Word sets: TOEIC170 words
- familiarityB2noungood knowledge of something because you have seen, used or experienced it often
- flawB2nouna mistake or weakness that makes something or someone less good
- fluctuateC2verbto change often between higher and lower levels or amounts
- fluentB1adjectiveable to speak or write a language easily and without long pauses
- honestlyB1adverbused to say you are telling the truth, or to show you are annoyed; also in an honest way
- housekeepingB2nounthe department or work of cleaning rooms and keeping a hotel or building tidy
- hurricaneB2nouna very strong storm with powerful winds and heavy rain that forms over the Atlantic Ocean
- hygieneB2nounkeeping yourself and the things around you clean to stop illness spreading
- integralC1adjectivenecessary and important as a part of a whole
- interactiveB2adjectiveinvolving people or things that act on each other, especially when a user can control and respond to a program
- interfereB2verbto get involved in something that is not your business; to stop something from working or happening well
- layoffB2nounthe act of ending a worker’s job because the company has less work or less money
- lightweightB2adjectivenot heavy, so it is easy to carry or wear
- meritC2nounthe quality of being good or deserving praise; also a good point or advantage
- necklaceB1nouna piece of jewelry that you wear around your neck
- needyB2adjectivenot having enough money, food or other basic things; or always wanting attention from others
- pamphletB2nouna thin booklet with information about one subject, often given away free
- partialC1adjectivenot complete; only affecting or including part of something
- penalizeB2verbto punish someone or treat them unfairly, usually by making them pay or lose something
- prescribeB2verbto officially say which medicine or treatment someone should have, or what rules must be followed
- probableB2adjectivelikely to be true or to happen
- prominentC1adjectiveimportant and well known; also easy to see or notice
- rainfallB1nounhow much rain comes down in an area over a period such as a month or a year
- relocationB2nounthe act of moving a person, business or thing to a new place
- residenceB2nouna house or home where someone lives, or the fact of living in a place
- retrieveB2verbto get something back, especially from a place where it was lost or stored
- riderB2nouna person who rides a horse, bicycle or motorbike
- rubberB1nouna strong material that stretches and bends, made from trees or chemicals; in British English, also an eraser
- rugB2nouna small piece of thick cloth used to cover part of a floor
- sharplyB2adverbsuddenly and by a large amount; also in a strong, critical or very clear way
- similarityB1nounthe state of being alike, or a way in which things are alike
- spectatorB1nounsomeone at a sports game or public event who is there to watch it, not to take part
- stereoB1nouna machine that plays music through two speakers
- storeroomB1nouna room where things such as supplies or equipment are kept until they are needed
- subsidizeC2verbto pay part of the cost of something so that people can buy or use it more cheaply
- suspiciousB2adjectivethinking that someone has done something wrong, or seeming strange and not honest
- tastyB1adjectivehaving a good, pleasant flavor when you eat it
- terrificB2adjectivevery good or enjoyable (informal); also very great in amount or degree
- undergroundB2adjectiveunder the earth's surface; also secret and outside official control
- unpaidB2adjectivenot receiving money for work, or not yet paid, as a bill or debt
- wrinkleB1nouna small line or fold in skin or cloth, especially one you do not want
- accuracyB1nounthe quality of being correct or exact, without mistakes
- anyhowB1adverbin spite of something, or used to change the subject or return to an earlier one
- appetizerB1nouna small dish served at the start of a meal, before the main course
- arcC1nouna curved line or shape, like part of a circle
- auditionB2nouna short performance given to show you are good enough for a part or a place in a group
- backpackB1nouna bag with two straps that you carry on your back
- ballroomB2nouna very large room used for dances, parties and big events
- beneficialB2adjectivehaving a good effect or helping someone or something
- biographyB2nouna book or film about the life of a real person, written or made by someone else
- boundB1adjectivecertain to happen; also forced to do something by a law, promise or duty
- broomB1nouna tool with a long handle and stiff hairs, used for sweeping floors
- chillyC1adjectivecold enough to feel uncomfortable; also unfriendly
- circusB1nouna show with trained animals, clowns and people doing difficult physical acts
- complimentB1nounsomething nice you say to praise someone or show that you like what they did
- consignmentC2nounan amount of goods sent somewhere together; goods the seller pays for only after they are sold
- continentalB2adjectiverelating to a continent, or to the main part of a continent
- copyrightB1nounthe legal right to control who can copy, sell or use a book, song, film or other creation
