Good morning, everyone!
Being able to guess the meaning of new words as you read is critical—especially for TOEFL Reading.
In English, words can be either informal or formal.
-
Informal words often come from Germanic roots.
Formal words usually come from Latin or Greek, built from prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
Think of the roots and affixes like LEGO pieces: once you know the meaning of the pieces, you can put them together and decode the meaning of unfamiliar words. This skill not only helps you understand passages more deeply but also boosts your performance on TOEFL vocabulary questions.
Like all good things, it takes time—but only a finite amount of time. Start now, follow along this journey of word-building, and become a true word detective.
Here is the list of A words tested in past TOEFL vocabulary question portions. Several words have appeared multiple times with different answer choices, so be familiar with their various synonyms.
| Word | Meaning / Synonyms |
|---|---|
| abnormally | strangely, peculiarly, uncommonly |
| abrupt | sudden, instantaneous, swift |
| absorption | immersion, incorporation, assimilation, captivation |
| abstract (adj/noun) | conceptual; a summary, synopsis |
| abstract (verb) | to extract, withdraw, isolate |
| absurd | illogical, irrational, implausible |
| abundant | present in large quantities, plentiful |
| abundantly | immensely, profusely, plentifully |
| accept | to consent to receive, believe, acknowledge, tolerate |
| access | to approach or enter |
| accommodate | to fit in, adapt, adjust |
| accordingly | therefore, consequently |
| accumulate | to gradually collect, amass |
| accurate | correct, precise; free from errors, on target |
| accustomed | customary, usual, habitual, routine |
| achieve | to accomplish |
| acknowledge | to accept the existence or truth of, express gratitude for |
| acquire | to come into possession of |
| across | beyond, past, on the other side of |
| activate | to initiate, set in motion |
| actually | as a matter of fact, indeed, really |
| adamant | refusing to change an opinion |
| adapt | to make suitable for a new use, adjust, alter, modify |
| additive | extra, supplement |
| adequate | good enough, sufficient, acceptable |
| (in) addition to | besides, furthermore, moreover |
| adjacent | close to or next to, neighboring, adjoining |
| adjust | to change a little to make better |
| administration | the process or activity of running an organization |
| adopt | legally take a child as one's own; take up, follow, select, choose, pick, accept |
| admit | to acknowledge, make known |
| advantage | a favorable circumstance or feature; a benefit, edge |
| advent | arrival, appearance, emergence, approach, occurrence |
| advocate | to champion, support, stand up for |
| adverse | unfavorable, disadvantageous, unfortunate |
| affect | to change, have an effect |
| affirmative | agreeing with, assenting, unequivocal |
| agency | organization established to provide a specific service, action or intervention |
| aggregation | gathering |
| aggressive | assertive and pushy |
| ailment | illness, disorder |
| allege | to claim that someone has done something illegal |
| allegedly | supposedly, reportedly |
| alleviate | to reduce, diminish, weaken, mitigate |
| allocate | to put aside for a specific purpose |
| alter | to change or adjust |
| alternative | available as another possibility, substitute, option, choice |
| altogether | entirely, completely |
| amateur | enthusiast, devotee, fan; person incompetent at a particular activity |
| ambiguous | unclear and difficult to understand, equivocal, ambivalent |
| ambitious | having large goals |
| ample | plentiful |
| analogous | comparable, similar, matching |
| analyze | examine methodically and in detail |
| anomaly | deviation from the norm |
| annual | occurring yearly |
| antique | ancient |
| anxious | worried, concerned, apprehensive |
| apparatus | equipment, gear, instrument, tool |
| apparent | clearly visible, obvious, evident; seeming true, but not necessarily so |
| appreciate | to recognize, realize, comprehend, be aware of; respect, acknowledge |
| approach | to come closer to something; a method |
| arbitrary | based on a whim, random, unpredictable |
| archaic | obsolete, out of date, old-fashioned |
| archetypal | representative, most typical, conventional |
| area | a range, field |
| arid | dry, parched, scorched |
| arousing | stimulating, stirring, awakening, appealing |
| ascend | to arise, mount, soar, climb |
| aspect | a feature, characteristic |
| assert | to insist, declare, maintain, argue |
| assess | to evaluate, estimate |
| assessment | evaluation, gauging, estimation, appraisal |
| assimilation | adaptation, familiarization, acclimation |
| assist | to help |
| assume | to believe without proof |
| astute | clever, sharp, ingenious, canny |
| attitude | manner or feeling |
| attribute (verb) | to ascribe, assign, credit; to give a person credit for something |
| attribute (noun) | a quality or feature |
| attain | to succeed in achieving something desired |
| attainment | accomplishment, achievement, realization |
| augment | to increase or make larger |
| authentic | genuine, original, real, bona fide, true |
| autonomous | not subject to the rule or control of another, free, independent |
| authority | the power or right to give orders |
| available | obtainable, accessible |
| avid | eager |
| aware | having knowledge or perception of a situation, well-informed |