TOEFL® Vocabulary Flashcard

Consumption means using, buying or eating something. Here are example sentences:

• The doctor recommended that she reduce her consumption of sugar. 
• Excessive alcohol consumption can cause major health problems.
• Excessive consumption of soft drinks in childhood has been shown to lead to calcium deficiency and more broken bones.
• The daily consumption of red meat should be no more than 80 grams.

Let’s look at some other meanings of the word “consumption” and how it can be used in sentences:

First meaning - the use of something (such as fuel). Here are some example sentences:

• The world's energy consumption is expected to increase considerably as a result of population growth (electricity consumption = the consumption of electricity)
• The jet's high fuel consumption makes it expensive to operate.
• If we don't reduce our energy consumption, we will run out of fuel. 

Second meaning - use by a particular group of people

Here is an example sentence:

• The governor said that the report was not for public consumption ( This means it was not meant to be seen by the general public; it was intended only for a few people.)

One interesting phrase you can learn is "not fit for human consumption". When something is "not fit for human consumption" it means you risk getting sick, or even dying, if you eat or drink it. Here is an example:

• This food is not fit for human consumption. [=not fit to be eaten by people]

Another term we often heard is "Conspicuous consumption". Conspicuous consumption is buying something to show off. Here is an example sentence:

• A classic example of conspicuous consumption is buying a thousand-dollar smartphone.

The word decrease can be a noun or a verb.

As a noun, it means a drop/reduction/decline in the amount, number or value of something. 

An increase in something  = a rise in the amount, number or value of something. Remember the preposition is "in". Here are example sentences:

• We've had a decrease in the number of students enrolling in the school.
• College is trying to combat the sharp decrease in enrollment.
• U.S. colleges have experienced a decrease in enrollment. 
• Studies report a recent decrease in traffic accidents.
• The city has experienced a decrease in population.
• The decrease in the population of invasive species led to the increase in the number of native species.
• Many parts of the country have experienced a decrease in unemployment.
• There has been a decrease in demand for two-bedroom apartments.

You will also see the usage "a decrease of X percent". For example:

• The report showed increases of between 20 and 30 percent.
• The company had a decrease of 10% in sales. = The company had a 10% decrease in sales.

The phrase 'on the decrease' means "is decreasing".  You can also use the phrase 'in decline'. Here are example sentences:

• The number of college applications is on the decrease. = The number of college applications is decreasing. = The number of college applications is in decline.
• Burglaries in the area are on the decrease = Burglaries in the area are decreasing.

When used as a verb, it means to become or to make something smaller in amount, number, value, etc. 

Example sentences using the word increase in the verb form:

• Sales decreased this year. 
• The population is decreasing at an unprecedented rate.
• The house decreased in value.
• The heart gradually decreases in size.
• They've decreased the price by 50%.  (Used as a transitive verb, meaning making something smaller in amount, number, value )

In the verb form the prepositions “by”, “to” and “with” are often used with the word increase. Take a look at the examples below:

• The budget has decreased by more than a third in the last year.
• Last month the reward was decreased from £20,000 to £40,000.
• The number of quarrels among children decreases with age.

Difference between “decreasing” and “decreased”

When something is decreasing, it means that this thing continues to become less or smaller; however, when something has decreased, it means that thing has now stopped decreasing.

Let’s further look at the difference between “decreasing” and “decreased” in the following example sentences:

• The patient has a decreasing appetite.
• The patient has a decreased appetite.

As you just saw, both words can be used in the sentence; but"decreasing" would suggest that patient’s appetite continues to get lower, whereas "decreased" would suggest it has now stopped and reached a lower level than it was before.

Let’s consider another example:

• Canada has reported a decreasing crime rate in their major cities.
• Canada has seen a decreased crime rate in their major cities.

Can you think about the meaning in these sentences?  Also, can you think about when to correctly use these words in sentences?

Let’s further take a look at how to use these words to mean different things in the following example:

If the crime rate is still decreasing or getting lower, use decreasing. It would mean that the decrease is occurring now and is expected to continue. However, if the crime rate has already decreased or stopped, and you want to emphasize that fact, use decreased.

