11+ vocabulary list: 100 essential words with meanings

A strong vocabulary helps in almost every part of the 11+: comprehension, synonyms and antonyms, cloze, verbal reasoning and creative writing. Below are 100 essential 11+ words — the same 100 that are free in the Elevenplus FC app — each with a child-friendly meaning, an example sentence and synonyms.

How to use this 11+ word list

1. Don't try to learn it in one go. Five to ten new words a day is plenty.
2. Say it, read it, use it. Read the example sentence aloud, then ask your child to make up their own.
3. Review on a schedule. Revisit words after one day, three days, a week and a month. Spaced repetition apps do this automatically.
4. Group by theme. Words for feelings (apprehensive, jubilant, wistful), for character (tenacious, obstinate, astute) and so on are easier to remember together.
5. Use them in writing. Challenge your child to use three new words in their next story.

100 essential 11+ vocabulary words (A–Z)

A

Abnormal adjective

Not normal

“The test results were abnormal.”

Synonyms: Unusual, Atypical, Irregular

Abstain verb

To deliberately avoid doing something

“He abstained from drinking alcohol.”

Synonyms: Refrain, Forgo, Desist

Accompany verb

To go along with someone or something

“I will accompany you to the library after school.”

Synonyms: Escort, Attend, Chaperone

Adapt verb

To change something to suit different conditions or uses

“Animals can adapt to their environments to survive.”

Synonyms: Adjust, Modify, Alter

Anatomically adverb

Relating to anatomy

“The body was examined anatomically.”

Synonyms: Structurally, Bodily

Apparition noun

A ghost or ghostlike image

“They saw an apparition in the old house.”

Synonyms: Ghost, Phantom, Spectre

Appetite noun

A natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food.

“He has a healthy appetite.”

Synonyms: Hunger, Craving, Desire

Aromatic adjective

Having a pleasant smell

“The aromatic herbs enhanced the dish.”

Synonyms: Fragrant, Perfumed, Scented

Astute adjective

Having an ability to accurately assess situations; clever.

“The astute manager spotted the flaw in the plan immediately.”

Synonyms: Clever, Shrewd, Perceptive

B

Baleful adjective

Threatening harm; menacing

“The baleful look scared the children.”

Synonyms: Menacing, Sinister, Ominous

Bewildered adjective

Confused or puzzled

“He looked bewildered when he couldn’t find his way out of the maze.”

Synonyms: Confused, Perplexed, Baffled

Boisterous adjective

Noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rough.

“The boisterous class fell silent when the headteacher entered.”

Synonyms: Rowdy, Noisy, Lively

Bother verb

To annoy or disturb someone

“Please don’t bother me while I”

Synonyms: Annoy, Pester, Disturb

Brilliant adjective

Very bright, or excellent

“That was a brilliant idea for the project!”

Synonyms: Dazzling, Radiant, Outstanding

Brooding adjective

Showing deep unhappiness of thought

“The brooding artist painted in solitude.”

Synonyms: Sullen, Moody, Pensive

C

Captive noun

Someone held under control

“The captive was released.”

Synonyms: Prisoner, Hostage, Detainee

Catastrophic adjective

Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering

“The earthquake was catastrophic.”

Synonyms: Disastrous, Devastating, Calamitous

Ceremonial adjective

Relating to formal events

“They attended a ceremonial dinner.”

Synonyms: Formal, Ritual, Stately

Circumspect adjective

Wary and unwilling to take risks

“He was circumspect in his investments.”

Synonyms: Wary, Prudent, Guarded

Clandestine adjective

Kept secret or done secretly

“They held a clandestine meeting.”

Synonyms: Secretive, Covert, Furtive

Clarify verb

To make something clearer or easier to understand

“Can you clarify your instructions?”

Synonyms: Explain, Elucidate, Simplify

Combine verb

To join or merge two or more things together

“Let’s combine our ideas to create a better plan.”

Synonyms: Merge, Unite, Blend

Comely adjective

Pleasant in appearance

“The comely actress smiled.”

