Basic Vocabulary for TOEFL


Sr. No.
Words
Word Meaning
1.          
Abandon
To leave; to give up
2.          
Abduction
Kidnapping
3.          
Abstract
Not concrete and realistic; not obviously related to everyday experience
4.          
Accumulate
To build up a large amount of something
5.          
Accuracy
Precision; exactness
6.          
Accuse
To say that someone did something wrong (e.g., committed a crime)
7.          
Acquire
To get something, usually something with special value or meaning
8.          
Acquisition
The act of taking possession of something
9.          
Adapt
To adjust to the circumstances; to make suitable
10.      
Addictive
Making someone want it so much that the person feels ill without it
11.      
Adjacent
Next to
12.      
Adjust
To change; to get accustomed to something
13.      
Adolescent
Characteristic of a teenager; not fully grown up
14.      
Advent
Coming; arrival
15.      
Adversely
In a harmful way; negatively
16.      
Advocate
To speak out in favor of something
17.      
Affection
An emotional closeness or warmth
18.      
Affluence
Wealth and the style of life that goes with it
19.      
Aggravate
To make worse; to anger or intensify
20.      
Aggregate
Gathered into or amounting to a whole
21.      
Agnostic
Believing that humans cannot know whether there is a god
22.      
Allegedly
According to what people say
23.      
Allegiance
Loyalty
24.      
Allocate
To give out different amounts for different purposes
25.      
Amateurish
Not good enough to be the work of professionals
26.      
Ambiguous
Having more than one possible meaning
27.      
Amend
To change for the better
28.      
Analyze
To examine something by looking at its parts
29.      
Ancestral
Relating to family members from earlier generations
30.      
Anesthesia
Techniques for reducing sensation and feeling, especially to control pain
31.      
Animism
The belief that natural objects, such as trees, have souls
32.      
Annex
To make something (usually land) part of another unit
33.      
Anomaly
Something unusual
34.      
Anticipate
To expect; to sense something before it happens
35.      
Antipathy
A strong, long-lasting negative feeling
36.      
Apex
The highest point
37.      
Apprehend
To capture
38.      
Arbitrary
Chosen simply by whim or chance, not for any specific Reason
39.      
Arrogantly
In a way that shows a high opinion of oneself and a low opinion of others
40.      
Artillery
Large guns that shoot powerful shells; army units that handle such guns
41.      
Ascertain
To make sure of
42.      
Assail
To attack or criticize forcefully
43.      
Assess
To estimate the value of something
44.      
Asset
A possession that has positive value
45.      
Assimilate
To consume and incorporate; to become similar
46.      
Associate
To regularly spend time together
47.      
Astrological
Related to the study of the position of stars, the sun, and the planets in the belief that they influence earthly events
48.      
Atheist
One who does not believe in the existence of a supreme being
49.      
Augment
To make bigger or better by adding to
50.      
Authority
The power to make decisions, to tell others what to do.
51.      
Battle
To fight against
52.      
Be Inclined  To
To favor an opinion or a course of action
53.      
Berate
To say insulting and disrespectful things
54.      
Biased
Leaning unfairly in one direction
55.      
Bitterly
Strongly and with a lot of bad feelings
56.      
Bond
A close connection
57.      
Bribery
Giving money or other gifts to a government official or other person in authority in order to get special privileges
58.      
Bulk
Largeness and a heavy appearance
59.      
Burden
Something that is carried; a source of stress or worry
60.      
Bureaucratic
Related to a large organization with a lot of complicated Procedures
61.      
Candidate
Someone who wants to be chosen, especially in an election, for a position
62.      
Capricious
Moving unpredictably from one thing to another
63.      
Cartel
A small group controlling a certain area of business
64.      
Cast
The group of actors in a play, movie, television show, etc.
65.      
Catastrophic
Extremely harmful; causing financial or physical
Ruin
66.      
Cause
A political or social goal that one believes is right and works to achieve
67.      
Cease
Stop
68.      
Certifiably
In a manner that is officially recognized
69.      
