Academic vocabulary
These words come from the Academic Word List (Coxhead), the vocabulary that shows up most across university textbooks and in IELTS and TOEFL reading and writing tasks.
Practice these words with flashcards →accommodateTo have or provide enough space for a certain number of people or things.accumulateTo gather things together gradually until they form a large amount or pile.acknowledgeTo accept or admit that something is true, real, or deserving of recognition.adultSomeone who is old enough to be legally considered grown up.advocateA person who publicly supports a cause, policy, or group and argues for it.alterTo change something's form or structure.ambiguousHaving more than one possible meaning; unclear.anticipateTo expect that something will happen and often to get ready for it in advance.arbitraryDecided by personal whim or chance rather than by any objective reason or system.assembleTo fit parts together into a whole, or to gather in one place.attainTo succeed in reaching or achieving a goal or desired result.attributeA quality or feature that belongs to a person or thing.benefitSomething useful or helpful that a person gains from a thing or situation.ceaseTo bring an activity to an end; to stop.clarifyTo remove confusion about something by explaining it in simpler words or adding detail.coherentForming a connected, logical whole; holding together clearly.coincideTo happen at the same time as something else.colleagueA person you work with, especially in the same profession or organization.commenceTo start or get underway.compileTo create something by collecting and combining material from different places.compromiseAn agreement reached when each side gives up part of what it wants.conceiveTo form an idea or plan in your mind; to think something up.concentrateTo direct all your attention or thinking toward one thing.conferTo formally give someone an honor, right, or gift.conformTo behave the way other people expect, especially because of social pressure; to follow accepted patterns.constituteTo be the parts or members that together make up a whole.contractA formal agreement, usually written, in which two or more parties promise to carry out specific work or duties.convinceTo cause someone to believe or agree to something through reasoning or proof.creditAn arrangement that lets you buy something now and pay for it later.crucialSo important that the outcome or future of something depends on it.currencyThe money, or other means of payment, that people use to buy and sell things.denoteTo be a sign of something; to show or mark it.deriveTo get or take something from another source.deviceA tool or piece of equipment, often mechanical or electronic, designed to do a specific job.differentiateTo show what makes two things different, or to be the feature that sets them apart.diminishTo reduce something in size or amount.displayAn arrangement of goods in a store or window, set out so that customers can see them.distinctEasy to see, hear, or notice clearly; also, clearly different from something else.distortTo twist something out of its normal shape, or to change facts so they are no longer accurate.diverseMade up of many different kinds of things or people.domainThe name of a website that people type into a browser, such as 'example.com'; also called a domain name.dominateTo have the most power, control, or influence in a situation.draftAn early version of a piece of writing or a drawing that will be revised later.dynamicFull of movement, energy, or change; not staying the same.emergeTo come out from somewhere and become visible or known.encounterA meeting with someone or something, often one that was not planned.enhanceTo make something better, stronger, or more valuable.evaluateTo examine something carefully in order to judge its value, quality, or condition.evidentEasy to see or understand just by looking; plainly clear.exceedTo go beyond a certain amount, level, or limit; to be greater than something.expandTo make something grow from a smaller size or form into a larger one; to open out or spread.explicitStated clearly and in full detail, leaving no room for doubt.exploitTo take unfair advantage of someone or something, such as a person's work, trust, or weakness, for your own gain.extractTo remove or take something out, often with effort or force.facilitateTo help a process happen more smoothly or with less difficulty.feeA payment required in return for a service or privilege.flexibleAble to bend or twist easily without snapping.fluctuateTo rise and fall or change repeatedly in an irregular way.forthcomingGoing to happen, appear, or be published soon.foundationThe solid base, usually below ground level, on which a building or other structure rests and is supported.generateTo cause something to exist or happen; to produce.generationAll the people born around the same time, who often share similar experiences and culture.globeThe world we live on; the planet Earth.gradeA letter, number, or mark that shows how well someone did on a test or piece of work.illustrateTo make something clearer, often by giving examples or adding pictures.implementTo start using a plan, system, or decision and make it work in practice.implicitUnderstood as part of something without being directly stated.implyTo suggest that something