IELTS Academic Words – Verbs
Source: S. Reza Atashzamzam
Useful verbs for task 2 (nearly 250 words)
Low Lexis | High Lexis | Low Lexis | High Lexis |
Keep | store | show | indicate, illustrate, demonstrate, reveal |
feel unhappy | become disappointed, disappoint | make rule | legislate |
refresh | restore, rejuvenate | happen | occur |
make happen faster | accelerate | (to cause)move forward | proceed, propel, inspire |
send out | emit | need | require |
Begin | commence | ask for | demand, request |
go to school | attend school | do research | conduct, carry out, undertake |
receive education | acquire an education | say yes | accept, approve, admit |
Force | oblige, compel, impose | answer | respond, reply |
Want | intend to, plan to | make | structure, form, construct |
put up | install | change | alter, vary |
Try | make an effort | do sth successfully | achieve, fulfill, attain |
keep eye on sb/sth | supervise, monitor | get | gain, acquire, become, obtain |
pay attention to | attend | do | administer |
be keen on, interested in | to be enthusiastic about, show enthusiasm regarding | put into categories | categorize, classify |
Love | show affection towards | help | assist |
spend time on | devote, contribute to | to end sth, finish | conclude, terminate, adjourn |
Use | consume, utilize, apply in | calculate the value, judge | evaluate |
Work | function | look for | seek |
understand, tell from | recognize, discern, identify, interpret,absorb | choose | select, adopt |
give opinion about | comment on | to live | reside |
pay for sth | afford | believe | perceive |
make up for | compensate | buy | purchase |
say | argue, believe, maintain, claim | to move to | transfer |
suggest | recommend, pose | to control sth | regulate |
move toward | approach | combine, match | coordinate, aggregate |
think | assume | help | Coordinate. Provide aid |
take advantage, be useful | benefit | communicate | interact |
to have sth | possess | limit, control | constrain |
to be able to use sth | to have access to sth | write | correspond |
make up of sth | consist of sth | capitalize on sth | emphasize, highlight |
make up | constitute, involve, comprise | make sure | ensure |
Explain | justify | fill | occupy, obsess |
test | assess | depend on | rely on |
open sth, set up | establish, found | no have in sth | exclude, remove |
Low Lexis | High Lexis | Low Lexis | High Lexis |
help with money | finance, provide financial support | make better | improve, promote |
provide money for sth | fund, sponsor | keep in mind | Retain |
have sth in sth | contain | say before it happens | predict, forecast |
find the place | locate | change to fit | adjust, modify |
publish | worsen | compound, exacerbate | |
write your name in classes, etc | register, enroll | talk to sb | consult |
make able | enable | change gradually | evolve |
make larger | expand | leave open to, no to protect | expose |
make sth (electricity,etc) | generate, manufacture | make easy | facilitate |
become familiar with | orientate | follow | pursue |
say no | reject, refute | keep on | continue, sustain |
replace | substitute | thank sb | acknowledge |
give example | cite, illustrate | connect, join | attach |
say before | mention, aforementioned | grow | enhance, increase, rise |
not give attention to | ignore | to tell sb how to do sth | Instruct |
slow down sth | inhibit, prevent | Go forward | advance |
to get rid of, escape | dispose of, | introduce new ideas | Innovate |
delete, cross out | eliminate | forbid | Prohibit |
to add sth to sth | insert | to stay alive | Survive |
separate | isolate | to go with sb | Accompany |
pile up | accumulate | value | Appreciate |
make clear | clarify | obey | conform to |
discover | detect | to show publicly | Exhibit |
make less | reduce, minimize | to give room | Accommodate |
live | dwell | make certain | Assure |
stop | cease | act against, not obey | Violate |
continue to exist | persist | face | encounter, confront |
dig | quarry | use wrongly | misuse, abuse |
do business | commerce | buy and sell | Trade |
use sth a lot | overuse | to put in order | to prioritize |
say formally, say | announce, express | to encourage to grow | Stimulate |
to connect in mind | associate | copy | imitate, replicate |
Solve | tackle, handle, approach the problem | To gather sth | Compile, accumulate, collect |