What vocabulary do I need for the TOEFL 2026?

Sea of Inquiry

• analyzeverb
  to examine something in detail to understand or explain it
  "Researchers analyze the data to identify patterns."
  Word family: analysis (n), analytical (adj), analyst (n)
• assessverb
  to judge the quality, value, or importance of something
  "The study assesses the effect of sleep on memory."
  Word family: assessment (n)
• indicateverb
  to show, point to, or suggest something
  "The results indicate a clear upward trend."
  Word family: indication (n), indicator (n)
• demonstrateverb
  to show clearly through evidence or example
  "The experiment demonstrates how plants respond to light."
  Word family: demonstration (n)
• establishverb
  to set up firmly or to prove something
  "The scientists established a link between the two events."
  Word family: established (adj), establishment (n)
• evaluateverb
  to judge the value or quality of something carefully
  "Teachers evaluate each essay against a rubric."
  Word family: evaluation (n)
• obtainverb
  to get or acquire something, often formally
  "Students must obtain permission before entering the lab."
  Word family: obtainable (adj)
• acquireverb
  to gain or come to possess something
  "Children acquire language remarkably quickly."
  Word family: acquisition (n)
• conductverb
  to carry out an activity such as research
  "The team conducted a survey of 500 students."
  Word family: conduct (n)
• contributeverb
  to give a part toward a result
  "A poor diet contributes to many health problems."
  Word family: contribution (n), contributor (n)
• deriveverb
  to obtain or develop something from a source
  "The English word derives from Latin."
  Word family: derivation (n), derivative (adj, n)
• interpretverb
  to explain or decide the meaning of something
  "Scientists interpret the graph as evidence of warming."
  Word family: interpretation (n)
• defineverb
  to state the exact meaning of something
  "The author defines the key terms early in the paper."
  Word family: definition (n), definite (adj)

Sea of Consequence

• factornoun
  one thing that influences a result
  "Cost is a major factor in the decision."
  Word family: factor in (v)
• impactnoun
  a strong effect on someone or something
  "The new policy had a major impact on employment."
  Word family: impact (v), impactful (adj)
• affectverb
  to produce a change in something
  "Temperature affects the rate of the reaction."
  Word family: affected (adj); note: affect (v) vs effect (n)
• consequencenoun
  a result or effect of an action
  "Rising prices are a consequence of the shortage."
  Word family: consequent (adj), consequently (adv)
• generateverb
  to produce or create something
  "The turbines generate electricity from wind."
  Word family: generation (n)
• methodnoun
  a planned way of doing something
  "The researchers used a new method to collect data."
  Word family: methodical (adj), methodology (n)
• processnoun
  a series of steps that lead to a result
  "Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make food."
  Word family: process (v)
• approachnoun
  a particular way of dealing with a problem
  "The school adopted a new approach to teaching math."
  Word family: approach (v)
• principlenoun
  a basic rule or truth that explains how something works
  "The design follows the principles of physics."
  Word family: note: principle (n) vs principal (adj, n)
• functionnoun
  the natural purpose or role of something
  "The main function of the heart is to pump blood."
  Word family: functional (adj), function (v)

Sea of Judgment

• significantadjective
  large or important enough to have an effect or to matter
  "There was a significant increase in test scores."
  Word family: significance (n), significantly (adv)
• appropriateadjective
  suitable or correct for a particular situation
  "Choose an appropriate example to support your point."
  Word family: appropriately (adv)
• relevantadjective
  closely connected to the matter being discussed
  "Include only relevant details in your summary."
  Word family: relevance (n)
• sufficientadjective
  enough for a particular purpose
  "The evidence is not sufficient to prove the claim."
  Word family: sufficiency (n), suffice (v)
• adequateadjective
  enough in amount or good enough in quality
  "The funding was adequate but not generous."
  Word family: adequately (adv), adequacy (n)
• distinctadjective
  clearly separate or different from others
  "The two species are distinct in size and color."
  Word family: distinction (n), distinctly (adv)
• evidentadjective
  clear and easy to see or understand
  "The improvement was evident after only one week."
  Word family: evidence (n), evidently (adv)
• previousadjective
  coming or existing before in time
  "This result contradicts previous studies."
  Word family: previously (adv)
• apparentadjective
  clear or obvious; seeming to be true
  "It soon became apparent that the plan would fail."
  Word family: apparently (adv)

Sea of Foundations

• conceptnoun
  an abstract idea or general notion
  "The concept of gravity was hard to accept at first."
  Word family: conceptual (adj), conceive (v)
• structurenoun
  the way the parts of something are arranged
  "A good essay has a clear structure."
  Word family: structural (adj), structure (v)
• aspectnoun
  one part or feature of something
  "The report covers every aspect of the problem."
  Word family: aspect (n, no common family)
• contextnoun
  the situation or words surrounding something
  "Use context to guess the meaning of new words."
  Word family: contextual (adj), contextualize (v)
• elementnoun
  a basic or essential part of a whole
  "Trust is a key element of any successful team."
  Word family: elemental (adj)
• hypothesisnoun
  a proposed explanation that can be tested
  "The experiment supported the researchers hypothesis."
  Word family: hypothesize (v), hypothetical (adj)
• variablenoun
  something that can change or vary in an experiment
  "The scientists controlled every variable but one."
  Word family: variable (adj), vary (v), variation (n)
• componentnoun
  one of the parts that make up a whole
  "Memory is one component of overall intelligence."
  Word family: component (adj)