- demolishB2verbto destroy a building completely, or to show that an idea or argument is wrong
- departmentalC1adjectiverelating to one department of a company, school or government
- desperateB1adjectiveneeding or wanting something very much, or so worried that you will try anything
- devastateB1verbto destroy a place completely, or to make someone feel extremely shocked and sad
- diagnosticC1adjectiveused to find out what is wrong with a person, machine or system
- diagramB1nouna simple drawing that shows how something works or how its parts are arranged
- disableB1verbto stop a machine, feature or system from working, or to make a person unable to move normally
- disgustingB1adjectivevery unpleasant, making you feel sick or very angry
- doormanB2nouna man who stands at the entrance of a hotel or apartment building to open the door and help visitors
- electronicallyB2adverbby using electronic equipment, computers or the internet
- elevateC1verbto lift something up, or to make it greater, higher or more important
- engagementB2nounan agreement to marry; or the feeling of being interested and involved in something
- enrollmentB2nounthe act of officially joining a school, course or university, or the number of students who have joined
- forbiddenB1adjectivenot allowed, especially by a rule or law
- fosterC1verbto help a feeling, skill or idea develop over time; also to care for another person's child
- getawayB2nouna short holiday somewhere relaxing; also an escape after a crime
- gossipB1nountalk about the private matters of friends, neighbors or stars, often untrue; also a person who does this
- hackerB2nouna person who uses computers to get into other people's systems or files without permission
- hardworkingB1adjectiveputting a lot of effort and time into your work
- indirectB1adjectivenot happening or done in a straight or obvious way; caused by something in a less clear way
- interpreterB2nouna person whose job is to translate what someone says into another language as they speak
- intersectionB2nouna place where two or more roads meet and cross each other
- irrelevantB2adjectivenot connected with or important to what is being discussed
- journalismB2nounthe work of collecting, writing and publishing news for newspapers, websites, radio or television
- letterheadB2nounthe name and address of a company printed at the top of its official paper
- lifeguardB1nouna person whose job is to watch swimmers and save them if they are in danger
- monumentB1nouna statue or building made to remember a person or event, or a very old important building
- mosquitoB1nouna small flying insect that bites people and animals and can spread disease
- obligateC1verbto make someone legally or morally have to do something
- obligeC1verbto make someone do something because a law, rule or duty requires it; also to help someone politely
- occurrenceB2nounsomething that happens, or the fact or frequency of something happening
- operationalC1adjectiveworking and ready to be used; also connected with how a business or machine runs every day
- outageB2nouna period when a service such as electricity, water or the internet stops working
- overcrowdedB2adjectivewith too many people or things in a space
- paralegalC1nouna person trained to help a lawyer with legal work but who is not a lawyer
- partiallyB2adverbnot completely, but to some degree
- permanentlyB1adverbin a way that lasts for a very long time or forever, without changing
- plowC1verbto turn over soil with a farm tool, or to push through something with force
- queryC1verbto ask questions about something, especially because you doubt it; also to search a database
- railwayB1nouna track that trains run on, or the whole system of trains in a country
- reconsiderB2verbto think again about a decision or opinion, and possibly change it
- redesignB2verbto change the way something looks or works by planning and making it again
- rehearsalB2nouna practice of a play, concert or other event before it is performed for real
- relaxationB2nounthe state of being calm and free from worry or stress; an activity done for rest and enjoyment
- repetitionB2nounthe act of doing or saying the same thing again, or a thing that is repeated
- retreatB2verbto move back or away from a place or person, often because of danger; to go somewhere quiet
- salonB2nouna shop where people get their hair cut or have beauty treatments
- satelliteB1nouna machine sent into space to travel around the Earth, used for communication or taking pictures
- serialB2adjectivehappening one after another in a series, or done repeatedly by the same person
- sketchC1nouna quick, simple drawing; also, a short funny scene in a comedy show, or a short description
- smartphoneB1nouna cell phone that can connect to the internet and run apps
- soarB2verbto rise quickly to a very high level; (of a bird or plane) to fly high in the air
- stimulusC1nounsomething that causes a reaction, or that makes something grow or happen faster
- stockbrokerC1nouna person whose job is to buy and sell shares in companies for other people
