The 100 Essential Words for the Duolingo English Test

Preparing for the Duolingo English Test is different from studying for traditional exams. Its adaptive nature means the questions change based on your performance, requiring a broad and flexible vocabulary that you can access quickly. From describing a picture to responding to a prompt, the words you choose are critical to demonstrating your English proficiency.

This list features 100 essential, high-utility words that are perfect for the varied tasks on the Duolingo test. We've organized them into practical categories to help you think thematically and apply them effectively, whether you're speaking, writing, reading, or listening.

Part 1: Describing People & Places

• Vibrant: (adj.) full of energy and life.
  Example: The city has a vibrant nightlife with many restaurants and clubs.
• Serene: (adj.) calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
  Example: The serene lake was a perfect place for meditation.
• Bustling: (adj.) full of busy activity.
  Example: The bustling market was crowded with shoppers and vendors.
• Dilapidated: (adj.) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.
  Example: The old, dilapidated house had been abandoned for years.
• Contemporary: (adj.) belonging to or occurring in the present.
  Example: The museum features contemporary art from around the world.
• Pensive: (adj.) engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought.
  Example: The person in the photograph has a pensive expression on their face.
• Meticulous: (adj.) showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
  Example: He is a meticulous worker who never makes mistakes.
• Gregarious: (adj.) fond of company; sociable.
  Example: She is a gregarious person who loves parties.
• Tranquil: (adj.) free from disturbance; calm.
  Example: I enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the countryside.
• Majestic: (adj.) having or showing impressive beauty or dignity.
  Example: The majestic mountains were covered in snow.
• Sparse: (adj.) thinly dispersed or scattered.
  Example: The vegetation in the desert is sparse.
• Dense: (adj.) closely compacted in substance.
  Example: The dense forest was difficult to navigate.
• Elated: (adj.) ecstatically happy.
  Example: The children were elated when they saw the presents.
• Solemn: (adj.) formal and dignified; serious.
  Example: A solemn mood filled the room during the ceremony.
• Intricate: (adj.) very complicated or detailed.
  Example: The intricate patterns on the tapestry were beautiful.
• Verdant: (adj.) green with grass or other rich vegetation.
  Example: The verdant hills of Ireland are a famous sight.
• Quaint: (adj.) attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
  Example: We stayed in a quaint little cottage in the village.
• Industrious: (adj.) diligent and hard-working.
  Example: The industrious student completed all of her assignments early.
• Lethargic: (adj.) affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic.
  Example: I felt tired and lethargic after the long flight.
• Ornate: (adj.) made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns.
  Example: The ornate palace was decorated with gold and jewels.

Part 2: Expressing Ideas & Opinions

• Advocate: (v.) to publicly recommend or support.
  Example: I advocate for policies that protect the environment.
• Assert: (v.) to state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
  Example: He asserted that he was innocent of the crime.
• Clarify: (v.) to make a statement or situation less confused and more clearly comprehensible.
  Example: Could you please clarify what you mean by that?
• Concur: (v.) to agree.
  Example: I concur with the previous speaker's opinion.
• Contend: (v.) to state something as a position in an argument.
  Example: Some scientists contend that climate change is irreversible.
• Convey: (v.) to make an idea or feeling known or understandable to someone.
  Example: The novel effectively conveys the horrors of war.
• Crucial: (adj.) of great importance.
  Example: It is crucial that we find a solution to this problem.
• Elaborate: (v.) to develop or present a theory, policy, or system in detail.
  Example: Could you elaborate on your proposal?
• Emphasize: (v.) to give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing.
  Example: I want to emphasize the importance of teamwork.
• Illustrate: (v.) to explain or make something clear by using examples, charts, or pictures.
  Example: Let me illustrate my point with a personal story.
• Imply: (v.) to strongly suggest the truth or existence of something not expressly stated.
  Example: His silence seemed to imply his agreement.
• Justify: (v.) to show or prove to be right or reasonable.
  Example: Can you justify your decision to quit your job?
• Nuance: (n.) a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
  Example: He was able to capture every nuance of her expression.
• Pertinent: (adj.) relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
  Example: Please stick to the pertinent facts of the case.
• Plausible: (adj.) seeming reasonable or probable.
  Example: His explanation sounds plausible, but I'm not sure I believe it.
• Postulate: (v.) to suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of something as a basis for reasoning or belief.
  Example: Scientists postulate that there may be life on other planets.
• Refute: (v.) to prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false.
  Example: The new evidence refutes the defendant's claim.
• Stance: (n.) the attitude of a person or organization toward something; a standpoint.
  Example: What is your stance on the new environmental policy?
• Substantiate: (v.) to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.
  Example: You need to substantiate your claims with facts.
• Viable: (adj.) capable of working successfully; feasible.
  Example: Is this business plan economically viable?

