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Academic Vocabulary

The whole list was collected from Norbert & Diane Schmitt book; Focus on Vocabulary: mastering the academic word list, published in 2005, NY by Pearson Education.
498 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. abandon
    forsake; leave behind
  2. abstract
    existing only in the mind
  3. access
    the right to enter
  4. accommodate
    have room for; hold without crowding
  5. accompany
    go or travel along with
  6. accumulate
    get or gather together
  7. accuracy
    the quality of being near to the true value
  8. accurate
    characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth
  9. achieve
    gain with effort
  10. acknowledge
    declare to be true or admit the existence or reality of
  11. acquire
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
  12. adapt
    make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
  13. adequate
    having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
  14. adjacent
    having a common boundary or edge
  15. adjustment
    the act of making something different
  16. administrative
    responsible for managing the affairs of a group of people
  17. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
  18. affect
    have an influence upon
  19. aggregate
    a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
  20. aid
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  21. albite
    a widely distributed feldspar that forms rocks
  22. allocate
    distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose
  23. alter
    cause to change; make different
  24. alternative
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
  25. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  26. amend
    make revisions to
  27. analogy
    drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
  28. analytic
    using or skilled in using analysis
  29. annual
    occurring every year
  30. anticipate
    regard something as probable or likely
  31. apparent
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  32. appendix
    a small sac attached to the large intestines of some animals
  33. appreciate
    be fully aware of; realize fully
  34. approach
    move towards
  35. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
  36. approximately
    imprecise but fairly close to correct
  37. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  38. aspect
    a characteristic to be considered
  39. assemble
    create by putting components or members together
  40. assess
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
  41. assign
    select something or someone for a specific purpose
  42. assistance
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
  43. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
  44. assure
    inform positively and with certainty and confidence
  45. attachment
    the act of affixing something
  46. attain
    gain with effort
  47. attitude
    a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings
  48. attribute
    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
  49. author
    a person who writes professionally
  50. authority
    the power or right to give orders or make decisions
  51. automatic
    operating with minimal human intervention
  52. available
    obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service
  53. aware
    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
  54. behalf
    as the agent of or on someone's part
  55. benefit
    something that aids or promotes well-being
  56. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
  57. bond
    a connection that fastens things together
  58. brief
    of short duration or distance
  59. bulk
    the property possessed by a large mass
  60. capable
    having ability
  61. capacity
    capability to perform or produce
  62. category
    a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations
  63. cease
    put an end to a state or an activity
  64. challenge
    a call to engage in a contest or fight
  65. channel
    a deep and relatively narrow body of water
  66. chart
    a visual display of data or information
  67. chemical
    produced by reactions involving atomic or molecular changes
  68. circumstance
    the set of facts that surround a situation or event
  69. cite
    make reference to
  70. civil
    of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
  71. clarify
    make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating
  72. classical
    of the most highly developed stage of an early civilization
  73. clause
    a separate section of a legal document
  74. code
    a set of rules or principles or laws
  75. coherent
    marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts
  76. coincide
    happen simultaneously
  77. collapse
    break down, literally or metaphorically
  78. colleague
    an associate that one works with
  79. commence
    set in motion, cause to start
  80. commentary
    a written explanation or criticism or illustration
  81. committed
    bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a cause or action
  82. commodity
    any good that can be bought and sold
  83. compatible
    able to exist and perform in harmonious combination
  84. compensate
    make amends for
  85. compile
    get or gather together
  86. complement
    something added to embellish or make perfect
  87. complex
    complicated in structure
  88. component
    one of the individual parts making up a larger entity
  89. compound
    a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
  90. comprehensive
    including all or everything
  91. comprise
    be made of
  92. compute
    make a mathematical calculation
  93. conceive
    have the idea for
  94. concentration
    the spatial property of being crowded together
  95. concept
    an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
  96. conclusion
    a position or opinion reached after consideration
