Academic Word List for IELTS Part 1 (A-I)

Mohamed M. (United States of America)
The AWL is a list of words which appear with high frequency in English-language academic texts.
421 words 38 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abandon
    forsake; leave behind
  2. abstract
    existing only in the mind
  3. academy
    a learned establishment for the advancement of knowledge
  4. acceptable
    worthy of approval or satisfactory
  5. access
    the right to enter
  6. accessibility
    the quality of being at hand when needed
  7. acclaim
    enthusiastic approval
  8. accommodate
    have room for; hold without crowding
  9. accompany
    go or travel along with
  10. accordingly
    in agreement with
  11. accumulate
    get or gather together
  12. accurate
    characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth
  13. accustomed
    commonly used or practiced; usual
  14. achieve
    gain with effort
  15. acknowledge
    declare to be true or admit the existence or reality of
  16. acquire
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
  17. adapt
    make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
  18. adequate
    having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
  19. adjacent
    having a common boundary or edge
  20. adjust
    alter or regulate so as to conform to a standard
  21. administrate
    supervise or be in charge of
  22. admittedly
    as acknowledged
  23. adult
    a fully developed person from maturity onward
  24. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
  25. affect
    have an influence upon
  26. aggregate
    a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
  27. aid
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  28. allocate
    distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose
  29. alter
    cause to change; make different
  30. alternative
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
  31. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  32. amend
    make revisions to
  33. analogy
    drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
  34. analyse
    break down into components or essential features
  35. annual
    occurring every year
  36. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
  37. anticipate
    regard something as probable or likely
  38. apparent
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  39. appeal
    earnest or urgent request
  40. append
    fix to; attach
  41. appreciate
    be fully aware of; realize fully
  42. approach
    move towards
  43. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
  44. approximate
    not quite exact or correct
  45. approximately
    imprecise but fairly close to correct
  46. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  47. aspect
    a characteristic to be considered
  48. assemble
    create by putting components or members together
  49. assess
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
  50. assign
    select something or someone for a specific purpose
  51. assist
    give help; be of service
  52. assistance
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  53. associate
    bring or come into action
  54. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
  55. assure
    inform positively and with certainty and confidence
  56. astonishingly
    in an amazing manner; to everyone's surprise
  57. attach
    be in contact with
  58. attain
    gain with effort
  59. attempt
    make an effort
  60. attitude
    a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings
  61. attribute
    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
  62. author
    a person who writes professionally
  63. authority
    the power or right to give orders or make decisions
  64. automate
    operate or make run by machines rather than human action
  65. available
    obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service
  66. avoidance
    the act of deliberately preventing or keeping away from
  67. aware
    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
  68. backbone
    the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
  69. behalf
    as the agent of or on someone's part
  70. behavioural
    of or relating to behavior
  71. beneficial
    promoting or enhancing well-being
  72. benefit
    something that aids or promotes well-being
  73. bestow
    give as a gift
  74. beverage
    any liquid suitable for drinking
  75. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
  76. biased
    favoring one person or side over another
  77. bond
    a connection that fastens things together
  78. boost
    increase
  79. breakthrough
    the act of making an important discovery
  80. brief
    of short duration or distance
  81. bulk
    the property possessed by a large mass
  82. by-product
    a secondary and sometimes unexpected consequence
  83. bygone
    well in the past; former
  84. canvas
    a heavy, closely woven fabric
  85. capable
    having ability
  86. capacity
    capability to perform or produce
  87. casual
    without or seeming to be without plan or method; offhand
  88. category
    a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations
  89. cater
    give what is desired or needed
  90. cease
    put an end to a state or an activity
  91. challenge
    a call to engage in a contest or fight
  92. channel
    a deep and relatively narrow body of water
  93. charitable
    relating to or characterized by voluntary giving
  94. chemical
    produced by reactions involving atomic or molecular changes
  95. circumstance
    the set of facts that surround a situation or event
  96. cite
    make reference to
  97. civil
    of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
  98. clarify
    make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating
  99. clause
    a separate section of a legal document
  100. closely
    in a close relation or position in time or space
  101. coherent
    marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts
  102. coincide
    happen simultaneously
  103. collapse
    break down, literally or metaphorically
  104. colleague
    an associate that one works with
