Top 100 words in TOEIC tests practical english

TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 1 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words abreast (adverb, adjective) DEFINITION (adv.) alongside each other, moving in one direction; (adj.) well informed, up to date on a subject SYNONYMS alongside, aligned, adjacent, informed, apprised ANTONYMS unaware, uninformed USAGE EXAMPLES Keeping abreast of developments in the crisis allowed the Police Chief to act appropriately when the opportunity arose. (informed, up to date) With so many news web sites on the internet, it is much easier to keep abreast of current events. (apprised) benchmark (noun) DEFINITION 1. a standard used to evaluate similar things; 2. a point of reference SYNONYMS standard, criterion, touchstone, measure, reference point, yard stick, baseline ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES Sara's work on the project set a new benchmark for us all. (standard) Many people look to their role models as benchmarks for their own success. (reference points, touchstones) TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 2 capitalize (verb) DEFINITION 1. to benefit from or take advantage of something; 2. to finance something; 3. to exchange debt for stock; 4. to write in capital letters SYNONYMS benefit, profit, exploit, finance, bankroll ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES I'm capitalizing on my company's great benefits package by investing in the 401k plan. (taking advantage of, benefiting) Most investors are weary of companies that have an excessively high market capitalization. (valuation) caveat (noun) DEFINITION 1. a warning against certain acts; 2. in law, an official request to a court not to proceed with a case without notice to the person making the request SYNONYMS caution, warning, admonition, sign, condition ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES Holding out for a higher salary before accepting a job offer has one major caveat: someone else might get the job instead. (caution) My office distributed a memo with a caveat against using the fax machine for personal business. (warning) command TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 3 (noun, verb) DEFINITION (n.) 1. an order; 2. control over somebody or something; 3. in-depth knowledge or great skill (especially with a language); (v.) 1. to give an order; 2. to have authority or control over someone or something; 3. to demand or be entitled to something; 4. to look over something (such as a view) SYNONYMS (n.) order, demand, rule, mandate, request, instruction, authority, power, domination, understanding, knowledge, grasp, mastery, (v.) tell, direct, require, overlook ANTONYMS (n.) incertitude, (v.) follow, obey, comply USAGE EXAMPLES The officer was given a command, and he followed it. (order, demand) His complete command over his staff comes from his ability to use authority in a respectful, not domineering, manner. (authority, power) compartmentalize (verb) DEFINITION to separate or organize into categories or compartments SYNONYMS separate, organize, partition, isolate, assign ANTONYMS bundle, unify USAGE EXAMPLES Good leaders are able to review several critical issues and compartmentalize each one without being overwhelmed or distracted. (separate, organize) I know you have a lot on your plate, so you should compartmentalize each project and derive a systematic approach to completing each one. (separate, isolate) TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 4 context (noun) DEFINITION 1. a set of facts and circumstances pertaining to a situation or event; 2. the linguistic sense of a word that helps explain its meaning the words before and after the word in question SYNONYMS circumstance, timing, locale, environment, setting ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES I know you think that my comments were meant to be critical, but you heard them out of context, and you don't know the full story behind what I said. (circumstance, setting) It's important to use vocabulary words in the proper context, because a word's usage doesn't always correspond to its literal meaning. (setting) crux (noun ) DEFINITION 1. an essential point requiring resolution (in an argument); 2. a main or central feature SYNONYMS basis, essence, gist, core, point ANTONYMS sidebar, add-on USAGE EXAMPLES While she has made many good points which may be debated later, the crux of the Senator's argument is that taxes should be lowered for middle-income taxpayers. (gist, point) The crux of the problem is that our experiments simply don't seem to prove our theory. (basis, most important aspect) TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 5 demographic (noun, adjective) DEFINITION (n.) a statistic, like sex, age, or income, that characterizes human populations; (adj.) relating to demography SYNONYMS (n.) characteristic, statistic (with regard to population), group ANTONYMS psychographic USAGE EXAMPLES Our target demographic for this product is active females between the ages of 17 and 25. (characteristic, group) The geographic segment is the Southern United States, and the demographic segment is farmers between the ages of 35 and 60. (statistic, characteristic) dictate (verb, noun) DEFINITION (v.) 1. to give orders or demands with authority; 