< V > TOEFL Vocabulary (45)

Investigate, noun (investigates, investigating, investigated, investigation) 

explore, delve (into), dig (into), go (into), inquire (into), look (into), probe, prospect, sift

For example, if someone, especially an official, investigates an event, situation, or claim, he 

tries to find out what happened or what the truth is.  

Police are still investigating how the accident happened. 

Dispatch, verb (dispatches, dispatching, dispatched) 

address, consign, forward, remit, route, ship, transmit

For example, if you dispatch someone to a place, you send him there for a particular

reason.  

The Italian government was preparing to dispatch 4,000 soldiers to search the                     

island.

Replacement, noun (replace, replaced) 

alternate, backup, fill-in, pinch hitter, stand-in, sub, surrogate

For example, if you refer to the replacement of one thing by another, you mean that second

thing takes the place of the first.   Let’s investigate the problem before we dispatch replacements....the replacement of

damaged or lost books.

Substitute, verb (substitutes, substituting, substituted) 

exchange, change, swap, switch, trade

For example, if you substitute one thing for another, or if one thing substitutes for another,

it takes the place or performs the function of the other thing.  

They were substituting violence for dialog.

Vague, adjective (vaguer, vaguest) 

ambiguous, equivocal, opaque, uncertain, unclear, inexplicit, unintelligible

For example, if something written or spoken is vague, it does not explain or express things

clearly.  

A lot of talk was apparently vague and general.

Apparently, adverb (apparent) 

ostensibly, evidently, officially, outwardly, professedly, seemingly

For example, you use apparently to indicate that the information you are giving is

something that you have heard, but you are not certain that it is true.  

Apparently, the girls are not amused by the whole business. 

Amuse, verb (amuses, amusing, amused) 

divert, entertain, recreate

For example, if something amuses you, it makes you want to laugh and smile.  

The thought seemed to amuse him.

Municipal, adjective (municipality) 

urban, city

For example, municipal means associated with or belonging to a city or town.  

A new mayor will be elected in the upcoming municipal election.  

Upcoming, adjective 

approaching, coming, nearing, oncoming, forthcoming

For example, upcoming events will happen in the near future.  

We’ll face a tough fight in the upcoming election.

 Vintage, adjective (vintages) 

old fashioned, antiquated, antique, archaic, dated, old, outdated, outmoded

For example, you can use vintage to describe something which is the best and most typical

of its kind.  

Are you interested in vintage automobiles?