TOEFL & Academic Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive deck of 120 vocabulary flashcards designed for TOEFL and academic English preparation, featuring terms, definitions, and contextual usage cases.

awkward

Causing difficulty, embarrassment, or being clumsy.

hind leg

The back leg of an animal.

bipedal

Having two feet or walking on two legs.

slightly

To a small degree or amount; a little bit.

prior to

Before a specific time, event, or action.

dilate

To become wider or larger, such as pupils in darkness.

swell

To become larger or rounder, often due to injury or pressure.

rupture

To break or burst suddenly.

linger

To stay in a place longer than necessary or expected.

incentivize

To provide a motive or encouragement for someone to take action.

infer

To conclude or deduce information from evidence and reasoning.

adversely

In a harmful or negative manner that affects results.

foster

To encourage or promote the development of something like creativity.

implement

To put a decision, plan, or policy into effect.

ubiquitous

Present, appearing, or found everywhere.

thrive

To grow or develop well; to be successful.

indispensable

Absolutely necessary or essential.

affluent

Having a great deal of money; wealthy.

alleviate

To make suffering or a problem less severe.

lucrative

Producing a great deal of profit.

resurgence

An increase or revival after a period of little activity.

campus

The grounds and buildings of a university or college.

academic advisor

A person who helps students with their educational plans and course choices.

prerequisite

A thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen.

dorm

A university dormitory or student residence hall.

roommate

A person with whom one shares a room or living space.

bunk bed

A pair of beds that are stacked one on top of the other to save space.

transcript

An official record of a student's grades and courses.

A students

Students who consistently achieve the highest grades.

transfer

To move from one place or university to another.

elective course

An optional course of study chosen by the student.

individual

A single human being as distinct from a group.

research

The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources.

consistent

Acting or done in the same way over time; unchanging.

area

A particular field of study or a specific geographical region.

regulation

A rule or directive maintained by an authority.

perceive

To become aware or conscious of something; to interpret in a particular way.

emphasis

Special importance or value given to something.

undertake

To commit oneself to and begin a task or responsibility.

occur

To happen or take place.

accumulate

To gather or build up over time.

collide

To hit with force when moving; to crash into each other.

copious

Abundant in supply or quantity; plentiful.

divert

To cause someone or something to change course or turn from one direction to another.

frivolous

Not having any serious purpose or value.

hindrance

A thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone.

condescending

Showing a feeling of patronizing superiority.

arrogant

Having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.

obtain

To get, acquire, or secure something.

emerge

To become apparent, important, or prominent; to come out into view.

transcendence

Existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level.

crucial

Extremely important or necessary for the success or failure of something.

advantageous

Involving or creating favorable circumstances that lead to success.

terrestrial

Relating to the earth or its inhabitants.

mandatory

Required by law or rules; compulsory.

outer

On the outside of something; further from the center.

arbitrarily

Based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system.

transcendent

Surpassing the ordinary; exceptional.

cumbersome

Large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; inefficient.

doleful

Expressing sorrow; mournful.

incessant

Continuing without pause or interruption, usually in an annoying way.

fleeting

Lasting for a very short time.

sporadic

Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered.

ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.

abundant

Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.

adjacent

Next to or adjoining something else.

coerce

To persuade someone to do something by using force or threats.

corrode

To destroy or damage a metal slowly by chemical action.

circumvent

To find a way around an obstacle, rule, or restriction.

robust

Strong and healthy; sturdy or reliable in construction.

intervene

To come between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.

acclaim

Enthusiastic and public praise.

mediocre

Of only moderate quality; not very good.

first

Coming before all others in time or order.

also

In addition; too.

so

Therefore; for that reason.

for example

Used to introduce a specific case or instance to explain a point.

to illustrate

To explain or make something clear by using examples or charts.

like

Similar to; used to draw a comparison.

such as

For example; of the kind that.

unless

Except if; used to state a condition.

even if

Despite the possibility that; used to emphasize a condition.

while

During the time that; whereas (used to show contrast).

even though

Despite the fact that; although.

that's why

For that reason; as a consequence of that.

as a result

Because of something that has happened; consequently.

on top of that

In addition to more things; furthermore.

however

But; used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something.

for instance

As an example.

moreover

As a further matter; besides.

in addition

Also; as an extra person, thing, or circumstance.

therefore

For that reason; consequently.

although

In spite of the fact that; even though.

in contrast

Used to compare two things and show that they are very different.

on the other hand

Used to introduce a contrasting point of view or fact.

but

Used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned.

and

Used to connect words, clauses, or sentences.

escalate

To become or cause to become more intense or serious.

plummet

To fall or drop straight down at high speed.

adolescent

A young person who is developing into an adult; a teenager.