put it in a “Know It” pile. If you don’t know the definition of a particular TOEFL word, put it in a “Struggled” pile.

After you’ve gone through each of the cards once, pick up your “Struggled” pile. You’ll now go through this pile again. For words where you know the definition, place them in a second “Know It” pile next to (but not combined with) the first “Know It” pile. For words you don’t know, make a new “Struggled” pile. Repeat this process, placing new “Know It” piles in a row from left to right. This creates your waterfall. Repeat this process until the “Struggled” pile has only a few words left.

Now, you’ll move back up the waterfall. Starting with the most recent “Struggled” pile, go through the flashcards until you know all the words in the pile. Then, add the most recent (the rightmost) “Know It” pile. Go through those words. If you miss any, go through the entire pile again until you get all of them right. It may take awhile to get through the entire pile, but this method will guarantee that you learn those TOEFL words! Continue this process until you get all the way back up the waterfall.

This is the best method to study vocab flashcards because you’ll spend the majority of your time reviewing the words you struggle the most with, as opposed to just studying the entire stack over and over.

 

Conclusion: Studying TOEFL Vocabulary

Vocabulary is an important part of the TOEFL, and many questions on the exam require you to have a strong vocabulary. Use our list of the 327 best TOEFL vocabulary words in order to guide your studying.

Flashcards are one of the best ways to learn your TOEFL vocabulary list, and the waterfall method is a great method to use with TOEFL flashcards. Don’t stop studying a word until you’ve memorized its definition and understand how it’s used in sentences!

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TOEFL Pocket Vocabulary: 500 Words by Kaplan Test Prep

By Wiki Study in TOEFL Books 1 Comment
TOEFL Pocket Vocabulary: 500+ Words

TOEFL Pocket Vocabulary: 500 Words (Our 80’s year expertise = Your competitive advantage ) by Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan’s TOEFL Pocket Vocabulary provides clear definitions and practices exercises to help you master the vocabulary words and idioms you’ll need to know in a North American university setting. This focused, portable guide will help you learn essential English comprehension, speaking, and writing skills so you can face the TOEFL with confidence.

TOEFL Pocket Vocabulary: 500+ Words

TOEFL Pocket Vocabulary: 500+ Words

Essential Review

  • More than 500 words and more than 400 idioms in flashcard-like page design
  • Definitions, parts of speech, and sample sentences for each word to help you learn the meanings in the context
  • Content is focused on higher-level vocabulary and terms related to U.S. campus life
  • Practice exercises help you test your knowledge

Expert Guidance
We invented test prep—Kaplan (www.kaptest.com) has been helping students for almost 80 years. Our proven strategies have helped legions of students achieve their dreams.

 

About the Author

Kaplan Test Prep is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools, and businesses worldwide. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings, a complete array of print books and digital products, and a global network of certified providers, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including test prep for English language exams such as the IELTS, TOEFL, and TOEIC as well as for entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, and professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians, and nurses. For Kaplan Test Prep’s global offerings, go to www.kaptestglobal.com.

NOW YOU CAN DOWNLOAD TOEFL Pocket Vocabulary: 500 Words by Kaplan Test Prep BELOW LINK HERE:

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Vocabulary practise 9: Opposites (Verbs)

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Vocabulary practise 9: Opposites (Verbs)

*Note: If you need the answer keys, please comment below to let us know and we will send it to you. If you have any concerns, please comment below!

Exercise 1: Replace the verbs in bold in sentences 1 – 26 with a word or expression from the box which has an opposite meaning in the same context. In many cases you will need to change the form of the word (for example, to its past simple form). 

