IELTS Academic Words: Verbs #4

To completely remove or destroy.

"Efforts to eradicate malaria have been intensified in the region, with the distribution of mosquito nets and vaccines."

To collect and store a lot of something.

"During the uncertain times, many people started to hoard essential goods, fearing shortages."

To keep in good condition.

"To ensure the car operates efficiently, it is essential to regularly maintain the engine with routine check-ups and oil changes."

To keep something in its original state.

"To preserve the local wildlife, the community established a protected natural reserve."

To keep or continue to have something.

"To succeed in her law exams, she had to retain a vast amount of legal information."

To make a situation worse.

"Trying to open the jar with wet hands did nothing but aggravate the situation, making her more frustrated."

To make something less severe.

"Taking painkillers can help alleviate the discomfort of a headache."

To come up or begin to happen.

"When new evidence came to light, unexpected questions began to arise regarding the case."

To make a bad situation worse.

"The lack of clear communication only served to exacerbate the already heightened tensions between the team members."

To slow down or prevent progress.

"The heavy traffic did nothing but hinder our progress towards the airport, causing us to miss our flight."

To deliberately not pay attention to.

"Despite the noise in the background, she managed to ignore it and focus on her work."

To make better.

"After practicing the piano every day, her skills began to improve significantly."

To make less severe or harmful.

"To mitigate the effects of climate change, governments and organizations worldwide are implementing various green initiatives."

To correct or fix something.

"After realizing that an error was made in the financial report, the accountant acted quickly to rectify the mistake."

To find a solution to a problem.

"She showed her resolve by training every day for the marathon, despite bad weather and early mornings."

To produce offspring by mating.

"The Labrador Retriever is a popular breed known for its intelligence and friendly nature."

To grow or nurture something.

"Farmers cultivate the land to grow crops and produce food for the community."

To move smoothly in one direction.

"As the sun rose, a gentle flow of the river mirrored the awakening colors of the dawn."

To plant seeds in the ground.

"In spring, farmers sow seeds in the fields, anticipating a bountiful harvest."

To catch or take control of.

"The photographer was determined to capture the beauty of the sunrise over the mountains."