< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (42)

Consequence, noun (consequences, consequently) 

aftermath, effect, price, repercussion, result

For example, the consequences of something are the results or effects of it.

Her lawyer said she understood the consequence of her actions and was prepared to go

to jail.

Step-father, noun 

Someone’s step-father is the man who has married a child’s mother after the death or 

divorce of his father.  

Her step-father has been married to her mother for five years.

Enormous, adj (enormously) 

big, giant, huge, immense, jumbo, tremendous

For example, something that is enormous is extremely large in size or amount. 

The main bedroom is enormous.

Rival, noun, verb (rivals, rivaling, rivaled) 

challenger, competitor, contender, adversary, enemy

For example, your rival is a person, business, or organization against whom you are 

competing or fighting in the same area or for the same things.  

He eliminated his rival in brutal struggle for power.

Compete, verb (competes, competing, competed, competition, competitive,

competitively) 

contend, contest, rival, vie, combat, fight, strive, oppose;

For example, when one firm or country competes with another, it tries to get people to buy

its own goods in preference to those of the other firms or countries. You can also say that

two firms or countries compete.  

The banks have long competed with American Express’s charge cards and various store cards.   

For example, if you compete with someone for something, you try to get it for yourself and

stop the other person from getting it. You can also say that two people compete for something.  

Kangaroos compete with sheep and cattle for sparse supplies of food and water.

Preference, noun (preferences prefer, preferred, preferably) 

choice, desire, favorite, option, selection

For example, if you have a preference for something, you would like to have or do that 

thing rather than something else.  

Many of these products were bought because customers had a preference for them.

In preference to, noun phrase 

If you choose one thing in preference to another, you choose it instead because it is better. 

Many people choose the train in preference to driving.

Engrave, verb (engraves, engraving, engraved) 

For example, if you engrave something with a design of words, or if you engrave a design 

or words on it, you cut the design or words onto its surface.  

Your wedding ring can be engraved with a personal inscription at no extra cost.

Inscription, noun (inscriptions, inscribe) 

carving, engraving, epitaph, etching

For example, an inscription is writing carved into something made of stone or metal, for                         

example a gravestone or metal.  

Above its doors was a Latin inscription       

Brutal, adj (brutalize, brutality, brutally) 

vicious, savage, cruel, fierce, harsh, inhuman, ruthless, unmerciful, unforgiving

For example, a brutal act or person is cruel and violent.  

He was the victim of a very brutal murder.

Struggle, verb (struggles, struggling, struggled) 

attempt, endeavor, offer, seek, strive, undertake

For example, if you struggle to do something, you try hard to do it, even though other 

people or things may be making it difficult for you to succeed. 

They had to struggle against all kinds of adversity.  

For example, if two people struggle with each other, they fight.  

She screamed at him to ‘stop it’ as they struggled on the ground.  

(noun) He died in a struggle with prison officers less than two months after coming Britain.