  • abandon
  • abolish
  • attack
  • conceal
  • decline
  • demolish
  • deny
  • deteriorate
  • exaggerate
  • extend fall
  • forbid
  • gain
  • hire
  • lend
  • loosen
  • lower
  • postpone
  • refuse
  • reject
  • replenish
  • reward
  • set
  • simplify
  • succeed
  • withdraw

1. They accepted the offer of a ceasefire.

2. He admitted telling lies in his original statement.

3. They agreed to meet to discuss the future of the organization.

4. The senator defended his opponent’s policies in a televised speech.

5. The apartments blocks they built were the ugliest in the city.

6. He complicated matters by rewriting the original proposal.

7. They continued their plans to assassinate the king when he opened Parliament.

8. He deposited $10,000 – half his college fees for the forthcoming year.

9. Relations between the two countries have improved considerably in the last year.

10. He permitted us to present our petition directly to the President.

11. The members of the commune were punished for their part in the revolution.

12. He raised the overall standards of the company within two months of his appointment. 13. As soon as the sun rose, the demonstrators began to appear on the streets.

14. Prices rose sharply in the first three months of the financial year.

15. As soon as he had tightened the knots, he pushed the boat out.

16. To everyone’s surprise, she failed.

17. Tomorrow’s meeting has been brought forward. 18. The management said that they would be happy to borrow the money.

19. Several flaws in the design of the new model were revealed.

20. The course has been shortened to 12 weeks.

21. I don’t want to underestimate his role in the club.

22. Attendance has increased since the new professor took over the course.

23. Fuel supplies have been exhausted.

24. Despite having a bigger and cheaper choice of healthy foods, many Americans have lost a lot of weight.

25. Following the revolution, the monarchy was restored.

26. The company started seeing some success once they dismissed several employees.

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VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 11: ENVIRONMENT

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ENVIRONMENT

  1. Environmental problems

Green (issues): A very common synonym for “environmental”

Global warming : An example of man’s effect on the environment The greenhouse effect: Connected to global warming The natural world Deforestation: Cutting down forests

Rainforests : A useful example when discussing environmental problems

  1. The Environment

An ecosystem: The system where plants and animals support one another (Endangered) species: Examples include the Giant Panda Biodiversity: Variety of plant and animal file in a region A habitat: The natural habitat of an animal is where it lives The planet: A synonym for the Earth The Earth: Note the capital letter and “the”

The natural world: Includes both animal and plant life

  1. Pollution

Dump waste : If factories dump waste, they illegally deposit (normally dangerous) waste

Acid rain: rain that is “poisonous” because of the poor air quality

Factories and power stations: Two examples of sources of pollution

Carbon Monoxide and carbon dioxide: Names of two gases useful of discussing acid rain and the green house effect

Fumes/Emissions: These are the gases that are produced by cars and factories that cause pollution

Chemicals and fertilisers: Useful examples of products that cause water pollution

(Industrial) waste: We also talk about waste products Air/Water quality: This can be affected by pollution

Smog : An extreme form of air pollution almost like fog

Pollution: Remember “air and water pollution”: other forms of the word include “pollute” and “pollutants”.

I would have said that one of the most serious environmental problems today is of course pollution. It’s a very pressing green issue and if you travel to any of the large cities in China, for example, you’ll find that there is very bad air pollution and there is a layer of smog hanging over the cities. It’s just air pollution, there is also water pollution. in many parts of the world, the quality of the water is not good because rivers have been contaminated by all sorts of industrial waste, by chemicals and fertilisers. And what we need to do is to recycle our waste and take care of the planet and try use renewable resources where we possibly can.

  1. Our effect on the natural world

When we’re the discussing the environment, it’s important not to forget that our actions have an impact not only on us but on the natural world and other species. So, for example, certain species are now endangered because of our actions. it’s not just because of hunting, but because we have destroyed their natural habitats: they do not enough food or anywhere to live. If we carry on in this way, the biodiversity of the planet is under threat.

  1. Global warming

What’s the greatest threat to the Earth today? I’d have to say it’s probably a combination of global warming and the greenhouse effect. I don’t understand all the science behind it, but I understand it’s to do with the build up of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which means that the planet is slowly but steadily getting warmer. and one of the results of this is that the polar icecap is melting and the levels of the oceans are rising. And it’s caused I understand by deforestation, particularly of rainforests and particularly in the Amazonian Basin. And what this means is that we may be doing irreparable harm to the planet and the future of the planet for our children and our children’s children looks really rather bleak.

