Vocabulary for IELTS: 200+ Words to

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Learning new words has never been easier! Use this carefully organised list of words to
improve your vocabulary range today.

All you need to do is learn the meaning of some words daily and try to use it in context when
you speak or write.

Here’s a fun activity for you to do while you’re at it: Count how many words you
already know in this list. If the count is over 150, your vocabulary range is pretty
solid.

Good luck!

Word Meaning Example Sentence

The researcher analysed the data

Analyse To examine in detail
thoroughly.

The approximate cost of the project is

Approximate Close to the actual, but not exact
$5000.

The essay presented a compelling

Argument A reason or set of reasons given
argument.

She acquired a new skill after

Acquire To gain possession or knowledge of
attending the workshop.

The candidate had an adequate

Adequate Sufficient or satisfactory
understanding of the topic.
 I appreciate your efforts in completing
Appreciate To understand the value or importance
the task.

The instructions were ambiguous and

Ambiguous Having more than one possible meaning
confusing.

Existing in thought or as an idea but not having The concept of justice is abstract and
Abstract
a physical or concrete existence subjective.

Let's not assume anything until we

Assume To take for granted or without proof
have all the facts.

Intelligence is often considered an

Attribute A quality or characteristic
attribute of success.

Word Definition Example Sentence

The billionaire philanthropist was known for his

Benevolent Well-meaning and kindly
benevolent gestures towards the less fortunate.

The children played boisterously in the park,

Boisterous Noisy, energetic, and cheerful
laughing and shouting with delight.

Relating to the pleasant aspects of They enjoyed the bucolic scenery during their
Bucolic
the countryside and country life weekend getaway to the countryside.

High-sounding but with little The politician's bombastic speech failed to impress
Bombastic
meaning; inflated the audience, who saw through the empty rhetoric.

Beneath In a lower position; below The treasure was buried beneath the old oak tree.

His blatant disregard for the rules angered his

Blatant Done openly and unashamedly
colleagues.
 Deprived of or lacking something, She felt bereft of hope after the loss of her beloved
Bereft
especially a nonmaterial asset pet.

Concise and exact use of words in The editor appreciated the author's brevity in
Brevity
writing or speech conveying complex ideas.

The belligerent nations engaged in a prolonged

Belligerent Hostile and aggressive
conflict.

The garden yielded a bountiful harvest of fruits and

Bountiful Large in quantity; abundant
vegetables.

Word Meaning Example Sentence

His actions were contrary to his

Contrary Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning
words.

To give (something, such as money, goods, or

Contribute time) to help a person, group, cause, or She contributes regularly to charity.

organisation

He didn't study for the exam;

Consequently As a result of
consequently, he failed.

He didn't study for the exam;

Consequently As a result of
consequently, he failed.

They sat for hours, conversing about

Converse To engage in conversation
life and philosophy.

It took me a while to comprehend

Comprehend To understand
the complexity of the issue.

The concept of time travel has

Concept An abstract idea
fascinated people for centuries.
 Could you please clarify your
Clarify To make it clear or understandable
statement?

The committee comprises

Comprise To consist of; to be made up of representatives from various

departments.

Word Meaning Example Sentence

Despite In spite of; notwithstanding Despite the rain, the event was a success.

The dispute between the two neighbours

Dispute A disagreement or argument
escalated quickly.

The university has a diverse student

Diverse Varied, showing a great deal of variety
population.

To find out or come to a decision about The outcome of the experiment will determine
Determine
something the next steps.

To depart from an established course or

Deviate He deviated from the main topic of discussion.
norm

It's important to distinguish between fact and

Distinguish To recognise as different or distinct
opinion.

The experiment demonstrated the

Demonstrate To show clearly and deliberately
effectiveness of the new drug.

A lack of compatibility or similarity There was a discrepancy between the witness

Discrepancy
between two or more facts testimonies.

The organisation disseminates information

Disseminate To spread widely
through various channels.
 A difficult or perplexing situation or She faced a dilemma when choosing between
Dilemma
problem two equally appealing options.

