TOEFL vocabulary practice
Folio teaches the words the TOEFL reading section leans on, inside real pages from real books. Read a passage, answer the way the test asks, keep your streak. Your progress stays in this browser. Nothing you do here is sent anywhere.
240 WORDS 720 PASSAGES 66 BOOKS
How a lesson goes
- Meet the word. A plain definition, three synonyms and a hook to remember it by.
- Read a real passage. Darwin, Austen, Douglass, Tocqueville, Dickens, Keller. The word is marked where it appears, and an illustration sets the scene.
- Answer like the test. "The word X is closest in meaning to" and a comprehension question, the two shapes TOEFL uses.
- Use it yourself. Fill the gap in a second passage, then type the word from its definition.
- Come back. Words you missed return in Practice on a spaced schedule. A 10-question timed section checks you under pressure.
Why old books
TOEFL reading passages are academic prose: long sentences, abstract nouns, arguments that turn on one verb. The essays, histories and novels here are the same register, they are public domain, and every one has been read by millions of people. Every passage is quoted as printed, with its source.
Questions and glosses were drafted with a language model and then checked. If one is wrong, use the flag on that card and it is skipped on this device.
Every word in the course
The full list, with the definition each lesson opens on. Search it, or use it as a checklist.
- abandon verb To leave a place, person, or thing permanently, often due to difficulty or hopelessness.
- abolish verb To formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution.
- abstract adjective Existing only as a concept or idea, not having a physical or concrete existence.
- abundant adjective present in great quantity; more than enough; plentiful.
- accommodate verb To adjust or adapt to new conditions or needs, or to provide space or help for someone.
- accumulate verb To gradually gather or collect something over a period of time, often in increasing amounts.
- acquire verb To get or gain something, often through effort, experience, or purchase.
- adapt verb To change something or oneself to fit a new situation or environment.
- adequate adjective Enough or satisfactory for a particular purpose; sufficient in quality or quantity.
- adjacent adjective Next to or adjoining something else, often sharing a border or wall.
- adverse adjective Unfavorable or harmful; acting against something or someone.
- advocate verb To publicly support or recommend a particular cause, policy, or person.
- aggregate noun A whole or total amount formed by combining several separate parts or elements.
- alleviate verb To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe or easier to bear.
- allude verb To mention something indirectly or briefly, without naming it directly.
- ambiguous adjective Having more than one possible meaning or interpretation; unclear or uncertain.
- amend verb To amend means to make minor changes to something, typically a text or law, to improve it.
- amiable adjective Having a friendly and pleasant disposition, easy to get along with, and generally likable.
- ample adjective More than enough; plentiful or sufficient in quantity, size, or extent.
- analogous adjective Similar in certain ways, often for comparison, but not identical in nature or origin.
- anticipate verb To expect something to happen and prepare for it, or to deal with it before it occurs.
- apparent adjective Easily seen or understood; seeming to be true or real, though not necessarily so.
- apprehend verb To understand or perceive something; to arrest or seize someone, especially a criminal.
- arbitrary adjective Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
- arduous adjective Requiring great effort, difficult, or strenuous; demanding considerable energy and persistence.
- articulate adjective Able to express thoughts and feelings clearly and effectively through speech or writing.
- ascertain verb To find out something for certain, often through investigation or calculation.
- assert verb To state a belief or fact confidently and forcefully, often in the face of opposition.
- attain verb To succeed in reaching or achieving something, often after effort.
- attribute verb To attribute means to consider something as caused by or belonging to a particular person or thing.
- augment verb To make something greater in size, amount, or intensity; to increase or add to it.
- austere adjective Strict and severe in manner or appearance; simple and plain without luxury.
- benevolent adjective Kind and generous, showing goodwill and a desire to help others.
- callous adjective Feeling or showing no sympathy for others' suffering; emotionally hardened and insensitive.
- candid adjective Being honest and straightforward in what you say, without hiding anything or being indirect.
- cautious adjective Careful to avoid potential problems or dangers; showing prudence and good judgment.