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VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 9: University Education

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 VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 9: University Education

  1. A warning – local variations

This list of vocabulary comes from the British educational system. Different countries and cultures frequently use their own terminology. For instance, in American English it is quite possible to describe university as “college” or “school”. These words mean something quite different in British English

  1. Graduate

Graduate (verb): Graduate from university.

A graduate (noun): A graduate of Oxford university/ a graduate in economics.

A postgraduate (noun): He’s a postgraduate student.

An undergraduate (noun): Undergraduates receive a grant.

A fresher (noun): Life can be difficult for freshers.

(it can replace the word “student”

note the different prepositions “of a university” and “from university” and “in a subject”

graduate is quite formal so in speaking you could use “I left university” instead a fresher is a first year student, Americans use “freshman”)

  1. Level of degrees

A first degree: The degree undergraduate do A bachelor’s degree: A synonym for a first degree.

A master’s (degree): He is doing a master’s in politics.

A PhD or a doctorate: Only a few students go on to do a PhD.

  1. Types of education

Higher education: University education

Further education: Normally for more vocational courses and may start from the age of 16.

Adult education: This is normally for non-degree programmes and often is part­time.

*Notes:if you receive a degree from a university, you are in higher education if you receive a diploma or certificate, you are in further education

  1. Types of course

A full- time degree course: Most students follow a full-time degree course.

A part -time degree course: If you are in full-time employment, a part-time may be more suitable.

A distance course: In the age of the internet, more and more people are studying by distance.

A sandwich course: If you want practical experience, a sandwich course is the best option.

  1. Forms of learning

Lecture: The students make notes and listen to lecturer. There may be a question and answer session at the end.

Seminar: Often led by a student on a particular topic. Normally, the idea is everyone gets the chance to talk. Often follows a lecture.

Tutorial: Sometimes teaching one-to-one with a tutor and sometimes the same as a seminar.

notes and common mistakes

a lecturer gives or delivers a lecture and is sometimes used as a rank of university teacher

a tutor is in charge of a seminar or tutorial

we don’t use “class” or “lesson” in university education (although Americans do use “class”)

  1. Financial aid for students

Scholarship: She won a scholarship for her dissertation. (a scholarship is won for academic merit)

Grant: Because she came from a poor background, she was given a grant by local government. (typically a grant is awarded either for a particular project or to allow a student to follow a course)

Loan: Almost all British undergraduates now have student loans that they need to replay when they start earning.

 

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–

By Wiki Study in Vocab & Grammar 0 Comment

ENERGY

  1. Type of Energy

Clean energy: Energy that does not create pollution

Wind turbines: Modern windmills used to create power from the wind

Solar panels: The implement used to create solar energy

Solar energy: Energy from the sun

Fossil fuels: A collective term for coal petrol and gas

Natural resources: For example water, coal and gas

Renewable sources: Sources of energy such as wind power and solar energy Sources of energy: A good collocation

Converse energy: Another way of saying “to save energy”

  1. Useful verbs go with Energy

Threat: A threat to/be under threat/ to threaten/to be threatened by

Contaminate: Almost the same meaning as poison: another form of the word is “contaminated”

  1. Another idea about Energy

Another extremely important green issue is of course energy. There are two points to be made here. The first point is that the way we use energy is causing harm to the environment. Most of us get energy in the form of electricity. This electricity is produced by power stations. These power stations emit all sorts of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide up into the atmosphere. And these gases cause acid rain which does harm to our ecosystem and environment. the second point to make about energy is we need to make sure that we are using energy in a sustainable way. There is a limit to the Earth’s natural resources and there is a danger that we use so much energy the Earth is no longer going to be able to provide us with sufficient coal and fossil fuels. What we need to do is look for more renewable sources of energy such as wind or perhaps solar energy from the sun.

