Vocabulary in use

Practise 60 words and phrases with English definitions, examples and usage advice. These are general language tools, not an official IELTS word list or a band prediction.

Choose a topic, recall a meaning, then check how the word works in a sentence. A fancy word still needs to do an honest day's work.

Practise all 60 terms → · Practise precise word choice →

Practise the separate IELTS skill glossary →

Education and learning

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• tuition (noun)
  /tjuːˈɪʃn/
• curriculum (noun)
  /kəˈrɪkjələm/
• assessment (noun)
  /əˈsesmənt/
• feedback (noun)
  /ˈfiːdbæk/
• attendance (noun)
  /əˈtendəns/
• participation (noun)
  /pɑːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn/
• independent (adjective)
  /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/
• qualification (noun)
  /ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
• retain (verb)
  /rɪˈteɪn/
• revise (verb)
  /rɪˈvaɪz/

Work and employment

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• recruit (verb)
  /rɪˈkruːt/
• vacancy (noun)
  /ˈveɪkənsi/
• workload (noun)
  /ˈwɜːkləʊd/
• flexible (adjective)
  /ˈfleksɪbl/
• productivity (noun)
  /ˌprɒdəkˈtɪvɪti/
• deadline (noun)
  /ˈdedlaɪn/
• promotion (noun)
  /prəˈməʊʃn/
• redundant (adjective)
  /rɪˈdʌndənt/
• incentive (noun)
  /ɪnˈsentɪv/
• commute (verb or noun)
  /kəˈmjuːt/

Environment and resources

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• emission (noun)
  /ɪˈmɪʃn/
• renewable (adjective)
  /rɪˈnjuːəbl/
• conserve (verb)
  /kənˈsɜːv/
• biodiversity (noun)
  /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsɪti/
• habitat (noun)
  /ˈhæbɪtæt/
• landfill (noun)
  /ˈlændfɪl/
• reusable (adjective)
  /riːˈjuːzəbl/
• recyclable (adjective)
  /ˌriːˈsaɪkləbl/
• consumption (noun)
  /kənˈsʌmpʃn/
• deplete (verb)
  /dɪˈpliːt/

Health and wellbeing

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• prevent (verb)
  /prɪˈvent/
• treatment (noun)
  /ˈtriːtmənt/
• symptom (noun)
  /ˈsɪmptəm/
• diagnosis (noun)
  /ˌdaɪəɡˈnəʊsɪs/
• nutrition (noun)
  /njuːˈtrɪʃn/
• sedentary (adjective)
  /ˈsedəntəri/
• wellbeing (noun)
  /ˌwelˈbiːɪŋ/
• access (noun or verb)
  /ˈækses/
• affordable (adjective)
  /əˈfɔːdəbl/
• recovery (noun)
  /rɪˈkʌvəri/

Technology and communication

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• reliable (adjective)
  /rɪˈlaɪəbl/
• accessible (adjective)
  /ækˈsesəbl/
• privacy (noun)
  /ˈprɪvəsi/
• consent (noun or verb)
  /kənˈsent/
• automate (verb)
  /ˈɔːtəmeɪt/
• innovation (noun)
  /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/
• digital literacy (noun phrase)
  /ˈdɪdʒɪtl ˈlɪtərəsi/
• misleading (adjective)
  /mɪˈsliːdɪŋ/
• verify (verb)
  /ˈverɪfaɪ/
• distribute (verb)
  /ˈdɪstrɪbjuːt/

Cities, housing and transport

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• infrastructure (noun)
  /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə/
• congestion (noun)
  /kənˈdʒestʃn/
• pedestrian (noun or adjective)
  /pəˈdestrɪən/
• accommodation (noun)
  /əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃn/
• amenity (noun)
  /əˈmenɪti/
• tenant (noun)
  /ˈtenənt/
• landlord (noun)
  /ˈlændlɔːd/
• density (noun)
  /ˈdensɪti/
• regeneration (noun)
  /riːˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/
• route (noun)
  /ruːt/