English Vocabulary
- Numbers (Explanation + Exercises)
- Numbers (Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers)
- English Time
- English Date
What are phrasal verbs? |
1. A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb. Example: I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. run + into = meet He ran away when he was 15. run + away = leave home 2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object. Example: He suddenly showed up. "show up" cannot take an object 3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object. Example: I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up" 4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb. Example: I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car. She looked the phone number up. 5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb. Example: I ran into an old friend yesterday. They are looking into the problem. 6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + . Example: I looked the number up in the phone book. I looked up the number in the phone book. 7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun. Example: I looked the number up in the phone book. I looked up the number in the phone book. I looked it up in the phone book. correct I looked up |
Below is a list of words that often appear on theTOEFL test. The underlined sections of a word provide links to definitions of that word’s respective roots, prefixes and suffixes. Sentences are provided as examples of word usage.
A B C D E F G H J L M N O P Q R S T U V
A
act, ag
- agent (noun): something which acts or acts upon something else
aud, audit, aur
- agitate (verb): to excite, to disturb, to stir up
- audible ( adjective): can be heard
am, ami
- auditorium (noun): a place where one goes to hear something
- audit+ orium
- The band played in the school auditorium
anim
- amicable (adjective): friendly
ann, annu, enni
- animate (verb): to give spirit or support, to supply movement
- annals (noun): record of events, historical records
- annuity (noun): money payable yearly
- anniversary (noun): the yearly celebration of an event
auc, aug, aut
- perennial (adjective): enduring, persisting for several years
- author (noun): one that originates or creates, a writer
B
- augment (verb): to increase, to add to
bene biblio
- benevolent
brev + ity
- benign (adjective): harmless, mild, gentle
- The doctor removed a benign tumor from my neck and I went home the same day.
- bibliography
- biology
- brief
- abbreviate (verb): to shorten
- How does one abbreviate the word “Minnesota”?
C
- brevity (noun): short or concise expression
- The politician gave short speeches and he became known for his brevity.
cad, cap, cas, ceiv, cept, cid
- deceive (verb): to cause or allow someone to believe something is true when it is actually false; to mislead
- capable (adjective): having the ability to do something; having the traits necessary to perform some action
- capacious (adective): containing a great deal
- captive (noun, adjective): a person held against his or her own will; held prisoner
- accident (noun): an unplanned event
- capture (verb): to gain control of, to gain by effort
- occasion (noun): an opportunity; a happening, instance or celebration
ceas, cede, ceed, cess
- concept (noun): an idea
- predecessor (noun): a person who has previously occupied a position that another has taken over
- succeed (verb): to follow after another, to do well
- exceed (verb): to go beyond a limit, to be greater than
chron
- recess (noun): an indentation, a temporary break
- chronic (adjective): marked by a long period of time, recurrence
- chronicle (noun): a historical account arranged in order of time
clam, claim
- chronological (adjective): arranged in order of time
- exclaim (verb): to speak loudly, to cry out in surprise
cogn, gnos
- proclaim (verb): to declare loudly
- cognizant (adjective): aware
- diagnose (verb): to recognize (diseases) by symptoms
- dia + gnose
- The patient was diagnosed with Lyme’s disease.
- agnostic (noun): one who believes that any ultimate reality is unknowable
corp
- recognize (verb): to know, to identify
- corpulent (adjective): having a large body
- incorporate (verb): to unite into one being
cre, cresc, cret
- corporate (adjective): formed into a body or association, united in one group
- crescent (noun, adjective): a narrow curved shape; a quarter moon or smaller
- create (verb): to originate, to produce through imagination
- accretion (verb): growth by gradual addition
cred
- increase (verb): to grow in size or amount
- credible (adjective): can be believed, reasonable
- credulous (adjective): too ready to believe
cour, cur, curr, curs
- incredible (adjective): unbelievable, amazing
- excursion (noun): a trip
- discourse (noun, verb): a conversation, to talk
- course (noun, verb): forward movement, movement from point to point; to run along a path
- course
- Blood courses through your veins with every beat of your heart.
- occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind
D
- current (adjective, noun): happening now, up to date; the movement of water
dic, dict, dit
- dictionary (noun): a book of definitions
- indicate (verb): to show, to point out
- dictate (verb): to speak for a person to record, to issue an order
- predict (verb): to say what will happen in the future
doc, doct
- addict (verb): to be devoted to something in an obsessive manner
- doctor (noun): a person who has received the highest degree a university offers, a physician
- doctrine (noun): something that is taught, dogma
- doctr + ine
- We learned about the doctrine of “manifest destiny” in our American history class.
- docile (adjective): obedient, easily taught
dog, dox
- document (noun): an official paper
- orthodox (adjective): holding conventional beliefs
- ortho + dox
- I don’t know if my interpretation of that book is orthodox or not.
- dogma (noun): an established opinion
- dog + ma
- Some people find the dogma associated with that organization disturbing.
dec, dign
- paradox (noun): a statement that seems to contradict itself but contains some truth
- decorate (verb): to make something look attractive or suitable
- decent (adjective): conforming to standards, good, kind
duc, duct
- dignity (noun): quality of being worthy, noble, honored
- conduct (verb, noun): v. to lead or guide, n. a person’s behavior
- educate (verb): to train, to provide schooling for
- induct (verb): to install in office or to enroll in military service
- deduct (verb): to subtract
- deduce (verb): to make a decision or draw a conclusion by reasoning
- produce (verb, noun): to bring forward, to make to bear or yield; something made or grown
- seduce (verb): to persuade (especially into doing something wrong), to tempt
E
- induce (verb): to persuade, cause, or bring about by artificial means.
ev, et
- eternal (adjective): not effected by time, without beginning or end, ceaseless
F
- medieval (adjective): relating to the Middle Ages (500 – 1500 AD)
fict, feign, fain
- faint (adjective, verb): indistinct, not clearly perceived, weak; to lose consciousness from lack of blood to the brain
- faint
- There is a faint odor of apples in this room.
- Some people faint at the sight of blood.
- feign (verb): to pretend
- feign
- The child feigned illness in an attempt to avoid the test.
fig
- fiction (noun): something produce from imagination, an invented story
- effigy (noun): a figure representing a disliked person.
- figure (noun): shape, pattern, drawing
fac, fact, fec, fic, fas, fea
- figment (noun): a thing that does not exist, something made up
- fashion (noun, verb): the form of something, style; to give shape or form to
- feasible (adjective): capable of being done
- feature (noun, verb): the appearance or form of a person or object; to picture or portray
- factory (noun): a place where things are made or built
- difficult (adjective): hard to do, troublesome, hard to understand
- fact (noun): something known to be true
- fact
- It’s a fact that the world is round.
fer
- effect (noun): a change caused by something, a result, influence
- fertile (adjective): productive, bearing or capable of bearing fruit in large quantities
- refer (verb): to classify within a general category, to send or direct to another source
fid
- infer (verb): to come to a conclusion from facts or ideas, to guess
- diffident (adjective): hesitant in acting, shy
- fidelity (noun): the quality of being faithful, accuracy
flu, fluct, flux
- confide (verb): to trust, to trust another person with a secret
- fluent (adjective): capable of moving with ease, able to speak another language
- superfluous (adjective): extra, more than is needed
- influence (verb, noun): to have an effect on something; the ability to affect something indirectly
- fluid (adjective): capable of flowing, a smooth style, liquid
- flu + id
- The ink my new pen is quite fluid and flows evenly across the page.
form fract, frag, frai
- fluctuate (verb): to shift back and forth, to move erratically
- format
- formulate (verb): to prepare from a set of steps (formula), to devise
- The chemist formulated a new way of making dish detergent.
- fracture (verb, noun): to break, to crack; a broken bone
- fragment (noun): a piece broken off, a part of something
G
- frail (adjective): easily broken, not strong
- frail
- Be careful! That chair is frail
gen, gin
- generally (adverb): in a general manner, usually, with regard to the whole not specifics
- gingerly (adverb, adjective): careful
ge de + gree
- indigenous (adjective): native, having been born in a specific area or environment
- geography
- categorize
- grade (noun): a stage in a process, a mark indicating quality
- Ali hopes to receive a passing grade on his midterm exam.