- cease verb To stop doing something or to bring an activity or process to an end.
- circumstance noun A condition or fact that affects an event or situation, or helps to explain it.
- coarse adjective Rough in texture or manners; not fine or refined; lacking sophistication or smoothness.
- coherent adjective Clear and logical, with all parts fitting together well to form a unified whole.
- coincide verb To happen at the same time or place, or to agree exactly with something else.
- commodity noun A commodity is a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold.
- compel verb To force or strongly persuade someone to do something, often against their will.
- compensate verb To make up for something bad or lacking, or to pay someone for a loss or service.
- comply verb To act in agreement with a rule, request, or command; to obey or conform.
- comprehensive adjective Including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something; complete and extensive.
- conceive verb To form an idea, plan, or understanding in the mind; to imagine or think of something.
- concur verb To agree with someone or something, or to happen at the same time.
- confine verb To keep someone or something within certain limits, boundaries, or a restricted space.
- conform verb To act in agreement with rules, standards, or expectations, often by changing one's behavior.
- consecutive adjective Happening one after another without interruption; following in order.
- conspicuous adjective Easily seen or noticed; attracting attention, often because of being unusual or prominent.
- constitute verb To form or make up something; to be the parts that create a whole.
- constrain verb To limit or restrict someone or something, often by force or necessity.
- contemplate verb To contemplate is to think deeply and at length about something, often with a serious or reflective attitude.
- contend verb To argue a point, assert a position, or struggle to overcome a difficulty or opponent.
- contradict verb To state the opposite of something, or to deny the truth of a statement or idea.
- controversy noun A public disagreement or debate, often prolonged and involving strong opposing opinions.
- conventional adjective Following accepted standards or traditions; ordinary and widely accepted, often without much thought.
- conviction noun A strong belief or certainty about something, often based on moral or spiritual principles.
- correspond verb To match or be similar to something else; to communicate by exchanging letters or emails.
- curtail verb To reduce or limit something, often in scope, duration, or quantity.
- decay verb To slowly decline in health, quality, or strength over time, often leading to ruin.
- decline verb To gradually become weaker, smaller, or worse, or to politely refuse to do something.
- deduce verb To conclude something logically from known facts or evidence; to infer by reasoning.
- deficient adjective Lacking something essential or adequate in quantity, quality, or completeness, often below a required standard.
- deliberate adjective Done with careful thought and intention, not by accident or impulse.
- demonstrate verb To clearly show or prove something using evidence, examples, or logical reasoning.
- denote verb To denote means to indicate or represent something, often a meaning or a sign.
- depict verb To show or represent something in a picture, sculpture, or words.
- deprive verb To take something away from someone or something, especially something important or necessary.
- derive verb To obtain something from a specific source or origin, often through reasoning or extraction.
- despise verb To despise means to strongly dislike or scorn something or someone, viewing them as worthless.
- detect verb To find or discover something, especially something hidden, not obvious, or difficult to notice.
- deviate verb To change direction or course, or to depart from an established plan or standard.
- devise verb To invent or plan something new, especially a complex system, mechanism, or strategy.
- diligent adjective Working carefully and persistently, showing steady and earnest effort in one's tasks.
- diminish verb To make or become smaller in size, amount, or intensity; to lessen or reduce something.
- discern verb To discern means to recognize or distinguish something, often something subtle or unclear.
- disclose verb To make something known or visible that was previously secret or hidden.
- discourse noun Discourse refers to written or spoken communication, often a formal discussion of a topic.
- disperse verb To spread out over a wide area, or to cause something to spread out.
- disregard verb To pay no attention to something, often intentionally, or to treat it as unimportant.
- distinct adjective Clearly separate and different from others, easily recognizable as individual.
- distort verb To twist or pull something out of its usual shape, or to misrepresent facts or ideas.
- diverse adjective Including many different types of things or people; varied.
- domain noun An area of knowledge, activity, or control; a territory or sphere of influence.
- dominant adjective Most important, powerful, or influential; having control over others.
