pretend, correspond, dispose, assure, derive: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from IELTS Vocabulary set 4. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. pretend · verb/prɪˈtɛnd/

   to act as if something is true when it is not

   She decided to pretend to be sick so she could skip school.

   Synonyms: feign, fake, simulate

   Origin: from Latin 'praetendere', meaning 'to stretch forth, claim'

2. correspond · verb/ˌkɔːr.ɪˈspɑːnd/

   to be in agreement or harmony with something

   The results of the experiment correspond with the initial hypothesis, confirming its validity.

   Synonyms: align, match, conform

   Origin: from Latin 'correspondere', with 'cor-' meaning 'together' and 'respondere' meaning 'to respond'

3. dispose · verb/dɪsˈpoʊz/

   to get rid of something or arrange it in a particular order

   After the party, we need to dispose of all the leftover food properly.

   Synonyms: discard, arrange, dispose of

   Origin: Middle English disposen, from Old French disposer, from Latin disponere, meaning to put in order, arrange

4. assure · verb/əˈʃʊr/

   to make someone sure of something or to guarantee

   I can assure you that the project will be completed on time.

   Synonyms: ensure, guarantee, reassure

   Origin: Middle English 'assuren', from Old French 'assurer', from Latin 'assurare', meaning 'to make safe or secure'.

5. derive · verb/dɪˈraɪv/

   to obtain or receive from a source

   Many English words derive from Latin, reflecting the influence of ancient languages on modern vocabulary.

   Synonyms: obtain, receive, extract

   Origin: from Middle French 'deriver', from Latin 'derivare', meaning 'to draw off, divert, or lead down'.