Charismatic
Extremely attractive and charming
70.      
Chronologically
In order according to time
71.      
Circulate
To move throughout an area or group; to move along a somewhat circular route
72.      
Civil
Involving a dispute between two citizens, not a criminal charge
73.      
Clique
A small group of friends who are unfriendly to people outside the group
74.      
Coalition
A group of several different groups or countries that are working together to achieve a certain goal.
75.      
Coerce
To force; to put pressure on someone to do something
76.      
Cohesion
Ability to stay together as a unit
77.      
Coincide
Happen or exist at the same time
78.      
Collapse
To fall down, usually because of weakness
79.      
Collide
To come together with great or violent force
80.      
Combustion
The process of burning
81.      
Commodity
A thing that can be bought and sold, such as grain, oil, or wood
82.      
Compensate
To give an employee money or other things in exchange for the work he or she does
83.      
Complex
Not simple; involving many parts that work together
84.      
Complication
A factor that makes something more difficult or Complex
85.      
Component
One part of a system or whole
86.      
Compress
To press together
87.      
Concentrated
Strong because large amounts are in a certain space
88.      
Condemn
To speak out against something in very strong terms
89.      
Confide
To tell very personal things
90.      
Conflict
To fit so poorly together that the differences cause a problem
91.      
Connotation
A meaning implied, not stated directly
92.      
Conquest
A takeover by force or continued effort
93.      
Consciously
With awareness of one’s actions
94.      
Consequence
A result, often one much later in time than the cause
95.      
Constraint
Something that restricts thought or action
96.      
Contamination
Being made less clean by a germ or hazardous substance
97.      
Contemplate
To consider thoughtfully
98.      
Contemptuous
Having no respect
99.      
Contest
To challenge
100.  
Context
A larger environment that something fits into
101.  
Contrary
Opposite
102.  
Convey
To transport from one place to another; to transmit or make Known
103.  
Convict
To decide that someone is guilty of a crime
104.  
Core
an area or object at the center
105.  
Corrode
To be slowly weakened by chemical reactions
106.  
Counter
To act in opposition to; to offer in response
107.  
Cremation
The act of burning the dead
108.  
Cultivation
Preparing the land to grow crops; improvement for agricultural purposes
109.  
Cumbersome
Difficult to wear or carry because of weight or shape
110.  
Cure
To restore to health
111.  
Curriculum
The courses of study offered by an educational institution
112.  
Cynically
Disrespectfully; emphasizing the weaknesses of otherwise respected things
113.  
De Facto
Truly doing a job, even if not officially
114.  
Decipher
To figure out the meaning, even though it is written in a code or an unknown language
115.  
Decline
To decrease in power or amount
116.  
Decrepit
Weakened or worn out because of age, illness, or excessive use
117.  
Degrade
To reduce in value or strength
118.  
Deify
To worship as a god
119.  
Delinquency
Serious misbehavior; not doing what one should do
120.  
Denominator
The number written below the line in a fraction In the fraction 12, the number 2 is the denominator.
121.  
Denote
To mean something clearly and directly
122.  
Deny
Say that something is not true
123.  
Depict
To show in pictures
124.  
Deplete
To greatly decrease the supply of a resource or material
125.  
Derive
To come from, usually through a long, slow process
126.  
Descendant
A direct relative in a later generation (such as one’s son, daughter, or grandchild)
127.  
Despise
Hate very much
128.  
Despondent
Extremely sad and without hope for the future
129.  
Detain
To prevent someone, for a relatively short time, from going on their way
130.  
Detection
Discovering something that cannot easily be found
131.  
Deviant
In a style that is not normal and is offensive to many
132.  
Devise
To find an original way to make an object or a plan
133.  
Devotion
A willingness to keep supporting someone you admire
134.  
Dilemma
A difficult choice between two things
135.  
Dimension
A direction or surface along which something can be measured; an aspect
136.  
Diminish
Make something smaller or weaker; become smaller or Weaker
137.  
Discretely
Separately; distinctly
138.  