Synonyms: Attractive, Handsome, Fair

Complacent adjective

Self-satisfied and unconcerned

“He became complacent about his studies.”

Synonyms: Smug, Self-satisfied, Untroubled

Complicated adjective

Difficult to understand or deal with

“The math problem was very complicated.”

Synonyms: Complex, Intricate, Involved

Conclude verb

To bring something to an end or finish it

“We will conclude the meeting after the presentation.”

Synonyms: Finish, Close, Terminate

Contrived adjective

Artificial; deliberately created rather than arising naturally

“The ending of the story seemed contrived.”

Synonyms: Artificial, Forced, Laboured

Conversational adjective

Appropriate to an informal conversation

“The tone was conversational.”

Synonyms: Informal, Chatty, Colloquial

Convince verb

To persuade someone to do something

“I hope to convince my parents to let me go to the party.”

Synonyms: Persuade, Assure, Sway

Cosmopolitan adjective

Familiar with many cultures

“The city is cosmopolitan.”

Synonyms: Worldly, Sophisticated, Multicultural

Covert adjective

Hidden or secret

“They planned a covert operation.”

Synonyms: Secret, Concealed, Clandestine

Critical adjective

Expressing disapproving comments or judgments

“The book received critical feedback from many readers.”

Synonyms: Disapproving, Faultfinding, Censorious

Crooned verb

Sang softly

“He crooned a lullaby to the baby.”

Synonyms: Hummed, Warbled, Murmured

Culminate verb

To reach a climax or point of highest development

“The events of the story culminate in a dramatic conclusion.”

Synonyms: Climax, Peak, Culminate in

D

Decelerate verb

To reduce speed

“The car decelerated before the turn.”

Synonyms: Slow, Brake, Retard

Demonstrate verb

To show clearly how something is done or to prove something

“The teacher will demonstrate the experiment before we try it ourselves.”

Synonyms: Show, Illustrate, Exhibit

Diffidence noun

Shyness or lack of self-confidence

“His diffidence prevented him from speaking up.”

Synonyms: Shyness, Timidity, Reserve

Dubious adjective

Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon.

“She was dubious about the stranger”

Synonyms: Doubtful, Uncertain, Suspicious

E

Eloquent adjective

Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing.

“Her eloquent speech moved the audience to tears.”

Synonyms: Articulate, Expressive

Enigma noun

A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

“The ancient manuscript remained an enigma to scholars.”

Synonyms: Mystery, Puzzle, Riddle

Environment noun

The natural world or the area around you

“We must protect the environment for future generations.”

Synonyms: Surroundings, Habitat, Setting

Erroneous adjective

Incorrect; wrong

“The report contained erroneous information.”

Synonyms: Incorrect, Mistaken, Inaccurate

Evasive adjective

Tending to avoid commitment

“He gave evasive answers.”

Synonyms: Elusive, Shifty, Equivocal

Exempt adjective

Free from an obligation

“He was exempt from taxes.”

Synonyms: Excused, Released, Immune

Existence noun

The fact of being

“The existence of life on Mars is unknown.”

Synonyms: Being, Life, Actuality

F

Fluctuate verb

To change or vary continually, especially in an unpredictable manner

“The stock market tends to fluctuate a lot.”

Synonyms: Vary, Waver, Oscillate

Forbidden adjective

Not allowed; banished by law or rule

“The sign clearly stated that swimming was forbidden in the area.”

Synonyms: Prohibited, Banned, Outlawed

Forgery noun

A fraudulent imitation

“The painting was a forgery.”

Synonyms: Fake, Counterfeit, Imitation

Frequent adjective

Happening often or repeatedly

“She takes frequent breaks while studying.”

Synonyms: Regular, Recurrent, Habitual

G

Guarantee noun

A formal promise that something will happen or that a product will work

“The company offers a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.”

Synonyms: Warranty, Pledge, Assurance

H

Hesitate verb

To pause before saying or doing something due to uncertainty

“Don’t hesitate to ask if you need help.”