  97. concurrent
    occurring or operating at the same time
  98. conduct
    the way a person behaves toward other people
  99. confer
    present
  100. confine
    place limits on
  101. confirm
    strengthen
  102. conflict
    an open clash between two opposing groups
  103. conform
    be similar, be in line with
  104. consent
    give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
  105. consequence
    a phenomenon that is caused by some previous phenomenon
  106. considerable
    large in number, amount, extent, or degree
  107. consist
    have its essential character
  108. consistent
    the same throughout in structure or composition
  109. constantly
    without variation or change, in every case
  110. constitute
    form or compose
  111. constraint
    the state of being physically limited
  112. construct
    make by combining materials and parts
  113. consultation
    the act of referring to something to find information
  114. consume
    take in as food
  115. contact
    the act of touching physically
  116. contemporary
    occurring in the same period of time
  117. context
    the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation
  118. contracted
    reduced in size or pulled together
  119. contradictory
    not able to be true at the same time
  120. contrary
    exact opposition
  121. contrast
    the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
  122. contribute
    give, provide, or supply something
  123. controversial
    marked by or capable of causing disagreement
  124. conventional
    following accepted customs and proprieties
  125. conversely
    with the terms of the relation reversed
  126. convert
    change the nature, purpose, or function of something
  127. convinced
    having a strong belief or conviction
  128. cooperate
    work together on a common enterprise or project
  129. coordinate
    of equal importance, rank, or degree
  130. core
    the center of an object
  131. corporate
    of or belonging to a business firm
  132. correspond
    take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
  133. credit
    an estimate of ability to fulfill financial commitments
  134. crucial
    of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
  135. cycle
    a periodically repeated sequence of events
  136. debate
    a discussion with reasons for and against some proposal
  137. decade
    a period of 10 years
  138. decline
    grow worse
  139. deduce
    reason from the general to the particular
  140. definite
    precise; explicit and clearly defined
  141. demonstrate
    give an exhibition of to an interested audience
  142. denote
    have as a meaning
  143. deny
    declare untrue; contradict
  144. depress
    push down
  145. derive
    come from
  146. design
    the act of working out the form of something
  147. despite
    contemptuous disregard
  148. detect
    discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
  149. deviation
    a variation from the standard or norm
  150. device
    an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
  151. devote
    dedicate
  152. differentiate
    acquire a distinct character
  153. dimension
    a construct distinguishing objects or individuals
  154. diminish
    decrease in size, extent, or range
  155. discrete
    constituting a separate entity or part
  156. discriminating
    showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment
  157. displace
    cause to move, usually with force or pressure
  158. display
    something intended to communicate a particular impression
  159. dispose
    give, sell, or transfer to another
  160. distinction
    a discrimination between things as different
  161. distorted
    so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
  162. distribute
    give to several people
  163. diverse
    distinctly dissimilar or unlike
  164. document
    a representation of a person's thinking with symbolic marks
  165. domain
    a particular environment or walk of life
  166. domestic
    of or relating to the home
  167. dominance
    the power or right to give orders or make decisions
  168. draft
    a current of air
  169. drama
    a work intended for performance by actors on a stage
  170. duration
    the period of time during which something continues
  171. dynamics
    mechanics concerned with forces that cause motions of bodies
  172. element
    a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances
  173. eliminate
    end, take out, or do away with
  174. emerge
    come out into view, as from concealment
  175. emphasis
    intensity or forcefulness of expression
  176. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
  177. enable
    provide the means to perform some task
  178. encounter
    come together
  179. enforcement
    ensuring observance of or obedience to
  180. enhanced
    increased or intensified in value or beauty or quality
  181. enormous
    extraordinarily large in size or extent or degree
  182. ensure
    make certain of
  183. environment
    the totality of surrounding conditions
  184. equate
    consider or describe as similar or analogous
  185. equipment
    an instrumentality needed for an undertaking
  186. equivalent
    being essentially comparable to something
  187. erode
    remove soil or rock
  188. establish
    set up or found
  189. estimate
    judge tentatively
  190. ethics
    motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
  191. ethnicity
    an affiliation resulting from racial or cultural ties
  192. evaluation
    the act of ascertaining or judging the quality of
  193. eventually
    after an unspecified period of time or a long delay
  194. evidence
    knowledge on which to base belief
  195. evolve
    undergo development
  196. exceed
    be or do something to a greater degree
  197. exclusion
    a deliberate act of omission
  198. exhibition
    the act of displaying or demonstrating
  199. expansion
    the act of increasing in size or volume or quantity or scope
