Essential Words For TOEFL

 

alter

v. to change or make different
v. altered
syn. modify
n. alteration
adj. alterable
adv. alterably

  • Will the storm alter its course and miss the coast?
  • Gloria hasn’t altered her plans to return to school.

analyze

v. to study something carefully; to separate into parts for study
v. analyzed
syn. examine
n. analysis

  • Scientists must analyze problems thoroughly.
  • Analysis of the substance confirms the presence of nitrogen.

ancient

adj. something from a long time ago; very old
syn. old

  • Archaeologists analyze ancient civilizations.
  • Dave found an ancient Roman coin.

annoying

adj. a slight bother; disturbing to a person
n. annoyance
syn. bothersome
v. annoy
adv. annoyingly

  • Mosquitoes can be an annoying part of a vacation at the beach.
  • She annoyed her parents by coming home late.

anticipate

v. to think about or prepare for something ahead of time
adj. anticipatory
syn. predict
n. anticipation

  • No one can anticipate the results of the games.
  • They planned their vacation with anticipation.

ascertain

v. to discover; find out
adj. ascertainable
syn. determine
adv. ascertainably
n. ascertainment

  • I tried to ascertain if he was telling the truth.
  • The jury made a decision based on its ascertainment of the facts.

benign

adj. doing no harm or damage; gentle
syn. harmless

  • He has a warm, benign smile that makes everyone comfortable.
  • The mold on the plants proved to be benign.

conform

v. to follow established rules or patterns of behavior
n. conformity
syn. adapt
n. conformist

  • You must conform to the rules or leave the club.
  • She has always been a conformist.

enrich

v. to make rich; to make something of greater value
n. enrichment
syn. enhance
adj. enriching

  • The fine arts enrich our lives.
  • The discovery of oil was an enrichment for the country

intensify

v. to make stronger in feeling or quality
n. intensity
syn. heighten
adj. intense
adj. intensive
adv. intensely
adv. intensively

  • The importance of the test will sometimes intensify the nervousness of the students.
  • The chess match was played with great intensity.

intolerable

adj. difficult or painful to experience; not able to accept different ways of thought or behavior
n. intolerance
syn. unbearable
adv. intolerably
adv. intolerantly
adj. intolerant

  • Any opposition to the rules is intolerable.
  • His boss was intolerant of his tardiness.

ongoing

adj. continuing
syn. current

  • The tutoring project is an ongoing program of the school.
  • Maintaining roads is an ongoing job.

potential

n. an ability, happening, or opportunity that has not occurred or been developed
adj. potential
syn. possibility
adv. potentially

  • The medical students have shown great potential to become doctors.
  • Small space heaters are a potential fire hazard.

propose

v. to suggest or plan to do something
n. proposal
syn. suggest
n. proposition
adj. proposed

  • The governor is going to propose new taxes.
  • Her proposal was well accepted.

restore

v. to give back or bring back something; to return to the original condition
n. restoration
syn. revitalize

  • He restored my confidence in him.
  • It is a beautiful restoration of the old table.

turbulent

adj. to be in a disordered, disturbed, or unstable condition
n. turbulence
syn. chaotic
adv. turbulently

  • The plane flew through an area of turbulence.
  • The turbulent crowd insisted on a meeting with the prime minister.

vital

adj. of great importance; full of life
n. vitality
syn. indispensable
adv. vitally

  • Money is vital to the success of the program.
  • His intense vitality was easily observable.