Academic Verbs — TOEFL Academic Vocabulary
Five high-frequency academic verbs for describing research, data and arguments in every TOEFL section. Five high-utility words with the full apparatus: pronunciation, both definitions, natural + academic examples, collocations, family, mistakes — then a 10-question set quiz.
analyze /ˈænəˌlaɪz/ verb B2
Meaning: To look at something carefully, part by part, to understand it.
Academic meaning: To examine data, a text or a phenomenon systematically in order to identify patterns, components or causes.
Natural example: Let's analyze why the plan failed before we try again.
Academic example: The researchers analyzed survey responses from 2,400 students to identify factors linked to dropout rates.
Collocations: analyze data · analyze the results · carefully analyze
Synonyms: examine, evaluate, investigate
Antonyms: ignore, overlook
Word family: analysis (n) · analytical (adj) · analytically (adv) · analyst (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Learners often write 'analyze on' or 'analyze about' — analyze takes a direct object with no preposition.
Register: formal academic · Usage: Transitive: analyze + object (data, evidence, a text). The noun is analysis, plural analyses.
assess /əˈsɛs/ verb B2
Meaning: To judge how good, big or important something is.
Academic meaning: To evaluate the quality, value or extent of something against defined criteria.
Natural example: A mechanic will assess the damage to your car before giving a price.
Academic example: The study assessed the effectiveness of the new curriculum using pre- and post-test scores.
Collocations: assess the impact · assess performance · assess the risk
Synonyms: evaluate, appraise, measure
Antonyms: ignore, neglect
Word family: assessment (n) · assessor (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Learners confuse assess with access (to enter or use) — different spelling, pronunciation and meaning.
Register: formal academic · Usage: Transitive: assess + object. Common in passive form: 'was assessed using…'
contribute /kənˈtrɪbjut/ verb B2
Meaning: To give something, or to help cause something.
Academic meaning: To be one of the factors that helps produce a result, or to add material to a discussion or publication.
Natural example: Everyone contributed a dish to the dinner.
Academic example: Poor sleep may contribute to the decline in students' concentration during morning lectures.
Collocations: contribute to · contribute significantly · contribute factors
Synonyms: add, donate, cause
Antonyms: withhold, hinder
Word family: contribution (n) · contributor (n) · contributory (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Learners write 'contribute for' — the correct pattern is contribute to + noun/verb-ing.
Register: neutral academic · Usage: Almost always followed by to: contribute to + result. Also used for writing: contribute an article to a journal.
demonstrate /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/ verb B2
Meaning: To show clearly that something is true.
Academic meaning: To provide evidence or a clear example that establishes a claim or finding.
Natural example: The coach demonstrated the correct way to hold the racket.
Academic example: The experiment demonstrated that plants grow faster when exposed to longer periods of light.
Collocations: demonstrate that · clearly demonstrate · demonstrate the effect
Synonyms: show, prove, illustrate
Antonyms: hide, disprove
Word family: demonstration (n) · demonstrative (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Learners use demonstrate for opinions ('demonstrate my idea'); reserve it for claims supported by evidence or clear examples.
Register: formal academic · Usage: Common patterns: demonstrate that + clause; demonstrate + noun (an effect, a relationship, a method).
indicate /ˈɪndəˌkeɪt/ verb B2
Meaning: To show or point to something.
Academic meaning: To suggest, on the basis of evidence, that something is probably true, without proving it completely.
Natural example: The sign indicates that the museum is two miles ahead.
Academic example: The survey results indicate that most commuters would support a new bus route.
Collocations: indicate that · results indicate · evidence indicates
Synonyms: suggest, signal, reveal
Antonyms: conceal, contradict
Word family: indication (n) · indicator (n) · indicative (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: Learners overstate with indicate ('indicate proves'); indicate is weaker than prove — it points to a likely conclusion.
Register: formal academic · Usage: Typical subjects are evidence, results, data, findings: 'The findings indicate that…'