ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY FOR THE TOEIC TEST

Office life
A file/folder A software program/application
To make a copy A whiteboard/a marker/a highlighter
A stapler/a staple Word processing
To enter/key in data Data entry
A clerk/an employee An employer
Filing To install a database
A filing cabinet To file reports
To do/carry out a survey To send out surveys/brochures to prospective
clients (customers)
To fill out/in a form To do extensive market research
Paperwork/red tape A mobile/cellphone
To do some typing To type a letter
A typist To receive a questionnaire
A briefcase A laptop desktop/notebook computer
To make a schedule/n appointment sellotape
To take notes/messages To return messages
A PA To look up (in a dictionary)
To fill in for sb A replacement (sb who stands in for sb)
A memo(randum) A summary
A representative To draw up a list
A department head A supervisor
To renew a contract A counter
A committee Shelf (shelves)
To come on duty The shift (of..)
To put in/work 35 hours a week A stamp
To be overworked To cancel a stamp
Furniture rental A diary
A keyboard A mouse mat
To check one’s emails A civil servant
To perform duties To clear one’s desk
A job title A (ballpoint)pen/pencil
A notice The storeroom
The photocopier The fax machine
A drawer A key (to)
To lock/bolt Computer users/passwords
To install software programs To open attachments
A sender/receiver To enter information on the spreadsheet (Excel)
To click on a cell To select a cell
A calculator Office stationery
To sort out the mail Correction fluid
The mail room A ruler
To mail up documents A chart/graph/table
A toner cartridge An ink-jet/a laser printer
To break down To be out of order
To log on (to the Internet)/off To log in
password A rubber/an eraser/to erase
The printer’s out of ink Office supplies
I’ll call the technician about fixing this machine To slip an envelope into the mail slot
Petty cash

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 1
Telephoning
To call a number/sb A telephone directory/book
To hang up To get back to sb on sth
To put through to sb/get sb A caller
To reach sb/a department An answering machine/answerphone
To be cut off To leave a message
To press 9 to save a message Speak after the tone/beep
To be put on hold Please hold/hold the line
To replace the receiver A recording
To dial a number The number is engaged/busy
An extension The switchboard operator/receptionist
To dial the wrong number A touch-tone phone
To call back To disconnect a line
To leave a message A telephone box/booth
To call enquiries An emergency number/a hot line
To place an outside call A toll-free number
To screen phone calls The dialing tone
The country/area code

Meetings/Events
To reserve a conference room To serve refreshments
To hold a meeting/seminar A golf tournament
To finalize plans for (a workshop) A volunteer
To attend a meeting To hand in a prize
To take part/participate in … To help out
To post the minutes from each meeting in the To be on hand (to …)
staff room
To register for (a conference) To raise money for charity
Registration fee(s) A charity
To join a seminar To donate items
A keynote speaker To watch a slide presentation
proceedings To give a presentation
To fill out a card To wear name tags
To adjourn/cancel/reschedule a meeting To postpone/put off a meeting
A topic A moderator
A roundtable To call/hold/set up a meeting
To distribute the agenda beforehand To run a meeting
To display A trade show/fair/an exhibition
On display To support an association
The meeting was held/took place in Lille The (huge) turnout
A venue To attend a function
feedback A lecture (hall)
To chair/preside over a meeting (on) the premises
Visual aids An upcoming performance
A banquet An auditorium

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 2
Companies
A company/firm/business/corporation A manufacturing unit/plant
(R&D) facilities A factory
To manufacture/make To show round the factory
A department To revise safety procedures
Head office (headquarters) A subsidiary
To be based/located in The parent company
To open a branch To show round the factory
To order sth from a supplier/a company To be overstaffed/understaffed
To move into new offices Restructuring/to revamp
Shareholders/stockholders To issue/hold shares
An annual general meeting (AGM) A focus group
To set up/establish/found a company A start-up
A state-owned company Privately-held
A public limited company (PLC) A private limited company (Ltd)
A partnership A sole trader
A partner A society = an association
To go bankrupt/out of business/to the wall To be on the brink/verge of bankruptcy
To be successful/to succeed in +ing/success To fail/failure
Turnover Sales figures
Earnings = revenues Losses/to make a loss
Profits/to make a profit A takeover/to take a company over
A merger/to merge A utility
The CEO (Chief Executive Officer) The MD (Managing Director)
Operating expenses A process
Labor costs To revise (the) estimates
To prepare the budget Balance sheet
(Certified) accountant The Accounts Department
Accounting procedures/firm Information Technology
Purchasing An executive/a senior executive
assets To audit the accounts/auditing
To attract investors To improve a company’s credit rating
The stock market/exchange To steal data
To submit a request for change The annual report comes out in ...
To meet: Production is behind schedule
expectations/needs/requirements/deadlines/deliver
y dates/forecasts
To work on the assembly line To file a request for supplies
To perform duties A job title
A subscription to a newspaper To put in bids for (a contract)
Ongoing projects To address brochures
To review/draw up a list To perform/carry out a task
To submit/hand in a (quarterly) report To attend a function
To bring sth up to date To update a brochure
To point out problems To identify the company’s main weaknesses
An assignment To perform a duty
To supervise a project To criticize the CEO’s actions
To take steps/action A trade/labor union
A shop steward To be unionized
To own a company The owner
To make donations An influential person
To show proper identification To give an outline of (sth)
Telecommuting/teleworking/working from home A teleworker/home worker/telecommuter

