5000+ Commonly Used IELTS and TOEFL Words

This page features IELTS and TOEFL words that you may see or hear on the reading and/or listening sections of the TOEFL and IELTS tests. Becoming familiar with these and similar words will also help you on the writing and speaking portions of the tests.

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Page #1 - 1-250 Words

1
abaseverb
To lower in position, estimation, or the like; degrade.
2
abbessnoun
The lady superior of a nunnery.
3
abbeynoun
The group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns.
4
abbotnoun
The superior of a community of monks.
5
abdicateverb
To give up (royal power or the like).
6
abdomennoun
In mammals, the visceral cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly.
7
abdominalnoun
Of, pertaining to, or situated on the abdomen.
8
abductionnoun
A carrying away of a person against his will, or illegally.
9
abedadverb
In bed; on a bed.
10
aberrationnoun
Deviation from a right, customary, or prescribed course.
11
abetverb
To aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense).
12
abeyancenoun
A state of suspension or temporary inaction.
13
abhorrencenoun
The act of detesting extremely.
14
abhorrentadjective
Very repugnant; hateful.
15
abidancenoun
An abiding. (abide: continue, wait for, endure, dwell)
16
abjectadjective
Sunk to a low condition.
17
abjureverb
To recant, renounce, repudiate under oath.
18
able-bodiedadjective
Competent for physical service.
19
ablutionnoun
A washing or cleansing, especially of the body.
20
abnegateverb
To renounce (a right or privilege).
21
abnormaladjective
Not conformed to the ordinary rule or standard.
22
abominableadjective
Very hateful.
23
abominateverb
To hate violently.
24
abominationnoun
A very detestable act or practice.
25
aboriginaladjective
Primitive; unsophisticated.
26
aboriginesnoun
The original of earliest known inhabitants of a country.
27
aboveboardadverb & adjective
Without concealment, fraud, or trickery.
28
abradeverb
To wear away the surface or some part of by friction.
29
abrasionnoun
That which is rubbed off.
30
abridgeverb
To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles.
31
abridgmentnoun
A condensed form as of a book or play.
32
abrogateverb
To abolish, repeal.
33
abruptadjective
Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break.
34
abscessnoun
A Collection of pus in a cavity formed within some tissue of the body.
35
abscissionnoun
The act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation.
36
abscondverb
To depart suddenly and secretly, as for the purpose of escaping arrest.
37
absencenoun
The fact of not being present or available.
38
absent-mindedadjective
Lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business.
39
absolutionnoun
Forgiveness, or passing over of offenses.
40
absolveverb
To free from sin or its penalties.
41
absorbverb
To drink in or suck up, as a sponge absorbs water.
42
absorptionnoun
The act or process of absorbing.
43
abstainverb
To keep oneself back (from doing or using something).
44
abstemiousadjective
Characterized by self denial or abstinence, as in the use of drink, food.
45
abstinencenoun
Self denial.
46
abstruseadjective
Dealing with matters difficult to be understood.
47
absurdadjective
Inconsistent with reason or common sense.
48
abundantadjective
Plentiful.
49
abusiveadjective
Employing harsh words or ill treatment.
50
abutverb
To touch at the end or boundary line.
51
abyssnoun
Bottomless gulf.
52
academicadjective
Of or pertaining to an academy, college, or university.
53
academiciannoun
A member of an academy of literature, art, or science.
54
academynoun
Any institution where the higher branches of learning are taught.
55
accedeverb
To agree.
56
accelerateverb
To move faster.
57
acceptverb
To take when offered.
58
accessnoun
A way of approach or entrance; passage.
59
accessibleadjective
Approachable.
60
accessionnoun
Induction or elevation, as to dignity, office, or government.
61
accessorynoun
A person or thing that aids the principal agent.
62
acclaimverb
To utter with a shout.
63
accommodateverb
To furnish something as a kindness or favor.
64
accompanimentnoun
A subordinate part or parts, enriching or supporting the leading part.
65
accompanistnoun
One who or that which accompanies.
66
accompanyverb
To go with, or be associated with, as a companion.
67
accomplicenoun
An associate in wrong-doing.
68
accomplishverb
To bring to pass.
69
accordionnoun
A portable free-reed musical instrument.
70
accostverb
To speak to.
71
accountnoun
A record or statement of receipts and expenditures, or of business transactions.
72
accouterverb
To dress.
73
accreditverb
To give credit or authority to.
74
accumulateverb
To become greater in quantity or number.
75
accuracynoun
Exactness.
76
accurateadjective
Conforming exactly to truth or to a standard.
77
accursedadjective
Doomed to evil, misery, or misfortune.
78
accusationnoun
A charge of crime, misdemeanor, or error.
79
accusatoryadjective
Of, pertaining to, or involving an accusation.
80
accuseverb
To charge with wrong doing, misconduct, or error.
81
accustomverb
To make familiar by use.
82
acerbitynoun
Sourness, with bitterness and astringency.