is true without saying it directly.imposeTo put a rule, tax, or duty in place using official power.incentiveSomething, such as money or a reward, that makes people want to do something.incomeThe money a person receives from working or from investments.incorporateTo make something part of a larger whole; to include it within something else.indicateTo show or point something out; to make something known.induceTo persuade someone to act, or to cause something to happen.inevitableCertain to happen and impossible to prevent or avoid.inferTo reach a conclusion by reasoning from evidence, rather than from a direct statement.inherentExisting as a natural, built-in part of something.inhibitTo hold something back or keep it from developing freely.initiateTo start something, such as a process, plan, or conversation.insightA deep look into the inner workings of something; a clear understanding of it, often used with "into".integrateTo join parts together into a single, complete whole.integrityA firm commitment to honest and moral principles.interpretTo explain what something means, or to put spoken words into a language listeners can understand; also used of dreams, signs, and behavior.interveneTo step into a situation in order to change it or stop something from happening.intrinsicBelonging to the basic nature of a thing; essential and impossible to separate from it.invokeTo appeal to someone or something, such as a deity or an authority, for support or guidance.justifyTo give a good enough reason for something; to show that an action or decision was reasonable.lectureA talk given to an audience, usually to teach them about a subject.maintainTo keep something in its current state, so it does not get worse, slower, or weaker.manipulateTo control or influence someone in a clever, unfair, or dishonest way for your own benefit.mediateTo help two opposing sides settle their disagreement and reach an agreement.migrateTo move from one area to another at regular times, often with the changing seasons.minimizeTo reduce something to the smallest possible amount or importance.modifyTo make partial changes to something.monitorA screen, similar to a television, that displays the output of a computer.motiveA reason that makes someone do something, especially a hidden or criminal one.negateTo cancel out the effect of something, so that it no longer has any value or result.networkA group of computers and other devices connected together so they can share information and resources.notionAn idea or opinion about something, often one that is not fully formed.objectiveBased on facts rather than personal feelings or opinions; fair and unbiased.obtainTo get or acquire something, by whatever means.occupyTo fill or use a space, such as a room, building, or seat.offsetSomething that balances out or makes up for something else.overseasLocated in or connected with a foreign country, typically one across an ocean.partnerThe person someone shares a romantic relationship or home life with, such as a spouse.perceiveTo notice or understand something using your senses or your mind.persistTo keep doing something in a determined way, even when it is difficult or others want you to stop.precedeTo come or happen before something else in time, order, or position.preciseExact and correct in every detail.predictTo say what you think will happen in the future, often based on knowledge or evidence.predominantFound most often or most widely; more common than anything else.presumeTo believe that something is true without proof, because it seems likely.principalThe person in charge of a school, especially an elementary, middle, or high school.proceedTo continue moving forward or to carry on with an activity.prohibitTo officially ban something or refuse to allow it.projectA piece of planned work with a clear goal, usually completed over several stages.promoteTo move someone up to a higher or better-paid position at work.protocolAn agreed set of rules for sending and receiving data, especially between computers on a network.purchaseThe act of buying something, or the thing that has been bought.pursueTo chase after someone or something, or to keep working toward a goal.recoverTo return to good health or a normal state; to get back something that was lost.researchCareful study or investigation carried out to discover facts or test ideas.revenueThe money that a business, government, or organization takes in from a particular source.reviseTo go over something written and change or improve it.routeThe path or way you follow to get from one place to another.scheduleA plan showing what will happen and when, often laid out as a list or table of times.shiftA set period of time during which a group of workers is on duty, such as the day or night.strategyA carefully thought-out plan for reaching a particular goal.targetSomething you aim for; a goal you are trying to reach.taskA job or piece of work that someone has to do as part of their responsibilities.transferTo move something or someone from one place, person, or thing to another.transitThe movement of people or goods from one place to another, especially by public transportation; also, the vehicles that carry them.uniformA special set of clothes worn to show that someone belongs to a particular group, such as a company, school, or team.