Word Meaning Example Sentence

To give special importance or prominence to The teacher emphasised the importance

Emphasise
(something) of studying regularly.

To judge or determine the significance, worth, The committee will evaluate the
Evaluate
or quality of candidates based on their qualifications.

To improve or increase in value, quality, The new software update enhances the
Enhance
desirability, or attractiveness user experience.

Based on observation or experience rather The scientist conducted empirical

Empirical
than theory or pure logic research to test the hypothesis.

He elaborated on his earlier remarks

Elaborate To add details; to expand or clarify
during the presentation.

Please ensure that all the doors are locked

Ensure To make sure or certain
before leaving.

The impact of climate change is evident in

Evident Clearly seen or understood
the rising sea levels.

The investigators examined the crime

Examine To inspect or scrutinise closely
scene for evidence.

To make (an action or process) happen The new software expedites the billing
Expedite
sooner or be accomplished more quickly. process.

The instructions were explicit and easy to

Explicit Clearly stated or expressed
follow.
F

Word Definition Example Sentence

The new software will facilitate the

Facilitate To make an action or process easier
data analysis.

The team formulated a plan to

Formulate To create or devise methodically
increase productivity.

His argument was dismissed as

Frivolous Lacking in seriousness or importance
frivolous by the judge.

The organisation aims to foster

Foster To encourage the development or growth of
innovation among its employees.

Prices of stocks often fluctuate in

Fluctuate To vary or change irregularly
response to market conditions.

The two companies forged a

To create or develop something strong and
Forge partnership to expand their market
enduring
reach.

The merger fused two distinct

Fuse To join or blend together
cultures into one cohesive unit.

Word Definition Example Sentence

To gather or collect (something, The study garnered significant attention from

Garner
especially information or approval) the scientific community.

The company is grappling with the challenges

Grapple To struggle or wrestle with
of adapting to new market trends.
 The new initiative generated a lot of excitement
Generate To produce or create
among employees.

To make (something) worldwide in scope The company's expansion strategy aims to

Globalize
or application globalise its operations.

Winning the award gratified her after years of

Gratify To give pleasure or satisfaction to
hard work.

To shock or excite (someone) into taking The urgent situation galvanised the community
Galvanise
action into action.

The mistake was glaring and couldn't be

Glaring Extremely obvious or conspicuous
ignored.

To move toward or be attracted to Many students gravitate towards majors that

Gravitate
something align with their interests.

She's quite gregarious and enjoys socialising

Gregarious Fond of company; sociable
with others.

He relied on his guile to outsmart his

Guile Sly or cunning intelligence
opponents in negotiations.

Word Definition Example Sentence

To create difficulties or obstacles that delay or Bad weather hindered our plans to
Hinder
prevent progress go hiking.

He honed his public speaking skills

Hone To sharpen or refine (a skill or ability)
through practice.

Scientists hypothesise that the new

Hypothesize To propose a tentative explanation for something
drug may cure the disease.
 A system or organisation in which people or
The company has a strict hierarchy
Hierarchy groups are ranked one above the other
with clear lines of authority.
according to status or authority

The research team was

Homogeneous Consisting of parts all of the same kind homogeneous, consisting mostly of

biologists.

Passed or capable of being passed from parent The disease is hereditary and runs
Hereditary
to offspring genetically in the family.

Their approach to the project

Haphazard Lacking any obvious principle of organisation seemed haphazard and

disorganised.

There was a palpable sense of

Hostility Unfriendly or antagonistic behaviour hostility between the two rival

teams.

The group worked together to

Harmonise To bring into agreement or accord harmonise their schedules for the

project.

She hesitated before making a

Hesitate To pause or hold back in uncertainty
decision.

Word Definition Example Sentence

I called to inquire about the availability of

Inquire To ask for information
tickets.

To encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful His inflammatory speech incited riots in

Incite
behaviour) the city.
Inhibit To hinder, restrain, or prevent Fear can inhibit one's ability to take risks.

The survey results indicate a high level of

Indicate To point out or show
satisfaction.

The engineer devised an ingenious

Ingenious Clever, original, and inventive
solution to the problem.