Part 3: Actions & Processes

• Accelerate: (v.) to begin to move more quickly.
  Example: The car accelerated to overtake the truck.
• Acquire: (v.) to buy or obtain an asset or object for oneself.
  Example: She acquired a large collection of rare books.
• Adapt: (v.) to become adjusted to new conditions.
  Example: Humans must adapt to a changing climate.
• Allocate: (v.) to distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose.
  Example: The government will allocate more funding for education.
• Collaborate: (v.) to work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something.
  Example: The two artists collaborated on the mural.
• Commence: (v.) to begin.
  Example: The meeting will commence at 10 a.m.
• Comprehend: (v.) to grasp mentally; understand.
  Example: I could not comprehend what she was trying to say.
• Cultivate: (v.) to try to acquire or develop a quality or skill.
  Example: It is important to cultivate good study habits.
• Diminish: (v.) to make or become less.
  Example: The country's influence has diminished over the years.
• Eradicate: (v.) to destroy completely; put an end to.
  Example: Scientists are working to eradicate the disease.
• Facilitate: (v.) to make an action or process easy or easier.
  Example: The new software will facilitate communication between departments.
• Implement: (v.) to put a decision, plan, or agreement into effect.
  Example: The government will implement the new policy next year.
• Innovate: (v.) to make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods or ideas.
  Example: The company continues to innovate in the field of technology.
• Integrate: (v.) to combine one thing with another so that they become a whole.
  Example: We need to integrate the new system with our existing one.
• Leverage: (v.) to use something to maximum advantage.
  Example: We can leverage our brand to expand into new markets.
• Maintain: (v.) to cause or enable a condition or state of affairs to continue.
  Example: It is important to maintain a healthy diet.
• Optimize: (v.) to make the best or most effective use of a situation or resource.
  Example: We need to optimize our website for mobile devices.
• Resolve: (v.) to settle or find a solution to a problem or dispute.
  Example: They finally resolved their differences.
• Sustain: (v.) to strengthen or support physically or mentally.
  Example: It is difficult to sustain a high level of performance.
• Undertake: (v.) to commit oneself to and begin; to take on.
  Example: She decided to undertake the challenging project.

Part 4: Connecting & Contrasting Ideas

• Adjacent: (adj.) next to or adjoining something else.
  Example: My office is adjacent to the conference room.
• Albeit: (conj.) although.
  Example: The plan was successful, albeit very risky.
• Ambiguous: (adj.) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.
  Example: The instructions were ambiguous and confusing.
• Apparent: (adj.) clearly visible or understood; obvious.
  Example: It was apparent that she was not happy with the decision.
• Arbitrary: (adj.) based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
  Example: The selection of the winner seemed completely arbitrary.
• Conversely: (adv.) introducing a statement or idea that reverses a preceding one.
  Example: He prefers to work in the morning; conversely, I am more productive at night.
• Discrepancy: (n.) a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.
  Example: There was a discrepancy between the two witness statements.
• Furthermore: (adv.) in addition; besides.
  Example: The hotel is in a great location; furthermore, the service is excellent.
• Hence: (adv.) as a consequence; for this reason.
  Example: He was late, and hence, he missed the start of the meeting.
• Inevitable: (adj.) certain to happen; unavoidable.
  Example: Change is an inevitable part of life.
• Subsequently: (adv.) after a particular thing has happened; afterward.
  Example: He graduated from college and subsequently found a job.
• Thereby: (adv.) by that means; as a result of that.
  Example: He studied hard, thereby ensuring his success in the exam.
• Nevertheless: (adv.) in spite of that; notwithstanding; all the same.
  Example: The task was difficult; nevertheless, she completed it on time.
• Paradox: (n.) a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.
  Example: It is a paradox that a wealthy country can have so much poverty.
• Predominantly: (adv.) mainly; for the most part.
  Example: The audience was predominantly female.
• Prevalent: (adj.) widespread in a particular area at a particular time.
  Example: That fashion trend is prevalent among young people.
• Proportion: (n.) a part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole.
  Example: A large proportion of the budget is spent on healthcare.
• Respective: (adj.) belonging or relating separately to each of two or more people or things.
  Example: The two friends went back to their respective homes.
• Simultaneously: (adv.) at the same time.
  Example: The two events happened simultaneously.
• Whereas: (conj.) in contrast or comparison with the fact that.
  Example: My brother is tall, whereas I am short.

Part 5: Common Academic & Formal Words

• Abundant: (adj.) existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.
  Example: The country has abundant natural resources.
• Adept: (adj.) very skilled or proficient at something.
  Example: She is adept at playing the piano.
• Candid: (adj.) truthful and straightforward; frank.
  Example: Please be candid with me about your concerns.
• Conspicuous: (adj.) standing out so as to be clearly visible.
  Example: His bright red car was conspicuous in the parking lot.
• Deficient: (adj.) not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient.
  Example: The diet was deficient in essential vitamins.
• Deteriorate: (v.) to become progressively worse.
  Example: The patient's condition began to deteriorate.
• Explicit: (adj.) stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
  Example: The instructions were explicit and easy to follow.
• Feasible: (adj.) possible to do easily or conveniently.
  Example: Is it feasible to complete the project by Friday?
• Inherent: (adj.) existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute.
  Example: There is an inherent risk in any adventure sport.
• Integral: (adj.) necessary to make a whole complete; essential.
  Example: Teamwork is an integral part of our company culture.
• Lucrative: (adj.) producing a great deal of profit.
  Example: He started a lucrative online business.
• Obsolete: (adj.) no longer produced or used; out of date.
  Example: Typewriters have become obsolete.
• Omit: (v.) to leave out or exclude someone or something, either intentionally or forgetfully.
  Example: Please do not omit any details from your report.
• Pervasive: (adj.) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
  Example: The influence of social media is pervasive in modern society.
• Pragmatic: (adj.) dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
  Example: We need a pragmatic solution to this problem.
• Profound: (adj.) very great or intense; having or showing great knowledge or insight.
  Example: The book had a profound impact on my thinking.
• Robust: (adj.) strong and healthy; vigorous.
  Example: The company has a robust financial position.
• Scrutinize: (v.) to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
  Example: The lawyer will scrutinize every detail of the contract.
• Tangible: (adj.) perceptible by touch.
  Example: The project produced tangible results that we can measure.
• Ubiquitous: (adj.) present, appearing, or found everywhere.
  Example: Smartphones are now ubiquitous around the world.