IELTS Vocabulary ebook

Definition: Used to show that something is almost, but not completely, accurate or exact; roughly

Example senences:

• The walk will cover a distance of four miles taking approximately two hours to complete.

If a particular thing accounts for a part or proportion of something, that part or proportion consists of that thing. The usage "account for X percent of something" is often seen. Here are example sentences:

• Small companies account for up to 80 percent of urban employment and 60 percent of China's GDP.
• Computers account for 5% of the country's commercial electricity consumption. 
• Heavy vehicles account for more than 14% of road accidents.

If something accounts for a particular fact or situation, it provides or serves as a satisfactory explanation or reason for.  Here are example sentences:

• The disease accounted for over 10,000 deaths last year.
• These new features account for the computer's higher price.
• The disease cannot be accounted for [=explained] by genetics alone. There must be other causes as well.

If you can account for something, you can explain it or give the necessary information about it. Here are example sentences:

• How do you account for the company's alarmingly high staff turnover? 

If you are accountable to someone for something that you do, you are responsible for it and must be prepared to justify your actions to that person. The phrases "be (held) accountable to someone" and "be (held) accountable for something" are used.

Here are example sentences:

• Parents should be held accountable for their children’s actions.
• Parents should be held accountable to their children.
• Students are accountable for their behavior in school. 
• Parents who are accountable for their children's delinquent behavior are more likely to reinforce appropriate behavior in the youth.
• Working makes a teenager accountable for themselves in terms of being present and completing their job well.
• You are accountable for your actions.

Definition: move or cause to move back and forth; to cause worry

Example sentences:

• When we are agitated, cortisol levels in our bloodstream rise.
• Some people with dementia benefit from stimulation, but overstimulation, including a noisy environment, can make others agitated and aggressive.

Definition: Hit when moving

Example senences:

• A youth was killed when a passenger train collided with his car on a level crossing in East Yorkshire last night
• When continental and oceanic plates collide the thinner and more dense oceanic plate is overridden by the thicker and less dense continental plate. The oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle in a process known as "subduction".

Definition: in a relative manner; by comparison to something else

Example sentences:

• Sesame Street was already a quality show, and its dependence on government subsidies has been comparatively small for years.

Definition: marked by or capable of arousing controversy

Example sentences:

• Vitamin D is a controversial topic among doctors, mainly because studies about its health effects have been so conflicting.
• The Coca-Cola Company yesterday revealed some details about its controversial role as a supporter of obesity research.

Definition: existing for a long time

Example sentences:

• The camera is small, light, and durable, and every setting can be tweaked to fit the needs of whatever you're filming.

Definition: Showing or involving great activity or vitality

Example sentences:

• Youngsters have already come up with some of their own designs which cater for younger primary school age children up to teenagers who wanted more energetic activities.

Definition: to grow; undergo development or evolution

Example sentences:

• Companies that launched with digital DNA still have to run fast to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies and consumer expectations.

Definition: in an improper way

Example sentences:

• The pointed attorneys have argued the judge improperly excluded certain evidence and testimony.

Definition: forever; without end

Example sentences:

• The filmmakers want the movie to have a lasting, consciousness-raising effect, to make people continue to think about their own honesty.
• He left a lasting impression on the people who heard his inspirational speeches.

Definition: force somebody to do something

Example sentences:

• At a company with publicly traded stock, management and controlling holders are obliged to put public shareholders’ interests above their own.
• The government plans to oblige mobile operators to improve their coverage, possibly by sharing rivals' networks.

You use "on account of" to introduce the reason or explanation for something. "Because of" and "on account of' are synonymous in cases where reasons involve thoughts or records.   Here is an example sentence:

• We canceled the beach picnic on account of the bad weather forecast.

Let's look at the following two sentences:

• The water boiled because of the heat. (Better!)
• The water boiled on account of the heat. 

Both uses are valid, but in this example, because of is slightly better than on account of because it does not imply thought on the part of the water.

Definition: Bigger than the usual size

Example sentences:

• He was wearing an oversized leather jacket.

Your perspective is the way you see something. Perspective can be used from a positive or negative standpoint. The preposition "on" is often used after it.

Example sentences:

• My grandmother has a surprisingly modern perspective on life.
• They had totally different perspectives on the war.
• It's easy to lose perspective on things when you are under stress.
• He says the death of his father 18 months ago has given him a new perspective on life.

Phrases

• from one's perspective = from the perspective of someone
• Put something in/into perspective

from one's perspective

From one's perspective = from the perspective of someone = from one's point of view

Example sentences:

• He helped us see the problem from a new perspective. (meaning angle, point of view).
• The story is told from the perspective of a teenage boy in the 1940s.
• From my perspective, I think the employee should be punished.

Put something in perspective

If you put something in perspective, it means you correctly regard something in relation to something else. 

Example sentences:

• You need to put things in perspective: even though you have not attained your career goals yet, you still have many years to do so.
• Let's put the cost of living into perspective; it costs more to live now than in the past, but now we have a better life than before.
• John put things in perspective: even though his English was not as good as Mary's English, he realized that he had been studying it for less time than Mary.
• Life can sometimes seem very overwhelming. This feeling can be normal, although it may be debilitating to routines and lifestyles. You should try and develop your own methods of putting your problems into perspective, no matter what it is.

Collocations

a fresh perspective (=new and interesting or useful)

• The venture will benefit from their fresh perspective.

a historical perspective

• It is important to have a historical perspective when considering these changes.

a global/international perspective

• A global perspective allows firms to spot opportunities and reduce supply costs.​a female perspective​

a business perspective

• I think it was a good thing to do, from a business perspective.

Definition: A measure taken in advance to prevent something dangerous, unpleasant, or inconvenient from happening

Example sentences:

• He had taken the precaution of seeking legal advice. Of course I took the precaution of turning my light off first, and it was a lucky thing I did.

Definition: to make ready; first in rank or degree

Example sentences:

• The directors primed the actors before the performance.
• The book isn’t vegetarian, but there are so many plant-based options that it’s already occupying a prime spot on my countertop.

Definition: a picture or element thrown back

Example sentences:

• Freedom of improvisation within form itself was a reflection of their human condition.
• Our currency is a reflection of our values and should rightfully represent our inclusive democracy