Synonyms: Pause, Waver, Falter

Hilarious adjective

Extremely funny

“That movie was so hilarious I couldn”

Synonyms: Uproarious, Comical, Side-splitting

Hypothesis noun

A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence

“The scientist proposed a hypothesis for why plants grow better in sunlight.”

Synonyms: Theory, Supposition, Conjecture

I

Impressive adjective

Having a strong effect on the mind or feelings

“Her performance was truly impressive.”

Synonyms: Striking, Remarkable, Imposing

Indirect adjective

Not in a straight line; roundabout

“They took an indirect route.”

Synonyms: Roundabout, Circuitous, Meandering

Inquire verb

To ask for information

“I would like to inquire about your services.”

Synonyms: Ask, Query, Enquire

Interpret verb

To explain the meaning of something

“Can you interpret the poem for me?”

Synonyms: Explain, Decipher, Clarify

Interspersed adjective

Scattered among or between other things

“Photos were interspersed throughout the text.”

Synonyms: Scattered, Dotted, Sprinkled

J

Jubilant adjective

Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph

“The jubilant crowd celebrated their team”

Synonyms: Elated, Overjoyed, Triumphant

K

Knowledge noun

Information, understanding, or skill gained through experience or education

“Knowledge is power, they say, because it allows you to make informed decisions.”

Synonyms: Understanding, Learning, Expertise

L

Lethargic adjective

Feeling sluggish or apathetic; lacking energy

“I felt lethargic after staying up too late.”

Synonyms: Sluggish, Listless, Torpid

Literature noun

Written works, especially those considered to have artistic value

“We studied classic literature in our English class.”

Synonyms: Writings, Works, Prose

M

Motivate verb

To provide someone with a reason or incentive to do something

“A good teacher can motivate students to do their best.”

Synonyms: Inspire, Encourage, Spur

Motivation noun

The reason one has for acting

“He had the motivation to succeed.”

Synonyms: Incentive, Drive, Impetus

O

Objection noun

An expression of disapproval

“He raised an objection during the meeting.”

Synonyms: Protest, Complaint, Opposition

Obstinate adjective

Stubbornly refusing to change opinion or action.

“The obstinate mule refused to move despite all encouragement.”

Synonyms: Stubborn, Headstrong, Unyielding

Offensive adjective

Causing someone to feel hurt

“His comments were offensive.”

Synonyms: Insulting, Hurtful, Objectionable

P

Perplexed adjective

Completely baffled; very puzzled.

“The perplexed pupil stared at the maths question.”

Synonyms: Baffled, Confused, Puzzled

Persuade verb

To convince someone to do or believe something

“I tried to persuade my friend to join the club with me.”

Synonyms: Convince, Coax, Sway

Proficient adjective

Competent or skilled

“She is proficient in multiple languages.”

Synonyms: Skilled, Adept, Accomplished

Prudent adjective

Acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

“The prudent traveller always packed a spare map.”

Synonyms: Sensible, Wise, Careful

R

Reckon verb

To calculate or conclude

“I reckon it will take two hours.”

Synonyms: Calculate, Suppose, Judge

Relevant adjective

Closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered

“Your comments were very relevant to the discussion we had.”

Synonyms: Pertinent, Applicable, Related

Reluctant adjective

Unwilling and hesitant; disinclined.

“She was reluctant to leave the warm house on a cold morning.”

Synonyms: Unwilling, Hesitant, Loath

Renowned adjective

Famous and respected

“He is a renowned scientist.”

Synonyms: Famous, Celebrated, Eminent

Reside verb

To live in a place

“They reside in the city.”

Synonyms: Dwell, Inhabit, Live

Resilience noun

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties

“The community showed remarkable resilience after the disaster.”

Synonyms: Toughness, Hardiness, Buoyancy

Resilient adjective

Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough.

“The resilient team bounced back after losing the first match.”

Synonyms: Tough, Adaptable

Reveal verb

To make something known that was previously secret

“The magician will reveal how he performed the trick.”

Synonyms: Disclose, Divulge, Uncover

Rigid adjective

Stiff and unyielding

“The ruler was made of rigid plastic.”

