Academic Words

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abandon forsake; leave behind

abstract existing only in the mind

access the right to enter

accommodate have room for; hold without crowding

accompany go or travel along with

accumulate get or gather together

acknowledge declare to be true or admit the existence or reality of

acquire come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

adapt make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose

adequate having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task

adjust alter or regulate so as to conform to a standard

advocate speak, plead, or argue in favor of

affect have an influence upon

aggregate a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together

allocate distribute according to a plan or set apart for a purpose

alter cause to change; make different

ambiguous having more than one possible meaning

analogy drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity

annual occurring every year

anticipate regard something as probable or likely

apparent clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

append fix to; attach

appreciate be fully aware of; realize fully

approach ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem

appropriate suitable for a particular person, place, or situation

approximate judge tentatively or form an estimate of

arbitrary based on or subject to individual discretion or preference

aspect a characteristic to be considered

assess estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of

assign select something or someone for a specific purpose

assume take to be the case or to be true

attach be in contact with

attain gain with effort

attribute a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity

authority the power or right to give orders or make decisions

behalf as the agent of or on someone's part

bias a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue

brief give essential information to someone

bulk the property possessed by a large mass

capable having ability

capacity capability to perform or produce

cease put an end to a state or an activity

channel transmit or serve as the medium for transmission

chart a visual display of information

cite make reference to

civil of or occurring between or among citizens of the state

clarify make clear and comprehensible

classic of recognized authority or excellence

code a set of rules or principles or laws

coherent marked by an orderly and consistent relation of parts

coincide happen simultaneously

collapse break down, literally or metaphorically

commence set in motion, cause to start

commission a special group delegated to consider some matter

commit give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

communicate interchange information or ideas

community group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region

compatible able to exist and perform in harmonious combination

compensate make amends for

compile get or gather together

complement something added to embellish or make perfect

component one of the individual parts making up a larger entity

compound a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts

comprehensive including all or everything

comprise be composed of

conceive have the idea for

concentrate make denser, stronger, or purer; focus

concept an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances

conclude bring to a close

concurrent occurring or operating at the same time

conduct the way a person behaves toward other people

confer have a meeting in order to talk something over

confine place limits on

confirm establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts

conform be similar, be in line with

consent give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to

considerable large in number or amount or extent or degree

consist have its essential character

constant uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing

constitute form or compose

constrain hold back

construct make by combining materials and parts

consult get or ask advice from

consume use up, as resources or materials

contact be in or establish communication with

contemporary belonging to the present time

context the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation

contract a binding agreement that is enforceable by law

contradict prove negative; show to be false

contrary exact opposition

contribute give to some cause

controversy a dispute where there is strong disagreement

convene meet formally

converse carry on a discussion

convert change the nature, purpose, or function of something

convince make realize the truth or validity of something

cooperate work together on a common enterprise of project

core the choicest or most vital part of some idea or experience

correspond be compatible, similar, or consistent

create bring into existence

criterion the ideal in terms of which something can be judged

crucial of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis

culture a particular society at a particular time and place

currency the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used

cycle a periodically repeated sequence of events

debate a discussion with reasons for and against some proposal

decade a period of 10 years

decline grow worse

deduce conclude by reasoning

define show the form or outline of

definite precise; explicit and clearly defined

demonstrate give an exhibition of to an interested audience

denote be a sign or indication of

deny declare untrue; contradict

depress press down

derive come from

design the act of working out the form of something

detect discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

device an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

devote dedicate

differentiate be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait

dimension a construct distinguishing objects or individuals

diminish decrease in size, extent, or range

discrete constituting a separate entity or part

displace cause to move, usually with force or pressure

display something intended to communicate a particular impression

dispose throw or cast away

distinct recognizable; marked

distort twist and press out of shape

distribute give to several people

diverse distinctly dissimilar or unlike

document writing that provides information

domain territory over which rule or control is exercised

dominate be in control

draft any of the various versions in the development of a work

drama a work intended for performance by actors on a stage

duration the period of time during which something continues

economy the system of production and distribution and consumption

element one of the individual parts making up a composite entity

eliminate end, take out, or do away with

emerge come out into view, as from concealment

emphasis special importance or significance

empirical derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

enable provide the means to perform some task

encounter a casual or unexpected convergence

enforce compel to behave in a certain way

enhance make better or more attractive

enormous extraordinarily large in size or extent or degree

ensure make certain of

entity that which is perceived to have its own distinct existence

environment the totality of surrounding conditions

equate consider or describe as similar or analogous

