invade, clap, notify, acquire, adapt: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 143. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. invade · verb/ɪnˈveɪd/

   to enter a place or situation forcefully or without permission

   The protesters decided to invade the government building to demand their rights.

   Synonyms: intrude, encroach, trespass

   Origin: from Latin 'invadere', where 'in-' means 'upon' and 'vadere' means 'to go' or 'to walk'

2. clap · verb/klæp/

   to strike the palms of one's hands together to produce a sound

   The audience began to clap enthusiastically after the performance ended.

   Synonyms: applaud, strike, slap

   Origin: Middle English clappen, from Old English clappian, of imitative origin

3. notify · verb/noʊtəfaɪ/

   to inform someone about something

   Please notify us of any changes to the schedule as soon as possible.

   Synonyms: inform, alert, advise

   Origin: Originating from Latin 'notificare', meaning 'to make known'.

4. acquire · verb/əˈkwaɪɚ/

   to gain possession of or obtain something

   To succeed in business, it's essential to acquire new skills that meet the demands of the market.

   Synonyms: obtain, gain, secure

   Origin: from Latin 'acquirere', meaning 'to gain, get, or procure'; composed of 'ad-' meaning 'to' and 'quaerere' meaning 'to seek or ask'.

5. adapt · verb/əˈdæpt/

   to adjust or modify to suit different conditions or environments

   In order to survive in a rapidly changing world, species must adapt to their new environments.

   Synonyms: adjust, modify, acclimate

   Origin: from Latin 'adaptare', meaning 'to fit to' or 'to adjust'