Overview
This lecture covers 40 essential synonyms that can help improve your IELTS band score by demonstrating a broad vocabulary and reducing repetition in your writing and speaking.
The Importance of Synonyms in IELTS
- Repeating the same words lowers your band score, so use synonyms to display a wide vocabulary.
- Learning and applying synonyms makes your language sound more advanced and varied.
Essential Synonyms and Their Usage
- "Say" → "claim," "talk about" → "discuss"
- "Recommend" → "advocate" (followed by a noun or -ing verb)
- "Explain about" → "clarify" (add "for" if clarifying for someone)
- "Give" → "offer" (politer, does not imply acceptance)
- "Ask" → "inquire"
- "Easy" → "simple"
- "Tip" → "recommendation" (more formal)
- "For example" → "to illustrate"
- "Extra" → "additional"
- "I think" → "presume"
- "Think about" → "consider"
- "Maybe" → "possibly"
- "People" → "individuals"
- "Family" → "household"
- "Live" → "reside"
- "Town" → "community"
- "City" → "metropolis" (plural: metropolises)
- "Hobby" → "pastime"
- "Try" → "attempt" (implies effort)
- "Sound" → "appear" (seem, more formal)
- "Food" → "cuisine"
- "Famous" → "prominent"
- "Perfect" → "ideal"
- "Very"/"really" → "extremely"
- "About" (approximate) → "approximately"
- "About" (topic) → "regarding"
- "Mostly" → "predominantly"
- "Change" → "alter"
- "Go up" → "increase"; "go down" → "decrease"
- "Speed up" → "escalate"
- "Highest point" → "apex"
- "Long time" → "extended period"
- "Large" → "significant"
- "Small" → "minor"
- "Then" → "afterwards"
- "But" → "however," "nonetheless"
- "A lot" → "frequently"
Key Terms & Definitions
- Synonym — a word with the same or similar meaning as another word.
- Advocate — to recommend or support a particular idea or action.
- Clarify — to make something easier to understand.
- Presume — to suppose something is true without proof.
- Metropolis — a large and important city.
- Pastime — an activity done for enjoyment, a hobby.
- Cuisine — a style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a country.
- Apex — the highest point.
- Significant — important or notable.
- Nonetheless — despite this; in spite of that.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize the 40 synonyms listed.
- Practice using these synonyms in IELTS writing and speaking tasks.
- Check your spelling when using longer or formal words.
- Complete any recommended exercises from related IELTS materials.