- elaborate adjective Something elaborate is very detailed, complex, or carefully planned, often with many parts.
- elicit verb To draw out or obtain a response, information, or reaction from someone or something.
- eliminate verb To completely remove or get rid of something, often something unwanted or unnecessary.
- eloquent adjective able to express ideas and feelings clearly and powerfully, often in a moving or persuasive way
- elusive adjective Something elusive is difficult to find, catch, or achieve because it is hard to grasp or define.
- emerge verb To appear or come into view from a hidden place, or to become known after being concealed.
- eminent adjective Well-known and respected, especially for achievements in a particular field.
- emphasize verb To give special attention or importance to something, making it stand out or more noticeable.
- encounter verb To meet someone or something unexpectedly, or to face a difficult situation or challenge.
- endeavour noun A serious attempt or effort to achieve a goal, often involving hard work and determination.
- endure verb To experience and bear something difficult or painful over a period of time.
- enhance verb To improve the quality, value, or extent of something, making it better or more attractive.
- entail verb To involve something as a necessary part or consequence; to require or imply.
- enumerate verb To list items or points one by one, often in a specific order.
- equivalent adjective Having the same value, meaning, or effect as something else.
- evident adjective Clearly seen or understood; obvious and undeniable.
- evoke verb To call forth or bring to mind a feeling, memory, or response, often indirectly.
- exaggerate verb To describe something as larger, better, or worse than it really is, often for effect.
- exceed verb To be greater than a particular number, amount, or limit; to go beyond what is expected.
- exhibit verb To show or display something publicly, often to an audience or for inspection.
- explicit adjective Clearly stated or expressed, leaving no doubt or confusion.
- exploit verb To use something or someone in a way that benefits you, often unfairly or selfishly.
- extract verb To take out or obtain something from a larger source, often with effort or a specific process.
- facilitate verb To make an action or process easier to accomplish or progress more smoothly.
- feasible adjective Something feasible is possible to do or achieve easily or conveniently.
- feign verb To pretend or simulate something, often to deceive or avoid a situation.
- fluctuate verb To change often and irregularly, especially in amount or level, moving up and down.
- formidable adjective Causing fear, dread, or respect due to size, power, or difficulty; very impressive or challenging.
- fundamental adjective Something fundamental is basic, essential, or foundational, forming the necessary basis of a system or idea.
- futile adjective Something futile is pointless or useless because it cannot succeed or achieve a desired result.
- generate verb To produce or create something, especially energy, ideas, or results.
- hasten verb To move or act quickly, or to cause something to happen more rapidly.
- hostile adjective Feeling or showing unfriendliness, opposition, or strong dislike towards someone or something.
- humility noun The quality of being modest or having a low view of one's own importance.
- hypothesis noun An idea or explanation proposed for investigation, often based on limited evidence, before being proven.
- ignorance noun Lack of knowledge or information about a particular subject or fact.
- imminent adjective About to happen very soon; threatening or approaching quickly.
- impair verb To weaken or damage something, making it less effective or functional.
- impartial adjective Not favoring one side or group over another; treating all equally and fairly.
- impede verb To make movement or progress difficult by blocking or slowing something down.
- implicit adjective Understood or suggested without being directly stated; absolute and without doubt.
- imply verb To suggest something indirectly without stating it directly, or to involve something as a necessary consequence.
- impose verb To force something, like a rule or tax, upon others, or to place a burden on someone.
- incompatible adjective If two things are incompatible, they are so different that they cannot exist or be used together.
- indifferent adjective Having no particular interest or concern; showing a lack of preference or feeling.
- induce verb To cause something to happen or to persuade someone to do something.
- industrious adjective Someone industrious works hard and diligently, showing great effort and dedication to tasks.
- inevitable adjective Something inevitable is certain to happen and cannot be avoided or prevented.
- infer verb To conclude something based on evidence and reasoning, rather than explicit statements.
- infinite adjective Having no limits or end; extremely large or great in number or extent.