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VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 7: TECHNOLOGY

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TECHNOLOGY

1.Progress words:

When you write and speak about computers and technology, very often you will be asked to say how technology has changed or progressed.

Innovation /innovative: The cloud is one of the latest innovations in computer technology.

Advance: One major advance is in the use of computers in transport regulation.

Develop /development: It is not easy to predict how this technology is going to develop.

Progress: The 21st century has already seen considerable progress in computer technology.

Revolution /revolutionary/ revolutionise: It is undeniable that computers have revolutionised our lives.

Breakthrough: One of the greatest technological breakthroughs ever made was the microchip.

(Progress is an uncountable word, while advance is countable. So you say that “digital technology is an advance ” but you cannot say that “digital technology is a progress”)

2.Impact of technology:

Another common topic is to talk about what effect computer technology has had on our lives

Change: It goes without saying that the computer revolution has changed all our lives.

Affect/effect: Generally speaking , most technology has had a beneficial effect on our lives.

Influence/ influential: Few inventions have had a greater influence on mankind than the computer.

Impact: It remains to be seen what the long-term impact of this technology will be.

3.Technology and computer words:

It is very easy to keep on repeating the same word without knowing it. One way not to do this is to change the form of the word or to use it in a different phrase.

Technology: One of the disadvantages of consumers of modern technology is that it rapidly becomes obsolete.

Technological: Simple as it is, I believe that cell phone is the most significant technological innovation.

Technophobe: There are a monority of people who remain technophobes and do not have mobile phones or even know how to text.

Technophile: Other, of course, and technophiles and will buy the latest gadget whether they need it or not.

Computer technology/ICT: Nowadays, one of the core subjects on any school’s curriculum is ICT and it is essential for school leavers to be computer literate.

Information technology/IT: While computers have many possible applications, their greatest use is to allow us to exchange information- hence the name information technology.

Digital native: Young people have an advantage by being digital natives and having grown up with laptops and mobile phones.

Computer literate: It is now almost impossible to work in an office, if you are not computer literate.

The computer age: In fact, we could now be said to live in the computer age.

4.Adjective and Technology:

Cutting- edge: One such cutting-edge innovation is the concept of the cloud.

State-of-the-art: It is not always, however, necessary to have the latest state-of- the-art technology.

Labour-saving: Perhaps the most influential inventions are relatively simple labour-saving devices such as the vacuum cleaner.

Advanced: More advanced technology is not always the best.

High: An example of this is how some high tech solutions are less reliable than the technology they replaced.

Outdated: The pace of change in the computer industry means that hardware can become outdated or even obsolete.

“obsolete ” is similar in meaning to “outdated”, but is a stronger word to show that the technology is so old that it cannot be used any longer.

It is normal to write “high tech” rather than “high technology”.

5.Technological Device

Device: We now have more leisure time because of labour-saving devices in the home such as the dishwasher.

Equipment: A computer is no longer a luxury, but has become an essential piece of equipment for any student or employee.

Gadget: We should not forget that many technological gadgets not only make out lives easier but are also fun to use.

Appliance: Almost all modern kitchens have several electrical appliances that save our time

(A “device ” is often something fairly small that allows you to complete a task. There is a strong collocation (very common phrase): “labour-saving device”.

“Equipment” is an uncountable word so you need to say “a piece of equipment”. It is a very general use word that can be used to describe almost anything mechanical.

“Gadget” is a word often used to describe objects that are either small or have a less serious purpose.

“Appliance” is typically used in the phrase “electrical appliances” (eg irons and kettles) that are less advanced technology.)

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VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 6: ADVERTISING

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ADVERTISING

1.Advert, advertisement or ad?

All these forms of the words are correct but ad is mostly used in spoken English only. You should also be aware of a common pronunciation problem:

  • advert
  • advertise
  • advertisement

This means that you make an “iss” sound when say advertisement. This is a very common mistake and one way to avoid it is to say and write advert.

2.Different forms of advertising

Television commercial: The BBC is perhaps unique for not carrying any commercials.

Radio spot: Radio stations make most of their revenue by selling airtime in the form of radio spots.