  200. expert
    a person with special knowledge who performs skillfully
  201. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
  202. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
  203. export
    sell or transfer abroad
  204. expose
    make visible or apparent
  205. external
    happening or arising outside some limits or surface
  206. extract
    remove, usually with some force or effort
  207. facilitate
    make easier
  208. factor
    anything that contributes causally to a result
  209. feature
    a prominent attribute or aspect of something
  210. federal
    of a government with central and regional authorities
  211. file
    record in a public office or in a court of law
  212. financial
    involving fiscal matters
  213. finite
    bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent
  214. flexibility
    the property of being easily bent or shaped
  215. fluctuate
    move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern
  216. focus
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
  217. format
    the general appearance of a publication
  218. formula
    a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement
  219. forthcoming
    easygoing and open when speaking or sharing information
  220. foundation
    the basis on which something is grounded
  221. framework
    the underlying structure
  222. function
    what something is used for
  223. fundamental
    serving as an essential component
  224. funding
    financial resources provided to make some project possible
  225. furthermore
    in addition
  226. gender
    properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of sex
  227. generation
    group of genetically related organisms in a line of descent
  228. global
    involving the entire earth
  229. grade
    a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
  230. grant
    let have
  231. guarantee
    an unconditional commitment that something will happen
  232. guideline
    a rule that provides direction for appropriate behavior
  233. hence
    from that fact or reason or as a result
  234. hierarchy
    a series of ordered groupings within a system
  235. highlight
    an area of brightness in a picture
  236. hypothesis
    a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
  237. identical
    being the exact same one
  238. ideological
    relating to the characteristic thinking of a group
  239. ignorance
    the lack of knowledge or education
  240. illustration
    a visual representation to make a subject easy to understand
  241. image
    a visual representation produced on a surface
  242. immigrate
    come into a new country and change residency
  243. impact
    the striking of one body against another
  244. implement
    a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose
  245. implication
    something that is inferred
  246. implicit
    suggested though not directly expressed
  247. imply
    express or state indirectly
  248. imposing
    befitting an important, distinguished, or powerful person
  249. incentive
    a positive motivational influence
  250. incidence
    the relative frequency of occurrence of something
  251. inclination
    the act of bending forward
  252. incorporate
    make into a whole or make part of a whole
  253. index
    alphabetical listing of names and topics with page numbers
  254. indication
    the act of pointing out by name
  255. induce
    cause to act in a specified manner
  256. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
  257. infer
    conclude by reasoning
  258. infrastructure
    the basic features of a system or organization
  259. inhabited
    having inhabitants; lived in
  260. inherent
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
  261. initially
    at the beginning
  262. initiate
    set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for
  263. injured
    harmed
  264. innovation
    the act of starting something for the first time
  265. input
    signal going into an electronic system
  266. insert
    introduce
  267. insight
    clear or deep perception of a situation
  268. inspect
    look over carefully
  269. instance
    an item of information that is typical of a class or group
  270. institute
    set up or lay the groundwork for
  271. integral
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
  272. integration
    the act of combining into a whole
  273. integrity
    an undivided or unbroken completeness with nothing wanting
  274. intelligence
    the ability to comprehend
  275. intensity
    high level or degree
  276. interact
    do something together or with others
  277. internal
    located inward
  278. interpret
    make sense of; assign a meaning to
  279. interval
    the distance between things
  280. intervene
    be placed or located between other things
  281. intrinsic
    belonging to a thing by its very nature
  282. investigation
    an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
  283. investment
    laying out money or capital in an enterprise
  284. invoke
    request earnestly; ask for aid or protection
  285. involve
    contain as a part
  286. irrelevant
    having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
  287. isolation
    the act of setting something apart from others
  288. issue
    some situation or event that is thought about
  289. item
    a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group
  290. journal
    a daily written record of experiences and observations
  291. justify
    show to be right by providing proof
  292. label
    a brief description given for purposes of identification
  293. labor
    any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
  294. layer
    a single thickness of some substance or material
  295. legislation
    the act of making or enacting laws
  296. levy
    impose and collect
  297. liberal
    showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
  298. license
