TOEFL vocabulary: 12 words that keep appearing in the test
B2–C112 words
TOEFL reading passages are drawn from academic textbooks, so the vocabulary repeats. These twelve words carry a lot of weight in the reading and integrated writing sections and are worth over-learning before test day.
Where you will use it: TOEFL reading, listening and integrated writing.
TOEFL vocabulary — The word list
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| abundant | Present in large quantities.“Fossils are abundant in this region.” |
| adapt | To change to fit new conditions.“Species adapt to warmer water.” |
| comprise | To consist of.“The committee comprises nine members.” |
| diminish | To become smaller or weaker.“The effect diminishes over time.” |
| emerge | To appear or become known.“A pattern began to emerge.” |
| facilitate | To make something easier.“Roads facilitated trade.” |
| inherent | Existing as a natural part.“There is an inherent risk in the method.” |
| phenomenon | An observable event or fact.“Migration is a seasonal phenomenon.” |
| prominent | Important and easily noticed.“She was a prominent scientist.” |
| subsequent | Coming after something else.“Subsequent studies confirmed it.” |
| undergo | To experience a process.“The samples undergo testing.” |
| utilise | To use something for a purpose.“Plants utilise sunlight for energy.” |
How to study this list
Add five or six of these words a day rather than all twelve at once, keep the example sentence on the card, and review them when they come due. WordNest schedules each word across seven growing intervals — same day, then 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days — so the list is still with you months later. Read how spaced repetition works if you want the reasoning behind those numbers.
Studying toefl vocabulary pairs well with our IELTS vocabulary list, academic English word list and English collocations, or browse all free English word lists.
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