Difference between “decreasing” and “decreased”

When something is decreasing, it means that this thing continues to become less or smaller; however, when something has decreased, it means that thing has now stopped decreasing.

Let’s further look at the difference between “decreasing” and “decreased” in the following example sentences:

• The patient has a decreasing appetite.
• The patient has a decreased appetite.

As you just saw, both words can be used in the sentence; but"decreasing" would suggest that patient’s appetite continues to get lower, whereas "decreased" would suggest it has now stopped and reached a lower level than it was before.

Let’s consider another example:

• Canada has reported a decreasing crime rate in their major cities.
• Canada has seen a decreased crime rate in their major cities.

Can you think about the meaning in these sentences?  Also, can you think about when to correctly use these words in sentences?

Let’s further take a look at how to use these words to mean different things in the following example:

If the crime rate is still decreasing or getting lower, use decreasing. It would mean that the decrease is occurring now and is expected to continue. However, if the crime rate has already decreased or stopped, and you want to emphasize that fact, use decreased.

To emerge means to come out into view or come forth. Emerge is a verb that might bring to mind the image of a whale rising up from the depths of the sea. It is often used with the preposition "from". Let's look at example sentences

• The moon emerged from behind a cloud. 
• The whale emerged from the water.
• New sea floor originates from the upwelling rock as it emerges from the depths of the mantle.

To emerge can also mean to become known or regarded as something. In this case, it is often used with the preposition "as".  For example,

•  He has emerged as a leading contender in the field.
• The movie has emerged as one of the year's most surprising hits.
• Plate tectonics has emerged as one of the grand unifying theories of geology

Emergence is when something becomes known. For example:

• The emergence of e-books causes the paper book sales to decline.
• The emergence of the Internet as an important means of communication revolutionized how we communicate.

Emergence can also mean when something comes into view.

• The Mesozoic Era saw the emergence of the dinosaurs, more specifically, the Cretaceous Period. 
•  This fossil is the earliest evidence for the emergence of dinosaurs.

When there's an emergency, the stakes are high and you may need to act quickly. There's a tornado! Someone's collapsed! The cat's stuck in a tree! It's an emergency! Call 911! You can see the word emerge in emergency, and an emergency suddenly emerges — it happens all of a sudden and can take you by surprise. Governments declare a "state of emergency" if there is a disaster that they can't handle, and they need support.

Emergent is an adjective that describes something that is emerging, or suddenly coming into existence. It's often used in phrases like “emergent technologies.” These are brand-new technologies that we can expect to be widely used in the near future. For example:

• The Internet was an emergent technology in the early 1990s.

Emergent sometimes implies that what is coming into being is surprising and demands a response.  In this sense, emergent is related to emergency.  For example:

• An emergent disease would send scientists scrambling to find a cure.
• If you have an emergent talent for science, your teacher might bump you up to an advanced science class. 

The verb "exist" means to live, to have reality. It's not only "live" things that exist. The government exists, as does your fear of heights. Anything that can be acknowledged in the present exists. Another meaning for the verb exists is to support oneself or survive. If someone doesn't have a job, they may have to exist on unemployment benefits until they find one.

Let’s take a look at some sentences where the verb "exist" means to live, to have reality:

• She believes that ghosts really do exist.
• It's the largest galaxy known to exist.
• Does life exist on Mars?
• The Internet didn't exist then 200 years ago.
• Dinosaurs existed for about 150 million years during three geologic periods
• Those ideas only exist in your mind.

In the last sentence: Those ideas only exist in your mind; means that the ideas are only in your mind.

Now, here are some example sentences where the verb "exist" means to support oneself or survive. It is used with the preposition "on":

•  I can barely exist on this wage.

This sentence means that the individual’s wage is not enough to survive on or support oneself. He/she may have to find a better job which pays higher wages to survive on or support himself/herself.

• Villagers existed on rainwater in the jungle = Villagers subsisted on rainwater in the jungle.

This sentence means that villVillagers survived on rainwater in the jungle. You can also use "subsist on".

