IELTS Vocabulary Bank

Family and friends

● A lifelong friend – A friend that you have had for most of your life
● Arrange a dinner date – Plan to share an evening meal
● A shoulder to cry on – Someone to sympathize with you
● Close knit family – A close family with common interests
● Dear to my heart – Someone that I care about
● Distant cousins – People who share a common ancestor but are not closely
related
● Extended family – Uncles, aunts and cousins form part of the extended family
● Face to face – see each other in person
● Get to know one another – becoming friends with someone
● Get together – Meet up with friends
● Immediate family – Spouse, parents, children, grandparents
● Long lost friend – A friend that you have lost contact with
● Long-term relationships – A committed relationship between partners
● Long-distance relationship - a relationship where you don’t live close together
● Nurture our friendships – grow a stronger friendship
● Professional relationships – The relationships that we have in the workplace
● Relationship problems – problems between partners
● Share a common background – The share a similar heritage or culture
● Share the same ideas – To have similar opinions and views
● Stand the test of time – To last a long time
● Strike up a conversation – to start talking to someone
● To enjoy someone’s company – To enjoy spending time with someone
● To have a good working relationship – To work together well
● To have a lot in common – To have shared interests
● To hit it off – To like each other straight away
● To keep in touch with – To keep in contact
● To lose touch with – to stop talking to a friend due to schedule/location
Food
● A balanced diet – A diet that has the right amount of nutrients
● A bottle of bubbly – Sparkling wine
● scrumptious - delicious
● Decadent - rich, expensive, delicious food
● A sweet tooth – to enjoy sugary food
● An English breakfast – A large cooked breakfast that includes egg and bacon
● hunger pangs – to feel hungry
● Hangry - (slang) to feel angry because you are hungry
● Candle lit dinner – A romantic dinner by candlelight
● Cut down on – to eat less of
● Daily consumption – The amount that you eat everyday
● Dying of hunger – Very hungry
● Famished - extremely hungry
● Stuffed - really full
● Exotic meals – Meals that originate in other countries
● Fine dining – Food catering to expensive tastes in a formal setting
● Fussy eater – Someone dislikes many foods
● Home cooked meals – Meals cooked at home
● Homemade food – Food made at home
● Junk food – Food with little nutritional value
● Leafy vegetables – Vegetables such as spinach and cabbage
● Mouth-watering meals – Delicious meals
● Nutritious food – Food with many nutrients
● Packed with vitamins – Full of vitamins
● Piping hot cup of coffee – Very hot coffee
● Pub lunch – Lunch served in a bar
● Rabbit food – Salad/vegetables
● Ready meals – Heat and eat meals
● Refined carbohydrates – Foods such as white rice, white bread
● Savouring the food – Enjoying the food
● Scrumptious meal – An exceptionally tasty meal
● Seasonal – foods that grow in a particular season
● Starving hungry – Extremely hungry
● Wining and dining – Entertainment that includes good food
Travel

● Affordable destinations – Places within a reasonable price range

● Affordable travel – Travel which is within your price range
● Around the world – In all corners of the globe
● Arts and culture – The art, music and other cultural aspects of an area
● Craft markets – Stalls where goods made by the local people are sold
● Do as the locals do – Enjoy the activities as the local people do
● Efficient public transport – A functioning transport system intended for the use
of residents and visitors
● Exotic destinations – Unusual or strange holiday destinations
● Get around – Get from place to place
● Guided tours – Walking, hiking or driving visits led by a guide who knows the
area
● Holiday brochures – Pamphlets advertising holiday destinations
● Holiday destination – Place to which you leave on holiday
● Long haul flights – Long distance flights
● Lush rainforests – Luxuriant equatorial forests
● Magnificent landscapes – Impressive scenery
● Make advance reservations – Booking ahead of time
● Memorable experiences – Activities that you will remember for years
● Off the beaten track – A place that is not on the main thoroughfare
● Out of season – Outside the most popular holiday period
● Packaged deals – Travel deals that are put together by an agency and sold as
a package
● Quaint villages – Old fashioned or charming small towns
● Scenic views – Lovely scenes
● Self-catering accommodation – A Place to stay where you see to your own food
● Spectacular beaches – Impressive sandy shorelines
● Stunning architecture – Magnificent buildings
● Swarming with tourists – Full of holidaymakers
● Time on their hands – Available time to do as you choose
● To get away from it all – To get away from everyday routines
● To go sightseeing -– Take a trip around an area to see what it has to offer
● Travel abroad – Travel to overseas destinations