Discriminate
To choose carefully among options
139.  
Disease
An unhealthful condition caused by an infection or a long term physical problem
140.  
Dispose Of
To throw away; to get rid of; to kill
141.  
Distill
to remove one liquid from a mixture of liquids by boiling; to get something valuable from a confusing mix of ideas
142.  
Distinctly
Clearly
143.  
Distort
To twist or misrepresent; to make something seem different from what it really is
144.  
Diverse
Various; showing a lot of differences within a group
145.  
Divination
Foretelling the future by finding patterns in physical objects
146.  
Domesticate
To make something suitable for being in a home
147.  
Dynamic
Full of energy
148.  
Ecclesiastical
Relating to a church
149.  
Election
A process in which people choose officials
150.  
Elementally
In terms of elements; basically
151.  
Elite
Belonging to a special, honored group
152.  
Emission
Sending out from a small space into the general environment; a substance discharged into the air
153.  
Engender
To bring into being; to cause to exist
154.  
Enterprising
Creative in thinking of ways to make money
155.  
Entrepreneurial
Able to create business opportunities from a wide variety of circumstances
156.  
Equity
The value of one’s share in an investment
157.  
Erode
To wear away and become smaller
158.  
Erudite
Highly educated
159.  
Eruption
A sudden, often violent, outburst
160.  
Esthetically
In a way that relates to beauty or appearance
161.  
Evade
To get away from something that tries to catch you
162.  
Evidence
Something that makes the truth of a statement seem more Likely
163.  
Evolve
To develop; to come forth
164.  
Exalt
Relating to a church
165.  
Exclusive
Keeping out all but a few people
166.  
Exotic
Interesting or unusual because of coming from a faraway Place
167.  
Expeditiously
Quickly and efficiently
168.  
Exploit
To take advantage of; to treat inconsiderately in order to
Profit
169.  
Exponentially
At a very fast rate
170.  
Extinction
Complete disappearance; the end of existence
171.  
Extract
To take out
172.  
Famine
Severe hunger; a drastic food shortage
173.  
Fatally
Causing death or disaster
174.  
Feasibly
Practically; in a way that can work
175.  
Feature
Part, characteristic
176.  
Fertilize
To supply with nourishment for plants by adding helpful
substances to the soil
177.  
Flood
An overflowing of water; an excessive amount
178.  
Fluctuate
To change often, from one condition to another
179.  
Folklore
Traditional myths of a people transmitted orally
180.  
Forensics
The use of science and technology to investigate facts in criminal cases
181.  
Fortify
To strengthen
182.  
Fossilize
To become preserved in clay or stone or ash after death, so that a natural record is left of the original organism; to become rigid and stuck in old ways
183.  
Fringe
Edge; in social contexts, parts of society that look or act very different from most people
184.  
Gala
Expensive, elaborately arranged, and full of celebration
185.  
Gap
Opening; a big difference in amount or quality
186.  
Generation
A group of people born at about the same time
187.  
Grotesque
Extremely unattractive, in a way that catches a lot of attention.
188.  
Guilty
Responsible for doing something bad
189.  
Gut
To empty or hollow out
190.  
Haggle
To argue back and forth about a price
191.  
Haunt
To continually appear (in the form of a ghost) in the same place or to the same person
192.  
Hazardous
Dangerous
193.  
Hedonistic
Excessively interested in seeking pleasure
194.  
Hierarchy
A system of levels that places people high or low according to their importance
195.  
Hilarious
Very funny
196.  
Horror
Strong fear mixed with disgust
197.  
Humiliation
An event that causes someone to feel that she or he has lost the respect of others
198.  
Hypocritically
In a way that accuses other people of weaknesses that the speaker also possesses
199.  
Hypothesize
To make a guess, the correctness of which will eventually be investigated systematically.
200.  
Illiterate
Unable to read
201.  
Impact
A strong influence
202.  
Impair
To make something less effective than usual
203.  
Implant
To set in firmly; to insert in the body surgically
204.  
Implement
To make use of; to carry out
205.  
