400 Must Have Words for the TOEFL LESSON 5 - Time Efficiency Vocabulary Test
Word List
adjust [əˈdʒəst] v.
To change; to get accustomed to something
→ Travelers are advised to adjust their watches before arriving in the new time zone.
Parts of speech adjustment n., adjustable adj.
arbitrary [ˈɑːbɪtrərɪ] adj.
Chosen simply by whim or chance, not for any specific reason
→ The decision to build a school in Blackberry Township was arbitrary, without any thought to future housing patterns.
Parts of speech arbitrate v., arbitrator n., arbitrarily adv.
denominator [dɪˈnɒmɪneɪtəʳ] n.
The number written below the line in a fraction
→ In the fraction 1⁄2, the number 2 is the denominator.
Usage tips The phrase lowest common denominator means “the most basic and unsophisticated things that most people share.”
Parts of speech denominate v., denomination n., denominational adj.
exponentially [ˌekspəˈnen(t)ʃəli] adv.
At a very fast rate
→ In Turkey, the value of the lira has decreased exponentially in the last several decades.
Usage tips Exponentially is taken from mathematics,where an exponent is a number indicating how many times something is multiplied by itself.For example,43 contains the exponent “3,” indicating 4 × 4 × 4.
Parts of speech exponent n., exponential adj.
infinitesimal [ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtesɪməl] adj.
Immeasurably small
→ The number of contaminants in the water was infinitesimal, so the water was safe to drink.
Parts of speech infinitesimally adv.
maximize [ˈmæksɪmaɪz] v.
To increase or make as great as possible
→ A coach helps each athlete maximize his or her potential.
Parts of speech maximum n., maximum adj.
parallel [ˈperəˌlel] adj.
Being an equal distance apart everywhere
→ The street where I live runs parallel to the main road through town.
Usage tips Parallel is often followed by to.
Parts of speech parallel n., parallel adv.
proportion [prəˈpɔːʃən] n.
A part in relation to the whole
→ The average employee spends a large proportion of each workday answering e-mails.
Usage tips Proportion is often followed by of.
Parts of speech proportionate adj., proportionally adv.
rate [reɪt] n.
The cost per unit of a good or service; the motion or change that happens in a certain time.
→ Some grasses grow at the rate of one inch per day.
Parts of speech rate v., rating n.
sequence [ˈsiːkwəns] v.
To organize or arrange in succession
→ Volunteers have been asked to sequence the files and organize the boxes.
Parts of speech sequence n., sequentially adv.