Existence is the state of being alive or being real. Here are examples:

• She began to doubt the existence of God.
• It was not until 1822 that scientists learned about the existence of dinosaurs.
• The greatest chance for the existence of extraterrestrial life is on a planet beyond our solar system.
• The tiger may not be in existence in a few decades.

The phrase "in existence" is often used. It means "currently existing". Here are example sentences:

• The tiger may not be in existence in a few decades.
• All the oil in existence will not last the world for another century.

Another phrase "come into existence" is also often used. It means "begin to exist". Here is an example sentence:

• Dinosaurs came into existence during the Mesozoic era.

Existence can also mean a particular way of living whereby, in this definition, the word existence is usually used in singular form.

Example sentences include:

• They enjoyed a comfortable existence.
• They pursued their meager existence in a poor rural area.
• Until recently, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence, sheltering in igloos, the ice-block domes that are peculiar to north-central Canada.

If something is existing it’s real. When you make a list of existing mammals, you can't include unicorns, because they don't really exist. Something that's real can be said to exist or to be existing. The existing laws in your state are the ones that are actually on the books, and your existing friends are the ones you really have, and who are all alive and well. 

Example sentences using existing

• The company plans to ignore existing problems and move forward with their plans
• Changing the existing formation can improve the team’s performance
• Please don't ignore existing problems
• making changes to the existing structure (This means the structure that is there now)

Something that is expanded has been increased in size. It can also be an increase in content.  For example,

• If you want the expanded edition of the DVD, it would probably have behind the scene features.

The word increase can be a noun or a verb.

As a noun, it means a rise in the amount, number or value of something. 

An increase in something  = a rise in the amount, number or value of something. Remember the preposition is "in". Here are example sentences:

• Due to the increase in the burning of fossil fuels and nuclear testing in the 20th century, there was a significant increase in the level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
• Last year, our school had an increase in enrollment.
• A number of scientific discoveries led to the dramatic increase in life expectancy.
• I expect an increase in wages.
• The construction will probably cause an increase in traffic delays.
• The city has experienced an increase in population.
• The increase in the population of invasive species caused environmental harm to native species.
• Many parts of the country have experienced an increase in unemployment.
• There has been an increase in demand for two-bedroom apartments.

You will also see the usage "an increase of X percent". For example:

• The report showed increases of between 20 and 30 percent.
• The company had an increase of 10% in its sales. = The company had a 10% increase in sales.

The phrase 'on the increase or on the rise' means "is increasing". Here are example sentences:

• The number of college applications is on the increase. = The number of college applications is increasing.
• Burglaries in the area are on the increase = Burglaries in the area are increasing.

When used as a verb, it means to become or to make something greater in amount, number, value, etc.

Example sentences using the word increase in the verb form:

• Sales increased this year. 
• Skill increases with practice.
• The population is increasing at an unprecedented rate.
• The house increased in value.
• We need to increase productivity. (Used as a transitive verb, meaning make something greater in amount, number, value )
• They've increased the price by 50%.  (Used as a transitive verb, meaning make something greater in amount, number, value )

In the verb form the prepositions “by”, “to” and “with” are often used with the word increase. Take a look at the examples below:

• The budget has increased by more than a third in the last year.
• Last month the reward was increased from £20,000 to £40,000.
• Disability increases with age.

Difference between “increasing” and “increased”

When something is increasing, it means that this thing continues to rise; however, when something has increased, it means that thing has now stopped increasing.

Let’s further look at the difference between “increasing” and “increased” in the following example sentences:

• Lately, scientists have observed “increasing” pollution in the water supply.
• Lately, scientists have observed “increased” pollution in the water supply.

As you just saw, both words can be used in the sentence; but "increasing" would suggest the pollution to the water supply continues to rise, whereas "increased" would suggest it has now stopped.

Now that we have understood the difference between “increased” and “increasing”, I would like you to stop and think about how the words “increased” or “increasing” can be used in the blank space of the following sentence:

• Due to ____ competition, organizations are now operating more efficiently.

Let’s take a look now!

If the competition is still increasing, use increasing. It would mean that the increase is occurring now and is expected to continue. However, if the competition has already increased, and you want to emphasize that fact, use increased.