● Travelling light – Travelling with little luggage
● Value for money – A good return on investment
● Visa regulations – Laws that relate to entry into a country
● Wildlife safari – A guided tour through a game park
Technology
● Access to the Internet – Able to connect to the Internet
● Advances in technology – Progressive forward movement in technology
● Backup your files – To save your data to another device
● Become rapidly obsolete – Quickly become out of date
● Computer literate – Adequate knowledge of a computer
● Download from the Internet – Take data (e.g. a movie) from the internet to your
computer
● Emerging technology – Brand new machines and software
● Glued to the screen – Unable or unwilling to leave the digital device
● Hacking into the network – To gain illegal access to the computer
● Internet access – The ability to enter the Internet
● Keep a hard copy – Keep a paper copy
● Not rocket science – It is not very difficult
● Online piracy – The downloading of licenced media without payment
● Reinstall the programs – To put computer programs back onto the computer
● Shop online – Shop via the Internet
● Shut down – Turn the computer off
● Social media networks – Online platforms for communication between people
and organisations
● State of the art technology – The best technology available
● Surfing the web – To move from one site to another on the Internet
● To click on an icon – To use the mouse to click on the pictures to get into
programs
● To crash – To stop working suddenly
● To Log in – To sign onto the computer
● To upgrade your computer system – To get a larger, quicker or more modern
computer
● Wireless hotspots – A location where the Internet is available
Pollution & the environment
● outskirts - areas outside the city centre, suburbs or industrial district
● factory emissions - smoke and pollution from factories
● toxic fumes - smoke which is poisonous
● traffic jams - large queues of cars not moving
● pollutants - dangerous chemicals
● pesticides: chemicals to keep bugs and animals away from plants
● chemical fertilizers: chemicals added to make soil stronger
● commute to work: drive or travel to work every day
● reuse and recycle: use products again or find another purpose for them
● industrial waste is incinerated: waste which is burnt
● facilities for recycling: places where you can dispose of plastic / cardboard
● education programme: teaching and learning in school or elsewhere
● consequences: the outcomes
● campaign: high profile public policy
● scientists predict: ideas for the future
● disintegrate: break down into small particles
● microplastics: very tiny pieces of plastic
● single-use: use once then throw out
● policy should be rolled out: implemented all over the country
● documentaries: factual TV programmes
People & personalities

● confident: in control
● awkward: uncomfortable
● put up a façade: to pretend to be something you are not
● a control freak: to want to do things yourself
● an eye for detail: making sure everything is perfect
● reliable and dependable: be trusted not to let someone down
● punctual: always on time
● disrespectful: impolite
● a negative trait: bad characteristic
● parental: behave like a mother or final
● interpersonal skills: be good at talking to others
● empathetic: understanding others emotions
● generous listener: take time to hear what others are saying
● to emulate: to be like
● considerate: kind and thoughtful
● insecure: shy and not confident
● moody: sometimes happy and sometimes sad/cross
Health & fitness
● balanced diet: eating a sensible mix of different foods
● conscious of my health: watching and caring about your health
● convenient take away: food which you can eat at home
● healthier eating habits: eating less sugar or salt
● productive at work: achieving more, better results
● processed meat: meat in which there are additives or chemicals
● Tempted: when you want to eat unhealthy food
● Crave: when you want to eat unhealthy food
● Vegan: does not eat meat, or dairy foods
● Vegetarian: does not eat meat
● Pescatarian: does not eat meat, but eats fish
● open minded: open to other ideas
● Sceptical: not believing something
● Factory farmed: foods that are produced in factories e.g. chickens may never
go outside, and live in a small cage
● Free range: chickens/cows that can go outside
● Organic: food that has been grown without chemicals
● Positive reinforcement: rewarding people for doing the right thing
School & education
● old-school: traditional learning with punishments and controlling teachers
● teacher centred: where the teacher is leading the class
● Student centred: when the students lead the class
● encourage collaboration: learning together through discussions
● pressure to meet deadlines: having to finish work by a certain time / date
● assignments: homework or essays
● sail through them: not to have to work hard and to find things easy
● learning expectations: what the teacher expects from their student
● role plays: acting out a situation to simulate or practice it
● dictation: writing down what the teacher says, accurately and fast.
