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8️⃣ Awl8 · Academic Word List (AWL) · 60 words

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abandon
/əˈbændən/ v
to leave something completely or stop doing it
The project was abandoned due to rising costs.
accompany
/əˈkʌmpəni/ v
to go with someone, or happen at the same time as something
Economic growth is often accompanied by rising pollution.
accumulate
/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/ v
to gradually gather more of something
Plastic waste continues to accumulate in the oceans.
ambiguous
/æmˈbɪɡjuəs/ adj
having more than one possible meaning
The wording of the question was ambiguous.
append
/əˈpend/ v
to add something to the end of a document
A list of references is appended to the report.
appreciate
/əˈpriːʃieɪt/ v
to recognise the value of something, or to increase in value
Property in the capital has appreciated rapidly.
arbitrary
/ˈɑːbɪtrəri/ adj
based on chance or personal choice rather than reason
The age limit seems somewhat arbitrary.
automate
/ˈɔːtəmeɪt/ v
to make a process operate by machines rather than people
Many routine office tasks have been automated.
bias
/ˈbaɪəs/ n
an unfair preference for or against something
Researchers must avoid bias when selecting participants.
chart
/tʃɑːt/ n
a diagram showing information
The bar chart compares spending in five countries.
clarify
/ˈklærəfaɪ/ v
to make something easier to understand
The government issued guidelines to clarify the new rules.
commodity
/kəˈmɒdəti/ n
a product that can be bought and sold, especially raw materials
Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world.
complement
/ˈkɒmplɪment/ v
to add to something in a way that improves it
Online resources complement classroom teaching.
conform
/kənˈfɔːm/ v
to obey a rule or behave as others expect
All products must conform to safety standards.
contemporary
/kənˈtemprəri/ adj
belonging to the present time
The museum focuses on contemporary art.
contradict
/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt/ v
to say or show that something is wrong or opposite
The new evidence contradicts earlier findings.
crucial
/ˈkruːʃl/ adj
extremely important because it affects other things
Early diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment.
currency
/ˈkʌrənsi/ n
the system of money used in a country
A weak currency makes exports cheaper.
denote
/dɪˈnəʊt/ v
to be a sign of something or to represent it
In the graph, the dotted line denotes projected figures.
detect
/dɪˈtekt/ v
to notice or discover something that is hard to see
Modern scanners can detect cancer at an early stage.
deviate
/ˈdiːvieɪt/ v
to move away from what is normal or planned
Few students deviated from the recommended study plan.
displace
/dɪsˈpleɪs/ v
to force people to leave their home, or to take the place of something
The dam displaced thousands of villagers.
drama
/ˈdrɑːmə/ n
a play or plays, or exciting events
Drama classes help children build confidence.
eventual
/ɪˈventʃuəl/ adj
happening at the end of a process
The eventual cost of the project was double the estimate.
exhibit
/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/ v
to show something publicly, or to display a quality
Patients exhibited signs of improvement within weeks.
exploit
/ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ v
to use something fully, or to treat people unfairly for profit
Some companies exploit workers in developing countries.
fluctuate
/ˈflʌktʃueɪt/ v
to rise and fall irregularly
Oil prices fluctuated wildly throughout the year.
guideline
/ˈɡaɪdlaɪn/ n
an official rule or advice about how to do something
New guidelines recommend less salt in children's diets.
highlight
/ˈhaɪlaɪt/ v
to draw attention to something
The report highlights the need for better housing.
implicit
/ɪmˈplɪsɪt/ adj
suggested but not directly expressed
There is an implicit assumption that growth is always good.
induce
/ɪnˈdjuːs/ v
to cause something, or to persuade someone to do it
Higher wages could induce more people to become teachers.
inevitable
/ɪnˈevɪtəbl/ adj
certain to happen and impossible to prevent
Some job losses are inevitable as technology advances.
infrastructure
/ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/ n
basic systems and services such as roads and power supplies
Poor infrastructure discourages foreign investment.
inspect
/ɪnˈspekt/ v
to look at something closely to check it
Restaurants are regularly inspected for hygiene.
intense
/ɪnˈtens/ adj
very great or strong
Students face intense pressure to succeed in exams.
manipulate
/məˈnɪpjuleɪt/ v
to control or influence someone or something unfairly or skilfully
Advertisers manipulate consumers into buying unnecessary products.
minimise
/ˈmɪnɪmaɪz/ v
to reduce something to the smallest possible amount
Measures are needed to minimise the risk of flooding.
nuclear
/ˈnjuːkliə(r)/ adj
relating to energy produced by splitting atoms
Nuclear power produces few carbon emissions.
offset
/ˈɒfset/ v
to balance one effect with an opposite effect
Higher costs were offset by increased sales.
paragraph
/ˈpærəɡrɑːf/ n
a section of writing that starts on a new line
Each paragraph should develop one main idea.
plus
/plʌs/ prep
added to; and also
The total cost is two million pounds plus tax.
practitioner
/prækˈtɪʃənə(r)/ n
a person who works in a profession such as medicine or law
General practitioners see hundreds of patients each week.
predominant
/prɪˈdɒmɪnənt/ adj
most common, important or noticeable
English is the predominant language of academic publishing.
prospect
/ˈprɒspekt/ n
the possibility that something will happen in the future
Graduates face poor job prospects in some fields.
radical
/ˈrædɪkl/ adj
very new and different, or affecting basic aspects
Radical changes are needed to reduce emissions.
random
/ˈrændəm/ adj
happening or chosen without a pattern or plan
A random sample of 1,000 adults was surveyed.
reinforce
/ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs/ v
to make an idea, feeling or structure stronger
Advertising can reinforce gender stereotypes.
restore
/rɪˈstɔː(r)/ v
to bring something back to its former condition
The city restored many of its historic buildings.
revise
/rɪˈvaɪz/ v
to change something to improve it, or to study again
Growth forecasts were revised downwards.
schedule
/ˈʃedjuːl/ n
a plan of when things will happen
The new hospital was completed ahead of schedule.
tension
/ˈtenʃn/ n
a feeling of anxiety or a situation of conflict
The policy created tension between the two communities.
terminate
/ˈtɜːmɪneɪt/ v
to bring something to an end
The contract was terminated after two years.
theme
/θiːm/ n
the main subject or idea in a piece of work
Identity is a recurring theme in her novels.
thereby
/ˌðeəˈbaɪ/ adv
as a result of the action just mentioned
Cities could tax cars, thereby reducing congestion.
uniform
/ˈjuːnɪfɔːm/ adj
the same in all parts or at all times
Growth was not uniform across all regions.
vehicle
/ˈviːəkl/ n
a machine for transporting people or goods, or a means of doing something
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly affordable.
via
/ˈvaɪə/ prep
by way of or by means of
Data were collected via online questionnaires.
virtual
/ˈvɜːtʃuəl/ adj
created by computers, or almost but not completely
Virtual classrooms allow students to learn from home.
visual
/ˈvɪʒuəl/ adj
relating to seeing or sight
Visual aids help students remember information.
widespread
/ˈwaɪdspred/ adj
existing or happening in many places or among many people
The policy caused widespread public anger.

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