With the rise in temperatures, climate

Inevitable Certain to happen, unavoidable
change is inevitable.

She inquired about the availability of

Inquire To ask for information or investigate
rooms at the hotel.

To make someone extremely angry or His constant interruptions infuriated the

Infuriate
annoyed speaker.

The streetlights illuminated the dark

Illuminate To light up or make clear
alleyway.

To initiate or provoke (an action or event, The rumours of layoffs instigated panic
Instigate
typically a conflict or crime) among the employees.

Word Definition Example Sentence

To place two or more things together, especially The artist juxtaposed images of urban
Juxtapose
to suggest a link or contrast and rural landscapes in her artwork.

He had a jovial personality that

Jovial Cheerful and friendly in manner
brightened everyone's day.

Specialised technical terminology used by a The legal jargon in the contract took a
Jargon
particular group or profession lot of work to understand.
 To put (something or someone) into a situation
His reckless behaviour jeopardised the
Jeopardise in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or
success of the project.
failure

He had a jovial personality that

Jovial Cheerful and friendly in manner
brightened everyone's day.

The artist juxtaposed contrasting

Juxtapose To place side by side for comparison
colours in her painting.

The official power to make legal decisions and The court has jurisdiction over criminal
Jurisdiction
judgments cases in this district.

Feeling or expressing great happiness and The crowd was jubilant after their team
Jubilant
triumph won the championship.

The company must justify its decision to

Justify To show or prove to be right or reasonable
increase prices.

Tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically She felt jaded after years of working in
Jaded
after having had too much of something the same job.

Word Definition Example Sentence

She's knowledgeable about a wide range

Knowledgeable Well-informed; possessing knowledge
of topics.

He's a keen learner and always seeks new

Keen Eager, enthusiastic
challenges.

There's a strong sense of kinship among

Kinship Blood relationship; family connection
the members of the community.

They share a kindred spirit when it comes

Kindred Similar in kind; related
to their love for nature.
 The team received kudos for their
Kudos Praise and honour given for achievement
exceptional performance.

The central or most important part of The kernel of truth in his statement was
Kernel
something hard to ignore.

To work (dough) into a uniform mixture by She kneaded the dough until it was
Knead
pressing, folding, and stretching smooth and elastic.

She has a knack for finding solutions to

Knack A special skill or talent
complex problems.

In a way that shows eagerness or He was keenly interested in learning

Keenly
enthusiasm about different cultures.

The strike had knock-on effects on the

Knock-on Having a secondary or unintended effect
economy.

Word Definition Example Sentence

The stars appeared luminous in the night

Luminous Emitting or reflecting light
sky.

The wedding reception was a lavish affair

Lavish Characterised by extravagance or luxury
with gourmet food and live music.

His explanation was so lucid that even

Lucid Clear and easy to understand
beginners could grasp the concept.

After a heavy meal, he felt lethargic and

Lethargic Lacking in energy or enthusiasm
struggled to stay awake.

Lament To express sorrow, mourning, or regret She lamented the loss of her beloved pet.
 Something handed down from the past, His grandfather's legacy of hard work and
Legacy
such as a tradition or inheritance perseverance inspired him.

Likely to do or experience something If you don't wear a helmet while cycling,

Liable
undesirable you're liable to get a fine.

The aeroplane's lavatory was clean and

Lavatory A room with toilet facilities
well-maintained.

Loathe To feel intense dislike or disgust for She loathed the taste of Brussels sprouts.

Their efforts to raise money for charity are

Laudable Deserving praise and commendation
truly laudable.

Word Definition Example Sentence

The architect's plans were meticulous

Meticulous Showing great attention to detail
and well-thought-out.

Despite the defeat, he showed a

Generous or forgiving, especially towards a
Magnanimous magnanimous spirit towards his
rival or less powerful person
opponents.

His frustration was manifest in his facial

Manifest Clear or obvious to the eye or mind
expressions.