Let's look at more example sentences using "increasing" and "increased".

• Former agricultural land near large cities has been converted to urban use at an increasing rate.       
• New obesogenic chemicals are being identified at an increasing rate.
• These symptoms are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Difference between “increasing” and “increased”

When something is increasing, it means that this thing continues to rise; however, when something has increased, it means that thing has now stopped increasing.

Let’s further look at the difference between “increasing” and “increased” in the following example sentences:

• Lately, scientists have observed “increasing” pollution in the water supply.
• Lately, scientists have observed “increased” pollution in the water supply.

As you just saw, both words can be used in the sentence; but "increasing" would suggest the pollution to the water supply continues to rise, whereas "increased" would suggest it has now stopped.

Now that we have understood the difference between “increased” and “increasing”, I would like you to stop and think about how the words “increased” or “increasing” can be used in the blank space of the following sentence:

• Due to ____ competition, organizations are now operating more efficiently.

Let’s take a look now!

If the competition is still increasing, use increasing. It would mean that the increase is occurring now and is expected to continue. However, if the competition has already increased, and you want to emphasize that fact, use increased.

Let's look at more example sentences using "increasing" and "increased".

• Former agricultural land near large cities has been converted to urban use at an increasing rate.       
• New obesogenic chemicals are being identified at an increasing rate.
• These symptoms are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

To inform is to tell someone news, pass on wisdom, leak gossip, or give instruction. For example,

• I inform you of the situation.

Pay attention to the preposition “of. The pattern is ‘inform someone of something’.

Another word that is similar to the word ‘inform’ is ‘impart’. To impart knowledge to is to pass on knowledge to someone. For example,

• Teachers impart knowledge to their students

The adjective informative is used to describe something that gives you useful information. When something is informative, it's usually educational and full of facts — like an informative text book, an informative documentary, or an informative tour of the Hindu temples of northern India. This word comes in handy in TOEFL independent writing and speaking 1 tasks.

When you're informed, you have all the information or knowledge that you need. For example,

• Informed students are more engaged and excited about their classes, and of course, they do better on tests.

Another common use of informed is “an informed decision”.

When you make a decision after learning about your options and giving the matter careful thought, that decision is called an informed decision. For example, you can say

• There are many advantages to making an informed decision.

Use the verb overcome when you talk about someone who has triumphed over adversity. You can also be overcome with emotions, or overwhelmed by your feelings. Many people feel so overcome with sadness at a movie — or happiness at a wedding. The verb overcome also means to win or surpass. If you are going to win the marathon, you are going to have to overcome the five runners still ahead of you.

Example sentences of the word overcome:

• After a tough battle, they overcame the enemy.
• She overcame a leg injury and is back running again.
• He overcame his fear of heights and climbed the ladder.
• To succeed, one must overcome obstacles.

The phrases “to be overcome by” and “to be overcome with” are often used.

The phrasal verb “be overcome with” means to be strongly affected by an emotion or a feeling. For example:

• After his dog died, Danny was overcome with grief.
• The whole team was overcome with the joy of winning and being champions.
• He was suddenly overcome with remorse for the harm he had done.

For the phrasal verb “be overcome by”,  if you are overcome by a feeling or event, it is so strong or has such a strong effect that you cannot think clearly. For example:

• The night before the test I was overcome by nervousness.
• The family was overcome by grief.

If you are overcome by smoke or a poisonous gas, you become very ill or die from breathing it in.  For example:

• The residents were trying to escape from the fire but were overcome by smoke. 
• Several firefighters had been overcome by smoke and fumes.
• Five employees were overcome by smoke.

Difficulties/obstacles can be overcome by efforts. For example:

• These difficulties were overcome by the efforts of devoted officers.

The phrase "be suitable for" is often used. If A is suitable for B, it means A has the qualities that are right, needed, or appropriate for B. For example:

• Is this shirt suitable for work?
• Her experience makes her more suitable for the job.
• The movie is not suitable for children.
• Employers usually decide within five minutes whether someone is suitable for the job.
• She had no other dress suitable for the occasion.

the phrase "be cut out for" has the same meaning of "be suitable for". For example:

• I am not cut out for this job.