2. to speak into a tape recorder for later transcription of the text or to speak text to somebody writing it down; (n.) 1. guiding principals that govern how you behave; 2. an order telling people what they must do. SYNONYMS (v.) state, order, command, direct, instruct, (n.) principal, guideline, directive, mandate ANTONYMS (v.) request, ask USAGE EXAMPLES TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 6 Devout Catholics follow the dictates handed down by the Vatican. (guiding principals) I had to dictate letters and e-mails to my assistant while my arm was in a cast, and I couldn't type myself. (speak aloud) expenditure (noun) DEFINITION 1. the act of spending money; 2. money spent; 3. the consuming or using up of something SYNONYMS expense, cost, investment, consumption, use ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES It's true that we should avoid any unnecessary expenses, but we will incur some unavoidable expenditures in order to get this business off the ground. (expenses, costs) Our monthly expenditures are exceeding our budget, so we'll have to make some cutbacks. (expenses, costs) impress (verb) DEFINITION 1. to cause positive admiration or respect; 2. to fix ideas or facts deeply in the mind SYNONYMS affect, move, instill, influence, imprint, strike, engrave, persuade, amaze, dazzle ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES My sales manager impressed upon me the importance of closing the deal. (instilled, imprinted) The chief of police will try to impress the urgency of the situation upon the officers. (affect, instill) incur TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 7 (verb) DEFINITION 1. to experience something unpleasant; 2. to become burdened with something, such as a debt SYNONYMS sustain, encounter, experience ANTONYMS avoid, elude, evade, escape USAGE EXAMPLES They had to incur penalty fees because they sent the payment in late. (sustain) If we don't find a way to cut operating costs, we will incur significant losses. (experience) mull (verb) DEFINITION to reflect deeply on a subject SYNONYMS ponder, reflect, meditate, think, weigh ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES Before choosing a final candidate for the position, he mulled over the list of interviewees. (thought, reflected) Rumor has it, the retired athlete is mulling a return to the NBA. (pondering, thinking over) savvy (adjective, noun) DEFINITION (adj.) 1. sophisticated and intuitive; 2. having practical knowledge and ability; (n.) keen understanding TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 8 SYNONYMS (adj.) resourceful, astute, sharp, shrewd, informed, experienced, (n.) understanding, discernment ANTONYMS (adj.) stupid, uninformed, obtuse USAGE EXAMPLES It is not enough to create a wonderful product; an entrepreneur must have business savvy as well. (understanding, intelligence) The art center's new controller displayed her financial savvy by correcting the budget deficit within her first year. (understanding, shrewdness) streamline (verb) DEFINITION 1. to make more economical or efficient; 2. to make something more contoured so that it may move more fluidly through air or water SYNONYMS improve, organize, simplify, modernize, contour, shape, smooth ANTONYMS complicate USAGE EXAMPLES A major goal of the review process is to help streamline operations, which should, in turn, boost profits. (modernize, simplify, improve) When aircraft designers aim to streamline their planes, they are striving for a model that creates less air resistance, thereby lowering fuel consumption. (contour, improve) subjective (adjective) DEFINITION TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 9 1. modified by individual bias, rather than based on facts; 2. based on views, experience, or background particular to a given person; 3. existing only in the mind and not independently of it SYNONYMS prejudiced, personal, arbitrary, biased, individual ANTONYMS objective, non-subjective USAGE EXAMPLES My subjective evaluation of the situation calls for an outside point of view, for balance. (personal, biased) His brother did not testify due to his highly subjective point of view. (prejudiced, biased, arbitrary) systematically (adverb) DEFINITION done in a consistent and systematic manner SYNONYMS orderly, methodically, consistently ANTONYMS randomly USAGE EXAMPLES After being systematically passed up for a promotion 3 years in a row, Mike finally quit his job. (consistently) We'll have to systematically go through our old invoices to find the billing discrepancy. (orderly, methodically) esteem (verb, noun) DEFINITION TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 10 (v.) 1. to respect; (n) 1. respect for someone SYNONYMS (v.) value, appreciate, respect, regard, (n.) admiration, high-regard, respect ANTONYMS (v.) disrespect, disparage, (n.) disdain, contempt, irreverence USAGE EXAMPLES Although I esteem your opinion, I am afraid that I do not agree with you. (respect) After the teachers went on strike, there was a drop in the esteem that people had for teachers. (respect, admiration) exact (verb, adjective) DEFINITION (v.) to demand and obtain something often through force or threats; (adj.) correct or precise in quantity SYNONYMS (v.) demand, obtain, take, extort, (adj.) precise, accurate, correct ANTONYMS (v.) provide, ask, (adje.) inaccurate, wrong, incorrect USAGE EXAMPLES Plastic surgery exacts tremendous skill and dexterity. (demands) I will do you this favor, but I am going to exact a big favor in return. (demand, obtain) disposition (noun) DEFINITION 1. personality or temperament, including a person's typical mood and attitude; 2. a natural tendency; 3. arrangement, organization, or control; 4. a settlement or resolution [...]