Implicate
To suggest that someone was involved in a crime or other wrong behavior
206.  
Implicitly
Without being stated; unquestioningly
207.  
Impoverish
To make a person or group poor
208.  
Improvisation
Inventing a solution to an unexpected problem
209.  
In Common
As a shared characteristic
210.  
In The Trenches
In the middle of the hardest fighting or work
211.  
Inaugurate
To bring into public office; to start formally
212.  
Incentive
A possible benefit that motivates a person to do a certain Thing
213.  
Incompetent
Unskilled; lacking the ability to perform a task
214.  
Indisputable
Beyond doubt; unquestionable
215.  
Industrious
Willing to work hard
216.  
Inference
A conclusion drawn from evidence
217.  
Infinitesimal
Immeasurably small
218.  
Inflation
A situation in which prices for many items rise quite fast
219.  
Ingenious
Very clever and imaginative
220.  
Inherent
Naturally characteristic; always found within something, because it’s a basic part of that thing
221.  
Inheritance
Things passed down to you from your ancestors
222.  
Inhibit
To discourage or to slow down
223.  
Inject
To insert a liquid by means of a syringe
224.  
Innovative
Ahead of the times; novel
225.  
Inquiry
An investigation
226.  
Inscription
Something written into a piece of rock or metal
227.  
Installation
Setting something into position for use
228.  
Integrally
In a whole or complete manner
229.  
Integrity
Personal honesty and good character
230.  
Intensify
To increase in power; to act with increased strength
231.  
Intentionally
On purpose, not by accident
232.  
Interdict
To keep something from reaching a certain place
233.  
Intermediary
Acting as an agent between people or things
234.  
Intervene
To come between
235.  
Intrepid
Fearless
236.  
Intrinsic
Being part of the basic nature of something
237.  
Intrusively
In a way that brings an unwanted person or thing into
someone else’s affairs
238.  
Intuitively
By means of a natural sense about things that are hard
to observe
239.  
Invasive
Aggressively entering into someone else’s territory
240.  
Invoke
To call on for support
241.  
Irrigation
The supplying of water to dry land
242.  
Jointly
Together with one or more other parties
243.  
Juxtapose
Place next to one another
244.  
Kin
Relatives
245.  
Lease
To rent something for a long time (several months or years)
246.  
Legitimate
True and respectable; in the context of family, born of a mother and father who were married to each other
247.  
Liability
Legal responsibility for harming a person or property; a disadvantage
248.  
Longitude
A system of imaginary lines running from north to south along the Earth’s surface, where each line is numbered from 0º to 180º west or east
249.  
Loyal
Faithful
250.  
Luxury
Extreme comfort, beyond what anyone needs
251.  
Maintenance
The act of keeping something in good condition
252.  
Manipulation
Quietly moving or influencing people or things in order to get what you want
253.  
Marginal
Not very significant or effective
254.  
Maximize
To increase or make as great as possible
255.  
Meditate
To reflect; to think quietly and deeply for a long time
256.  
Medium
A channel or way for a meaning to be expressed
257.  
Merchant
A person who makes a living by selling things
258.  
Merit
Value; success based on one’s work, not on luck
259.  
Migration
Movement from one place to another by a group of people or animals
260.  
Milieu
General environment or surroundings
261.  
Minimum
The smallest possible amount or level
262.  
Misconception
A mistaken belief
263.  
Mobilize
To put members of a group into motion
264.  
Modify
Make small changes in order to get a certain result
265.  
Net
After all costs have been subtracted from an amount
266.  
Nobility
A group of socially prominent people with special titles given by a king or queen, such as “duke” or “countess”
267.  
Notion
A belief; a fanciful impulse
268.  
Nucleus
A central or essential part around which other parts are
gathered; a core
269.  
Obese
Excessively overweight
270.  
Objectively
Based on unbiased standards, not on personal opinion
271.  
Obnoxious
Bothersome; doing small things that others don’t like
272.  
Obtain
To gain possession of; to get
273.  