  105. commence
    set in motion, cause to start
  106. comment
    a statement that expresses a personal opinion
  107. commission
    the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
  108. commit
    engage in or perform
  109. commitment
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
  110. commodity
    any good that can be bought and sold
  111. communicate
    transfer to another
  112. community
    a group of people living in a particular local area
  113. companionship
    the state of being with someone
  114. compatible
    able to exist and perform in harmonious combination
  115. compensate
    make amends for
  116. competitive
    involving rivalry over something
  117. compile
    get or gather together
  118. complement
    something added to embellish or make perfect
  119. complex
    complicated in structure
  120. component
    one of the individual parts making up a larger entity
  121. compound
    a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
  122. comprehensive
    including all or everything
  123. comprise
    be made of
  124. compromise
    an accommodation in which both sides make concessions
  125. compute
    make a mathematical calculation
  126. conceive
    have the idea for
  127. concentrate
    make denser, stronger, or purer
  128. concept
    an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
  129. conclude
    bring to a close
  130. concrete
    capable of being perceived by the senses
  131. concurrent
    occurring or operating at the same time
  132. conduct
    the way a person behaves toward other people
  133. confer
    present
  134. confine
    place limits on
  135. confirm
    strengthen
  136. conflict
    an open clash between two opposing groups
  137. conform
    be similar, be in line with
  138. consent
    give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
  139. consequent
    following or accompanying as a result
  140. consequently
    as a result
  141. considerable
    large in number, amount, extent, or degree
  142. consist
    have its essential character
  143. consistency
    uniformity or stability in arrangement, behavior, or quality
  144. consistently
    in a systematic or steady manner
  145. constant
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
  146. constitute
    form or compose
  147. constrain
    hold back
  148. constraint
    the state of being physically limited
  149. construct
    make by combining materials and parts
  150. consult
    seek information from
  151. consume
    take in as food
  152. consumption
    the act of using something up
  153. contact
    the act of touching physically
  154. context
    the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation
  155. contract
    a binding agreement that is enforceable by law
  156. contradict
    prove negative; show to be false
  157. contrary
    exact opposition
  158. contrast
    the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
  159. contribute
    give, provide, or supply something
  160. controversial
    marked by or capable of causing disagreement
  161. controversy
    a dispute where there is strong disagreement
  162. convene
    meet formally
  163. converse
    carry on a discussion
  164. convert
    change the nature, purpose, or function of something
  165. convey
    transmit or serve as the medium for transmission
  166. convince
    make realize the truth or validity of something
  167. cooperate
    work together on a common enterprise or project
  168. coordinate
    of equal importance, rank, or degree
  169. core
    the center of an object
  170. corporate
    of or belonging to a business firm
  171. correspond
    take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
  172. counterpart
    a person or thing having the same function as another
  173. couple
    two items of the same kind
  174. coverage
    the extent to which something is included or discussed
  175. create
    bring into existence
  176. credible
    capable of being believed
  177. credit
    an estimate of ability to fulfill financial commitments
  178. crisis
    a crucial stage or turning point in the course of something
  179. criterion
    the ideal in terms of which something can be judged
  180. crucial
    of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
  181. culture
    all the knowledge and values shared by a society
  182. currency
    the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used
  183. cycle
    a periodically repeated sequence of events
  184. debate
    a discussion with reasons for and against some proposal
  185. decade
    a period of 10 years
  186. deceptive
    deliberately designed to mislead
  187. decline
    grow worse
  188. decrease
    a change downward
  189. dedicated
    devoted to a cause or ideal or purpose
  190. deduce
    reason from the general to the particular
  191. deem
    judge or regard in a particular way
  192. define
    show the form or outline of
  193. definite
    precise; explicit and clearly defined
  194. deforestation
    the state of being clear of trees
  195. demand
    request urgently and forcefully
  196. demonstrate
    give an exhibition of to an interested audience
  197. denote
    have as a meaning
  198. deny
    declare untrue; contradict
  199. depress
    push down
  200. derive
    come from
  201. design
    the act of working out the form of something
  202. desirable
    worth having or seeking or achieving
  203. desperate
    a person who is frightened and in need of help
  204. despite
    contemptuous disregard
  205. detect
    discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
  206. detrimental
    causing harm or injury
  207. deviate
    turn aside; turn away from
  208. device
    an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
  209. devote
    dedicate
  210. differentiate
    acquire a distinct character
  211. dimension
    a construct distinguishing objects or individuals
  212. diminish
    decrease in size, extent, or range
  213. discrete
    constituting a separate entity or part
  214. discriminate
    marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions
  215. displace
    cause to move, usually with force or pressure
  216. display
    something intended to communicate a particular impression
  217. dispose
    give, sell, or transfer to another
  218. distinct
    constituting a separate entity or part
  219. distinguish
    mark as different
  220. distort
    twist and press out of shape
  221. distribute
    give to several people
  222. disturbing
    causing distress or worry or anxiety
  223. diverse
    distinctly dissimilar or unlike
  224. diversity
    noticeable variety
  225. document
    a representation of a person's thinking with symbolic marks
  226. domain
    a particular environment or walk of life
  227. domestic
    of or relating to the home
  228. dominant
    most frequent or common
  229. dominate
    be in control
  230. doubtful
    fraught with uncertainty
  231. downward
    extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
  232. draft
    a current of air
  233. drama
    a work intended for performance by actors on a stage
  234. dramatic
    characteristic of a stage performance
  235. drawback
    a feature that makes something less convenient or acceptable
  236. duration
    the period of time during which something continues
  237. dynamic
    characterized by action or forcefulness of personality
  238. ease
    freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
  239. economy
    the system of production and distribution and consumption
  240. edit
    prepare for publication or presentation by revising
  241. elegant
    refined and tasteful in appearance, behavior, or style
  242. element
    a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances
  243. eliminate
    end, take out, or do away with
  244. embark
    go on board
  245. emerge
    come out into view, as from concealment
  246. emphasis
    intensity or forcefulness of expression
  247. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
  248. enable
    provide the means to perform some task
  249. encounter
    come together
  250. energy
    forceful exertion
  251. enforce
    compel to behave in a certain way
  252. enhance
    increase
  253. enhancement
    an improvement that makes something more agreeable
  254. enormous
    extraordinarily large in size or extent or degree
  255. enquire
    have a wish or desire to know something
  256. ensure
    make certain of
  257. enthusiasm
    a feeling of excitement
  258. enthusiastic
    having or showing great excitement and interest
  259. entity
    that which is perceived to have its own distinct existence
  260. environment
    the totality of surrounding conditions
  261. equate
    consider or describe as similar or analogous
  262. equip
    provide with, usually for a specific purpose
  263. equivalent
    being essentially comparable to something
  264. erode
    remove soil or rock
  265. error
    a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance
  266. essence
    the choicest or most vital part of some idea or experience
  267. establish
    set up or found
  268. estate
    extensive landed property retained by the owner
  269. estimate
    judge tentatively
  270. ethic
    the principles of right and wrong for an individual or group
  271. ethical
    conforming to accepted standards of social behavior
  272. ethnic
    distinctive of the ways of living of a group of people
  273. evaluate
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
  274. evasion
    the act of physically escaping from something
  275. eventual
    expected to follow in the indefinite future
  276. eventually
    after an unspecified period of time or a long delay
  277. evidence
    knowledge on which to base belief
  278. evident
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  279. evolve
    undergo development
  280. exceed
    be or do something to a greater degree
  281. excessive
    beyond normal limits
  282. exclude
    prevent from entering; shut out
  283. exclusively
    without any others being included or involved
  284. exhibit
    make visible or apparent
  285. existence
    the state or fact of being
  286. expand
    extend in one or more directions
  287. experimental
    of the nature of or undergoing a trial
  288. expert
    a person with special knowledge who performs skillfully
  289. expertise
    skillfulness by virtue of possessing special knowledge
  290. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
  291. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
  292. export
    sell or transfer abroad
  293. expose
    make visible or apparent
  294. exposed
    with no protection or shield
  295. external
    happening or arising outside some limits or surface
  296. extract
    remove, usually with some force or effort
  297. extremely
    to the greatest possible degree
  298. facilitate
    make easier
  299. factor
    anything that contributes causally to a result
  300. fast-paced
    of communication that proceeds rapidly
  301. favorable
    encouraging or approving or pleasing
  302. favourable
    encouraging or approving or pleasing
  303. feasible
    capable of being done with means at hand
  304. feature
    a prominent attribute or aspect of something
  305. federal
    of a government with central and regional authorities
  306. figure
    alternate name for the body of a human being
  307. file
    record in a public office or in a court of law
  308. final
    an exam administered at the end of an academic term
  309. finance
    the commercial activity of providing funds and capital
  310. finite
    bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
  311. firmly
    with force
  312. flexible
    able to bend easily
  313. fluctuate
    move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern
  314. fluctuating
    having unpredictable ups and downs
  315. focus
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
  316. format
    the general appearance of a publication
  317. formula
    a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement
  318. forthcoming
    easygoing and open when speaking or sharing information
  319. foundation
    the basis on which something is grounded