- progress (verb, noun): to move forward; forward movement
- Mina progressed to the next level in her French language program.
- There hasn’t been much progress made in getting the house built — only the frame is up.
graph, graf H
- degree (noun): a step or stage in a process, a rank, a level of intensity
- There is a high degree of stress associated with being a police officer.
- graphic
- graffitti (noun): drawings or writing on a wall
- Many people find the graffitti on the subway trains disturbing.
her, hes
J
- hesitate (verb): to hold back a decision, to waver
jac, ject, jet re + ject
- adjacent
- jettison (verb): to throw away, to cast off
- The captain of the sinking ship jettisoned the cargo.
jug, junct, just
- reject (verb): to throw out, unwilling to accept
- David was rejected by two schools before he found a school that accepted him.
- adjust (verb): to change or adapt to fit or match something
- conjugal (adjective): of marriage, marital relationship
L
- junction (noun): the place at which two things join
lex, leg
- legal (adjective, noun): based on law; conforms to law
lect
- league (noun): a group of people, an association
- leag + ue
- There are fifty people participating in the bowling league.
loc
- eligible (adjective): qualified, worthy to be chosen
log
luc
- illuminate (verb): to provide with light, to make lighter, to make clear
M
- illustrate (verb): to explain by using pictorial examples, to show by using visual examples
man
mem
ment
- memory (noun): the ability to recall past events
- mental (adjective): related to the mind
min
- mention (verb): to cite, to speak about, to refer to
- minor (adjective): lesser, less important
- minute (adjective, noun): tiny, very small; sixty seconds
- min + ute
- Even though the speck of dirt on the camera lens was minute, it ruined the photograph.
- Terry will be finished in one minute.
mit, miss
- minuscule (adjective): very small
mob, mov, mot
- missive (noun): a letter to be sent
- mobile (adjective): able to move
N
- motion (noun): act of moving, action
nasc, nat, gnant, nai
- pregnant (adjective): having a child developing in the womb, “with child”
nom
- naive (adjective): lack of experience, not knowledgeable of the world
nov
- synonym (noun): a word with a similar meaning to another word in the same language
O
- novice (noun): a newcomer, a beginner, someone new to something
oper
P
- opus (noun): a musical composition
- opus
- Vivaldi’s opus number three is not as well known as is other compositions.
pat
- sympathy (noun): sharing another person’s feelings, the ability to feel for another person’s suffering
ped
- pathology (noun): the study of diseases
- pedestal (noun): a support for a column or other structure, a base for something
- pedest + al
- Johannes put the vase on a pedestal.
pod
- pedestrian (noun): a person walking
pel
- podium (noun): a platform, an area raised above the surrounding ground, a place at which to speak in front of an audience
- pod + ium
- The professor walked up to the podium and spoke into the microphone.
pend, pond
- pulse (noun): the regular action of blood through arteries
- pulse
- The nurse felt for the patient’s pulse in his neck.
- suspend (noun): to hang from, to interrupt, to stop
phan, fan
- ponder (verb): to think about, to weigh in one’s mind
- (noun): something seen but having no physical existence, a ghost.
- phan + tom
- The children told horror stories about phantoms and ghosts.
- phantom
phil
- fantasy (noun): a creation of the imagination that cannot be real, a daydream
phon
pict
port
pli, ply
- portage (noun) the labor of carrying boats across land
- implicate (verb): to involve, to incriminate
pon, pos
- ply (noun): a layer
- ply
- Two ply tissue paper is stronger than one ply.
- postpone (verb): to put off to a later time
psych
- posture (noun) the position of a body
Q
quir
- exquisite (adjective): carefully selected, marked by beauty
- quest (noun): a search, the act of seeking
- quest
- At four in the morning Quincy went out on a quest for ice cream.
R
- query (verb, noun): to ask questions, a question
- query
- The lawyer queried the witness.