If something is well suited to a particular purpose, it is right or appropriate for that purpose. Example sentences:

• The plant is suited to (living in) tropical climates.
• The area is well suited to road cycling as well as off-road riding.
• I think that this hotel may be suited to your needs because I know you like luxurious things

If someone is well suited to a particular job, they are right or appropriate for that job. For example:

• We will hire the person who is best/most suited to the job.

If two people, especially a man and a woman, are well suited, they are likely to have a successful relationship because they have similar personalities or interests.

• They were well suited to each other.

Definition: The practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

Example senences:

• You should keep records of absences and introduce a trigger mechanism that alerts you to look into regular absenteeism and the reasons for it. Employees in buildings with healthy interiors have less absenteeism and tend to stay in their jobs longe

The advent of an important event, invention, or situation is the fact of it starting or coming into existence. Generally, the noun advent is used for the introduction of something important.

Here are example sentences:

• The twentieth century saw the advent of many important inventions — including television, computers, and microwave dinners.
• The advent of color television in the 1960s proved to be an innovation which gained virtually universal acceptance during the 1970s.
• The leap forward in communication was made possible by the advent of the mobile phone.
• before the advent of the Internet, information was not yet so readily available to the general public.
• The Information explosion has made a profound impact in the 21st century due to the advent of the Internet.
• With the advent of the Internet, information is readily available through computers and other smart devices.

Commonplace has the same meaning of ‘common’, but it carries a negative meaning of being dull and unchallenging or tired and clichéd.  For example:

• Coffee shops in cities are commonplace.
• Nowadays, distance-learning programs are commonplace, but some people argue that they are not as good as those attending college in person.
• Drug use has become commonplace at rock concerts.
• A commonplace job is a boring, mind-numbing task. 
• In contrast to the United States, where surrogacy is increasingly commonplace and accepted, the practice is generally illegal in Australia.
• In 2017, it is commonplace to see people constantly checking their phones.

Commonplace can be a noun. Things that are common can be found all over the place — they're commonplace! For example:

• We now accept cell phones and laptop computers as commonplaces of everyday life.

We often use the phrase 'It is a commonplace that' to say an idea, expression, remark, etc. that is not new or interesting. In other words, "It is a commonplace that = Everyone knows that" Look at the following example sentences:

• It is a commonplace that we only use a small part of our brain's capacity.
• It is a commonplace that the history of civilization is largely the history of weapons.
• It is a commonplace that American consumers have kept the world economy spinning. 

Definition: Be composed or made up of

Example sentences:

Definition: Be (a part) of a whole

Example sentences:

• Europe was increasingly concentrating power into the hands of elite groups, who constituted a very small proportion of the total population.

Definition: Similar in character, form, or function:

Example sentences:

• We discussed our corresponding viewpoints

Things that are emerging are just being born — or they're reaching an adult state. The important thing is they're growing and developing.

You could say an improved baseball team is an emerging force in the National League, or a new disease is an emerging threat.

Emerging things can be brand new but aren't necessarily: they could just be beginning to develop. Emerging means something close to sprouting — when you think of this word, think "growing." Used in a sentence, “It is a weird thing when you realize your children are emerging into adulthood right in front of you.”

Let's look at more example sentences:

• Social media marketing is an emerging trend in marketing.
• Artificial intelligence is one of the emerging technologies in 2017.

Definition: Surround and have or hold within: Include comprehensively:

Example sentences:

• This policy must encompass all aspects of waste management, including waste minimisation, recycling, re-usage and waste disposal.
• The course encompasses all the literature of the eighteenth century.

Definition: The action of establishing something or being established

Example sentences:

• Wahid proposed the establishment of an independent monitoring commission to work toward peace, but was ousted in July 2001.

Definition: making a strong or vivid impression

Example sentences:

• Eric showed impressive speed in the open field, rushing for 184 yards on just eight carries in his college debut.
• This very early and inventive way for flowering plants to manage their reproduction so early in their evolution is impressive.