The quality of being particularly good or

Her hard work and dedication earned
Merit worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or
her the merit of Employee of the Month.
reward

He found the mundane tasks of daily life

Mundane Lacking interest or excitement; dull
tedious and boring.
 The malicious gossip spread by the
Malicious Intending or intended to do harm
tabloids tarnished her reputation.

Planting trees can help mitigate the

Mitigate To make less severe, serious, or painful
effects of climate change.

Having or showing a moderate or humble Despite his wealth, he lived a modest

Modest
estimate of one's merits, importance, etc. lifestyle.

A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with The melancholy music evoked

Melancholy
no obvious cause memories of lost love.

The earthquake measured 7.0 on the

Magnitude The great size or extent of something
Richter scale, indicating its magnitude.

Word Definition Example Sentence

Famous or well-known, typically for some bad The town became notorious for its high
Notorious
quality or deed crime rate.

A sentimental longing or affection for the past,

Looking at old photographs filled her
Nostalgia typically for a period or place with happy
with nostalgia for her childhood.
personal associations

The novelty of the gadget wore off

Novelty The quality of being new, original, or unusual quickly, and it became just another piece

of technology.

A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, The actor's performance was full of

Nuance
expression, or sound nuance and depth.

He held a nominal position in the

Nominal Existing in name only; negligible
company with little real authority.
 To care for and encourage the growth or Parents nurture their children with love
Nurture
development of and guidance.

Her achievements in the field of science

Noteworthy Worthy of attention or notice
were noteworthy.

The villain in the novel had nefarious

Nefarious Wicked or criminal
intentions.

A comfortable or suitable position in life or She found her niche in the world of
Niche
employment freelance writing.

Just coming into existence and beginning to The nascent technology showed promise
Nascent
display signs of future potential for revolutionising the industry.

Word Definition Example Sentence

Typewriters have become obsolete with

Obsolete No longer produced or used; out of-date
the rise of computers.

Giving the impression that something bad or The dark clouds on the horizon were
Ominous
unpleasant is going to happen ominous signs of an approaching storm.

The opulent mansion was filled with

Opulent Ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish
expensive furniture and artwork.

Characterised by vulgar or pretentious Her ostentatious jewellery drew attention

Ostentatious
display, designed to impress or attract notice wherever she went.

Despite the setbacks, she remained

Optimistic Hopeful and confident about the future
optimistic about achieving her goals.
 The politician's vague statements

Obfuscate To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible obfuscated the true meaning of his

policies.

Obedient or attentive to an excessive or The obsequious waiter hovered around

Obsequious
servile degree the table, eager to fulfil every request.

The window was covered with opaque

Opaque Not able to be seen through; not transparent
curtains, blocking out the sunlight.

His outlandish outfit drew stares from

Outlandish Looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar
passersby.

Done or shown openly; plainly or readily The company's overt support for the
Overt
apparent, not secret or hidden charity event was widely appreciated.

Word Definition Example Sentence

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or The pernicious influence of social

Pernicious
subtle way media can affect mental health.

Producing in large quantities or with great The prolific author wrote a dozen
Prolific
frequency novels in just two years.

The concept of time travel is a paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement that may
Paradox that challenges our understanding of
nevertheless be true
reality.

A person or thing regarded as a perfect example She was a paragon of virtue and
Paragon
of a particular quality integrity.

To treat with an apparent kindness that betrays a He hated it when people patronised
Patronise
feeling of superiority him because of his age.
 Not securely held or in position; dangerously The old bridge looked precarious, and
Precarious
likely to fall or collapse they decided not to cross it.

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a

She took a pragmatic approach to
Pragmatic way that is based on practical rather than
solving the problem.
theoretical considerations

Widespread in a particular area or at a particular In recent years, social media use has
Prevalent
time become prevalent among teenagers.

Mozart was a musical prodigy who

A person, especially a young one, endowed with
Prodigy composed his first symphony at the
exceptional qualities or abilities
age of eight.

A person who advocates for a theory, proposal, or He was a staunch proponent of

Proponent
course of action renewable energy.

Word Definition Example Sentence

To reject or annul (a decision or The court quashed the conviction due to lack of
Quash
verdict) evidence.