Synonyms: Stiff, Inflexible, Unbending

S

Sagacious adjective

Having or showing keen mental discernment; wise.

“The sagacious elder gave counsel that proved correct.”

Synonyms: Wise, Astute, Shrewd

Sensory adjective

Relating to the senses

“The sensory experience was overwhelming.”

Synonyms: Perceptual, Tactile

Sequence noun

The order in which things happen

“Please write the steps in sequence for the experiment.”

Synonyms: Order, Series, Succession

Significant adjective

Important and meaningful

“The discovery was a significant step in science.”

Synonyms: Important, Notable, Meaningful

Speculate verb

To form a theory without firm evidence

“They speculated about the future of the company.”

Synonyms: Conjecture, Hypothesise, Surmise

Sufficient adjective

Enough for the needs or purposes of something

“Ensure you have sufficient water for the hike.”

Synonyms: Adequate, Enough, Ample

T

Tangible adjective

Perceptible by touch; clear and definite

“The benefits of exercise are tangible and can be felt quickly.”

Synonyms: Touchable, Concrete, Palpable

Temper verb

To moderate or adjust

“He tempered his criticism with praise.”

Synonyms: Moderate, Soften, Tone down

Tenacious adjective

Holding firm; very determined and refusing to give up.

“The tenacious student revised every night until she passed.”

Synonyms: Persistent, Resolute, Determined

Tolerate verb

To allow or accept something that is difficult or unpleasant

“We must learn to tolerate different opinions.”

Synonyms: Endure, Bear, Permit

Toxic adjective

Poisonous

“The substance is toxic if ingested.”

Synonyms: Poisonous, Venomous, Noxious

Transform verb

To change something into a different form

“The caterpillar will transform into a butterfly.”

Synonyms: Convert, Alter, Reshape

U

Unique adjective

Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else

“Her style is unique and always stands out.”

Synonyms: Singular, Distinctive, Unmatched

Unnecessary adjective

Not needed or required

“Spending extra money on unnecessary items can lead to debt.”

Synonyms: Needless, Superfluous, Redundant

Unsuitable adjective

Not appropriate or fitting

“The shoes were unsuitable for hiking.”

Synonyms: Inappropriate, Unfit, Improper

Utility noun

Usefulness

“The tool has many utilities.”

Synonyms: Usefulness, Practicality, Benefit

V

Vague adjective

Not clearly expressed or understood; unclear

“Her instructions were vague, and I didn’t know what to do.”

Synonyms: Unclear, Indistinct, Hazy

Vivacious adjective

Attractively lively and animated.

“Her vivacious personality lit up every room she entered.”

Synonyms: Lively, Animated, Spirited

W

Witness noun

A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident

“She was a witness to the car accident across the street.”

Synonyms: Observer, Bystander, Onlooker

Z

Zealous adjective

Having great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause.

“The zealous captain pushed the team to practise every day.”

Synonyms: Enthusiastic, Passionate, Fervent

Beyond the list: word roots

No list can cover every word your child will meet in the exam. That's why learning word roots is so powerful. If your child knows that bene- means good, mal- means bad, -ology means the study of and chron means time, they can make a sensible guess at benefactor, malicious, geology and chronological — even if they've never seen them before.

Elevenplus FC includes seven word-root categories: prefixes, suffixes, word roots, Latin roots, Greek roots, word building and multi-affix words. See our full guide to prefixes, suffixes and word roots.

Words in the 11+: where they appear

• Comprehension: "Which word is closest in meaning to dubious as used in line 7?"
• Synonyms and antonyms: "Find the word most opposite in meaning to reluctant." See our synonyms and antonyms list.
• Cloze: choosing sufficient rather than significant to fill a gap. See 11+ cloze tests explained.
• Verbal reasoning: analogies, odd one out and word association all depend on knowing what words mean. See our verbal reasoning guide.
• Writing: precise, ambitious vocabulary is one of the clearest signs of a strong 11+ writer.

Frequently asked questions