● breakthrough: a new development
● inspiring: something which makes you want to do better
● intonation: the ‘singing’ sound of speech
● paid off: was worth the effort
● outdated: old fashioned
● league tables: tables which rank the position of schools according to academic
success
● alumni: students who used to go to a certain school or college
● boarding school: where students live at school during the term time
● extra- curricular activities: anything NOT academic, eg sport, drama
● peer group: students of your own age, in your class
● remote: not being physically there / learning via computer
Work & careers
● A field (of work): an area or type of career
● Motivated about: wanting to do well in
● Internship: working for a short time, sometimes unpaid
● Apprenticeship: hands on, or practical work to learn a job
● Hands on: getting involved and doing everything to help
● Innovative small companies: with new, creative ideas
● Cutting edge: the best new technology
● Diagnose: to find out what is wrong
● Pediatrics: specialist child medicine (also spelled paediatrics)
● Routine check ups: a regular (not urgent) visit to the doctors
● Huge appreciation: gratefulness and gratitude
● Follow up care: an appointment after an operation or illness
● Lucrative: money making or profitable
● Highly merited: well deserved
● Career ladder: moving up through promotions to the top of the company
● Pension scheme: money for retirement
● Job security: knowing you can keep your job / job safety
● Start up community: new small businesses sometimes internet based
University & student life
● Challenging: academically difficult
● Day in, day out: full time without a break
● Wide ranging: covering a large spectrum / area of different knowledge
● Undergraduate: studying for a degree but having not yet achieved it.
● Postgraduate: having achieved a degree and now studying for a higher
qualification, possibly a professional qualification
● STEM subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
● Further education: studies after leaving school
● Technical colleges: places which do not demand such high entrance
qualifications as university
● Vocational studies: focus on learning or mastering a skill
● Hands on training: practical work/ learning
● To apply for a course: the process of registering for a university
● To get an (un)conditional offer: an offer which does not depend on previous
exam results
● Halls of residence / student accommodation: a particular place to live for
students
● Student union: an organisation for students / sometimes a physical place
● A fresher / an undergraduate / a graduate: a new student, someone studying
for a Bachelor's degree, a student who has finished their Degree
● A graduation ceremony: a formal occasion when Degrees are given out
● To take a gap year: a year between study and university
● To drop out of university: to leave before the course is finished
● Out of my depth: finding work / study too hard
● Seminar: smaller class of students with a Professor leading the discussion
● Lecture theatre: large building for a talk / lecture
● Extensive research: in depth work done in a particular academic field
Books, film & art

● Curl up with a book: to get comfortable and read.