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Spare parts The foreman
To sub-contract/a sub-contractor To farm out (to)
Board members The general ledger

A fire drill To meet specifications

Human Resources
Labor force/workforce/manpower Vacations/to be on vacation/holiday
To hire/take on (new staff)/hiring To create a heavy workload
To lay off/layoff To lay off without notice
(staff) redundancies To advertise for (new staff)
To make sb redundant A job ad/job opportunities
To fire/dismiss/sack A job offer
To succeed sb To recruit/recruitment/a recruit
To be responsible for/in charge of (+ing) To apply for a job
To be unemployed/out of work/out of a A job application
job/jobless/on the dole To go over the applications
The unemployment rate A CV/resume
To earn/make a living A cover letter
Salary/wages An applicant
Pay slip/paycheck To call/reject candidates
Wage packet To check employees’ references/files
Job losses A background check
Downsizing (to downsize) A call center
To outsource jobs (outsourcing) To be on sick leave
To give notice/to resign/quit To tender one’s resignation
To review evaluations To grant a leave of absence
Training/to train (for a program)/a trainee To take a day off
A work placement Fees
A training period To adopt a flexible work schedule
To do/carry out an internship/an intern Flexitime/flexible working hours
To work full time/part time A full-timer/a part-timer
Workload/backlog (of work) Meal vouchers
A temp(orary worker) Temping/to temp
To relocate employees to … relocation
To receive a bonus Hourly rate
(social) benefits Perks (perquisites)
Maternity/sabbatical/parental leave To have busy work schedules
To be promoted/to get promoted networking
To get ahead (in a company) The glass ceiling
To climb/move up the social ladder (people) skills
A degree qualifications
To deny a request A reliable worker
A benefit pension plan To receive pension funds
To retire To take early retirement
A retiree/pensioner To update training
Health care coverage To provide health benefit plans
Employees working abroad are eligible for an To offer sb a severance package/severance pay
additional housing allowance
To change jobs/careers To earn a (good/decent) salary
A junior/senior executive To improve the work-life balance
To hire a consultant To look for/seek a job (job-seekers)

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 4
Her employment was terminated To extend a contract
To be invited for an interview To be transferred to the east coast
To go on strike To demonstrate (for/against)
To get back to work/to resume work To work in shifts
To draw a pension To be eligible for/qualify for unemployment
benefits
To close down/shut down A challenging job
To have some time off To have relevant work experience
A contract proposal To update someone on (research)
To get together with= to meet

Retailing
To carry (an article) Inventory
To purchase/buy … from … Stock-taking
To refund (money)/to have a refund An auction/to auction (off)/an auctioneere
To have the book in stock A bill
To be out of stock of … A voucher
To run out of stock A gift certificate
Shopping mall To pay cash/in cash
To be brought in for repairs/to fix/repair To charge (buy on credit)
To process a rebate To pay by credit cash/check
A rebate card/form a down payment
a rebate offer To spend money on sth
To have complaints from … By word of mouth
To handle a complaint To place an order for sth with sb/to order/take an
order
A coupon An item
Goods/merchandise A supplier/retailer
Wholesale trade To exchange/trade sth for sth
To bargain/a bargain/bargain-basement prices barter
To pay for sth To giftwrap/unwrap an object
To buy sth on sale To be non-refundable
A vending machine A shop assistant
To hold a stand/a stall A street vendor
To stock up on … A warehouse
To store goods A department store/a chain store
A store/an outlet/a shop A newsagent
A butcher A baker
A confectioner A hardware store
A DIY store To stand in line/queue up
To be out shopping To go window-shopping
A shop window A glass cabinet
Crowded/empty The check-out/cash desk
To run on batteries The cashier
A label A price tag
A receipt A shoe salesman
To return an item A shopping cart
To insert a coin (into the slot) To slash prices
Household/domestic appliances A machine/machinery
To process an invoice To license/licensing
specifications To be up to sample
To match To suit sb/to be suitable/convenient
Luxury goods A discount store