- ingenious adjective Having cleverness, originality, and inventiveness; showing skill in creating new things or solving problems.
- inherent adjective Existing as a permanent and essential quality of something; belonging naturally.
- initial adjective Happening at the beginning; existing or occurring at the start of something.
- innovation noun A new method, idea, or product; the process of introducing new things or changes.
- insight noun A deep and clear understanding of a complex situation or problem.
- intervene verb To come between people or things to prevent or alter a result or course of events.
- intricate adjective Something intricate is very complex, with many small, connected parts or details.
- intrinsic adjective Something intrinsic is a natural, essential part of something, belonging to its fundamental nature.
- invoke verb To call on a higher power or authority for help, inspiration, or support.
- irrelevant adjective Not important or related to what is being discussed or considered.
- justify verb To show or prove something to be right, reasonable, or acceptable.
- lament verb To express deep sadness or regret about something, often openly and with strong emotion.
- legitimate adjective Something legitimate is valid, lawful, or reasonable, based on accepted principles or rules.
- magnitude noun The great size or extent of something; its importance or significance.
- manifest adjective Clearly visible or obvious; easily recognized or understood.
- melancholy noun A deep, long-lasting sadness or gloom, often without a clear cause.
- minute adjective Extremely small in size or amount; very precise and detailed.
- modify verb To change something slightly, usually to improve it or make it more suitable for a new purpose.
- mutual adjective Shared by two or more people or groups; felt or done by each toward the other.
- notion noun An idea, belief, or opinion, especially a vague or imperfect one.
- novel adjective Something novel is new, unusual, and different from anything seen or known before.
- obscure adjective Not well-known, difficult to understand, or hidden from view.
- obstinate adjective Refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, despite argument or persuasion.
- obtain verb To get or acquire something, often through effort or request.
- ominous adjective Suggesting that something bad is going to happen; threatening or foreboding.
- oppress verb To treat someone unfairly or cruelly, often by using power or authority to control them.
- peculiar adjective Something peculiar is unusual or strange, setting it apart from others.
- perceive verb To become aware of something through the senses or by understanding; to notice or realize.
- perpetual adjective Continuing forever or for a very long time without interruption; never-ending.
- persist verb To continue steadfastly in an action or state, especially despite difficulty or opposition.
- pervade verb To spread throughout every part of something, often a feeling or quality, making it noticeable everywhere.
- phenomenon noun A phenomenon is an observable fact or event, especially one that is unusual or significant.
- plausible adjective Something plausible seems reasonable or believable, even if it's not actually true or proven.
- precarious adjective Something precarious is unstable, uncertain, or dependent on chance, making it potentially dangerous.
- precede verb To come or happen before something else in time, order, or rank.
- precise adjective Exact, accurate, and clearly defined; without any vagueness or ambiguity.
- predominant adjective Most important, common, or powerful among others; having the main influence or control.
- prejudice noun An unfair and unreasonable opinion, often formed without enough knowledge or thought.
- preliminary adjective Something preliminary happens at the beginning, before the main event or action.
- presume verb To believe something is true without proof, or to act as if something is true.
- presumption noun An idea or belief that is accepted as true without proof, or an act of arrogant behavior.
- prevalent adjective Commonly existing or widely accepted in a particular area or at a particular time.
- principal adjective most important or main; highest in rank or authority; central or primary.
- prior adjective Existing or happening earlier in time; coming before something else in order or importance.
- profound adjective Something very deep, intense, or requiring deep thought and understanding.
- prohibit verb To officially forbid or prevent something from happening, often by law or rule.
- prominent adjective Something prominent is very noticeable, important, or well-known, often standing out from its surroundings.
- propensity noun A natural tendency or inclination to behave in a particular way or to do something.
- prospect noun A prospect is the possibility or likelihood of a future event, or a view of a landscape.
- provoke verb To cause a strong reaction, often negative, or to stir up a feeling or action.
- prudent adjective Acting with careful thought for the future, showing good judgment and wisdom.
- radical adjective Relating to the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
- reconcile verb To bring two things into agreement or harmony, often after a disagreement or conflict.