Billboard: Most major highways now have billboards by the roadside advertising everything from soap to gas.

Flyer: It can be very effective to hand out flyers.

Small ads/ personal ads: Not all advertising is commercial, many newspapers carry small ads for personal services.

Trailer: The trailer, as often as not, is actually better than the film itself.

Product placement: We are not always aware that we are being “sold” a product; for instance, when products are placed in films.

Promotion: The two for the price of one promotion can often be very misleading.

Endorsement: Many sports stars earn the majority of their income from endorsing various products.

Sponsorship: It is unarguable that tobacco firms should not be allowed to sponsor sports events.

3.Adjectives to describe advertising

Witty/ humorous: The idea is that if you can make someone laugh with a witty advert, then they will be more likely to buy the product.

Memorable: Almost all the best adverts are memorable in some way.

Persuasive: Some ads are extremely persuasive and we find we buy products we do not really need.

Misleading: Although there are regulations against this, many adverts are still misleading.

word-of-mouth: It is frequently said that the most effective form of advertising is word-of-mouth advertising.

4.Other related words

Regulation: Most people would accept that the advertising industry needs some form of regulation.

Advertising agency: Advertising agencies frequently do extensive market research to discover what attracts consumers.

Target: The difficulty comes when adverts target young children who are too easily influenced by them.

Consumers: It can also be argued that consumers are able to decide for themselves what to buy.

Brand awareness: Advertising is essential for companies that need to build their brand awareness.

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VOCABULARY PRACITSE 7: Metaphor

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VOCABULARY PRACITSE 6: Metaphor

A metaphor is a word or phrase that means one thing and is used to refer to another thing in order to emphasize their similar qualities. For example, in the sentence “Picasso was the father of the Cubist movement”, the word father is not used in its usual sense to mean someone’s male parent. It means that Picasso was the person who started the Cubist movement, or that he was the first one to do it successfully. Father is being used in a metaphorical way. Metaphors are a bit like idioms , because the words and expressions are not being used with their literal meaning.
The following exercises look at some common metaphors that are used in different situations.
Exercise 1: Achievements, ideas, and theories

Metaphorically, achievements, ideas, and theories are often seen as buildings, with an idea or the process of achieving something being similar to the process of building, and the failure of something being similar to the destruction of a building. Metaphorically, ideas are also like plants, and developing an idea is like getting plants to grow.

Complete sentences 1 – 20 with a word or expression from the list. In several cases you will need to change the form of the words. The first one has been done for you.

  • architect
  • blueprint
  • build on
  • build up
  • buttress
  • collapse
  • construct
  • deep-rooted
  • demolish
  • edifice
  • fertile
  • fruitful
  • ground-breaking
  • lay the foundations
  • ruins
  • sow the seeds
  • stem from
  • take root
  • towering
  • under construction

1. The newspaper article threatened the whole ____edifice_____ of government, from the President all the way down to grass-roots politicians.
2. The company directors were convinced people would want their new product, but then early research and negative feedback began to _______________ of doubt in their minds.
3. His argument was carefully _______________ and was extremely difficult to dispute.
4. Her ideas were carefully _______________ by a series of results showing that they had been put into practice and actually worked.
5. Superstitious beliefs are _______________ in many cultures, and nothing can change these beliefs.
6. He was the chief _______________ of the country’s new economic policies.
7. The new government _______________ for radical changes to the voting system, all of which would be implemented over the next five years.
8. The invention of the microchip was a _______________ achievement.
9. The contract acted as a _______________ for future cooperation between the two organizations.
10. The business was started in 1986, and over the next 20 years was _______________ into one of the most powerful companies in the country.
11. The new constitution was _______________ traditional values and a desire for progress.
12. The website is _______________, but we hope to have it up and running by the end of the month.
13. The idea seemed good in theory, but __________ when practical tests were first carried out.
14. The new technology was revolutionary and __________, but was initially seen as a simple novelty.
15. His life’s work was in __________, but it did not deter him from starting again.
16. I put forward several ideas, but to my anger and disappointment each one was comprehensively __________ by the board.
17. His books were very popular because he had a __________ imagination and a talent for telling a good story.
18. Nobody believed him at first, but a series of unexplained events meant that his ideas quickly __________ and people were more prepared to listen to him.
19. Her ideas __________ her belief in the existence of life on other planets.
20. The discussion was very __________, and we all came away from it believing that at last we were going to achieve something worthwhile.

