Expand Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Word

The word word is extremely versatile in English, appearing in contexts like speaking, writing, promises, and advice. For IELTS, mastering collocations with word helps you demonstrate lexical range and communicate ideas precisely.

In this blog, we cover verb + word, phrasal verbs, adjective collocations, and word + of + noun expressions, with exercises to improve your Writing and Speaking skills.

1. Verb + Word

Certain verbs combine naturally with word, allowing you to express communication, understanding, or silence effectively.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Use the correct form of these verbs: breathe, look up, choose, say, exchange, send, find, understand

1. I’ve ______ the word in every dictionary and I still don’t know how to use it!
2. He ignored us. He just walked by without ______ a word.
3. It was supposed to be an introductory talk about computing, but I couldn’t ______ a word of it.
4. It’s sometimes very difficult to ______ the right word to express precisely what you want to say.
5. No, she’s not here yet. She ______ word that she would be about an hour late.
6. What I just told you is private and confidential so please don’t ______ a word of it to anyone.
7. In order not to upset him, she ______ her words with great care.
8. The Queen shook hands and ______ a few words with the winner of the competition.

Answer Key: looked up | saying | understand | find | sent | breathe | chose | exchanged

IELTS Tip: Phrases like “find the right word” or “breathe a word” are perfect for describing communication and expression in both IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing.

2. Phrasal Verbs with Word

Phrasal verbs add natural fluency to your English.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks

Use these phrasal verbs: get in, take down, go back on, get out

1. She has ______ her word and decided not to lend me the money after all.
2. She talks so much it’s impossible for anybody to ______ a word ______ edgeways.
3. Reporters ______ every word of the Prime Minister’s speech.
4. If word ______ about the affair, the President will have to resign.

Answer Key: gone back on | get a word in | took down | gets out

IELTS Tip: Using phrasal verbs naturally shows examiners your spoken English competence. Try phrases like “get a word in edgeways” when describing conversations or interviews.

3. Common Adjective Collocations with Word

Adjectives help add detail and precision to the word word.

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks

Use these adjectives: exact, four-letter, kind, own, right, overused, single, quick

1. Can I have a ______ word before the meeting starts? It’ll only take a few minutes.
2. You haven’t been listening to a ______ word I’ve been saying for the past ten minutes!
3. The play is full of ______ words. Why do modern writers need to use so many swear words?
4. Take your time and in your ______ words tell the court exactly what happened.
5. I can’t remember the teacher’s ______ words, but he said something along those lines.
6. ‘Nice’ is a very ______ word. Can’t you think of a better word?
7. Teachers sometimes forget that a few ______ words at the right time can make all the difference to a student’s confidence.
8. Is this the ______ word that fits in this sentence?

Answer Key: quick | single | four-letter | own | exact | overused | kind | right

IELTS Tip: Using descriptive adjectives with word enriches both Speaking and Writing. For example, “a quick word with my manager” or “exact words from the report”.

4. Word + of + Noun

These collocations are used to give advice, comfort, encouragement, or warnings.

Exercise 4: Fill in the blanks

Use these expressions: words of apology, words of encouragement, word of mouth, a word of warning, words of comfort

1. Just ______ before you go out – these streets can be dangerous at night.
2. All the orders were given by ______ to avoid leaving any written evidence which might be discovered later.
3. He wasn’t looking forward to the exam, but he brightened up at the teacher’s ______.
4. My brother muttered a few ______ for his appalling behaviour, then left the room.
5. After the funeral, a lot of people came and offered ______ to members of my family.

Answer Key: a word of warning | word of mouth | words of encouragement | words of apology | words of comfort

IELTS Tip: These collocations are useful for IELTS Speaking Part 2 or IELTS Speaking Part 3 when describing experiences, advice, or reactions to events.

How to Use Word in IELTS?

• Writing Task 2 Example:
  “The government should take words of warning from health experts to implement stricter pollution laws.”
• Speaking Part 2 Example:
  “I once had a quick word with my teacher that changed my approach to studying.”
• Speaking Part 3 Example:
  “Sometimes, teachers give words of encouragement, which can really motivate students.”

By mastering collocations with word, you demonstrate lexical range, fluency, and precise expression, all critical for a higher IELTS band score.

The keyword word is highly versatile, covering speech, expression, advice, and promises. From “find the right word” to “words of encouragement”, learning these collocations helps you communicate effectively in IELTS Writing and Speaking. For those aiming for top scores, following the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ can further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

Also Check: 

• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Space
• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Size
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: decision 
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: a series of
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 1
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 2)
• Using Contrast in IELTS Speaking & Writing: Advanced Grammar in IELTS