portion, revolution, assumption, consumerism, aggregate: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 128. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. portion · noun/ˈpɔrʃn/

   a smaller piece or segment of something larger

   She only took a small portion of the cake, leaving the rest for everyone else to enjoy.

   Synonyms: part, segment, piece

   Origin: Middle English 'porcioun', from Old French 'portion', from Latin 'portio', meaning 'a share or a part'.

2. revolution · noun/ˌrɛvəˈluʃən/

   a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system

   The uprising led to a successful revolution that changed the political landscape of the nation.

   Synonyms: rebellion, uprising, insurrection

   Origin: from Latin 'revolutio', meaning 'a turning over'

3. assumption · noun/əˈsʌmpʃən/

   something that is accepted as true or as certain to happen without proof

   The assumption that all students learn at the same pace can lead to ineffective teaching strategies.

   Synonyms: presumption, hypothesis, inference

   Origin: Middle English, from Latin 'assumptio', from 'assumere' meaning 'to take up'

4. consumerism · noun/kənˈsuːmərɪzəm/

   the preoccupation with and an emphasis on the purchasing of material goods

   The rise of consumerism in modern society has led to an increasing focus on brand loyalty among shoppers.

   Synonyms: materialism, commercialism, acquisitiveness

   Origin: The word 'consumerism' is derived from 'consumer,' which comes from the Latin 'consumere,' meaning 'to use up, expend, or waste.' The suffix '-ism' indicates a practice or ideology, suggesting a focus on consumer behaviors and the societal implications of consumption.

5. aggregate · noun/ˈæɡrɪɡət/

   a whole formed by combining several elements

   The aggregate of the data collected from various studies provides a clearer picture of the overall trends in climate change.

   Synonyms: total, sum, collection

   Origin: From Latin aggregatus, past participle of aggregare, meaning 'to add to' and from ad- 'to' + gregare 'to collect'