When it comes to preparing for the IELTS, one of the most important things you need to focus on is your IELTS vocabulary. Having a wide range of words and phrases at your disposal will help you to express yourself clearly and accurately in the writing and speaking sections of the test.
In this guide, we have listed the most commonly used synonyms, antonyms, idioms and vocabulary words for IELTS to help you build a strong vocabulary.
IELTS vocabulary words with meaning
Vocabulary is an integral part of the IELTS exam, and having a solid grasp of the English language can make all the difference in gaining a high IELTS score.
Therefore, when preparing for this exam, it’s essential to focus on learning new vocabulary words for IELTS to succeed.
Also Read: TOEFL vocabulary list | GMAT vocabulary
1. Synonyms for IELTS vocabulary
Learning common synonyms is a great place to start whether you’re preparing for the IELTS exam or just want to improve your IELTS vocabulary list.
Also Read: 100 GRE vocabulary words
Here are commonly used synonyms in the IELTS test that can help you get an edge on the exam:
| Word | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| Good | Excellent, Outstanding, Superb |
| Bad | Terrible, Awful, Poor, Unpleasant |
| Big | Large, Huge, Massive, Enormous |
| Small | Tiny, Miniature, Little, Petite |
| Happy | Delighted, Ecstatic, Joyful |
| Sad | Unhappy, Miserable, Sorrowful |
| Important | Crucial, Significant, Essential |
| Interesting | Fascinating, Intriguing, Engaging |
| Difficult | Challenging, Arduous, Hard |
| Easy | Simple, Effortless, Straightforward |
| Beautiful | Gorgeous, Stunning, Attractive |
| Ugly | Hideous, Unattractive, Repulsive |
| Intelligent | Clever, Brilliant, Smart |
| Stupid | Dull, Simple Minded, Unintelligent |
| Great | Wonderful, Marvelous, Fantastic |
| Terrible | Horrible, Dreadful, Frightening |
| Many | Numerous, Several, Abundant |
| Few | Several, A handful of, Limited |
| Improve | Enhance, Upgrade, Ameliorate |
| Worsen | Deteriorate, Decline, Degrade |
| Talk | Speak, Converse, Communicate |
| Big | Significant, Substantial, Sizeable |
| Small | Miniature, Diminutive, Compact |
| Get | Obtain, Acquire, Secure |
| Use | Utilize, Employ, Apply |
| Show | Demonstrate, Display, Exhibit |
| Think | Ponder, Contemplate, Reflect |
| Explain | Elaborate, Clarify, Expound |
| Start | Commence, Initiate, Begin |
| Finish | Conclude, Complete, Wrap up |
| Help | Assist, Support, Aid |
| Harm | Injure, Damage, Endanger |
| Believe | Trust, Have faith, Convinced |
| Understand | Comprehend, Grasp, Perceive |
| Remember | Recall, Recollect, Retain |
| Forget | Neglect, Disregard, Overlook |
| Have | Possess, Own, Hold |
| Like | Prefer, Admire, Enjoy |
| Dislike | Detest, Loathe, Despise |
| Problem | Issue, Challenge, Difficulty |
| Solution | Resolution, Answer, Remedy |
| Difficult | Challenging, Complex, Demanding |
| Easy | Effortless, Simple, Uncomplicated |
2. Antonyms for IELTS vocabulary
Knowing antonyms - words that are opposite in meaning - is essential for achieving a high score on the IELTS exam. To help you prepare, we have compiled a list of commonly used antonyms on the IELTS exam:
| Word | Antonyms |
|---|---|
| Constructive | Destructive |
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| Benefit | Drawback |
| Possible | Impossible |
| Significant | Insignificant |
| Include | Exclude |
| Expand | Contract |
| Increase | Decrease |
| Successful | Unsuccessful |
| Efficient | Inefficient |
| Accept | Reject |
| Build | Demolish |
| Certain | Uncertain |
| Succeed | Fail |
| Inexpensive | Expensive |
| Permanent | Temporary |
| Profit | Loss |
| Responsible | Irresponsible |
| Wise | Foolish |
| Strong | Weak |
| Healthy | Unhealthy |
| Beneficial | Detrimental |
| Support | Oppose |
| Happy | Sad |
| Secure | Insecure |
| Develop | Regress |
| Generous | Stingy |
| Include | Omit |
| Stable | Unstable |
| Flexible | Inflexible |
| Productive | Unproductive |
| Clean | Dirty |
| Efficient | Inefficient |
| Advance | Retreat |
| Begin | End |
| Peaceful | Chaotic |
| Conventional | Unconventional |
| Formal | Informal |
| Rural | Urban |
| Genuine | Fake |
| Natural | Artificial |
| Obtain | Lose |
| Increase | Decrease |
3. Idioms for IELTS vocabulary
Idioms are a great way to spice up your IELTS essay and demonstrate your mastery of the English language. Below is a list of commonly used idioms to help you build your IELTS vocabulary list:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A piece of cake | Very easy | The math exam was a piece of cake for him. |
| Hit the nail on the head | To be exactly right | Jane hit the nail on the head with her suggestion. |
| A blessing in disguise | Something good that wasn't recognized at first | Losing the job turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it led to a better opportunity. |