● Thrillers or action books: exciting and full of events
● A strong plotline: good story which keeps moving
● Cover to cover: from start to finish
● Rom-com movie: a romantic comedy film
● Adapted from fiction: a film which was first a book
● Strong characterisation: the main people are well rounded and believable
● Recommended to me by a friend: someone suggested that I read it
● Black humour: funny but rather dark or mysterious as well
● Genre: the type of film. E.g. horror or comedy
● Blockbusters: films made for the mass market to generate a lot of income
● A sea change in something: a fundamental shift
● Online streaming: watching via the internet
● To commission a film: to ask for one to be made
● A valid perspective: a real view / outlook/insight to something
● Cultural heritage: the background and history of a country
● Box office hit: a film that was very popular when was first released
Climate change
● The ravages of something: destruction of something
● Hybrid car: a car that uses both petrol and electricity
● Carbon footprint: how much carbon dioxide is released as a result of one’s
activities
● Recycle: breaking down products to create new products from the materials
● Growing season: the time of the year when plants grow
● Yields: amount of a crop produced
● Crops: a plant grown in large amounts
● Eco-conscious: describes someone who shows concern for the environment
● Natural fertilizer: fertilizers that come from animal waste, animal matter or plant
matter
● Chemical fertilizer: fertilizers that are made from synthetic materials
● Contaminate: to make something impure, poisonous or polluted
● Groundwater: water that is below the earth’s surface
● Vegetable scraps: bits of vegetables that are discarded
● Non-chemical compost: decaying matter such as food, leaves or manure used
to fertilize soil
● Organic: describes something that does not use chemical fertilizers
● Commute: travel to and from work
● Solar panels: panels that collect rays from the sun to be used as energy for
electricity or heating
● Household cleaning products: products that are used to clean one’s home
● Time-consuming: describes something that takes a lot of time
● Environmentally conscious: when a person or business is aware of their effect
on the environment and attempts to minimize this affect
● Green lifestyle: a way of living that attempts to reduce usage of water & power,
waste and toxic substances
● Sustainable: describes something that causes minimal damage to the
environment
● Emulate: to copy someone’s behavior out of respect
● Conventional products: products that have been in use for a long time
● Energy saving: describe products designed to reduce use of electricity or other
form of energy
● Fuel emissions: gases that lead to air pollution through the burning of fuel
● Electric cars: vehicles that run on electricity
● Food miles: the distance food travels from the time it is produced until it
reaches its end customer
● Local food: food that is produced a short distance from where it is consumed
● Fossil fuels: coal, gas or oil that is used in industry, homes and vehicles
● Carbon monoxide: a dangerous gas produced from the partial burning of fuels
● Dispose: throw away
● Waterways: lakes, rivers, oceans and canals
● Ecosystem: the geographic area where animals, plants and other organisms
interact
● Natural habitat: the area where a plant or animal normally lives
● Tackle: to try to deal with a problem
● Collective effort: when a group of people try to do something
● Forge: to create something strong or successful
Working from home (lockdown)
● Flexibility: being able to change or be changed depending on circumstances
● Work-life balance: the time spent at your job in comparison to the time spent on
your personal life
● Distraction: something that takes away your attention from something else
● Burnout: fatigue or tiredness from being overworked
● Sense of community: when members of a group have a feeling of belonging and
that they matter to one another
● Colleagues: people you work with
● Camaraderie: the feeling of friendship and trust that people who work together
or spend time together share
● Teamwork: when people work together to accomplish a goal
● Isolation: the feeling or state of being separated from others
● Productivity: how much you work you produce in relation to how much time you
spend
● Workplace: any location where a person performs a job
● Work remotely or remote work: when an employee works from home rather than
an office and uses the phone and/or computer to communication
● Telecommute: same as “remote work”
● Chained to a desk: when someone feels forced or obligated to work exclusively
from their desk
● 9 to 5: the typical hours of work in many countries. Also can mean normal
sometimes boring or mundane jobs.
● Carbon footprint: how much carbon dioxide someone/ somethings actions
create
● Sustainability benefits: the results of protecting the environment through less
waste and less pollution
● Environmentally friendly: describes things or activities that do not harm the
environment
● Financially viable: describes something that allows companies to generate
income, fulfill responsibilities and continue to grow
● Supervision: when someone manages a person or department to make sure
rules are followed and work is done correctly
● Lockdown: when people are not allowed to leave an area as a security measure
● Hybrid work: work from both home and office
● Autonomy: when you make decisions for yourself without the control of others
Social media
● Viral: if a post/ video is viral or “has gone viral,” that means it is spreading very
rapidly across the internet,
● Troll: used as a verb and a noun. A troll is a person who purposely creates
offensive or provocative posts or comments to arouse anger in other social
media users.
