acquiesce, justify, establish, exploit, collide: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 185. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. acquiesce · verb/ˌækwɪˈɛs/

   to accept something reluctantly but without protest

   After much debate, the committee decided to acquiesce to the proposed changes in the budget, even though several members had reservations.

   Synonyms: concede, comply, yield

   Origin: Late Latin 'acquiescere', from 'ad-' (to) + 'quiescere' (to rest or be quiet)

2. justify · verb/ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ/

   to show or prove to be right or reasonable

   The lawyer was able to justify her client's actions by presenting compelling evidence during the trial.

   Synonyms: validate, defend, explain

   Origin: Middle English: from Old French justifier, from Latin justificare, from justus 'just' + facere 'to make'

3. establish · verb/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/

   to set up or lay the groundwork for something

   The organization aims to establish a strong presence in the community through various outreach programs.

   Synonyms: found, set up, institute

   Origin: from the Old French 'establir', which comes from Latin 'stabilire', meaning 'to make firm or stable'.

4. exploit · verb/ɪkˈsplɔɪt/

   to use something for one's advantage in a selfish way

   The corporation decided to exploit the region’s natural resources for maximum profit, ignoring the environmental consequences.

   Synonyms: utilize, take advantage of, manipulate

   Origin: from Middle French 'exploiter', from 'exploits' meaning 'to unfold, to exploit' derived from Latin 'explicare'

5. collide · verb/kəˈlaɪd/

   to come into conflict or crash together with force

   The two cars collided at the intersection, causing a major traffic jam.

   Synonyms: crash, clash, bump

   Origin: from Latin 'collidere', from 'com-' (together) + 'ludere' (to strike)