- I have a query about the origins of the English language.
rupt
- rupture (verb): to break or burst
S
- interrupt (verb): to stop, to break in (usually with questions)
sci
scrib, scrip
- script (noun): handwriting, something written
- script
- Sometimes her script is hard to read.
sent, sens
- describe (verb): to say what something is like
- sensation (noun): ability to feel due to stimulation
sequ
- sentimental (adjective): marked by feeling or emotion
- consecutive (adjective): following in an unbroken order
soci solv, solu
- ensue (verb): to happen afterward
- society
- solitary
sol + uble
- isolate (verb): to separate from others, to place something by itself
- i +
- The sick cat was isolated from the other animals.
- solve
- absolute (adjective): complete, unrestricted, perfect
- The babysitter has absolute authority over the children while their parents are away.
spec, spi spicic + ious
- soluble (adjective): able to disperse in liquid
- Sugar is soluble in water.
- spectator
- despise (verb): to hate, tolook down on
- Marguerite despises people who are cruel to animals.
- auspicicious (adjective): favorable
- au +
- The thousand dollar donation made for an auspicious beginning.
spir stab, stat
- espionage (noun): using spies or observers
- respiration
sta + nce
- inspire (verb): to stimulate, to fill with a feeling or desire
- Students are often inspired by their teachers.
- stature
- establish (verb): to found, to start, to make firm
- e +
- Southampton College was established in 1963.
strain, strict string + ent
- stance (noun): a way of standing, a position, an attitude
- A person’s stance is very important in the games of golf and baseball.
- restrain
- constrict (verb): to squeeze, to make narrow
- Marvin felt constricted by the suit and tie he wore to the meeting.
- stringent (adjective): strict, tight, severe
- There are stringent rules and regulations one must follow when operating a child care center.
stru, stroy ob + struct
- prestige (noun): respect for a person or a thing
- destroy
- misconstrue (verb): to interpret, analyse, or understand something incorrectly; misunderstand
- Do not misconstrue his actions to mean he likes you — being pleasant to customers is part of his job.
T
- obstruct (verb): to block, prevent, hinder
- The fallen tree obstructed the roadway and blocked traffic for hours.
tact, tang con + tig + uous
- tactilely
- tangible (adjective): able to be perceived by touch, physically real
- Many people want tangible proof of something before they believe it to be true.
- contiguous (adjective): touching, next in a sequence
- The United States has forty-eight contiguous states.
tend, tens tain, ten
- contingent (adjective): possible, dependent on something else
- extensive
con + tent
- contend (verb): to strive or reach for, to argue
- The two fighters contended for the heavy-weight championship title.
- retain
- continue (verb): to keep going, to remain
- The movie is scheduled to continue until midnight.
- content (noun, adjective): something contained, held; satisfied
- I can’t tell what the content of this can is until I open it.
term terr
- tenacious (adjective): holding or sticking to something
- exterminate
test
- terminal (adjective): relating to an end
- Margot has been diagnosed with a terminal disease and has been given only six months to live.
- territory
therm
- terrain (noun): the physical features of an area
- There is some very rough terrain in the White Mountain area of New Hampshire.
- attest
tor
- testify (verb): to make a statement based on personal knowledge
- The witness testified at the trial.
- thermometer
con + tort
- thermal (adjective): relating to the presence of heat
- Lisa bought some thermal underwear to take with her when she goes skiing.
- torment
- torsion (noun): twisting of a body or an organ by an external force along an axis
- The torsion of the bolt will help release the wheel.
tract, trai treat + y
- contort (verb): to twist into an abnormal shape
- The actor contorted her face into an evil grin and scared the audience.
- attract
- train (verb): to teach or to cause to do something
- Yvette trained her dog to perform tricks.
U
- treaty (noun): a formal agreement
- The rebels and the new government signed a treaty calling for peace.
uni V
- unite
- unison (noun): at the same time, at the same pitch
- The two singers sang in unison.
vac ven, vent
- vacant
pre + vent
- vacuum (noun): empty space, isolation from outside influence
- Some people seem to live in a vacuum and they have no knowledge of current events.