- refine verb To improve something by removing impurities or making subtle changes, leading to a more precise or elegant form.
- refute verb To prove a statement or theory wrong or false by providing evidence or arguments.
- reinforce verb To strengthen or support something, making it more effective or powerful.
- reluctant adjective If you are reluctant to do something, you are unwilling and hesitant to do it.
- remedy noun A solution or cure for a problem, difficulty, or illness.
- render verb To cause something to be or become; to provide or give something, often formally.
- resolve verb To make a firm decision or to find a solution to a problem or difficulty.
- restrain verb To prevent someone or something from doing something, or to keep something under control.
- retain verb To continue to have or hold something; to keep possession of something.
- reveal verb To make something known or visible that was previously hidden or secret.
- rigorous adjective Strict and precise; demanding exactness and adherence to rules or standards.
- robust adjective Strong and healthy; able to withstand difficult conditions or challenges.
- scarce adjective If something is scarce, there is not enough of it, or it is difficult to find.
- scrutiny noun Close and careful examination or observation of something, often for investigation or evaluation.
- sequence noun A sequence is a particular order in which related things follow each other.
- simultaneous adjective Happening or existing at the exact same time as something else.
- sole adjective Being the only one; not shared or accompanied by others; unique.
- solitude noun The state of being alone or isolated from others, often by choice, and feeling peaceful.
- speculate verb To form opinions or theories about a subject without firm evidence, often considering possibilities.
- spontaneous adjective Happening naturally or without planning; acting on sudden impulses or feelings.
- stagnant adjective Not flowing or moving, often implying a lack of activity, progress, or freshness.
- strive verb To make a great effort to achieve or obtain something, often against difficulties.
- subsequent adjective Happening or coming after something else, either immediately or at a later time.
- substantial adjective Something substantial is large in amount, strong, important, or real and not imaginary.
- subtle adjective Something subtle is difficult to notice, understand, or describe because it is not obvious.
- sufficient adjective Enough; as much as is needed for a particular purpose or task.
- superficial adjective Not deep or thorough; concerned only with what is obvious or on the surface.
- surpass verb To be greater or better than someone or something else in quality, quantity, or degree.
- sustain verb To keep something going or in existence; to support or maintain it over time.
- tangible adjective Something tangible is real and can be touched or felt, rather than being abstract or imaginary.
- tedious adjective Something tedious is boring, long, and repetitive, making you feel tired or impatient.
- temporary adjective Lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.
- tranquil adjective Calm and peaceful, without disturbance or agitation.
- transient adjective Lasting only for a short time; not permanent or enduring.
- trivial adjective Of little importance or value; insignificant.
- turbulent adjective Moving in an irregular or violent way, often associated with disorder or strong emotions.
- ultimate adjective The final, most important, or fundamental point; the best or worst possible result.
- unanimous adjective When a group is unanimous, everyone agrees on a decision or opinion.
- undermine verb To gradually weaken or damage something, especially its authority, foundation, or effectiveness.
- uniform adjective Always the same; not changing in form, quality, or degree; consistent throughout.
- vague adjective Something vague is unclear, imprecise, or not well-defined, making it hard to understand.
- valid adjective Something valid is well-grounded, justifiable, or legally acceptable, based on truth or sound reasoning.
- vanity noun Excessive pride in one's appearance, abilities, or achievements, often leading to self-admiration.
- venture verb To undertake a risky or daring journey, activity, or statement, often with uncertainty.
- verify verb To prove something is true or accurate by checking facts, evidence, or personal experience.
- vigorous adjective Someone or something vigorous is strong, healthy, and full of energy, often involving great effort.
- virtue noun Moral excellence or goodness; a commendable quality or trait.
- yield verb To produce or provide something, often as a result of effort, process, or natural growth.
- zeal noun Great energy or enthusiasm shown for a cause, objective, or person.
The books
Every passage comes from a public-domain text on Project Gutenberg. Titles are listed by how many passages they contribute.