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Vocabulary pracitse 6: Idioms and colloquialisms 4

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Idioms and colloquialisms 4

Exercise 1:Choose the correct underlined word to complete each of the idioms in bold. The meaning of each idiom is in brackets after the sentence:

1. You shouldn’t try to burn the match / lighter / candle at both ends; you’ll exhaust yourself. (to get up early in the morning and go to bed late at night on a regular basis)
2. Once he started looking into the details, he realized what a can of worms / beans / beer they were opening. (a difficult and complicated situation)
3. It was a difficult decision, but he decided to take the goat / cow / bull by the horns and tell his boss that he wanted to leave the company. (to deal bravely or confidently with a difficult situation)
4. Some insurance companies make their customers pay through the ears / nose / mouth for their services. (to pay a lot of money)
5. He knew that what they were doing was wrong, but turned a blind / closed / cold eye to it. (to pretend not to notice, to ignore)
6. Many people like to get off the beaten road / path / track when they take a vacation. (somewhere quiet, where not a lot of people go)
7. If you’re pressed / crushed / squeezed for time, we can talk later. (busy, in a hurry)
8. I’ve been feeling a bit under the thumb / weather / table recently, but I’m feeling better now. (slightly sick)
9. He’s a rather boring person, but once in a blue / red / green moon, he’ll come out with something really amazing. (very rarely)
10. I’m afraid your request is out of the answer / statement / question. (not possible, unacceptable)
11. He gave us some information that was strictly off the books / record / list. (unofficial, to be kept secret)
12. We don’t want to lose land / ground / place in the baseball competition. (to become less successful than the others)
13. Let’s have a party at the beginning of the year. It will help to break the ice / mold / air. (to make people feel more friendly and willing to talk to each other)
14. Everybody should say exactly how they feel. That should clear the room / air / feelings. (to help end an argument or disagreement)
15. It’s very rude to talk shop / work / jobs when you’re out with other people. (to discuss your job with a coworker, usually in a social situation where there are others present)
16. Don’t let him stop you; stand your land / place / ground and tell him you won’t change your mind. (to refuse to change your mind about something, even when people oppose you)
17. I only just passed my exam. It was a very far / close / exact thing. (something almost did or didn’t happen)
18. What’s happened? Put me in the picture / story / scene. (to let somebody know what has happened, usually when other people already know)

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Vocabulary on topic for TOEFL IBT 5: Employment

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EMPLOYMENT

1.Employ – word formation:

Employ:

Some companies prefer to employ people with experience than better qualified graduates.

Employment

We can see from the chart that the rate of employment fell by 25% in their third quarter of the year.

Employee

Some companies do not reward their employees as well as others do.

Employer

In this situation, it is the duty of the employer to make sure the female workers are not discriminated against.

Unemployment

Unemployment is a serious problem in some countries in Europe.

2.Work

Workplace:

Sadly, there is still amount of discrimination against women in the workplace.

Working environment:

Employers can help relieve the pressure on their employees by ensuring they have a pleasant working environment.

Hours of work:

In some professions, such as law, the hours of work are much longer than in others.

The working week:

There is much to be said for the proposal that the working week should be reduced to 35 hours.

Work-life balance:

A sensible work- life balance can help employees work more efficiently.

Work placement:

Many large organisations have work placement programmes that provide students with experience before they start their career.

In/out of work:

Unemployment has been on the increase in many countries and sometimes up to 10% of the workforce are out of work

3.Job

Job security:

For some people job security is more important than financial reward.

Job placement:

Some companies have job placement schemes for university students.