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 5
Premium prices = very high prices Rock-bottom prices = very low prices
Groceries A corner shop
Dry-cleaning services A launderette/the laundry
To give (small) change A bill/banknote/coins
Branded goods Own-label goods
A retailer/wholesaler Retail/wholesale trade
Bulk buying/to buy in bulk A dealer/a dealership
A sample A guarantee/warranty
The device’s not working To release a new model
I’ll drop off the appliance later this afternoon

Advertising
Advertising package To advertise a product
An ad/advert/advertisement A commercial
To insert/place an ad in the paper A brochure/folder/leaflet/flyer
A feasibility study To run an advertising campaign
A target audience To target
To market To give away
The ad contained errors

Hotel Accommodation
To book a (single/double/twin-bedded) room A busy restaurant
It is available from … to A caterer/to cater to
A stay The catering industry
To request a room To pour a drink
To hold a reservation To drink from a cup/out of a glass
To cancel a reservation May I have the bill/check, please?
To make/have a reservation Starters/main dishes
To reserve a table To order a meal
The head waiter/to wait upon sb To check in/out
To cook food/a cook To serve food
The waiters are filling the plates The diners are being seated
To have lunch/dinner/breakfast We’re fully booked for this evening
Air conditioning An AC adapter
A tasty meal To have a/no vacancy
A towel soap
Tap water/sparkling water An appetizer
Silverware A napkin/tablecloth

Housing and Property

To pay a rent A tenant
A landlord/landlady/a property owner To let (rent out) a flat to …
A property/real estate agent/agency/a realtor A ladder
An oven/a cooker A plug/socket
An armchair/a stool Tidy/to tidy up
A shelf (shelves) To switch on/off
A bulb To plug in(to a socket)
The yard To hang a picture
A closet/wardrobe/chest of drawers a lampshade
A bookcase Power = electricity
Property/real estate To take out a mortgage

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The doorknob lumber
A tape measure A hard-hat
equipment A building site
Maintenance To repair/fix
A carpenter A plumber/plumbing
Wall-to-wall carpeting A rug/carpet
Concrete: béton To undergo a renovation
To hang up notices A lease
To entice (attract) buyers A housing estate
The occupancy rate To evacuate the building complex
Office space Design plans
A rental agent Zoning regulations
First-time homebuyers Special features
A burglar To break in/burgle
To evict (eviction) Home owners
The council tax Open house
The housekeeping staff A cleaner
Heaters A location
A neighbor/the neighborhood To let/for sale
Some furniture is being moved A leak

Travelling
The flight to Seoul has been delayed/cancelled Bus/taxi fares
To announce a flight delay
An airline Subway line
To board a plane/to get on the plane The rush/peak hour(s)
To miss one’s plane/bus The slack/off-peak hour(s)
A connecting flight The transportation system
A flight attendant To take a vacation
A row number To offer holiday packages
An aisle/a window seat To stop/ask for directions
To eliminate a route To fill the gas tank
A short-haul market To take the lift/elevator
Scheduled arrival To get a group rate
Departure/arrival X will run through March 30
The crew Tickets run (range) from $30 to$100
To take an evening flight A show
Travel arrangements To perform/a performance
To get off the train An all-inclusive resort
Snorkeling/scuba diving/sailing Amenities
A travel agent To land/take off /depart (plane) – landing/takeoff
An aircraft To book clients on green tours (eco-tours)
To book/take a trip (to) Lodging/accommodation
To do some sightseeing A coach
To be available for free Priority seating
Free shuttle Bus schedules
Carry-on bags To check bags/luggage
To travel light To take/book a tour
A service provider A commuter/to commute
A cruise A voyage
To pay for a trip A highway
An overpass A guardrail

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 7
The cars are moving in one lane A backpack
hikers To go hiking/trekking
To be wearing hiking boots A map of the city
A guide/a guide-book The bus stop
The train station directions
To receive a parking ticket To pay a fine
To rent a car/a car rental agency A train conductor
It’s a no parking zone A car park/parking lot
Ticket holders To serve complementary beverages
A ticket counter To travel abroad/overseas
A tropical getaway Secluded beaches
The purser A non-stop flight = a through/direct flight to Rio
The gate agent/the departure gate To be a few minutes behind schedule
To stop over (at CdG airport) To fuel the plane/jet fuel
A passenger ship To board a plane/boarding time
To serve dinner/lunch/breakfast on the flight/on A dining car
board
To fasten one’s seatbelt A frequent flyer
A package tour The maintenance crew
To give a safety demonstration A low-cost flight
A no-frills flight To disembark from the plane to a waiting bus
The itinerary To offer amenities (a personal video)
Locate the exit nearest you Disabled passengers/passengers in wheelchairs
A landing card To reconfirm one’s flight
A one-way/single ticket A round-trip/return ticket
Bus timetables Rail passes
To take a boat ride

