TOEFL Academic Vocabulary: 500 Essential Words in Context
Build 500 words for understanding and explaining university-level ideas.
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| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| analyze (verb) | To study something by breaking it into parts and examining how they work together; used in research and lecture discussion. Example: The professor analyzed the survey data to see which study habits were linked to higher grades. |
| attribute (verb) | To explain something as caused by a particular factor; used in science and social analysis. Example: The biologist attributed the plants’ rapid growth to the warmer greenhouse temperatures. |
| author (verb) | To create or produce a text, plan, or study; often used in academic publishing. Example: The historian authored a chapter on migration patterns in the coastal region. |
| identify (verb) | To recognize and name something specifically; frequent in evidence-based tasks and readings. Example: The students identified the main cause of the error as a faulty calibration step. |
| reflect (verb) | To show or express something indirectly, or to think back on carefully; used in interpretation and evaluation. Example: The pattern in the results may reflect a difference in preparation time. |
| address (verb) | To deal with a problem or topic directly; often used in lecture organization and solutions. Example: The lecture addressed student stress by discussing sleep and time management. |
| adaptation (noun) | A heritable trait that improves survival or reproduction in a particular environment; used in evolution and ecology. Example: The lecture explained how thick fur is an adaptation that helps arctic mammals conserve heat during winter. |
| dense (adjective) | Packed closely together or having a high concentration; used in biology, population studies, and ecology. Example: The report described a dense population of algae that reduced sunlight in the pond. |
| larva (noun) | An immature form that looks different from the adult stage in many animals; used in zoology and development. Example: The lecture described how the larva feeds aggressively before transforming into a pupa. |
| sustain (verb) | To support the continued existence of something over time; used in ecology, agriculture, and environmental science. Example: The river can sustain fish populations only if water quality remains high. |
| canine (noun) | A member of the dog family; used in zoology and comparative anatomy. Example: The study compared the skull of a canine with that of a feline to show dietary differences. |
| fungus (noun) | A living organism such as a mold or mushroom that absorbs nutrients from other material; used in biology and ecology. Example: The fungus spread through damp wood after the basement flooded. |
| migration (noun) | Seasonal or regular movement from one region to another; used in ecology and animal behavior. Example: The migration of monarch butterflies depends on milkweed and warm air currents. |
| Celsius scale (noun phrase) | A temperature scale used in science and everyday measurement, on which water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees under standard pressure. Example: The weather report used the Celsius scale for international comparison. |
| dormant (adjective) | Inactive for the moment but still capable of becoming active later. In geology, it often describes a volcano that is quiet but not extinct. Example: The volcano was dormant, yet scientists continued to monitor gas output. |
| lava (noun) | Molten rock that reaches Earth’s surface during a volcanic eruption. In geology, it cools to form igneous rock. Example: The eruption sent lava down the slope, where it hardened into dark rock. |
| polar (adjective) | Relating to Earth’s poles or to very cold regions near them. In climate and oceanography, it often describes conditions, winds, or waters near the Arctic or Antarctic. Example: The reading compared polar air with warmer tropical air masses. |
| allocate (verb) | To assign resources, time, or money to a purpose. In economics and public policy, it often means deciding where limited funds should go. Example: The city allocated more money to transit than to road expansion after reviewing commuter data. |
| inequality (noun) | An uneven or unfair difference in wealth, power, or opportunity. In sociology and economics, it usually refers to systematic gaps between groups. Example: The lecture linked income inequality to differences in school access and long-term health outcomes. |
| reform (noun) | A planned change meant to improve a system or institution. In history and politics, it usually refers to laws or policies introduced to fix problems. Example: The reform expanded voting access after years of public pressure. |
| survey (noun) | A method of collecting data by asking many people questions. In sociology, economics, and psychology, it is used to measure attitudes or habits. Example: A survey of first-year students found stress levels were highest during exam week. |
| community (noun) | A group of people living in the same area or sharing interests and social ties. In sociology and history, it often refers to local collective life. Example: The community organized meetings to discuss school funding. |
| policy (noun) | A plan or rule adopted by an institution or government. In politics and economics, it directs decisions and behavior. Example: The policy limited the use of single-use plastics on campus. |
| property (noun) | A thing owned by a person, group, or government. In economics and history, it often refers to land or assets. Example: The debate centered on whether property taxes should fund local schools. |
| aesthetic (adjective) | Relating to beauty, style, or artistic appearance; often used when discussing how a work looks or feels. Example: In an art seminar, the professor noted the building’s aesthetic effect came from its clean lines and natural light. |
| heritage (noun) | Valuable traditions, buildings, objects, or customs passed down from the past. Example: The city protected the district as cultural heritage because it reflected several centuries of trade and migration. |
| repertoire (noun) | A set of works, skills, or pieces that a performer or group can present. Example: The pianist expanded her repertoire to include more contemporary compositions. |
| practical (adjective) | Useful and based on real conditions, not just theory. Example: The practical choice for the exhibit lighting was the one that protected the paper while still showing color clearly. |
| discrete (adjective) | Separate and distinct. Usage context: mathematics/science. Example: The lecture divided the population into discrete groups for analysis. |
| integral (adjective) | Essential or necessary as a part. Usage context: systems/organization. Example: Lab reports are an integral part of the biology course. |
About this deck
TOEFL tasks reward the ability to follow and explain academic ideas across disciplines. These 500 independently selected cards cover lecture signals, argument and evidence, plus the vocabulary that actually carries biology, geology, astronomy, psychology, history, economics and the arts. Every card includes a plain-English meaning, a usage cue and an original university-context example, so what you build is transferable comprehension and production rather than a memorized list. Import it and the whole deck joins your spaced-repetition schedule. Words you already know stretch out and drop out of sight; the ones that keep slipping come back until they stop slipping. What goes down is the number of words you still don't know — not the time it takes to flip past 500 cards you mostly do.
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- Cards are organized around both academic discourse and common university lecture domains, with cues for recognizing, paraphrasing and using each term in context.
TOEFL is a registered trademark of ETS. Memly is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by ETS, and this is not an official word list. Every card is written by Memly; no official questions or proprietary materials are reproduced. Scope reviewed 2026-08-16.