Offense
A specific act that breaks the law
274.  
Oppress
To keep down by force; to weigh heavily on
275.  
Orwellian
Frightening and over controlled by a government that
interferes in nearly every aspect of personal life
276.  
Overlap
To lie over part of something; to have elements in common
277.  
Paradigm
A pattern or model; a set of assumptions
278.  
Parallel
Being an equal distance apart everywhere
279.  
Parochial
Restricted in outlook; relating to the local parish
280.  
Passion
An extremely strong emotion, like love or anger
281.  
Paternal
Relating to a father
282.  
Peer
A person who is one’s social equal
283.  
Per Capita
For each person
284.  
Permeate
To spread or flow throughout; to pass through or penetrate
285.  
Persevere
To keep going, despite obstacles or discouragement; to maintain a purpose
286.  
Persist
To continue to exist; to hold to a purpose, despite any obstacle
287.  
Perspective
A way of seeing from a particular location; a way of thinking about something
288.  
Phantom
A dimly visible form, usually thought to be the spirit of a dead person, a sunken ship, etc.
289.  
Phonetic
Related to the sounds in a language
290.  
Photosynthesis
The process by which green plants make their own food by combining water, salts, and carbon dioxide in the presence of light.
291.  
Physical
Related to the body; related to materials that can be seen or felt
292.  
Pious
Having or exhibiting religious reverence
293.  
Piracy
Stealing a ship or taking the ship’s cargo; the unlawful copying of books, CDs, etc.
294.  
Plunge
To go down suddenly; to decrease by a great amount in a
short time
295.  
Policy
An approved way for approaching a certain kind of situation
296.  
Poll
To find out a small group’s opinion so that you can guess what a much larger group thinks
297.  
Portrayal
A description or drawing that reflects a certain point of view
298.  
Potent
Powerful
299.  
Precipitation
Water that falls to the Earth’s surface
300.  
Predicament
A difficult situation, one that is hard to get out of
301.  
Prejudiced
Causing to judge prematurely and unfairly
302.  
Prestige
Honor and respect for being better than the average
303.  
Prevailing
Strongest or most common
304.  
Prevalent
Common; easy to find because it exists in great amounts
305.  
Privileged
Able to enjoy special advantages because of one’s position (usually because of being born into a wealthy or powerful family)
306.  
Procedure
A specific way of performing or doing something
307.  
Process
A series of steps leading to a result
308.  
Prognosis
An educated guess of how something will develop, especially a disease
309.  
Proliferation
An increase in the number of something and in the number of places it can be found
310.  
Promote
To move someone to a higher position in a company
311.  
Proportion
A part in relation to the whole
312.  
Proportionately
In an amount appropriate to each of several recipients
313.  
Proprietor
Owner, usually of a business or a building
314.  
Prosper
To do very well in one’s business or personal life
315.  
Prototype
The first one made of a machine or system
316.  
Proximity
Nearness
317.  
Psychic
Relating to the supposed ability of the human mind to sense things that cannot be observed
318.  
Rank
To put into a many-leveled order, depending on importance or Achievement
319.  
Rate
The cost per unit of a good or service; the motion or change that happens in a certain time.
320.  
Ratio
The relationship of one number or amount to another
321.  
Realism
A technique that tries to picture something as it really looks
322.  
Rebel
To go against an established system or authority
323.  
Recede
To move back or away from
324.  
Reciprocity
Doing as much for another as he or she has done for you
325.  
Reconciliation
Coming back together peacefully after having been Enemies
326.  
Reform
To make big improvements
327.  
Regulate
Control according to a set of rules
328.  
Relic
Something left from a long-ago culture, time period, or person
329.  
Reservoir
A place where a liquid is collected and stored
330.  
Residual
Left behind after most of a thing has gone
331.  
Resign
To quit one’s job
332.  
Resist
To refuse to give in to a strong force or desire
333.  
Retain
To keep or hold
334.  
Retrieve
To bring or get back
335.  
Reward
Something one gets for having done well
336.  
Rigor
Strictness; difficult situations that come from following rules Strictly
337.  