    a legal document giving official permission to do something
  299. likewise
    in a similar manner
  300. locate
    determine the place of by searching or examining
  301. logical
    based on known statements or events or conditions
  302. maintain
    keep in a certain state, position, or activity
  303. manipulate
    influence or control shrewdly or deviously
  304. margin
    the boundary line or area immediately inside the boundary
  305. mature
    having reached full natural growth or development
  306. maximum
    the greatest or most complete or best possible
  307. mechanism
    device consisting of a piece of machinery
  308. mediate
    act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
  309. medicine
    the profession devoted to alleviating diseases and injuries
  310. mental
    involving the mind or an intellectual process
  311. method
    a way of doing something, especially a systematic way
  312. migrate
    move from one country or region to another and settle there
  313. military
    the armed forces of a nation
  314. minimal
    the least possible
  315. minimize
    make small or insignificant
  316. ministry
    the work of a person authorized to conduct religious worship
  317. minority
    being or relating to the smaller in number of two parts
  318. mode
    how something is done or how it happens
  319. modify
    cause to change; make different
  320. monitor
    someone who observes to ensure fairness or prevent mistakes
  321. motivate
    give an incentive for action
  322. mutually
    in a shared manner
  323. negative
    characterized by denial or opposition or resistance
  324. network
    an open fabric woven together at regular intervals
  325. neutral
    having no personal preference
  326. nevertheless
    despite anything to the contrary
  327. nonetheless
    despite anything to the contrary
  328. norm
    a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
  329. notion
    a general inclusive concept
  330. notwithstanding
    despite anything to the contrary
  331. nuclear
    constituting the core or central part
  332. objective
    the goal intended to be attained
  333. obtain
    come into possession of
  334. obviously
    unmistakably
  335. occupational
    relating to an activity or job for which you are trained
  336. occur
    come to pass
  337. oddness
    eccentricity that is not easily explained
  338. offset
    a compensating equivalent
  339. ongoing
    currently happening
  340. option
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
  341. orient
    the eastern hemisphere
  342. outcome
    something that results
  343. output
    production of a certain amount
  344. overall
    involving only main features
  345. overlap
    extend over and cover a part of
  346. paradigm
    a standard or typical example
  347. parallel
    being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
  348. parameter
    a constant in the equation of a curve that can be varied
  349. participant
    someone who is involved in an activity
  350. passive
    lacking in energy or will
  351. perceive
    become aware of through the senses
  352. percent
    a proportion in relation to a whole
  353. period
    an amount of time
  354. persist
    refuse to stop
  355. perspective
    a way of regarding situations or topics
  356. phase
    any distinct time period in a sequence of events
  357. phenomenon
    any state or process known through the senses
  358. philosophy
    the rational investigation of existence and knowledge
  359. physically
    in accord with physical laws
  360. policy
    a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
  361. portion
    something determined in relation to a thing that includes it
  362. pose
    assume a bearing as for artistic purposes
  363. positive
    characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance
  364. potential
    existing in possibility
  365. practitioner
    someone who carries out a learned profession
  366. preceding
    existing or coming before
  367. precise
    sharply exact or accurate or delimited
  368. predict
    make a guess about what will happen in the future
  369. predominate
    be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
  370. preliminary
    preceding or in preparation for something more important
  371. presumably
    by reasonable assumption
  372. previously
    at an earlier time or formerly
  373. primary
    of first rank or importance or value
  374. prime
    of or relating to the first or originating agent
  375. principal
    main or most important
  376. principle
    a basic generalization that is accepted as true
  377. prior
    earlier in time
  378. priority
    status established in order of importance or urgency
  379. proceed
    move ahead; travel onward in time or space
  380. process
    a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
  381. prohibitive
    tending to discourage, especially of prices
  382. promote
    assign to a higher position
  383. proportion
    relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude
  384. prospect
    the possibility of future success
  385. protocol
    forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by officials
  386. psychologist
    a specialist in the science of mental life
  387. publish
    prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
  388. purchase
    acquire by means of a financial transaction
  389. pursue
    follow in an effort to capture
  390. qualitatively
    in a qualitative manner
  391. quote
    repeat a passage from
  392. radical
    far beyond the norm
  393. random
    lacking any definite plan or order or purpose
  394. range
    a variety of different things or activities
  395. ratio
    relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude
  396. rational
    consistent with or based on or using reason
  397. react
    show a response to something
  398. recovery
    return to an original state
  399. refine
    reduce to a pure state