83
acetatenoun
A salt of acetic acid.
84
aceticadjective
Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of vinegar.
85
acheverb
To be in pain or distress.
86
Achilleanadjective
Invulnerable.
87
achromaticadjective
Colorless,
88
acidnoun
A sour substance.
89
acidifyverb
To change into acid.
90
acknowledgeverb
To recognize; to admit the genuineness or validity of.
91
acknowledgmentnoun
Recognition.
92
acmenoun
The highest point, or summit.
93
acousticadjective
Pertaining to the act or sense of hearing.
94
acquaintverb
To make familiar or conversant.
95
acquiesceverb
To comply; submit.
96
acquiescencenoun
Passive consent.
97
acquireverb
To get as one’s own.
98
acquisitionnoun
Anything gained, or made one’s own, usually by effort or labor.
99
acquitverb
To free or clear, as from accusation.
100
acquittalnoun
A discharge from accusation by judicial action.
101
acquaintancenoun
Release or discharge from indebtedness, obligation, or responsibility.
102
acreagenoun
Quantity or extent of land, especially of cultivated land.
103
acridadjective
Harshly pungent or bitter.
104
acrimoniousadjective
Full of bitterness.
105
acrimonynoun
Sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper.
106
actionableadjective
Affording cause for instituting an action, as trespass, slanderous words.
107
actualitynoun
Any reality.
108
actuarynoun
An officer, as of an insurance company, who calculates and states the risks and premiums.
109
actuateverb
To move or incite to action.
110
acumennoun
Quickness of intellectual insight, or discernment; keenness of discrimination.
111
acuteadjective
Having fine and penetrating discernment.
112
adamantnoun
Any substance of exceeding hardness or impenetrability.
113
addendumnoun
Something added, or to be added.
114
addleverb
To make inefficient or worthless; muddle.
115
adduceverb
To bring forward or name for consideration.
116
adhereverb
To stick fast or together.
117
adherencenoun
Attachment.
118
adherentadjective
Clinging or sticking fast.
119
adhesionnoun
The state of being attached or joined.
120
adjacencynoun
The state of being adjacent.
121
adjacentnoun
That which is near or bordering upon.
122
adjudgeverb
To award or bestow by formal decision.
123
adjunctnoun
Something joined to or connected with another thing, but holding a subordinate place.
124
adjurationnoun
A vehement appeal.
125
adjutantadjective
Auxiliary.
126
administratornoun
One who manages affairs of any kind.
127
admissibleadjective
Having the right or privilege of entry.
128
admittancenoun
Entrance, or the right or permission to enter.
129
admonishverb
To warn of a fault.
130
admonitionnoun
Gentle reproof.
131
adonoun
unnecessary activity or ceremony.
132
adorationnoun
Profound devotion.
133
adroitadjective
Having skill in the use of the bodily or mental powers.
134
adulterantnoun
An adulterating substance.
135
adulterateverb
To make impure by the admixture of other or baser ingredients.
136
adumbrateverb
To represent beforehand in outline or by emblem.
137
adventnoun
The coming or arrival, as of any important change, event, state, or personage.
138
adverseadjective
Opposing or opposed.
139
adversitynoun
Misfortune.
140
advertverb
To refer incidentally.
141
advertisernoun
One who advertises, especially in newspapers.
142
advisoryadjective
Not mandatory.
143
advocacynoun
The act of pleading a cause.
144
advocatenoun
One who pleads the cause of another, as in a legal or ecclesiastical court.
145
aerialadjective
Of, pertaining to, or like the air.
146
aeronautnoun
One who navigates the air, a balloonist.
147
aeronauticsnoun
the art or practice of flying aircraft
148
aerostatnoun
A balloon or other apparatus floating in or sustained by the air.
149
aerostaticsnoun
The branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties.
150
affableadjective
Easy to approach.
151
affectverb
To act upon
152
affectationnoun
A studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt.
153
affiliatenoun
Some auxiliary person or thing.
154
affirmativeadjective
Answering yes; to a question at issue.
155
affixverb
To fasten.
156
affluencenoun
A profuse or abundant supply of riches.
157
affrontnoun
An open insult or indignity.
158
afireadverb & adjective
On fire, literally or figuratively.
159
afootadverb
In progress.
160
aforesaidadjective
Said in a preceding part or before.
161
afreshadverb
Once more, after rest or interval.
162
afterthoughtnoun
A thought that comes later than its appropriate or expected time.
163
agglomerateverb
To pile or heap together.
164
aggrandizeverb
To cause to appear greatly.
165
aggravateverb
To make heavier, worse, or more burdensome.
166
aggravationnoun
The fact of being made heavier or more heinous, as a crime , offense, misfortune, etc.
167
aggregatenoun
The entire number, sum, mass, or quantity of something.
168
aggressverb
To make the first attack.
169
aggressionnoun
An unprovoked attack.
170
aggrieveverb
To give grief or sorrow to.
171
aghastadjective
Struck with terror and amazement.
