TOEFL

TOEFL Vocabulary

The TOEFL iBT tests academic English across reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Vocabulary knowledge directly impacts all four sections, especially the Reading section where you must understand complex academic texts and infer word meaning from context. Words are curated from official ETS preparation materials.

6052
Words
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Why vocabulary matters for the TOEFL

The TOEFL measures your ability to use English in a university setting, and academic vocabulary is the core of every section. In Reading, you must understand lectures and papers filled with specialized terms. In Writing and Speaking, using precise academic vocabulary — rather than basic everyday words — directly lifts your score. TOEFL graders look for range and accuracy in word choice as a marker of English proficiency.

Study tips for TOEFL vocabulary

  • Focus on academic vocabulary used in university lectures and textbooks — this is the TOEFL's primary domain.
  • Practice reading academic articles and identifying vocabulary in context before looking up definitions.
  • Learn collocations (common word pairings) to improve both reading comprehension and writing fluency.
  • Study vocabulary by topic area — science, social science, arts, and campus life.
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All 6052 TOEFL words

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abash
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abate
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abbreviate
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abbreviation
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abdicate
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abduct
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abet
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abhor
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abide
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abject
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ablaze
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abnormal
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aboard
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abolish
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abolition
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abolitionist
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abominable
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abort
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abound
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abrasive
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abridge
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abrogate
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abrupt
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absence
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absent
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absentee
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absenteeism
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absolute
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absolutely
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absorb
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absorption
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abstain
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abstemious
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abstract
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abstruse
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absurd
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absurdity
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abundant
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abundantly
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abuse
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abut
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abyss
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academic
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academician
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accede
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accelerate
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acceleration
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accident
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accidental
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accidentally
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