  400. region
    the extended spatial location of something
  401. registration
    the act of registering for something
  402. regulate
    bring into conformity with rules, principles, or usage
  403. reinforce
    strengthen and support
  404. rejection
    the act of turning something down
  405. release
    grant freedom to; free from confinement
  406. reluctance
    a certain degree of unwillingness
  407. rely
    have confidence or faith in
  408. residential
    of or relating to the act of dwelling in a place
  409. resolution
    a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
  410. resource
    aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
  411. response
    the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange
  412. restore
    bring back into original existence, function, or position
  413. restrain
    hold back
  414. restrict
    limit access to
  415. retain
    secure and keep for possible future use or application
  416. reveal
    make visible
  417. revenue
    the entire amount of income before any deductions are made
  418. reverse
    change to the contrary
  419. revise
    make changes to
  420. revolution
    a single complete turn
  421. rigid
    incapable of or resistant to bending
  422. route
    an established line of travel or access
  423. scenario
    a postulated sequence of possible events
  424. scheme
    an elaborate and systematic plan of action
  425. scope
    the state of the environment in which a situation exists
  426. sector
    a particular aspect of life or activity
  427. secure
    free from danger or risk
  428. seek
    try to locate, discover, or establish the existence of
  429. selection
    the act of choosing
  430. sequence
    a following of one thing after another in time
  431. series
    similar things placed in order or one after another
  432. shift
    move very slightly
  433. significance
    the quality of being important
  434. simulate
    reproduce someone's behavior or looks
  435. site
    the piece of land on which something is located
  436. sole
    the underside of the foot
  437. somewhat
    to a small degree or extent
  438. source
    the place where something begins
  439. specify
    be particular about
  440. spherical
    relating to a round, three-dimensional closed surface
  441. stability
    the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast
  442. statistics
    a branch of mathematics concerned with quantitative data
  443. status
    the condition or someone or something at a particular time
  444. strategy
    an elaborate and systematic plan of action
  445. stressful
    extremely irritating to the nerves
  446. structure
    a complex entity made of many parts
  447. style
    how something is done or how it happens
  448. submit
    yield to the control of another
  449. subordinate
    an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
  450. subsequent
    following in time or order
  451. subsidy
    a grant of financial assistance, especially by a government
  452. substitute
    a person or thing that can take the place of another
  453. successive
    following in order without gaps
  454. sufficient
    of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement
  455. summarize
    briefly present the main points of something
  456. supplement
    an additional component that improves capability
  457. survey
    determining opinions by interviewing people
  458. survive
    continue in existence after
  459. suspend
    bar temporarily
  460. sustain
    lengthen or extend in duration or space
  461. symbolize
    express indirectly by an image, form, or model
  462. technical
    of or relating to aptitude in a practical skill
  463. temporarily
    for a limited time only; not permanently
  464. tense
    taut or rigid; stretched tight
  465. terminate
    bring to an end or halt
  466. theme
    the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
  467. theory
    a belief that can guide behavior
  468. thereby
    by that means or because of that
  469. trace
    an indication that something has been present
  470. traditional
    consisting of or derived from a practice of long standing
  471. transfer
    move from one place to another
  472. transform
    change or alter in appearance or nature
  473. transition
    the act of passing from one state or place to the next
  474. transmit
    send from one person or place to another
  475. transport
    move something or somebody around
  476. trend
    a general tendency to change, as of opinion
  477. trigger
    lever that activates the firing mechanism of a gun
  478. ultimate
    furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme
  479. undergo
    pass through
  480. underlying
    in the nature of something though not readily apparent
  481. undertake
    enter upon an activity or enterprise
  482. unified
    formed or joined into a whole
  483. uniformity
    the quality of lacking diversity or variation
  484. unique
    the single one of its kind
  485. utilize
    put into service
  486. validity
    the quality of being legitimate and rigorous
  487. vary
    become different in some particular way
  488. vehicle
    a conveyance that transports people or objects
  489. version
    something a little different from others of the same type
  490. violation
    an act that disregards an agreement or a right
  491. virtually
    in essence or in effect but not in fact
  492. visible
    capable of being seen or open to easy view
  493. vision
    the ability to see
  494. visualized
    seen in the mind as a mental image
  495. volume
    the property of something that is great in magnitude
  496. volunteer
    a person who performs work done by choice
  497. welfare
    something that aids or promotes well-being
  498. widespread
    widely circulated or diffused
Created on Mon Oct 07 19:46:17 EDT 2013 (updated Thu Apr 14 19:24:52 EDT 2016)

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