Vocabulary for IELTS – English vocabulary

Learning path · 20 study sets · 1142 words · English vocabulary · Created by Openquiz Team

Vocabulary lists for all units. English vocabulary learning path: 20 study sets, 1142 words. Flashcards, quizzes and AI speaking practice on OpenQuiz.

Study sets in this learning path

Family and relationships (58 words)
- active role /'æk.tɪv/ /ɹəʊl/ — an active role
- adopt /ə'dɒpt/ — take a child as your own
- bond /bɒnd/ — a connection
- brotherhood /'brʌðəhʊd/ — a feeling of close friendship and loyalty between people
- cause /kɔ:z/ — to make something happen
- close /kləʊs/ — having a strong, loving relationship
- close-knit /,kləʊs'nɪt/ — very close
- compromise /'kɒmprəmaɪz/ — an agreement where both sides give up a little
- conflict /'kɒnflɪkt/ — a fight or disagreement
- connection /kə'nɛkʃən/ — a link
Personal growth and change (58 words)
- ability /ə'bɪləti/ — skill to do something
- absorb /əb'zɔ:b/ — take in or pull in
- abstract /'æbstrækt/ — thinking about ideas, not things
- accomplished /ə'kʌmplɪʃt/ — highly skilled through training or practice
- achievable /ə'tʃi:vəbl/ — able to be done
- achieve (a goal) /ə'tʃi:v/ — to reach a goal
- acquire /ə'kwaɪə/ — to get something
- adapt /ə'dæpt/ — change to survive
- address /ə'drɛs/ — deal with a problem
- adequate /'ædɪkwət/ — enough and suitable
Health and wellbeing (57 words)
- (eating) disorder /dɪs'ɔ:rdər/ — unhealthy eating behavior
- active /'æktɪv/ — full of energy
- acute /ə'kju:t/ — very strong and sudden
- allergic /ə'lɜ:dʒɪk/ — having an allergy to something
- allergy /'ælərdʒi/ — a bad body reaction
- anxiety /æŋ'zaɪəti/ — feeling worried
- artery /'ɑ:təri/ — a blood vessel
- avoid /ə'vɔɪd/ — stay away from
- benefit /'bɛnɪfɪt/ — a good result
- bored /bɔ:d/ — feeling uninterested because nothing is interesting
Time and lifestyle (57 words)
- activity /æk'tɪvɪti/ — something you do
- alternate /'ɔ:ltərnət/ — happening one after the other in turns
- brisk /brɪsk/ — quick and active
- conclude /kən'klu:d/ — to bring to an end
- current /'kʌrənt/ — happening or existing now
- cycle /'saɪkəl/ — events that repeat in a circle
- daily routine /'deɪli ru:'ti:n/ — things you do every day
- hobby /'hɒbi/ — something you like doing
- imminent /'ɪmɪnənt/ — about to happen
- in time — at the right time
Education and learning (57 words)
- academic /,ækə'demɪk/ — related to study or education
- analyse /'ænəlaɪz/ — to study something carefully
- assignment /ə'saɪnmənt/ — a task or homework
- college /'kɒlɪdʒ/ — college or university
- concentrate /'kɒnsntreɪt/ — focus
- curriculum /kə'rɪkjələm/ — the subjects taught in a course
- dissertation /,dɪsə'teɪʃən/ — a long research paper
- education /,edʒu'keɪʃən/ — learning and teaching
- exam /ɪɡ'zæm/ — a test
- experience /ɪk'spɪəriəns/ — things you learn by doing
Communication and language (57 words)
- clarify /'klærɪfaɪ/ — to make something clear
- communicate /kə'mju:nɪkeɪt/ — to share ideas or information
- communication /kə,mju:nɪ'keɪʃən/ — sharing information or ideas with others
- comprehend /,kɒmprɪ'hend/ — to know the meaning of something
- confirm /kən'fɜ:m/ — to say something is true
- converse /'kɒnvɜ:s/ — to talk with someone
- current affairs /,kʌrənt ə'feəz/ — recent news about politics and events
- define /dɪ'faɪn/ — to say what something means
- demonstrate /'demənstreɪt/ — to show or give an example
- depict /dɪ'pɪkt/ — to describe something
Travel and places (57 words)
- coastal /'kəʊstl/ — related to the sea
- countryside /'kʌntrisaɪd/ — land outside towns and cities, with fields and villages
- destination /,dɛstɪ'neɪʃən/ — a place people go to
- eco-tourism /'i:kəʊ,tʊərɪzəm/ — travel that protects nature
- escape /ɪ'skeɪp/ — to get away
- exotic /ɪɡ'zɒtɪk/ — from another country
- exploration /,eksplə'reɪʃən/ — the act of finding something new
- explore /ɪk'splɔ:r/ — travel through a place to learn about it
- explorer /ɪk'splɔ:rə/ — a person who travels to discover new places
- expose /ɪk'spəʊz/ — show something hidden