| Break a leg | Good luck | Break a leg in your performance tomorrow! |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Very expensive | The new smartphone cost me an arm and a leg. |
| On the ball | Alert and efficient | The staff at the hotel is always on the ball. |
| Piece of advice | A helpful suggestion | Can I give you a piece of advice? |
| Don't cry over spilled milk | Don't worry about something that has happened | Yes, I made a mistake, but let's not cry over spilled milk. |
| Kill two birds with one stone | Accomplish two things with a single action | By visiting my friend in the city, I can kill two birds with one stone – see the sights and catch up with her. |
| Hit the sack | Go to bed | I'm exhausted; I think it's time to hit the sack. |
| Get the hang of | Understand and become skilled at something | It took some time, but I finally got the hang of playing the guitar. |
| In the blink of an eye | Very quickly | The thief disappeared in the blink of an eye. |
| Go the extra mile | Make additional effort | She always goes the extra mile to help her colleagues. |
| Bury the hatchet | Make peace with someone | After their argument, they decided to bury the hatchet and move on. |
| Break the ice | To start a conversation in a social setting | She tried to break the ice by asking about their weekend plans. |
| Beat around the bush | Avoid directly addressing an issue | Please don't beat around the bush; tell me what's wrong. |
| Cross your fingers | Hope for good luck | I'm crossing my fingers for a positive outcome. |
| Catch someone red-handed | Catch someone in the act of doing something wrong | The police caught the thief red-handed. |
| A penny for your thoughts | Asking someone what they are thinking | You seem lost in thought – a penny for your thoughts? |
Also read: Daily use English words
4. Phrasal verb for IELTS vocabulary
A phrasal verb is a type of verb that consists of two or more words: a main verb combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs).
The combination of these words creates a new meaning that is different from the individual meanings of the verb and the particles.
Below is a list of commonly used phrasal verbs to help you build your IELTS vocabulary list:
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Carry out | To complete or perform a task | The researchers will carry out the experiment. |
| Get along | To have a good relationship with someone | I get along well with my colleagues at work. |
| Look after | To take care of or be responsible for something | Can you look after my dog while I'm away? |
| Take off | To remove or become airborne | The plane will take off in an hour. |
| Give up | To stop doing something, to quit | He decided to give up smoking for his health. |
| Turn on | To activate or start something | Can you turn on the lights, please? |
| Put off | To postpone or delay something | They put off the meeting until next week. |
| Get over | To recover from an illness or emotional setback | It took her some time to get over the breakup. |
| Bring in | To introduce or generate income | The company plans to bring in new technology. |
| Set up | To establish or arrange something | We need to set up a meeting with the client. |
| Call off | To cancel or terminate something | They had to call off the event due to bad weather. |
| Run into | To encounter someone unexpectedly | I ran into an old classmate at the supermarket. |
| Get in | To enter or arrive at a place | What time does your flight get in? |
| Bring about | To cause or make something happen | The new policy will bring about significant changes. |
| Take on | To accept a responsibility or challenge | He decided to take on the project despite its complexity. |
| Put up with | To tolerate or endure something | I can't put up with the noise from the construction site. |
| Find out | To discover or learn something | I need to find out the time of the meeting. |
| Give back | To return something that was borrowed or taken | Can you give back my pen when you're done using it? |
| Look into | To investigate or examine something | The authorities will look into the matter. |
| Get out | To leave or exit from a place | Let's get out of here before it starts raining. |
| Show up | To arrive or appear at a place or event | She didn't show up for the meeting. |
| Carry on | To continue doing something | Despite the difficulties, they decided to carry on. |
| Make out | To understand or perceive something | It's hard to make out what he's saying from a distance. |
| Stand for | To represent or symbolize something | The initials NASA stand for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. |
| Break up | To end a relationship or disperse | They decided to break up after years of dating. |
[FREE] Ace your IELTS!