● Hater: a person who posts negative or critical comments about others
● Vlogger: a person who regularly creates short videos to be posted online
● Meme: a humorous image or text that is easily sent to others over the internet
● Anonymity: The state of being anonymous, of people not knowing your identity
● DM: direct message
● Emoji: a small digital image used in social media/ emails/ text to display an
emotion, object or idea
● Badger: to bother someone repeatedly
● Derogatory: offensive, hurtful, disrespectful
● Censor: to keep certain images. Texts, etc from being displayed or published
because it is offensive or immoral
● Follow: to subscribe to the page of a person or business on social media
● Harass: to create a hostile situation through written or verbal communication
● Catfishing: the act of creating a false internet profile in order to deceive or
scam someone
● Grooming: preparing someone (often a minor) over the internet in order to
eventually commit a sexual offense
● Influencer: a person who promotes a product online to his/her followers so that
they may purchase it
● Photoshop: software that allows users to digitally alter their images
● Filters: preset photo enhancements that users can select to apply to their
images or videos
● Block: stopping or banning someone from interacting with you on social media
or viewing your posts/ profile
● Scam: a dishonest attempt to trick or cheat you
Advertising
● Commercials: an advert on tv or radio
● Imagery: visual images
● Tantalizing: something that creates desire and excitement
● Live up to its hype: when something is as good as you expected it to be
● Product placement: a practice in movies or tv shows when a product or its
brand name appear on screen visibly in order to gain exposure
● Celebrity endorsement: when a famous person advertises a product by saying
he or she uses it
● Grating: describes sounds that are annoying
● Inclined to purchase: likely to buy
● Potential customers: people who might possibly buy your product
● Turn someone off: to make someone uninterested in something
● Pop-ups: advertisements that suddenly appear on a computer or device screen.
● Subconscious: the part of the brain that sees, hears or remembers things that
you do not actively remember
● Subliminal: describes something that can influence the subconscious mind
without the conscious mind realizing it
● Billboards: a large outdoor board, usually alongside large roads, used to display
an ad
● Flyer: a small paper advertising a product, business or event
● Website traffic: the internet users who visit a website
● Brand awareness: when customers recognize or remember a brand and its
qualities
● Jingle: music that accompanies commercials
● Telemarketing: the marketing of good or services over the phone
● Bombard: attack continuously
● Buying power: the money someone has to buy things
● Free-for-all: a situation with no rules, limits or restrictions
● Impressionable: describes a person who is easily influenced
Fashion & shopping
● Clothes horse: someone who really likes to buy nice clothes
● Well put together: describes someone who looks good and who has made effort
to do so
● Pick up: buy
● Bargain price: a discounted price
● Be up on the latest trends: to be informed of what is fashionable
● Social media feed: the updated list of new content available on various social
media platforms
● In fashion: fashionable
● Replicate: to copy
● Looks: appearance
● Lower priced: inexpensive, cheap
● A fraction of the cost: a small part of the total cost
● A (great) eye for something: able to notice or make correct judgments about
something
● Clothes rack: rail where clothes are hung for display
● Shoe display: place where shoes are shown
● Level of attention: the amount of attention someone pays to something
● Luxury goods: things that are very expensive to buy but are not considered
necessities
● High-end designers: people who design products sold at very high prices
● Out of my price range: describes something that is too expensive for someone
to buy
● Incomparable: cannot be compared because it is so good
● Over the top: extreme, excessive, exaggerated
● Avant garde: describes music, art, etc, that are unconventional or experimental
● Ambience: the atmosphere of a location
● Unparalleled: exceptional; in a category of its own because of its excellence
● Customer service: the assistance given to customers of a product or service
● Top-notch: high quality
● Blow money on something: spend large amounts of money
● “it” item: something very fashionable
● Place pressure on: to try to influence or persuade
● Stay current: to be up to date
● Spoiled for choice: to have a lot of options available to you
● High street: the main street where shops, banks and businesses are located.
● Unfathomable: unimaginable
● e-shops: stores that do business online
● click of a button: on a computer or device, something that requires very little
effort
● at your doorstep: at your home or near where you live
● superimposed: when something is placed over something else so that the
image of both items is clear
● frame: the size and shape of someone’s body
● digital imagery: the collection of pixels on a screen that create an image
● brick and mortar stores: a physical shop as opposed to an online shop
● counterparts: someone who does the same job as someone else somewhere
else