- tableclothB1nouna piece of cloth that covers a table, especially during a meal
- thrillB2nouna sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure
- tileB1nouna flat square piece of baked clay, stone or plastic used to cover floors, walls or roofs
- trademarkB2nouna name, word or symbol that a company registers so that no one else can use it
- tropicalB1adjectivefrom or typical of the hot, wet parts of the world near the equator
- tunaB1nouna large sea fish that people eat, often sold in cans
- unemployedB1adjectivewithout a paid job but able and wanting to work
- validateB2verbto check or prove that something is correct, true or officially acceptable
- vanillaB1nouna sweet flavor from a plant, used in ice cream, cakes and drinks
- willingnessC1nounthe fact of being happy or ready to do something when it is needed
- wristwatchB1nouna small clock that you wear on your wrist to tell the time
- abideC1verbto accept and follow a rule, law or decision (with by); to stand someone or something (used with cannot)
- activelyB2adverbin a way that involves doing things and taking part, not just watching
- allergyB1nouna medical condition in which your body reacts badly to something such as food, dust or animals
- apprehensiveC1adjectiveslightly worried or nervous that something bad might happen
- automotiveB2adjectiverelating to cars and other road vehicles, or to the business of making them
- bacteriaB2nounvery small living things, some of which cause disease and some of which are useful
- broadenB2verbto make something wider or include more people, ideas or kinds of things
- complicationC1nouna new problem that makes a situation harder to deal with
- considerateB2adjectivecareful not to upset or cause trouble for other people; thinking about their feelings
- daytimeB1nounthe part of the day when it is light, between morning and evening
- decorationB2nounsomething added to a place or object to make it look nicer or more festive
- discardC1verbto throw away or get rid of something because you no longer want or need it
- drasticallyB2adverbin a very strong and sudden way that has a big effect
- eraseB2verbto remove something completely, such as writing, a recording or a memory
- explorerB2nouna person who travels to places that few people know about, to learn about them
- factualB2adjectivebased on facts, or containing facts, not opinions or imagination
- fixtureC1nouna fixed item in a home, such as a light or sink; also a sports match on a set date
- footwearB2nounshoes, boots, sandals and other things that people wear on their feet
- genreB2nouna type of film, music, book or art, such as horror, jazz or science fiction
- gymnasiumB2nouna large room or building with equipment for exercise and indoor sports
- herebyC1adverbby this statement or document, used in official announcements and legal writing
- hesitationB2nouna short pause before you do or say something because you are not sure
- homemadeB1adjectivemade at home, not bought in a store or made in a factory
- hospitalityB2nounbeing friendly and generous to guests; also the business of hotels, restaurants and tourism
- incomingB2adjectivearriving or about to arrive; about to start a new job or role
- inductionC1nounthe process of introducing a new employee or member to their job or organization
- intentlyC1adverbin a way that shows you are giving something your full, serious attention
- mowerB2nouna machine used to cut grass, especially in a garden or park
- nutritionB1nounthe food you eat and how it affects your health and growth
- sedanB2nouna car with a closed body, four doors and a separate space at the back for bags
- sunscreenB1nouna cream or lotion you put on your skin to protect it from the sun
- wellnessB2noungood physical and mental health, especially when you look after it through healthy habits
- workbookB1nouna book with exercises that students write in, or a file of linked spreadsheets
- cleanlinessB2nounthe state of being free from dirt, or the habit of keeping things clean
- contestantB2nouna person who takes part in a competition or game show
- ethicsB2nounideas about what is right and wrong that guide how people behave
- inefficientB2adjectivewasting time, money or energy instead of using it well
- recessionB2nouna period when a country's economy is weak, with less trade and fewer jobs
- timelineB2nouna plan showing when each part of a project will happen, or a list of events in order
- unreliableB2adjectivenot able to be trusted or depended on to do what is expected
- acclaimedC1adjectivepraised by many people, especially critics
- chronicC1adjectivelasting for a long time or coming back often, especially an illness or problem
- deteriorateC1verbto become worse in quality, condition or strength over time
- resembleC1verbto look like or be similar to another person or thing
- unauthorizedB2adjectivedone or used without official permission
- violateB2verbto break a rule, law or agreement
- unplugC1verbto pull a plug out of a socket so a machine is no longer connected to power
Word list: TOEIC Service List 1.2 (Browne & Culligan), CC BY-SA 4.0. Only words with a full Gloss page are included, in the list’s order.