- convene
- invent (verb): to create through thought or imagination
- Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and other devices.
ver verb, verv
- prevent (verb): to act ahead of, to keep from happening
- Lamont prevented a disastrous fire by calling the fire department the moment he smelled smoke.
- verify
vers, vert:
- veracity (noun): truthfulness, accuracy
- Daphne is known for her veracity and honesty.
- verbalize
vid, vis
- verve (noun): enthusiasm
- The cheerleaders showed verve and school spirit at the football game.
- versatile
vis + ible
- revert (verb): to go back, to return (to an original state)
- The land slowly reverted to a wild state after it was abandoned.
- video
- review (verb): to look at again, to re-examine
- Marsha reviewed for the test by re-reading her class notes.
- visible (adjective): able to be seen
- Sometimes the moon is visible during the day.
vit, viv voc, voke
- indivisible (adjective, noun): cannot be separated
- vital
volv, vol
- revive (verb): to return to life
- After spending a day in the sun, I was revived by a glass of water.
- vocal
e + vol + ut + ion
- revoke (verb): to call back, to withdraw
- Karl’s license was revoked because he was caught driving 20 miles over the speed limit.
- revolve
- revolt (verb): to rebel, to turn against, to feel disgust
- It was the peasants who revolted during the French Revolution.
- Cooked carrots revolt some people.
(verb): to turn around
- evolution (noun): the process by which something develops
- Darwin and other natural scientists have developed theories of evolution.
(adjective): uttered by the voice, producing sound
(adjective): necessary for life
(noun): television or recorded movies
- vit + al
- The cancer had not yet spread to her vital organs and she was given an excellent chance for a full recovery.
(adjective): capable of changing or adapting, useful
- vid + eo
- Patricia rented a video and watched it on her television.
(verb): to express in words, to put into words
(verb): to confirm that something is true
(verb): to assemble, to come together
(adjective): empty, not occupied, free
(verb) to make one, to join together
(verb): to draw toward, to arouse interest
- unite
- The two small companies united and became one large business.
(noun, verb): agony, pain; to cause recurring pain
(noun) a device for measuring heat
- tor + ment
- The torment Jean’s nightmares caused made him seek professional help.
- The guards tormented the prisoners.
(verb): to provide proof, to say something is true
- thermo + meter
- I took my temperature with a thermometer.
(noun): area of land
(verb): to kill off, to get rid of
- territ + ory
- This area is considered to be Canadian territory.
(verb): to keep, to hold in place
- ex + term + in + ate
- The Schaeffer’s hired a company to exterminate the cockroaches living in their house.
(adjective): large in area, wide
- re + tain
- Blanche retained her Alaskan residence since she will return there when she is finished with school.
(adverb): related to the sense of touch
(verb): to ruin, to pull down
(verb): to hold back, to prevent from doing
(noun): height of a body, importance of position
(noun): breathing
(noun): a person who watches or observes
(verb): to find an answer
(adjective): being alone
- solve
- The professor asked the student to solve the problem and show her answer on the board.
(noun): community, the relationship among individuals living or working in a common area, companionship
(adjective): to lie next to
- societ + y
- Sometimes what is best for a society is not always good for an individual living in that society.
(adjective): written, drawn, vividly shown
- ad + jac + ent
- You won’t have a long walk between classes because the engineering building is adjacent to the chemistry laboratories.
grade (verb): to place things in classes or sets, to classify
(noun): a science that describes the earth’s surface
(noun): the shape and size of something, the arrangement of something
(adjective): short
- form + at
- The format of this class will be half lecture and half class participation.
(noun): the study of life
- brief
- Anand gave a brief lecture on the rain forest.
(noun): a list of written works
(adjective): marked by goodwill
re + volt re + voke re + vive re + view re + vert verve ver + ac + ity in + vent vacu + um uni + son train tors + ion therm + al test ify terr + ain term + in + al con + tin + ue con + tend tang + ible mis + con + strue con + strict stabl + ish in + spire de + spise ab + sol + ute sol + ate soljett + ison graph + itti pro + gress grad, gress, gree gor form + ul + ate ab + brevi + ate brevbio, biben + ign