Download our comprehensive 30-day study guide with tips, insights, sample answers and more!
Tips to improve your vocabulary
A good understanding of a wide range of vocabulary is key to doing well on tests. Here are some tips to help you improve your IELTS vocabulary when preparing for IELTS exams:
1. Read a lot
Reading regularly will expose you to new vocabulary words for IELTS that can help expand your vocabulary. Try reading books that are written in a language that’s slightly more difficult than what you normally use so you can pick up new words and phrases.
2. Use flashcards
Create flashcards with new words and phrases you learn while studying for the exam, and then test yourself frequently to help commit them to memory. Try creating digital cards as well so you can review them on the go whenever you have a few minutes of free time.
3. Take notes
When reading books or other material related to the IELTS exam, take notes of any new words or phrases that stand out to you. This is another great way to track your progress and remember what words are important for the test.
4. Get creative
Being creative can help you find more effective ways of learning new vocabulary words for IELTS. Try playing word association games with yourself or create visual cues associated with individual words.
5. Memorize roots and affixes
Learning the roots and affixes of words can help you understand their meaning more easily. This will also make it easier to recognize similar words with the same root or affixes, even if they’re not exactly the same. Watch our IELTS Lessons Playlist on YouTube.
Our expert instructor covers all modules: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Click here.
Also read: Describe a daily routine that you enjoy: Cue card topic
Learning new IELTS vocabulary words with meaning is essential for success on the IELTS exam. Through reading, memorization techniques, and learning about idioms and collocations, you can make sure you have an adequate understanding of the English language skills necessary to achieve a high score.
Collocations can be understood as the proper arrangement of new English words with meaning in a sentence or the combination of words that appear natural.
Frequently asked questions
Which IELTS vocabulary is best?
The best IELTS vocabulary includes a wide range of words that demonstrate your ability to use English effectively. A mix of general and academic vocabulary will help you express yourself clearly and concisely across various tasks.
How can I improve my vocabulary in IELTS?
To enhance your vocabulary for IELTS, engage in extensive reading of newspapers, magazines, academic texts, and online articles. Regularly listen to English podcasts, watch movies or documentaries, and engage in conversations to reinforce your word usage and comprehension skills.
Can I write 500 words in IELTS?
While there's no strict word count requirement for IELTS essays, it's recommended to write around 250 to 300 words for Task 2 essays to ensure you fully address the topic and maintain clarity. Exceeding 500 words might lead to overloading your essay with unnecessary content, potentially affecting the coherence and focus of your response.
How much is 150 words in IELTS?
150 words in IELTS would be considered too short for a Task 2 essay. In Task 2, you are expected to write around 250 to 300 words to provide a thorough analysis of the topic and support your arguments effectively.
How many vocabulary words for IELTS?
There's no specific number of vocabulary words required for IELTS, but aiming to learn and effectively use around 2,000 to 3,000 words can significantly enhance your language proficiency and help you tackle a variety of topics in the test.
Is there any IELTS vocabulary test?
IELTS itself doesn't have a separate vocabulary test. However, the test assesses your vocabulary skills through the four main language components: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Is 7.5 a good score?
A score of 7.5 in IELTS is generally considered very good and can open doors to various educational and employment opportunities.
Is IELTS vocabulary important?
Yes, IELTS vocabulary is crucial. Demonstrating a wide-ranging vocabulary in your writing and speaking tasks can positively impact your score by showcasing your language proficiency, clarity of expression, and ability to discuss complex topics effectively.
How can I memorise new words effectively?
Establish associations between new words and familiar concepts to make the memorisation process more effective. Creating a story around a group of words can help you recall your memory. Furthermore, practice actively using the words in sentences, integrating them into your daily language use. This approach solidifies your understanding of the words and enhances your ability to recall and employ them appropriately during the exam.
Achieve your highest IELTS score!
Signup for your free IELTS masterclass with Edvoy.
Learn from the best of the best teachers with over 17 years of experience.