He responded with a clever quip that left everyone

Quip A witty remark or comment
laughing.

A peculiar aspect of a person's One of her quirks is that she always wears
Quirk
character or behaviour mismatched socks.

The monotony of quotidian life can sometimes be

Quotidian Of or occurring every day; daily
overwhelming.

After a long hike, they quenched their thirst with cold

Quench To satisfy (one's thirst) by drinking
water.
 Showing mild or amused He raised a quizzical eyebrow in response to her
Quizzical
puzzlement strange question.

An uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, She had no qualms about leaving her job and starting
Qualm
or fear her own business.

Quotient The result of the division The quotient of 10 divided by 2 is 5.

In a state or period of inactivity or The volcano has been quiescent for decades, but
Quiescent
dormancy experts fear it may erupt again soon.

Her income quadrupled after she started her own

Quadruple To multiply by four
business.

Word Definition Example Sentence

Able to withstand or recover quickly Despite facing many challenges, he remained

Resilient
from difficult conditions resilient and optimistic.

Admirably purposeful, determined, and She was resolute in her decision to pursue her
Resolute
unwavering dreams.

A survey or review of a past course of In retrospect, she realised that quitting her job
Retrospect
events or period of time was the right decision.

Extremely thorough, exhaustive, or The selection process for the scholarship was
Rigorous
accurate rigorous and competitive.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet are

Robust Strong and healthy; vigorous
essential for maintaining robust health.

The art of effective or persuasive His speech was filled with persuasive rhetoric
Rhetoric
speaking or writing that captivated the audience.
 To voluntarily give up or let go of She reluctantly relinquished her position as
Relinquish
something team captain.

The extra information in the report was

Redundant Not or no longer needed or useful
redundant and could be removed.

To continue to have (something); to She managed to retain her composure even in

Retain
keep possession of the face of criticism.

To be repeated several times as an The sound of her laughter reverberated through

Reverberate
echo the room.

Word Definition Example Sentence

She felt a sense of serene contentment as

Serene Calm, peaceful, and untroubled
she watched the sunset.

Having or showing keen mental discernment His sagacious advice helped me make the
Sagacious
and good judgement right decision.

Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as The view from the mountaintop was
Sublime
to inspire great admiration or awe absolutely sublime.

Kept secret, especially because it would not She made a surreptitious glance at her
Surreptitious
be approved of watch during the boring meeting.

He enjoyed the solitude of hiking alone in

Solitude The state or situation of being alone
the mountains.

To examine or inspect closely and The auditor will scrutinise the company's
Scrutinise
thoroughly financial records.
 His speech was filled with superfluous
Unnecessary, especially through being more
Superfluous details that detracted from the main
than enough
points.

Involving interaction between two different The relationship between bees and

Symbiotic organisms living in close physical flowers is symbiotic, benefiting both

association species.

The stagnant economy struggled to

Stagnant Showing no activity; dull and sluggish
recover from the recession.

The salient features of the plan were

Salient The most noticeable or important
outlined in the presentation.

Word Definition Example Sentence

Making a loud, confused noise, The tumultuous applause filled the concert
Tumultuous
uproarious hall.

The company has seen tremendous growth in

Tremendous Very great in amount, scale, or intensity
the past year.

The contract will terminate at the end of the

Terminate To bring to an end
month.

Perceptible by touch; capable of being The results of their hard work were tangible
Tangible
touched or felt and visible to everyone.

His artistic talents transcended the boundaries

Transcend To surpass or go beyond the limits of
of traditional painting.

Too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or The lecture became tedious after the first
Tedious
monotonous hour.
 The argument was about a trivial matter that
Trivial Of little value or importance
didn't warrant so much attention.

The quality or fact of being able to grip His tenacity in pursuing his goals eventually
Tenacity
something firmly, persistence paid off.

A feeling of fear or agitation about He felt a sense of trepidation before his first
Trepidation
something that may happen day at a new job.

Lasting only for a short time; The transient nature of fame often leads to
Transient
impermanent disillusionment.

