TOEIC® Word List

Absence is the state of not being someplace, like school. It can also refer to the amount of time something has been or plans to be gone. We most commonly think of absence as the opposite of present in places like school, but really it can refer to anything that's missing or something that's lacking. Darkness is an absence of light, and cold is an absence of heat.

Example sentences of using the word absence to refer to the amount of time something has been or plans to be gone:

• Mary is going to be on maternity leave next month. Who do you think will take her place during her absence?
• I'm deputizing for the director during his absence.
• She has so many absences from work this year. I think the boss is thinking about letting her go.
• Every workplace should have its own absence policy. 

Please note that when someone gets the permission from their boss to be away from a job for a period of time; it is called leave of absence. The phrase leave of absence is used with words such as granted or given. For example:

• ​I am going to ask for a two-day leave of absence to attend my brother's wedding.
• Joseph took a two-month leave of absence to finish his dissertation.

Let's look at some example sentences where the word absence is used to show that something is missing or something that's lacking.

• The absence of oxygen in the water is causing the fish to die. 
• A lot of young people moved out of the city. In the absence of young talents, many tech companies have no choice but to outsource to India. 
• In the absence of an agreement, the court will decide according to the child's best interests. 

An accountant is a person whose job is to keep, inspect, and analyze financial accounts.

Take over = Acquire = to get control of a company by buying enough of the shares in it

Takeover = Acquisition  = the act of taking over a company​

• In 2006, Google acquired Youtube for $1.65 billion. 
• The acquisition frenzy has coincided with an era of historically low-interest rates.
• The $165 billion acquisition between America Online and Time Warner Inc. comes in at number two in our list of biggest takeovers in history.
• The company he works for has recently been taken over.
• The company made a takeover bid for one of its rivals.

If something is acting up, it is not working properly.

Agenda = a list of matters to be discussed at a meeting

• You're preparing the agenda for tomorrow morning's meeting, right?  Let me take a look at it before you send it to the board members.
• What is on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting? 
• It's 10 A.M. As we have a full agenda, let's get cracking!

Airline = a business that operates regular services for carrying passengers and/or goods by aircraft

• Excuse me. I would like to book a flight to Berlin next week. Which airline do you suggest I fly with?
• I don't like flying on low-cost airlines because you don't get to choose seats when booking the flight.
• These days, you can fly around the world on a budget airline.
• The airline has ordered eight new commuter planes to replace a dozen aging carriers.
• The tourism industry is seeing demand spike after the pandemic slump. Everyone seems to be traveling and airlines are struggling to keep up with this surge in demand.
• Some data suggest that air travel in summer 2022 is pretty comparable to summer 2019. Many airlines have preemptively cut flights going into the summer, some as much as 10% of their schedule. Some airlines have even ultimately ended service to some cities. And it seems like one of the biggest reasons is staffing issues.

If you amend something that has been written such as a law, or something that is said, you change it in order to improve it or make it more accurate.

Appetizer = a small amount of food eaten before a meal or the first part of a meal

• Can we talk over appetizers? I'm starving!
• Out of curiosity, I ordered an appetizer off the typed list on the counter.
• Prosciutto-wrapped melon slices or figs are classic fall appetizers.
• The calamari appetizer we had last night was amazing, the best I have found anywhere. It was lightly breaded, with some Sriracha on the side of the plate.

An applicant is a person who makes a formal application for something, especially a job.

Assembly = the process of putting together the parts of a machine or structure

Assembly line= a production process that breaks the manufacture of a good into steps that are completed in a pre-defined sequence.

• The cars are assembled on an assembly line.
• Many assembly line workers are being replaced by robots.
• This is the first session in the training that you all are going to receive for your new roles at our factory. As assembly line workers, you'll be working around conveyor belts regularly. While potentially dangerous, the machinery is quite safe if properly handled. 
• (It) requires assembly.
• (Some) assembly required.
• I really like this swivel chair with mesh backrest. Does it require assembly?
• In order to offer the lowest prices possible, and so that your furniture arrives damage-free, some of the items available at Handy Furniture will require some assembly.

Attendence = the fact of going to an event or a place.

Perfect Attendance means that a student or an employee goes to school or work every day of a year.

• I had perfect attendance this year.
• When I was little, I got five medals for perfect attendance at Sunday school.
• Just a few weeks before graduation, Elijah was expelled from the school for poor grades and bad attendance.

Attendence = the number of people going to an event or a place.

Be in attendance = have to attend

• At last month's meeting, attendance was poor.
• Attendance at this training is mandatory for everyone hired since June of this year. 
• Please notify the employees who need to be in attendance.
• Theater attendance worldwide is still not close to what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Attendee = someone who goes to an event or a place.

• We were expecting more attendees at the meeting.
• Did you get a list of the seminar attendees?

Auditer = someone whose job is to carry out an official examination of the accounts of a business and to produce a report

• The company's accounts were checked twice over, the second time by an independent auditor.
• My brother is an auditor for a big accounting firm.

The adjective authorized comes from the verb authorize, which means "give formal approval." So when an authority grants her approval or permission to do something, it becomes authorized. 

Absent means not there.  You will often see the phrase "absent from work or school".  Here are some example sentences:

• Alex has been absent from work for three days now.
• If you are absent from work for one day, your perfect attendance bonuses will be gone.
• You have been absent from school for two days.
• The purpose of doing the roll call is to check if any students are absent.
• James is very absent-minded and is always forgetting where he has put things.
• I am pretty absent-minded. It is easier for me to forget where I put my car keys and glasses.