... element) incipient (adjective) DEFINITION in the beginning of development or formation SYNONYMS Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 20 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn nascent, initial, beginning, inchoate, budding ANTONYMS developed, finished USAGE EXAMPLES His ideas were still incipient and vague; he needed to develop them more thoroughly (initial, inchoate) With the economy showing incipient... enforcing something; 3 to reduce the intensity of something (for instance, pain); 4 to restore something; 5 to refer a case to another court (in law); 6 to restore something to its original condition SYNONYMS pay, repay, reimburse, send, dispatch, reduce, restore, postpone, defer, refer, revoke, nullify, invalidate ANTONYMS intensify, increase, persist, continue USAGE EXAMPLES In order to avoid any interest... vacation in order to insulate himself from the negative publicity surrounding the scandal (protect, shield) It's impossible to insulate your children from all the violence and strong language in today's media (shield, protect) interject (verb) Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 35 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn DEFINITION 1 to say or insert something in a way that interrupts what is being... (obviously, openly) In an overt show of support, the President met publicly with the candidate he hoped would succeed him (unconcealed, clear) preface (noun, verb) DEFINITION Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 16 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn (n.) an introduction at the beginning of a book; (v.) to begin with a preface or introduction before presenting your main point SYNONYMS (n.) introduction,... me after the interview and candidly explained his reasons for not hiring me (open) influx (noun) Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 34 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn DEFINITION 1 a sudden or ongoing arrival of many things or of a lot of people; 2 an inward flow or movement SYNONYMS inflow, inundation, flow, rush, flood ANTONYMS outflow, efflux USAGE EXAMPLES The sudden influx of new... reign in, subdue, suppress, restrain, yoke, hitch Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 11 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES You've got to find a way to harness your temper, because you can't go flying off the handle in meetings the way you have been (control, suppress) We harnessed our joint resources to create a truly innovative product (reigned in) induce (verb) DEFINITION... or discussed; 2 to insert between other elements SYNONYMS inject, insert, interpose, throw in, include, interrupt ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES If I may interject for a moment, I have one more idea I'd like to discuss before we wrap up this meeting (interrupt) If I could interject, I believe there is an easier way to do this (interrupt, interpose) paramount (adjective) DEFINITION foremost in importance or... consumers are regaining their confidence in the stock market (initial, beginning) malicious (adjective) DEFINITION 1 wishing to hurt others; 2 committing an act that will hurt others SYNONYMS hateful, spiteful, mean, wicked, depraved ANTONYMS benevolent, kind, caring USAGE EXAMPLES His malicious slandering of his co-worker was unprofessional and unseemly (hurtful, meaning to cause harm) I don't think it was... expert in the field of biology (prominent, best) incentive (noun) DEFINITION something that encourages action SYNONYMS inducement, enticement, instigation, stimulus, motivation, impetus, encouragement, inspiration ANTONYMS USAGE EXAMPLES The promise of a promotion and raise gave her the incentive she needed to bring in more sales (stimulus, motive) Newly single, he suddenly had incentive to begin a self-improvement... think it was a malicious act intended to hurt him (hurtful, meaning to cause harm) malignant (adjective) DEFINITION 1 evil; 2 life-threatening SYNONYMS evil, hateful, spiteful, wicked, nasty, injurious, harmful Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 21 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn ANTONYMS benign, kind, caring USAGE EXAMPLES The biopsy showed that the tumor was not malignant and was indeed . introduction at the beginning of a book; (v.) to begin with a preface or introduction before presenting your main point SYNONYMS (n.) introduction, foreword, prologue, (v.) introduce, begin,. to bring in more sales. (stimulus, motive) Newly single, he suddenly had incentive to begin a self-improvement program. (motive, inspiration) novel (adjective) TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words. TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words www.itest.org.vn Global Education, 2012 P a g e | 1 TOP 100 TOEIC Vocabulary Words abreast (adverb, adjective) DEFINITION (adv.) alongside