Job satisfaction:

It is hard to underestimate the value of job satisfaction.

Job description:

Some employees have very broad job descriptions

Jobseeker:

Employers can attract jobseekers with attractive employment packages.

4.Career

Interview:

These companies perhaps need to change the interview process so that they hire the right candidates.

Qualifications:

It is not always the case that a university degree is the best qualification in the world of finance.

Experience:

Some graduates have difficulty finding a job because they do not have the relevant work experience.

Training:

Employers need to provide training to ensure that their staff are able to adapt to these new technologies.

Retire/retirement:

In many countries the age of retirement is now 68 or even 70.

Resign/resignation:

There is a danger that employees will hand in their resignation and look for another job.

Promotion:

There is an argument for promoting employees who show the most potential.

Redundant:

One side-effect of adopting these new technologies is that it has led to mass redundancies in manufacturing industries.

5.Adjectives to describe jobs

Rewarding:

One of the most rewarding aspects of the work is the chance to work with children.

Challenging:

While this can be challenging, there is no doubt that it can be equally rewarding.

Repetitive:

A great deal of office work is in fact quite repetitive and not especially challenging.

Ambitious:

It is the type of opportunity that would suit an ambitious university graduate.

Stressful:

One of most stressful aspects of the modern workplace is the constant threat of redundancy.

Glamorous:

Although business trips and the chance to travel abroad may seem glamorous, they are frequently the source of stress.

 

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Vocabulary 2: Government

By Wiki Study in Vocab & Grammar 0 Comment

GOVERNMENT

1.Forms of government

Central government: this is the national government of a country

Local government: this is the regional form of government that typically takes care of more local issues

The authorities: this is a general term for all forms of government – note that we use it in the plural.

Regulatory bodies: these are bodies which are sometimes set up by the government and sometimes self-regulatory and typically they control one specific area such as advertising. Legislation is not always the answer.

Enforcement agencies: these are bodies that have direct control of how laws are being obeyed. This is something central government does not always do itself. An example of an enforcement agency is the body that monitors pollution in rivers.

International organisations: don’t forget these either. many problems need global solutions and demand international cooperation from bodies like the UN.

NGOs: these are the   opposite of governments! NGO stands for Non Governmental Organisation. Almost always their work is charitable and very often in aid and development. You are most likely to refer to them when countries help each other.

2.What central governments do

Pass/introduce legislation: The time has come when the government needs to introduce new legislation to protect the privacy of citizens.

Bring in/enact laws: One possible solution is for the government to bring in laws that prohibit the sale of tobacco to anyone under 21.

Adopt policies: One possibility is for the government to adopt policies that encourage mothers to return to work.

Take measures/action: The situation is now so severe that the government must take measures to police the internet.

Raise (and lower) taxes: One way to limit air pollution from aircraft would be for the government to raise airport tax.

Have/provide a budget/funding: It is the responsibility of the government to provide more funding for research into renewable energy.

Ban/prohibit: Most people would agree that there should be a ban on the sale of automatic weapons.

3.People within a government

Departments: The Health Department should ensure that doctors are not forced to work a 60-hour week.

Political parties: This is one issue where all political parties should work together to provide a solution.

Politicians: If enough people protested then politicians would have to listen and take action.

4.What local governments do

Impose fines: Local councils should ensure that householders are fined if they they do not recycle their waste properly.

Provide resources/services: Local government needs to provide adequate resources for schools so that they can cope with the influx of children who speak English as a second language.

Maintain: If local governments maintained the roads in a better condition, then there would be fewer problems with traffic congestion.

Fund: Councils could fund local community projects where residents work as volunteers in schools and hospitals.

Hire: It would certainly help if local councils hired more staff.

 

5.How people can influence governments

Lobby politicians: Individuals could help here by lobbying their elected representatives and MPs to try and force them to introduce legislation.

Engage in peaceful protests/demonstrations: It is possible that the government might be swayed by peaceful demonstrations asking for more action on the environment.

 

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