IELTS Vocabulary Dictionary — words that score
High-band words, phrases and collocations for IELTS writing and speaking — each with a plain meaning and a natural example you can actually use. Free to read; save your favourites and practise them in one tap.
Linking & cohesion
Connect ideas smoothly — examiners reward a natural range of cohesive devices, not just "firstly, secondly".
used to add a contrasting point to what you just said
“The city is expensive. Having said that, salaries are higher too.”
considering / because of
“In light of recent research, the policy was revised.”
in the same way; for the same reason
“Cheap flights boost tourism; by the same token, they raise emissions.”
introduces the main reason for something
“Sales fell sharply, this is largely because of the price rise.”
a clear example of what you are discussing
“Some species adapt fast; the urban fox is a case in point.”
introducing an opposite idea
“Rural areas emptied; conversely, cities swelled.”
after thinking about everything
“All things considered, the benefits outweigh the costs.”
Giving & hedging opinions
State a position with confidence — or soften a claim so it sounds measured rather than absolute.
a confident, academic way to give your view
“I would argue that public transport should be subsidised.”
many people believe (introduces a common view)
“It is widely held that reading boosts vocabulary.”
there are good reasons to support something
“There is a strong case for taxing single-use plastics.”
mostly true, but not completely — useful hedging
“To a large extent, success depends on effort.”
presents a view without fully committing to it
“It could be argued that exams measure memory, not ability.”
generally; on the whole
“By and large, the reforms have worked.”
usually do something (safer than "always")
“Younger users tend to prefer apps over websites.”
Describing trends (Writing Task 1)
Report data like an examiner: vary your verbs and pair them with the right adverbs.
increase or decrease quickly and by a lot
“Unemployment fell sharply after 2012.”
stop rising or falling and stay steady
“Prices rose, then levelled off in spring.”
reach the highest point at a value
“Visitor numbers peaked at 2 million in July.”
a slow, continuous rise
“There was a steady increase in demand.”
fall very suddenly and steeply
“Sales plummeted during the recession.”
rise and fall irregularly
“Temperatures fluctuated throughout the year.”
make up a proportion of a total
“Renewables account for a third of supply.”
Academic verbs (precise & high-band)
Swap everyday verbs for precise academic ones — a quick win for Lexical Resource.
show clearly (instead of "show")
“The study demonstrates a clear link.”
weaken or damage gradually
“Corruption undermines public trust.”
make something bad less severe
“Trees mitigate the effects of heat in cities.”
make a problem worse
“Traffic exacerbates air pollution.”
make something easier or possible
“Technology facilitates remote work.”
be caused by; originate from
“Many errors stem from a lack of planning.”
be dangerous to
“Rising seas pose a threat to coastal cities.”
Natural speaking phrases
Sound fluent and idiomatic in the speaking test — buy thinking time and react naturally.
without time to think carefully; a quick guess
“Off the top of my head, I'd say about ten.”
the answer varies with circumstances
“It depends on the weather, really.”
natural filler to buy a moment to think
“That's a good question — I've never thought about it.”
unable to choose between two options
“I'm torn between the city and the coast.”
to emphasise certainty
“Without a doubt, it's the best city I've visited.”
signals a frank, personal opinion
“To be honest, I'm not a big fan of it.”
like something very much (informal)
“I'm a massive fan of live music.”
Topic collocations that score
Examiners look for words that go together naturally. These cover the most common IELTS topics.
find a sensible middle point
“Students must strike a balance between study and rest.”
make people more informed about an issue
“Campaigns raise awareness of recycling.”
reduce a difference between two groups
“Scholarships help bridge the gap between rich and poor.”
a way of living with little physical activity
“Desk jobs encourage a sedentary lifestyle.”
money left to spend after essentials
“Rising disposable income fuels tourism.”
the most advanced technology
“The lab uses cutting-edge technology.”
a bad situation that keeps making itself worse
“Debt can trap families in a vicious cycle.”