History and archaeology (57 words)
- age /eɪdʒ/ — a period of life or history
- ancient /'eɪnʃənt/ — from very old times
- archaeologist /,ɑ:ki'ɒlədʒɪst/ — a person who studies old human history
- artefact /'ɑ:tɪfækt/ — an old object made by people
- century /'senʧəri/ — one hundred years
- chronological /,krɒnə'lɒʤɪkəl/ — in time order
- chronologically /,krɒnə'lɒdʒɪkəli/ — in time order
- colonise /'kɒlənaɪz/ — take control and settle
- consecutive /kən'sɛkjʊtɪv/ — one after another
- decade /'dekʌd/ — ten years
Nature and wildlife (57 words)
- agriculture /'æɡrɪkʌltʃər/ — farming and growing food
- animal kingdom — all animals
- biodiversity /,baɪəʊdaɪ'vɜ:sɪti/ — many different plants and animals
- breathtaking /'breθ,teɪkɪŋ/ — very beautiful and amazing
- burrow /'bʌrəʊ/ — a hole animals dig to live in
- cultivate /'kʌltɪveɪt/ — to grow plants or raise animals
- den /den/ — a cave or animal home
- domesticated /də'mestɪkeɪtɪd/ — trained to live with people
- ecological balance — a natural balance in nature
- ecosystem /'i:kəʊ,sɪstəm/ — living things and their area
Space and astronomy (57 words)
- asteroid /'æstərɔɪd/ — a small rock in space
- astronaut /'æstrənɔ:t/ — a person who travels in space
- atmosphere /'ætməsfɪə/ — the air around a planet
- carbon dioxide /,kɑ:bən daɪ'ɒksaɪd/ — carbon dioxide gas
- cosmic /'kɒzmɪk/ — related to space
- cosmos /'kɒzmɒs/ — all space and everything in it
- crater /'kreɪtə/ — a bowl-shaped hole from an impact
- debris /'debri:/ — broken pieces
- Earth /ɜ:θ/ — the planet we live on
- galaxy /'ɡæləksi/ — a large group of stars
Homes and buildings (57 words)
- accommodate /ə'kɒmədeɪt/ — provide a place to live
- accommodation /ə,kɒmə'deɪʃən/ — a place to live
- airy /'eəri/ — open and full of fresh air
- balcony /'bælkəni/ — a small outdoor platform on a building
- brick /brɪk/ — a hard block used to build walls
- build /bɪld/ — make something by putting parts together
- building /'bɪldɪŋ/ — a structure with walls and a roof
- ceiling /'si:lɪŋ/ — the top inside surface of a room
- concrete /'kɒŋkri:t/ — a hard material used for building
- condemn /kən'dem/ — officially say a building must be torn down
Technology and devices (57 words)
- access /'æksɛs/ — to get into or use
- activate /'æktɪveɪt/ — make start working
- artificial /,ɑ:tɪ'fɪʃəl/ — made by people, not natural
- automate /'ɔ:təmeɪt/ — make work by itself
- automatic pilot /,ɔ:tə'mætɪk 'paɪlət/ — a system that flies the plane without a pilot controlling it
- automatically /,ɔ:tə'mætɪkli/ — by itself
- break down /breɪk daʊn/ — stop working or fail
- compact /'kɒmpækt/ — small and easy to carry
- computerisation /kəm,pju:təraɪ'zeɪʃən/ — using computers
- computerised /'kəm'pju:təraɪzd/ — done by computers
Culture and society (57 words)
- abide (by) /ə'baɪd/ — to obey or accept something
- abolish /ə'bɒlɪʃ/ — to officially end something
- actions /'ækʃənz/ — something you do
- actor /'æktər/ — a person who performs in films, plays or TV
- actress /'æktrəs/ — a female actor
- advertising /'ædvətaɪzɪŋ/ — telling people about a product
- aesthetic /i:s'θetɪk/ — relating to beauty or appearance
- aesthetics /i:s'θetɪks/ — the study of beauty
- all walks of life /ɔ:l wɔ:ks əv laɪf/ — all social groups
- appeal /ə'pi:l/ — to be interesting and pleasing to someone
Cities and population (57 words)
- crowded /'kraʊdɪd/ — full of people
- demographic /,demə'ɡræfɪk/ — related to people groups
- demographics /,deməʊ'ɡræfɪks/ — facts about a group of people
- diverse /daɪ'vɜ:s/ — many different kinds
- diversity /daɪ'vɜ:sɪti/ — having many different types
- eclectic /ɪ'klektɪk/ — choosing from many different sources or styles
- ethnic /'eθnɪk/ — relating to a particular cultural or national group
- exposure /ɪk'spoʊʒər/ — contact with something harmful or unfamiliar
- expression /ɪk'spreʃən/ — the way feelings or ideas are shown
- fame /feɪm/ — the state of being well known by many people
Environment and climate (57 words)
- acclimatise /ə'klaɪmətaɪz/ — to get used to a new climate or situation
