Home · YDS Preparation · Unit 15
Unit 15
Academic Words 2: Verbs of Thinking & Communicating
20 verbs for claims, evidence & ideas
How to Study These Words
These are words that appear again and again in YDS, YDT and YÖKDİL vocabulary, cloze and reading questions. Learn each word together with its typical partner words (e.g. impose a tax, comply with a rule) — in the exam, these partners are often the clue that decides the answer.
Study the table, cover the Turkish meanings and test yourself, then solve the two tests. Return to the list a few days later: spaced repetition is the most effective way to remember new vocabulary.
Word List
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| acknowledge | accept or admit that something is true | The company acknowledged its mistake. |
| assert | state firmly that something is true | She asserted that she was innocent. |
| assume | believe something is true without proof | Many people assume that older means wiser. |
| conclude | decide something after considering the facts | The researchers concluded that the drug was safe. |
| deduce | reach a conclusion by reasoning | From the evidence, we can deduce that he left early. |
| demonstrate | show clearly by giving proof | The study demonstrates the value of exercise. |
| emphasise | give special importance to something | The report emphasises the need for action. |
| estimate | roughly calculate a number or value | It is estimated that two million people visited. |
| imply | suggest something without saying it directly | His silence implied agreement. |
| indicate | show or suggest that something is true | Recent data indicate a rise in unemployment. |
| interpret | explain the meaning of something | Scientists interpret the results differently. |
| overlook | fail to notice or consider something | It is easy to overlook small details. |
| perceive | notice or understand in a particular way | Children perceive the world differently from adults. |
| speculate | guess without having enough information | Experts can only speculate about the cause. |
| verify | check that something is true | Journalists must verify their sources. |
| refute | prove that something is wrong | New evidence refuted the theory. |
| contend | argue or claim in a debate | Critics contend that the plan is too costly. |
| anticipate | expect something and prepare for it | We did not anticipate such a large crowd. |
| confirm | show that something is definitely true | Tests confirmed the diagnosis. |
| convey | communicate an idea or feeling | Music can convey emotions that words cannot. |