TOEFL Vocabulary

abstract

a summary of a longer piece of writing, or an idea that is not concrete and is based on general concepts

acknowledge

to accept that something is true or exists, or to show appreciation or recognition

acquire

to get or gain something, often through learning or experience

aggregate

a total amount or value made up of smaller parts added together

alternative

a different choice or option that can be used instead of something else

analyze

to carefully study something in order to understand it better

assessment

the act of evaluating or judging the quality, importance, or value of something

assumption

a belief or idea that you accept as true without proof or evidence

bias

a preference or opinion that unfairly affects a person's judgment or decision-making

comprehensive

including all or almost all the necessary details or parts of something

contradict

to say the opposite of what someone else has said, or to show that a statement is not true

criteria

a set of rules or standards that are used to judge or make decisions about something

deduce

to reach a conclusion or decision based on available information or reasoning

demonstrate

to show or prove something clearly by giving evidence or examples

empirical

based on actual experience or observation, rather than on theory or logic

hypothesis

an idea or explanation that is based on limited information and needs to be tested or investigated

implication

a possible effect or result of something, often not clearly stated or considered

justify

to provide a good reason or explanation for something, or to show that it is right or reasonable

manipulate

to control or influence something or someone in a skillful way, often for personal gain

objective

based on facts and not influenced by personal feelings or opinions

phenomenon

a fact or event that is unusual, interesting, or difficult to understand or explain

precede

to come or happen before something else in time, order, or importance

rationale

the underlying reason or explanation for a decision, belief, or action

relevant

closely connected or appropriate to the matter being considered or discussed

scope

the range of things that a subject, activity, or situation includes or deals with

subjective

based on personal feelings, opinions, or experiences, rather than on facts or evidence

synthesis

the process of combining different ideas, pieces of information, or elements to form a new and complete whole

validity

the quality of being logically or factually sound, or the extent to which something is true and can be believed

variable

something that can change or be different in different situations

verify

to check or prove that something is true, accurate, or correct

adaptation

a change or adjustment to fit new conditions or needs

capacity

the maximum amount that something can hold or contain

cease

to stop happening or continuing

commence

to begin or start something

concurrent

happening or existing at the same time

controversy

a disagreement or argument about an important issue

decline

to gradually become less, worse, or lower

diminish

to become smaller, weaker, or less important

discrepancy

a difference between two things that should be the same

diverse

consisting of many different kinds or types

elaborate

containing many details or complicated parts

enhance

to improve or make something better

ensure

to make certain that something will happen or be done

equivalent

having the same value, importance, or effect as something else

fluctuate

to change often or irregularly, especially in amount or level

fundamental

relating to the basic or most important part of something

incentive

something that encourages or motivates a person to do something

inevitably

certain to happen and impossible to avoid

inherent

existing as a natural part of something or someone

innovation

a new idea, method, or invention that brings improvements

integrate

to combine two or more things so that they work together effectively

obtain

to get or gain something, often through effort or a process

perspective

a particular way of thinking about or understanding something

prevalent

commonly occurring or widely accepted in a particular place or at a particular time

priority

something that is considered more important than other things and should be dealt with first

resolve

to find a solution to a problem or disagreement

subsequent

coming or happening after something else in time or order

sustain

to keep something going or maintain it at the same level

transition

a change from one state, condition, or situation to another

undermine

to weaken or damage something, often gradually or indirectly

ambiguous

having more than one possible meaning, which can cause confusion

arbitrary

based on personal preference or random choice, rather than reason or logic

collaborate

to work together with others on a project or task

comply

to follow rules, instructions, or requests

concise

expressing information clearly and briefly, using few words

depict

to represent or show something through images or words

differentiate

to recognize or show the differences between things or people

disperse

to spread or scatter over a wide area

dispose

to get rid of something or throw it away

ethical

relating to moral principles or accepted rules of right and wrong behavior

exceed

to go beyond a limit or standard

exhibit

to display or show something, such as artwork or information

exploit

to take advantage of something or someone, often unfairly

feasible

possible to do or achieve; realistic or practical

hierarchical

organized in levels of importance or authority

impose

to force someone to accept or deal with something

inclination

a preference or tendency to feel, think, or act in a certain way

infrastructure

the basic systems and structures that a country or organization needs to function properly

intervene

to become involved in a situation to improve or change it

modify

to change or alter something, often to improve it

negligible

so small or unimportant that it can be ignored or not worth considering

persist

to continue to do or try something, even when it is difficult or others oppose it

reinforce

to make something stronger or more effective, often by adding support or additional resources

revise

to make changes or improvements to something, such as a document or plan

scrutiny

careful examination or close observation of something

solely

only or exclusively, with no other factors or people involved

stance

a person's opinion, attitude, or position on a particular issue

trivial

of little importance or value

underestimate

to think that something is smaller, weaker, or less important than it really is

widespread

covering a large area or affecting many people or things

adjacent

next to or near something

advocate

to support or argue in favor of a cause, idea, or person

amend

to make changes to something in order to improve or correct it

analogy

a comparison between two things to show how they are similar in some way

apparatus

a set of equipment or tools used for a specific purpose

attribute

a characteristic or quality that belongs to a person or thing

bolster

to support or strengthen something

burgeon

to grow or develop rapidly

clarify

to make something easier to understand by explaining it more clearly

coherent

clear and easy to understand, with all parts logically connected