equip provide with, usually for a specific purpose

equivalent being essentially equal to something

erode become ground down or deteriorate

establish set up or found

estate extensive landed property retained by the owner

estimate judge tentatively

ethic principles of right and wrong for an individual or group

ethnic distinctive of the ways of living of a group of people

evaluate estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of

eventual expected to follow in the indefinite future

evident clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

evolve undergo development

exceed be superior or better than some standard

exclude prevent from entering; shut out

exhibit show; make visible or apparent

expand make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity

expert a person with special knowledge who performs skillfully

explicit precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable

exploit use or manipulate to one's advantage

export sell or transfer abroad

expose show; make visible or apparent

external happening or arising outside some limits or surface

extract remove, usually with some force or effort

facilitate make easier

factor anything that contributes causally to a result

feature a prominent attribute or aspect of something

federal of a government with central and regional authorities

finance the commercial activity of providing funds and capital

finite bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent

flexible able to adjust readily to different conditions

fluctuate move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern

focus the concentration of attention or energy on something

format the organization of data according to preset specifications

formula a symbolic representation of the composition of a compound

forthcoming at ease in talking to others

foundation education or instruction in the fundamentals of a field

framework the underlying structure

function what something is used for

fund a reserve of money set aside for some purpose

fundamental serving as an essential component

furthermore in addition

gender the biological or cultural traits associated with one sex

generate bring into existence

generation a coming into being

globe an object with a spherical shape

goal the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve

grade a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

grant allow to have

guarantee an unconditional commitment that something will happen

guideline a rule that provides direction for appropriate behavior

hierarchy a series of ordered groupings within a system

highlight move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent

hypothesis a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

identical being the exact same one

identify give the name or characteristics of

ideology an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group

ignorance the lack of knowledge or education

illustrate depict with a visual representation

image a visual representation produced on a surface

immigrate come into a new country and change residency

impact have an effect upon

implement apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design

implicate bring into intimate and incriminating connection

implicit suggested though not directly expressed

imply express or state indirectly

impose compel to behave in a certain way

incentive a positive motivational influence

incidence the relative frequency of occurrence of something

incline lower or bend, as in a nod or bow

income the financial gain accruing over a given period of time

incorporate unite or merge with something already in existence

indicate designate a place, direction, person, or thing

individual being or characteristic of a single thing or person

induce cause to act in a specified manner

inevitable incapable of being avoided or prevented

infer conclude by reasoning

infrastructure the basic features of a system or organization

inherent existing as an essential constituent or characteristic

inhibit limit the range or extent of

initial occurring at the beginning

initiate set in motion, start an event or prepare the way for

injure cause damage or affect negatively

innovate bring something new to an environment

insert put or introduce into something

insight clear or deep perception of a situation

inspect look over carefully

instance an item of information that is typical of a class or group

institute set up or lay the groundwork for

instruct impart skills or knowledge to

integral existing as an essential constituent or characteristic

integrate make into a whole or make part of a whole

integrity an undivided or unbroken completeness with nothing wanting

intelligence the ability to comprehend

intense extremely sharp

interact do something together or with others

intermediate around the middle of a scale of evaluation

internal located inward

interpret make sense of; assign a meaning to

interval the distance between things

intervene get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action

intrinsic belonging to a thing by its very nature

investigate conduct an inquiry of

invoke cite as an authority

involve contain as a part

isolate place or set apart

issue some situation or event that is thought about

journal a periodical dedicated to a particular subject

justify show to be right by providing proof

label a brief description given for purposes of identification

layer a single thickness of some substance or material

lecture an educational talk delivered by a teacher in a classroom

legal established by or founded upon law or official rules

legislate make laws or bills

locate determine the place of by searching or examining

maintain keep in a certain state, position, or activity

major greater in number or size or amount

manipulate influence or control shrewdly or deviously

manual of or relating to the hands

margin the boundary line or area immediately inside the boundary

mature having reached full natural growth or development

mechanism device consisting of a piece of machinery

mediate act between parties with a view to reconciling differences

medical relating to the study or practice of medicine

medium the surrounding environment

mental involving the mind or an intellectual process

method a way of doing something, especially a systematic way

migrate move from one country or region to another and settle there

minimal the least possible

minimum the smallest possible quantity

minor inferior in number or size or amount

mode how something is done or how it happens

modify cause to change; make different

monitor keep an eye on; keep under surveillance

motive the reason that arouses action toward a desired goal

mutual common to or shared by two or more parties

negate make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of

neutral having no personal preference

nevertheless despite anything to the contrary

nonetheless despite anything to the contrary

norm a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical

normal conforming with a standard, level, or type

notion a general inclusive concept

notwithstanding despite anything to the contrary

nuclear constituting the core or central part

objective the goal intended to be attained

obtain come into possession of

obvious easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

occupy live in (a certain place)