Rite
A ceremony meant to achieve a certain purpose
338.  
Ritually
As part of a traditional ceremony or habit
339.  
Roster
A list, especially of names
340.  
Rotate
To turn around; to take turns in sequence
341.  
Sacrifice
Anything offered to a deity as a religious thanksgiving; giving up something in order to have something more valuable later on
342.  
Safeguard
To protect
343.  
Saga
A long story about important events long ago
344.  
Scandal
A case of wrongdoing that hurts someone’s reputation
345.  
Scar
A mark on the skin left after a wound has healed; a lasting sign of damage, either mental or physical
346.  
Secular
Worldly rather than spiritual; not related to religion
347.  
Seep
To pass slowly for a long time, as a liquid or gas might
348.  
Seize
To take something against its owner’s will
349.  
Self-Perpetuating
Having the power to renew oneself for an indefinite period of time
350.  
Sentiment
Feelings; opinion based on feelings
351.  
Sequence
To organize or arrange in succession
352.  
Severely
Harshly; extremely
353.  
Shame
Dishonor because one has done something wrong
354.  
Shrink
To become reduced in size, amount, or value
355.  
Shuttle
To move back and forth often between two places
356.  
Sibling
Brother or sister
357.  
Simulation
An imitation or representation
358.  
Skit
A short, informal play
359.  
Smuggle
To illegally bring things into a country
360.  
Solar
Of, or relating to, the sun
361.  
Sole
Only
362.  
Solidarity
Standing together despite pressure to move apart
363.  
Source
The point of origin or creation
364.  
Spectrum
A range of different things, usually colors
365.  
Stable
Firm and dependable; showing little change
366.  
Status Quo
The systems and conditions that exist now
367.  
Stigmatize
To mark with a visible feature that makes other people think, perhaps incorrectly, that someone or something is wrong
368.  
Strategic
Related to long-term plans for achieving a goal
369.  
Striking
Very noticeable; easily attracting attention
370.  
Structure
Something constructed, such as a building
371.  
Subsidy
Money given by a government or other organization to support an activity
372.  
Subtly
In a quiet, hard-to-notice way
373.  
Surveillance
A process of watching something or someone for a long time, usually because the person is suspected of something
374.  
Survive
To continue living (despite some danger or illness)
375.  
Suspect
Someone who, in the opinion of the police, might have committed a certain crime
376.  
Suspend
To cause to stop for a period; to hang as to allow free Movement
377.  
Suspicious
Believing that something is wrong; acting in a way that makes people believe you have done something wrong
378.  
Symbolic
Acting as a sign for some other thing or idea
379.  
Tangible
Obviously real because it can be seen, touched, or otherwise Observed
380.  
Terminal
Located at an end; approaching death
381.  
Tolerate
To avoid getting upset about something
382.  
Trend
A movement in one direction or a widespread change in fashion
383.  
Trigger
To set off or initiate
384.  
Unleash
To release a thing or an emotion
385.  
Unmask
Reveal; expose something that is hidden
386.  
Vanish
To disappear suddenly
387.  
Vanity
An excessive concern for one’s appearance
388.  
Vein
Any of the tubes that form a branching system, especially those that carry blood to the heart
389.  
Verdict
A judgment in a court case
390.  
Versus
Against
391.  
Vestige
A visible trace that something once existed
392.  
Villainy
Exceptional badness, as demonstrated by many serious evil deeds
393.  
Violation
An action that breaks a law or agreement; mistreatment of something that deserves respect
394.  
Vitriolic
Showing an extreme, hateful anger
395.  
Vulnerable
Exposed to possible harm
396.  
Willing
Agreeable and ready to do something
397.  
Witness
To see something, especially a crime, happen
398.  
Working Class
People with low-paying (often unskilled) jobs who are not poor but who are not securely in the middle class
399.  
Wound
To inflict an injury on
400.  
Zeal
Enthusiasm; a deep determination to do well

*BEST OF LUCK*
*ALL THE BEST*

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