- acid rain /'æsɪd reɪn/ — rain with harmful chemicals
- alternative /ɔ:l'tɜ:nətɪv/ — different and available instead of something else
- arid /'ærɪd/ — very dry and empty
- biofuel /'baɪəʊfjuəl/ — fuel made from plants or waste
- carbon /'kɑ:bən/ — a common element in nature
- catastrophic /,kætə'strɒfɪk/ — causing great damage
- climate /'klaɪmət/ — the usual weather of a place
- climate change /'klaɪmət tʃeɪndʒ/ — long-term changes in weather
- conserve /kən'sɜ:v/ — protect and save
Business and work (57 words)
- apply /ə'plaɪ/ — to ask formally for a job or place
- booming /'bu:mɪŋ/ — growing fast and doing well
- brand /brænd/ — a name or image of a product
- campaign /kæm'peɪn/ — a planned set of actions
- candidate /'kændɪdət/ — a person who applies for a job
- career /kə'rɪə/ — a person’s working life
- clerk /klɑ:k/ — a person who works in an office
- client /'klaɪənt/ — a person who pays for services from a professional or business
- colleague /'kɒli:ɡ/ — a person you work with
- commercial /kə'mɜ:ʃəl/ — related to buying and selling
Money and economy (57 words)
- asset /'æsɛt/ — something valuable
- budget /'bʌdʒɪt/ — cheap and saves money
- consumer /kən'sju:mə/ — a person who buys and uses things
- cost of living /kɒst əv 'lɪvɪŋ/ — the cost of daily needs
- customer /'kʌstəmə/ — a person who buys from a business
- dominate /'dɒmɪneɪt/ — to control or rule over
- economic /,i:kə'nɒmɪk/ — about money and jobs
- economical /,i:kə'nɒmɪkəl/ — costing less money; not wasting money
- endorse /ɪn'dɔ:s/ — to publicly support or approve
- enrich /ɪn'rɪtʃ/ — to make something better or richer
Sports and competition (57 words)
- combat /'kɒmbæt/ — to fight against
- compete /kəm'pi:t/ — try to win against others
- competition /,kɒmpə'tɪʃən/ — trying to win against others
- counter /'kaʊntə/ — to respond to or argue against
- entertaining /,entə'teɪnɪŋ/ — fun to watch or do
- jury /'dʒʊəri/ — a group of people who decide guilt
- musician /mju'zɪʃən/ — a person who makes or plays music
- obey /ə'beɪ/ — to do what you are told
- offence /ə'fens/ — doing a crime
- one-sided /wʌn'saɪdɪd/ — showing only one side; not balanced
Food and nutrition (57 words)
- appetite /'æpɪtaɪt/ — want to eat
- balance /'bæləns/ — a good mix of things
- compound /'kɒmpaʊnd/ — to mix things together
- consume /kən'sju:m/ — use up
- cravings /'kreɪvɪŋz/ — a strong want
- crop(s) /krɒp/ — plants grown for food
- diet /'daɪət/ — the food you eat every day
- dietician /,daɪə'tɪʃən/ — an expert who gives food advice
- enjoy /ɪn'dʒɔɪ/ — to like doing something and get pleasure from it
- fast food /fæst fu:d/ — fast, unhealthy food
Memory and decision-making (57 words)
- accept the consequences /ək'sɛpt ðə 'kɒnsɪkwənsɪz/ — to accept the result
- accuracy /'ækjərəsi/ — being correct
- bear in mind /beə ɪn maɪnd/ — keep in your memory
- choose /tʃu:z/ — to pick one option from several
- cognitive /'kɒɡnɪtɪv/ — related to thinking and understanding
- conceivable /kən'si:vəbl/ — able to be imagined
- concept /'kɒnsept/ — an idea
- confused /kən'fju:zd/ — not knowing what to do or think
- conjecture /kən'dʒektʃər/ — guess
- consequence /'kɒnsɪkwəns/ — a result of an action

About the IELTS test

IELTS has four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The whole test takes 2 hours 45 minutes.
Results are reported on a band scale from 0 to 9, in whole and half bands.
No official vocabulary list is published on ielts.org. This path groups words by topics that come up in the test.

Source: ielts.org

Frequently asked questions

What is in the Vocabulary for IELTS learning path?: 20 study sets with 1142 words in total. Open a set to see its words with their meanings.
Is there an official IELTS vocabulary list?: No vocabulary list is published on ielts.org. The words in the test range over familiar topics, so studying by topic is a sensible approach.

Vocabulary for IELTS – English vocabulary

Study sets in this learning path

About the IELTS test

Frequently asked questions

Related learning paths

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