• I recently started a small business on the side, and I really need some advice on accounting.
• I am considering a career in accounting.
• I have an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.
• My brother is an auditor for a big accounting firm.
• Our priority is the modernization and upgrade of the accounting system.
• Small business owners benefit from accounting software because it helps them track accounts receivable and accounts payable. As a result,  Small business owners​ will have a clear understanding of their profitability.
• Advances in information technology have affected traditional accounting methods and practices. The most significant impact IT has made on accounting is the ability of companies to use computerized systems to track and record financial transactions.

​Take over = Acquire = to get control of a company by buying enough of the shares in it

Takeover = Acquisition  = the act of taking over a company

• The new acquisition will bring cutting-edge technology to our business, allowing us to expand our offerings to customers.
• The acquisition of a rival company is expected to give our business a significant boost in the industry.
• Yahoo is making a last-ditch effort to thwart the hostile takeover by Microsoft.

The noun "admission" can refer to the money you pay to enter into a place. For example,

• How much do they charge for admission?
• Tickets are $10, with free admission for children under age 12.
• The cost includes free admission to the casinos.

Also, it can generally mean permission to enter a place. "admission to a place" is often used. For example,

• No admission to the park between 11 P.M. and 6 A.M.

We also often see the word 'admission' on university websites. It means the act or process of accepting someone as a student. The pattern “admission to (a university)” is often used. For example,

• Congratulations on your admission to the University of Illinois.
• I failed to gain admission to my dream university.
• I submitted an application for admission to Harvard.
• Many students apply for admission to more than one university.

Finally, it can refer to the number of people being admitted to a place. For example,

• We have already seen an increase in the level of emergency admissions.
• We keep careful records of all hospital admissions.

Airfare = the price of a flight ticket

• Round-trip airfare from Miami to Santiago is $837.
• Nowadays, many travel agent websites allow people to look at multiple airlines' schedules and up-to-the-minute airfares.
• While airfares might skyrocket the closer you get to a holiday, they are generally cheaper if you travel on the actual holiday. In fact, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are two of the most economical times to fly—even if you book flights at the last minute.

Airliner = A large airplane

• Boeing's 737 airliner is the best-selling airliner in history, and the Max airliner is the newest version of it, with more fuel-efficient engines. The Max is a central part of Boeing's strategy to compete with European rival Airbus. Boeing has delivered about 350 737 Max planes and has orders for more than 5,000. It is already in use by many airlines including American, United and Southwest.

• This property is just 5 minutes' walk from all of the local amenities, restaurants, and shops. 
• Hotel amenities include a complimentary full breakfast, sauna, steam room, free parking, a business center, and meeting space accommodating up to 80 people.

Something is applicable to a particular situation =  Something is relevant to or can be applied to a particular situation

• The questionnaire did not provide an opportunity for responders to indicate whether the question was "not applicable" to them.
• The constitution is equally applicable to all citizens.
• This part of the law is only applicable to companies employing more than five people.

An artisan is a skilled worker who practices some trade or craft. In the past, blacksmith and carpenters were artisans, but today we consider artists artisans. You can remember this because you see the base word- art in the artisans. Jewelry and pottery makers are considered artisans because they are creating something with their hands.

• The market showcased the work of hundreds of artisans.

​Artisan bread is made by skilled bakers using natural and high-quality ingredients.

• Baguettes are considered the most difficult bread to bake, and the art of artisan bread.

• Rollers Bakehouse is seeking an experienced baker in artisan bread and quality pastry making in this award-winning bakery. Immediate start required.

   

Attend = to go to an event or a place.

• I'll be away for the next three days to attend a conference.
• Mr. Lee is organizing the company banquet, so please let him know if you are able to attend.
• Many publishers are attending the International Fashion Fair, which is starting on Friday.
• All new hires are required to attend a training session which will take place on Friday, October 13 from 9:30 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. The session will be conducted in Meeting Room 3, and lunch will be provided.
• This year's WWDC will take place from June 6 to June 10. The conference will once again take place in an online format and will be free for all developers to attend.  (WWDC = Worldwide Developers Conference)

Attendant = someone whose job is to be in a place and help visitors or customers such as flight attendant, parking attendant, and museum attendant

• Michelle has five years of experience as a flight attendant.
• Being a flight attendant opens up a lot of opportunities to discover the world. The lifestyle is ideal for anyone who doesn't like routine.
• During boarding, one of my jobs as a flight attendant is to help passengers stow their bags.
• The flight attendants will begin serving beverages after take-off. Thank you.
• Please present this ticket with your payment to the parking attendant when you return to pick up your vehicle.

1. Audit = make an official examination of the accounts of a business and produce a report (Verb)

• They audit our company's accounts each year.
• We have finished auditing our company's account. Everything seems to be correct

2. Audit = an official examination of the accounts of a business (Countable noun)

• The audit of our company's account was completed yesterday.
• We carry out a full internal audit once a year.
• We are going to conduct an audit of the accounts for the year 2019/20 tomorrow. 

3. Audit = go to a class without being tested or receiving a grade at the end  (Verb)

• To audit a class you need to go through the registration process. To sit-in in a class, you only need to talk to the instructor before the class starts.
• Many colleges allow auditing in their courses. But since you're paying for it, you might as well go the extra mile and get credit for your work. 

Definition: Of undisputed origin; genuine

Example sentences:

• He is in no doubt that the document is an authentic copy of the original

To cut jobs = to ax jobs/to shed jobs/to slash jobs = to fire employees

• Sony Pictures Entertainment will cut about 1,700 jobs, according to a report published Wednesday.
• The company confirmed Monday it is to ax about 1,600 jobs across the country to slash costs. Salaries for all remaining staff will be frozen.
• Times are hard, even profitable companies are shedding jobs.
• The company's decision to slash 10 percent of its workforce comes as it struggles with weak TV sales and swelling losses.