  320. fractal
    a geometric pattern that is repeated at every scale
  321. framework
    the underlying structure
  322. fraught
    filled with or attended with
  323. frequent
    coming at short intervals or habitually
  324. frequently
    many times at short intervals
  325. frustration
    an act of hindering someone's plans or efforts
  326. function
    what something is used for
  327. fund
    a reserve of money set aside for some purpose
  328. fundamental
    serving as an essential component
  329. furthermore
    in addition
  330. gender
    properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of sex
  331. generate
    bring into existence
  332. generation
    group of genetically related organisms in a line of descent
  333. globe
    an object with a spherical shape
  334. grade
    a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
  335. gradual
    proceeding in small stages
  336. grant
    let have
  337. grasp
    hold firmly
  338. guarantee
    an unconditional commitment that something will happen
  339. guideline
    a rule that provides direction for appropriate behavior
  340. harness
    an arrangement of leather straps fitted to a draft animal
  341. hence
    from that fact or reason or as a result
  342. heroic
    having qualities appropriate for brave figures
  343. hierarchy
    a series of ordered groupings within a system
  344. highlight
    an area of brightness in a picture
  345. historical
    of or relating to the study of recorded time
  346. household
    a social unit living together in a residence
  347. hypothesis
    a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
  348. identical
    being the exact same one
  349. identify
    recognize as being
  350. ideology
    an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group
  351. ignorant
    uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
  352. illiteracy
    an inability to read
  353. illustrate
    depict with a visual representation
  354. image
    a visual representation produced on a surface
  355. immense
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
  356. immigrate
    come into a new country and change residency
  357. impact
    the striking of one body against another
  358. impart
    bestow a quality on
  359. implant
    fix or set securely or deeply
  360. implement
    a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose
  361. implicate
    bring into intimate and incriminating connection
  362. implicit
    suggested though not directly expressed
  363. imply
    express or state indirectly
  364. impose
    charge and collect payment
  365. incentive
    a positive motivational influence
  366. incidence
    the relative frequency of occurrence of something
  367. incline
    lower or bend, as in a nod or bow
  368. income
    the amount of money one makes over a period of time
  369. incorporate
    make into a whole or make part of a whole
  370. increase
    a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous
  371. increasingly
    advancing in amount or intensity
  372. incredibly
    exceedingly; extremely
  373. index
    alphabetical listing of names and topics with page numbers
  374. indicate
    designate a place, direction, person, or thing
  375. individual
    being or characteristic of a single thing or person
  376. individuality
    the quality of being a single thing or person
  377. induce
    cause to act in a specified manner
  378. inequality
    lack of balance or similarity in status
  379. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
  380. inevitably
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
  381. infectious
    relating to the invasion of germs that cause disease
  382. infer
    conclude by reasoning
  383. infrastructure
    the basic features of a system or organization
  384. inhabit
    live in; be a resident of
  385. inherent
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
  386. inhibit
    limit the range or extent of
  387. initial
    occurring at the beginning
  388. initially
    at the beginning
  389. initiate
    set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for
  390. injure
    cause bodily harm to
  391. innovate
    bring something new to an environment
  392. insert
    introduce
  393. insight
    clear or deep perception of a situation
  394. inspect
    look over carefully
  395. instance
    an item of information that is typical of a class or group
  396. institute
    set up or lay the groundwork for
  397. institution
    a custom that has been an important feature of some group
  398. instruct
    impart skills or knowledge to
  399. insuperable
    incapable of being surpassed or excelled
  400. integral
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
  401. integrate
    make into a whole or make part of a whole
  402. integrity
    an undivided or unbroken completeness with nothing wanting
  403. intellectual
    of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
  404. intelligent
    having the capacity for thought and reason to a high degree
  405. intense
    possessing a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
  406. interact
    do something together or with others
  407. intermediate
    lying between two extremes in time, space, or state
  408. internal
    located inward
  409. interpret
    make sense of; assign a meaning to
  410. interval
    the distance between things
  411. intervene
    be placed or located between other things
  412. intervention
    the act of putting something between two things
  413. intrinsic
    belonging to a thing by its very nature
  414. invest
    lay out money or resources in an enterprise
  415. investigate
    conduct an inquiry of
  416. invoke
    request earnestly; ask for aid or protection
  417. involve
    contain as a part
  418. irresistible
    impossible to withstand; overpowering
  419. irrespective
    in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks
  420. isolate
    place or set apart
  421. issue
    some situation or event that is thought about
Created on Tue Mar 21 11:42:52 EDT 2017

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