172
agileadjective
Able to move or act quickly, physically, or mentally.
173
agitateverb
To move or excite (the feelings or thoughts).
174
agrarianadjective
Pertaining to land, especially agricultural land.
175
aide-de-campnoun
An officer who receives and transmits the orders of the general.
176
ailmentnoun
Slight sickness.
177
airyadjective
Delicate, ethereal.
178
akinadjective
Of similar nature or qualities.
179
alabasternoun
A white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum.
180
alacritynoun
Cheerful willingness.
181
albeitconjunction
Even though.
182
albinonoun
A person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris.
183
albumnoun
A book whose leaves are so made to form paper frames for holding photographs or the like.
184
alchemynoun
Chemistry of the middle ages, characterized by the pursuit of changing base metals to gold.
185
alcoholnoun
A volatile, inflammable, colorless liquid of a penetrating odor and burning taste.
186
alcoholismnoun
A condition resulting from the inordinate or persistent use of alcoholic beverages.
187
alcovenoun
A covered recess connected with or at the side of a larger room.
188
aldernoun
Any shrub or small tree of the genus Alumnus, of the oak family.
189
aldermannoun
A member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions.
190
aldermanshipnoun
The dignity, condition, office, or term of office of an alderman.
191
aliasnoun
An assumed name.
192
aliennoun
One who owes allegiance to a foreign government.
193
alienableadjective
Capable of being aliened or alienated, as lands.
194
alienateverb
To cause to turn away.
195
alienationnoun
Estrangement.
196
alimentnoun
That which nourishes.
197
alkalinoun
Anything that will neutralize an acid, as lime, magnesia, etc.
198
allayverb
To calm the violence or reduce the intensity of; mitigate.
199
allegeverb
To assert to be true, especially in a formal manner, as in court.
200
allegorynoun
The setting forth of a subject under the guise of another subject of aptly suggestive likeness.
201
alleviateverb
To make less burdensome or less hard to bear.
202
alleynoun
A narrow street, garden path, walk, or the like.
203
alliancenoun
Any combination or union for some common purpose.
204
allotverb
To assign a definite thing or part to a certain person.
205
allotmentnoun
Portion.
206
alludeverb
To refer incidentally, or by suggestion.
207
allusionnoun
An indirect and incidental reference to something without definite mention of it.
208
alluvionnoun
Flood.
209
allynoun
A person or thing connected with another, usually in some relation of helpfulness.
210
almanacnoun
A series of tables giving the days of the week together with certain astronomical information.
211
aloofadverb
Not in sympathy with or desiring to associate with others.
212
altarnoun
Any raised place or structure on which sacrifices may be offered or incense burned.
213
alterverb
To make change in.
214
alterationnoun
Change or modification.
215
altercateverb
To contend angrily or zealously in words.
216
alternatenoun
One chosen to act in place of another, in case of the absence or incapacity of that other.
217
alternativenoun
Something that may or must exist, be taken or chosen, or done instead of something else.
218
altitudenoun
Vertical distance or elevation above any point or base-level, as the sea.
219
altonoun
The lowest or deepest female voice or part.
220
altruismnoun
Benevolence to others on subordination to self-interest.
221
altruistnoun
One who advocates or practices altruism.
222
amalgamnoun
An alloy or union of mercury with another metal.
223
amalgamateverb
To mix or blend together in a homogeneous body.
224
amateuradjective
Practicing an art or occupation for the love of it, but not as a profession.
225
amatoryadjective
Designed to excite love.
226
ambidextrousadjective
Having the ability of using both hands with equal skill or ease.
227
ambiguousadjective
Having a double meaning.
228
ambitiousadjective
Eagerly desirous and aspiring.
229
ambrosialadjective
Divinely sweet, fragrant, or delicious.
230
ambulancenoun
A vehicle fitted for conveying the sick and wounded.
231
ambulateverb
To walk about
232
ambushnoun
The act or state of lying concealed for the purpose of surprising or attacking the enemy.
233
ameliorateverb
To relieve, as from pain or hardship
234
amenableadjective
Willing and ready to submit.
235
Americanismnoun
A peculiar sense in which an English word or phrase is used in the United States.
236
amicableadjective
Done in a friendly spirit.
237
amitynoun
Friendship.
238
amorousadjective
Having a propensity for falling in love.
239
amorphousadjective
Without determinate shape.
240
amournoun
A love-affair, especially one of an illicit nature.
241
amperenoun
The practical unit of electric-current strength.
242
ampersandnoun
The character &; and.
243
amphibiousadjective
Living both on land and in water.
244
amphitheaternoun
An edifice of elliptical shape, constructed about a central open space or arena.
245
amplitudenoun
Largeness.
246
amplyadverb
Sufficiently.
247
amputateverb
To remove by cutting, as a limb or some portion of the body.
248
amusementnoun
Diversion.
249
anachronismnoun
Anything occurring or existing out of its proper time.
250
anagramnoun
The letters of a word or phrase so transposed as to make a different word or phrase.