occur to be found to exist

offset a compensating equivalent

ongoing currently happening

option one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen

outcome something that results

output production of a certain amount

overall including everything

overlap extend over and cover a part of

panel sheet that forms a distinct section of something

paradigm a standard or typical example

parallel being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting

participate be involved in

passive lacking in energy or will

perceive to become aware of through the senses

period an amount of time

persist continue to exist

perspective a way of regarding situations or topics

phase any distinct time period in a sequence of events

phenomenon any state or process known through the senses

philosophy a belief accepted as authoritative by some group or school

physical involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

policy a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group

portion something determined in relation to a thing that includes it

pose put into a certain place or abstract location

positive characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance

potential existing in possibility

practitioner someone who carries out a learned profession

precede be earlier in time

precise sharply exact or accurate or delimited

predict tell in advance

predominant having superior power and influence

preliminary preceding or in preparation for something more important

presume take to be the case or to be true

previous just preceding something else in time or order

primary of first rank or importance or value

prime of or relating to the first or originating agent

principal most important element

principle a basic generalization that is accepted as true

prior earlier in time

priority status established in order of importance or urgency

proceed move ahead; travel onward in time or space

process a particular course of action intended to achieve a result

professional of or relating to or suitable as an occupation

prohibit command against

project a planned undertaking

promote contribute to the progress or growth of

proportion relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude

prospect the possibility of future success

protocol forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by officials

psychology the science of mental life

publication the act of issuing printed materials

publish prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

purchase something acquired by buying

pursue follow in an effort to capture

qualitative involving distinguishing attributes

radical far beyond the norm

random lacking any definite plan or order or purpose

range a variety of different things or activities

ratio relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude

rational consistent with or based on or using reason

react show a response to something

recover regain or make up for

refine reduce to a pure state

regime the governing authority of a political unit

region the extended spatial location of something

regulate bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage

reinforce strengthen and support with rewards

reject refuse to accept or acknowledge

relax become loose or looser or less tight

release grant freedom to; free from confinement

relevant having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue

reluctance a certain degree of unwillingness

rely have confidence or faith in

remove take something away as by lifting, pushing, or taking off

require have need of

research a seeking for knowledge

reside live in

resource aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed

respond show a reaction to something

restore bring back into original existence, function, or position

restrain hold back

restrict limit access to

retain hold back within

reveal make known to the public information previously kept secret

revenue the entire amount of income before any deductions are made

reverse change to the contrary

revise reorganize, especially for the purpose of improving

revolution a single complete turn

rigid fixed and unmoving

role the actions and activities assigned to a person or group

route an established line of travel or access

scenario a postulated sequence of possible events

schedule a list of times at which things are planned to occur

scheme an elaborate and systematic plan of action

scope an area in which something operates or has power or control

section one of several parts or pieces that fit with others

sector a particular aspect of life or activity

secure free from danger or risk

sequence a following of one thing after another in time

series similar things placed in order or one after another

shift move very slightly

significant important in effect or meaning

simulate reproduce someone's behavior or looks

so-called doubtful or suspect

source the place where something begins

specific distinguishing something particular or unique

specify be particular about

sphere a round three-dimensional closed surface

stable resistant to change of position or condition

statistic a datum that can be represented numerically

status a state at a particular time

straight forward pointed directly ahead

strategy an elaborate and systematic plan of action

stress difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension

structure the building of something and the arrangement of its parts

style a particular kind

submit hand over formally

subordinate lower in rank or importance

subsequent following in time or order

subsidy a grant paid by a government to an enterprise

substitute a person or thing that can take the place of another

successor a person who follows next in order

sufficient of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement

summary a brief statement that presents the main points

supplement an additional component that improves capability

survey make a detailed inspection of; for statistical purposes

survive continue in existence after

suspend stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it

sustain lengthen or extend in duration or space

symbol something visible that represents something invisible

target a reference point to shoot at

task any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

technical of or relating to aptitude in a practical skill

technique a practical method or art applied to some particular task

technology the practical application of science to commerce or industry

temporary not permanent; not lasting

terminate be the last or concluding part of

text the words of something written

theme the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

theory a belief that can guide behavior

thereby by that means or because of that

thesis an unproved statement advanced as a premise in an argument

topic the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

trace an indication that something has been present

tradition a specific practice of long standing

transfer move from one place to another

transform change or alter in form, appearance, or nature

transit the movement of goods or people from one place to another

transmit to broadcast something; to pass something from one person or place to another

transport the movement of people or goods from one place to another

trend a general development or change in a situation or in the way that people are behaving

trigger cause of a particular action to be taken

ultimate the best or most extreme

undergo to experience something that is unpleasant or something that involves a change

underlie to be a hidden cause of or strong influence on something

undertake to do or begin to do something, especially something that will take a long time or be difficult

uniform the same; not changing or different in any way

unify to bring together; combine

unique being the only existing one of its type

utilize to use something in an effective way

valid based on truth or reason; able to be accepted

vary to change or cause something to change

vehicle a way of achieving, producing, expressing or transporting something

version a particular form of something that is slightly different from other forms of the same thing

via going through a place on the way to another place

violate to break or act against something, such as a law, agreement, principle

virtual almost a particular thing or quality

visible able to be seen and noticed

vision able to be seen; ability to see

visual relating to seeing; a picture, photograph, or piece of film to explain something

volume the number or amount of something in general

voluntary done, made, or given willingly, without being forced

welfare physical and mental health and happiness; state support for the poor

whereas compared with the fact that; but

whereby by which way or method

widespread existing or happening in many places and/or among many people

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