Transport and Shipping

Custom(s) clearance To notify sb of …
To ship The shipment is delayed
A shipping company Customs regulations
A shipper/receiver To streamline procedures
To send by courrier To fix a car
To send by overnight delivery To be damaged in transit
To deliver (the package by hand) to mail/to send off/to dispatch/to forward
Some food was delivered late To circulate
Free delivery service To meet/miss deadlines
packing A delivery man
To guarantee delivery within 20 days from the A removal van
order/date
To be stuck in traffic/in a traffic jam To be held up in traffic
To pick sb up/give sb a lift A lorry/truck (driver)
A parcel/packet/package To pack/unpack
To apologize for packaging
A messenger service To load/unload a cargo

Banking
Currency To cancel an account
A branch The amount due
To borrow (money) … from Outstanding payment/balance
To lend (money) to To give/grant a discount

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 8
A borrower/a lender To be in arrears
Lending policy Prompt payment
A bank transfer/to request a transfer of funds A check book
Bank charges A stub
(low/high) interest rates To grant/offer a loan
To apply for a loan To secure a loan
To take out a mortgage To require a loan
To refinance a mortgage To qualify for a (large) loan
To pay the entire balance To have a good credit record
To be in debt To carry two debts
To have $1,000 in debt To save money on
Unpaid prior balance Total due
To write out a cheque A cash dispenser/an ATM
A teller To withdraw money from … (a withdrawal)
To pay money into … A current/savings account
To save money (on)/to spend money (on) A wallet
Tax bracket To launder money (money launderer)
A monthly statement of account To buy shares/gold/bonds
A credit card Investment tips

Economics
To predict a trend/prediction To average
To forecast to match
Investment profitable
A tax haven To be under investigation for tax evasion/fraud
The tax authorities To have dependents
Tax relief Sales have improved
A threat/to threaten To increase/raise profits
To compete with/a competitor/competitive Profits have increased/risen/gone up
To collapse/plummet To soar/skyrocket/shoot up
To level off To cut back on the sales staff
Bright/gloomy/bleak prospects/outlook A successful step
To be successful To enhance
To boost sales/exports To target = aim at
A downturn/downswing An upturn
The economic crisis The bubble has burst
The fall/drop/slide in prices The rise/increase in oil prices
To release a financial statement A shortage/to be short of
A surplus Purchasing power
The cost of living Living standards
To lower/bring down costs To cut back on = reduce
Industry (secteur) Funding = financing

Weather forecast Health

To be/get cloudy To be healthy/sick
Rainy/foggy To be on sick leave
To last (rain) A cold (to catch a cold)
Seasons : winter/spring/summer/fall - autumn To cure/to heal
A snow fall/drift To take a medicine
To rain/drizzle A doctor/physician/GP
It’s pouring (with rain) To do regular exercise
Poor weather conditions A good diet

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 9
To take shelter from the rain To be exhausted = very tired
The weather report To be down with the flu’
The snow plough To fit sb in for an appointment
To clear snow Her (The doctor’s) first opening is Monday
morning
Lab results
The after-hours receptionist

The environment
Hazardous to human health Litter/do not litter
(poor) air quality Environmental protection
To be unsafe A conservationist/an ecologist
Fumes The Green Party
A flood Environmentally conscious/friendly
A relief center Organic products
The area is flooded A gas leak
A shelter waste
To donate food Discarded items
A rescue team (to rescue sb) A power plant
To reduce energy costs

General vocabulary
To wake up/to go to sleep The sun rises/sets
Advice/to advise sb Elderly people
Goal Like/unlike
purpose Seldom = rarely
To be likely to To be bound to
Additional/further information A diary (agenda/journal intime)
There are tools in the workshop To clean vegetables
to gaze out the window To ride a horse/a bicycle
To hold a book A fire truck/fire fighter
To collect cups A pair of slacks/trousers
To sleep outdoors Boots/shoes/pumps
A watch/a strap Paper/cardboard
A suit/an outfit/a dress/a skirt/a shirt/a blouse To sweep the streets
Wood/steel/iron Sneakers/trainers
To get dressed To avoid
Jewels/jewelry/a bracelet/a necklace/an earring/a To like/dislike
bangle/a ring/a pendant
A library Illiteracy/literacy
To strengthen/widen/enlarge/shorten To deserve
Garden tools To be credited for
A sink A sweater
A fabric To water (the) plants
We’re not related To drop one’s car off for repairs

Essential Vocabulary for the TOEIC Test – Christine HANTUSCH - 2010 Page 10