Word Definition Example Sentence

Present, appearing, or found

Ubiquitous In today's world, smartphones are ubiquitous.
everywhere

Fully in agreement or showing The decision to move forward with the project was
Unanimous
complete agreement unanimous among the team members.

Never done or known before; The company achieved unprecedented success

Unprecedented
without previous example with its latest product launch.

The concert was an utter disaster due to technical

Utter Complete; absolute
issues.

Present, appearing, or found

Ubiquitous Coffee shops are ubiquitous in urban areas.
everywhere

Constant criticism can undermine a person's

Undermine To weaken or sabotage gradually
confidence.
 Clear and not open to The instructions were unambiguous and easy to
Unambiguous
interpretation or doubt follow.

His unwarranted outburst surprised everyone in

Unwarranted Not justified or authorised
the room.

Never done or known before; The scale of the natural disaster was
Unprecedented
without previous example unprecedented in the region.

To undo or untangle; solve or The detective worked tirelessly to unravel the

Unravel
explain mystery.

Word Definition Example Sentence

The city's vibrant nightlife attracts tourists from

Vibrant Full of energy and enthusiasm
all over the world.

Using or expressing in more words than His verbose writing style made the report
Verbose
are needed difficult to read.

The company's new business model proved to

Viable Capable of working successfully; feasible
be viable in the competitive market.

Able to adapt or be adapted to many She is a versatile actress who can excel in both
Versatile
different functions or activities comedy and drama.

Keeping careful watch for possible The security guard remained vigilant throughout
Vigilant
danger or difficulties the night.

To make someone feel annoyed, His constant complaints began to vex his
Vex
frustrated, or worried colleagues.
 A person highly skilled in a particular art He was a virtuoso pianist who could play
Virtuoso
or field complex pieces with ease.

Her vivacious personality lit up the room

Vivacious Attractively lively and animated
wherever she went.

Tending to change rapidly and The volatile stock market made investors
Volatile
unpredictably nervous.

Many cultures venerate their ancestors through

Venerate To regard with great respect, revere
rituals and ceremonies.

Word Definition Example Sentence

Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in The artist's whimsical paintings were a delight
Whimsical
an appealing and amusing way to behold.

To decrease in vigour, power, or extent; His interest in the project began to wane as it
Wane
to become weaker became more challenging.

Having or showing a feeling of vague She looked out at the ocean with a wistful
Wistful
or regretful longing expression, reminiscing about her childhood.

Found or distributed over a large area The flu outbreak was widespread, affecting
Widespread
or number of people thousands of people.

Wither To become dry and shrivelled The flowers began to wither in the hot sun.

To sharpen the blade of (a tool or

Whet He used a stone to whet the blade of his knife.
weapon)
 The puppy's winsome expression melted
Winsome Charming, pleasing
everyone's hearts.

The moon's light began to wane as the night

Wane To decrease in size, extent, or degree
progressed.

His behaviour did not warrant such a harsh

Warrant To justify or necessitate
punishment.

Feeling or showing caution about She was wary of strangers after her previous
Wary
possible dangers or problems bad experiences.

X, Y, and Z

Word Definition Example Sentence

Xenophobia can lead to

Xenophobia Fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners discrimination and prejudice

against immigrants.

A musical instrument consisting of a graduated

She played a soothing melody on
Xylophone series of wooden bars usually sounded by striking
the xylophone.
with small wooden hammers.

He yearned for adventure and

Yearn To have an intense longing or desire for something
travel.

To produce or provide (a natural, agricultural, or The farm yielded a bountiful

Yield
industrial product) harvest of fruits and vegetables.

The highest point reached by a celestial or other The sun reached its zenith in the
Zenith
object sky at noon.

The zephyr carried the scent of

Zephyr A gentle, mild breeze
flowers through the garden.
 She approached every task with
Zest Great enthusiasm and energy
zest and determination.

Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or His zeal for social justice inspired
Zeal
an objective others to join the movement.

Full of, characterised by, or showing zeal; ardently The volunteers were zealous in
Zealous
devoted to a purpose; fervent their efforts to help the community.

He tackled the project with zest

Zest Great enthusiasm and energy
and determination.