Exam prep
IELTS vocabulary words
On IELTS, a quarter of your Writing and Speaking score comes from Lexical Resource — your range, accuracy, and ability to use less common vocabulary naturally. Memorizing rare words is not enough; using them precisely and in the right collocations is what counts. Learn these useful words with examples, and practice them in context.
Read the full IELTS vocabulary guide39 IELTS words to know
- advocate /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪt/ noun · A person who argues in favor of something
- alleviate /əˈlivɪˌeɪt/ verb · To relieve, make more bearable
- ambiguous /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ adjective · Open to more than one interpretation
- arbitrary /ˈɑːr.bə.trer.i/ adjective · Based on factors that appear random
- coherent /kəʊˈhɪr.ənt/ adjective · Logically consistent, intelligible
- comprehensive /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhɛn.sɪv/ adjective · Covering or including everything
- controversy /ˈkɑːn.trə.vɝː.si/ noun · a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people
- deteriorate /dɪˈtɪə.ri.ə.reɪt/ verb · to become worse
- detrimental /ˌdet.rəˈmen.t̬əl/ adjective · causing harm or damage
- diminish /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ verb · Make or become less
- diverse /daɪˈvɜrs/ adjective · Varied or different in nature
- empirical /ɛmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl/ adjective · Based on observation or experience
- exacerbate /ɪɡˈzæsərˌbeɪt/ verb · To make worse, more violent, intense
- facilitate /fəˈsɪl.ɪˌteɪt/ verb · To make something easier to do or achieve
- feasible /ˈfiːzəbəl/ adjective · Possible and practical to do easily
- fluctuate /ˈflʌk.tʃu.eɪt/ verb · To rise and fall irregularly in number or amount
- fundamental /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/ adjective · Basic, most important, forming the foundation
- implement /ˈɪm.plə.mənt/ verb · To put into effect, to institute
- incentive /ɪnˈsɛntɪv/ noun · a reward or benefit that motivates someone to take a particular action
- inevitable /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ adjective · Cannot be avoided or escaped
- integral /ˈɪn.tɪ.ɡrəl/ adjective · Necessary for completeness
- intrinsic /ɪnˈtrɪn.sɪk/ adjective · Naturally part of something
- mitigate /ˈmɪt̬.ə.ɡeɪt/ verb · To make less violent, alleviate
- notion /ˈnəʊ.ʃən/ noun · a belief or idea
- paramount /ˈpærəˌmaʊnt/ adjective · Greatest in importance, rank, character
- plausible /ˈplɑː.zə.bəl/ adjective · Believable, reasonable
- predominant /prɪˈdɒmɪnənt/ adjective · Most common or powerful in a group
- prevalent /ˈprɛv.ə.lənt/ adjective · Widely existing or happening often
- profound /prəˈfaʊnd/ adjective · felt or experienced very strongly or in an extreme way
- reciprocal /rɪˈsɪp.rə.kəl/ adjective · Shared or interchangeable
- resilience /rɪˈzɪl.jəns/ noun · Ability to recover quickly from difficulties
- scrutinize /ˈskruːtəˌnaɪz/ verb · Examine or inspect closely and thoroughly
- subsequent /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/ adjective · Happening after something else
- sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ adjective · Able to be maintained at a certain level without depleting resources
- tangible /ˈtæn.dʒə.bəl/ adjective · Touchable and real
- ubiquitous /juˈbɪk.wɪ.təs/ adjective · Being present everywhere at once
- underlying /ˌʌn.dɚˈlaɪ.ɪŋ/ adjective · real but not immediately obvious
- viable /ˈvaɪ.ə.bəl/ adjective · able to work as intended or able to succeed
- vivid /ˈvɪv.ɪd/ adjective · Intensely bright or colorful
How to memorize IELTS vocabulary
Don't cram a list the night before. Learn each word with an example sentence so you understand it in context, then use spaced repetition to review it right before you'd forget. That's exactly how Vocaby works: swipe through words with audio and examples, and the app schedules each one for review at the perfect moment so it lasts through test day.
Frequently asked questions
- What vocabulary do I need for IELTS band 7?
- Band 7 on Lexical Resource needs a flexible range of vocabulary, including some less common words and collocations, used with only occasional errors. Accuracy and natural usage matter more than rare words, so learn words with example sentences and practice them.
- Does using big words improve my IELTS score?
- Not on its own. Examiners reward precise, natural, well-collocated vocabulary. A common word used correctly beats a rare word used awkwardly, so focus on using words accurately and in the right context rather than showing off.
- How do I expand my IELTS vocabulary?
- Build topic vocabulary (environment, education, technology, health) with collocations, learn each word with an example, and review with spaced repetition. Recording your own example sentences helps you use new words naturally under exam pressure.
Study IELTS words that actually stick.
Vocaby pairs every word with audio, examples, and spaced repetition — free to start.