The word "indispensable" is a strong adjective for something that you couldn't do without. For example, if you have asthma and you're packing for summer vacation, your inhaler is indispensable. The word dispensable means something you can go without, so indispensable is something you absolutely cannot go without. Used simply, “Food is indispensable to humans.” The phrase "be indispensable to" is often used.

Example sentences with the word indispensable:

• She is an indispensable (meaning essential) part of the team.
• Water is indispensable to life.
• To most teenagers, their mobile phones are indispensable to their happiness

Definition: a component of a mixture or compound

Example sentences:

• Restaurant owners say healthy-eating initiatives should focus on diet as a whole, not on particular ingredients or foods.
• Firing up the grill can be one of the simplest strategies for delicious, healthy summer eating – if you use the right ingredients and techniques.

Something that is integral is very important or necessary. If you are an integral part of the team, it means that the team cannot function without you. A synonym for integral would be essential.

You will see the collocation "an integral part" a lot.

Example sentences of the word integral:

• She had become an integral part of the team.
• Some would argue that sport is an integral part of the school curriculum.
• Computers are an integral part of life and so is computer education!

The phrase “be integral to” is often used.  Look at the following examples below:

• His character is integral to the story.
• Luck was integral to our success.

The adjective "paramount" means more important than anything else.  Something that is of paramount importance has a great urgency to it - it's at the very top of his to-do list. Let's look at example sentences:

• Safety is of paramount importance. This means safety is paramount.
• Unemployment was the paramount (meaning chief, main) issue in the election.
• The child's welfare must be seen as paramount.
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.
• The ability to teach students to think is paramount to a teacher’s success.

Definition: A certain, usually specified, amount or number of something; A considerable number or amount of something:

Example sentences:

• If taken in large quantities, the drug can result in liver failure
• This operation is not about finding a large quantity of drugs but to reassure the public and take out middle level dealers
• Many people like to buy in quantity

Definition: get or find back; recover the use of

Example sentences:

• A new study finds that DNA evidence retrieved from elephant dung, tissue and hair can help identify the origins of illegal ivory.

Definition: make visible; to uncover

Example sentences:

• The data reveals how much money students are borrowing in exchange for earnings after graduation.

Definition: A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound:

Example sentences:

• Whether it's in the form of romantic melody, upbeat Swing Jazz or exotic world rhythms, the live musical experience adds a unique presence and excitement to any event.

Definition: A postulated sequence or development of events:

Example sentences:

• Worst case scenarios predict that hundreds of thousands of Balinese who depend on the tourism sector could lose their livelihood.

Definition: Of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular season of the year;Fluctuating or restricted according to the season or time of year:

Example sentences:

• The formation of low and high vessel density wood coincided with the seasonal rainfall distribution They help reduce labour costs and provide needed flexibility when there are seasonal fluctuations.

Definition: not far form top to bottom; lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious

Example sentences:

• Shallower earthquakes tend to cause more damage at the surface.
• They argues that Facebook is a lot like most reality shows: shallow, narcissistic, digitally or surgically enhanced, but mostly harmless.

Definition: Undergo a sudden severe or prolonged fall in price, value, or amount;Sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply;A sudden severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of something

Example sentences:

• She slumped against the cushions. As commodities such as coffee or soya flooded into the world market, prices slumped, causing more economic chaos. A slump in property prices could mean your retirement taking a big hit, or being forced to wait until the housing market recovers.

Definition: believed or reputed to be the case

Example sentences:

• Streaming services have recently been reviving supposedly dead series frequently enough to be a legitimate trend, but not just any show can get resuscitated.

Definition: A sudden marked increase in voltage or current in an electric circuit

Example sentences:

• The hardware has been redesigned to prevent damage caused by short circuits or power surges.

Definition: to be complementary or appropriate

Example sentences:

• The experienced principal was well-suited for the job of superintendent of schools.
• The design of the building is well-suited to its surroundings.

Definition: Produce or provide (a natural, agricultural, or industrial product); Produce or generate (a result, gain, or financial return)

Example sentences:

• This method yielded excellent results because there was improvement of 15 to 20 per cent each time a teacher repeated the exercise.