A
a.m. (before noon) (adv)
abbreviation (n)
ability (n)
able (adj)
• able to go
about (adj & prep)
• The company has about 500 employees. (adj)
• The report is about share prices. (prep)
above (adj & prep)
abroad (adv)
absence (n)
absent (adj)
accept (v)
access (n & v)
accident (n)
accommodation (n)
accompany (v)
according to (prep)
account (n)
• I’d like to open a bank account.
• Our company has an account at Transport Solutions.
accountancy (n)
accountant (n)
accounting (n)
accounts (n)
accuracy (n)
accurate (adj)
achieve (v)
acknowledge (v)
acquaintance (n)
acquire (v)
acquisition (n)
across (prep)
act (v)
action (n)
• The company has reasons for its actions.
• Industrial action has affected production.
• We need to develop an action plan.
active (adj)
activity (n)
actor (n)
actual (adj)
ad (abbrev) (advertisement or advert)
adapt (v)
add (v)
addition (n)
• In addition, I’d like to order a new printer.
• With his experience, he will be a useful addition to the team.
additional (adj)
address (n & v)
• Could I have your email address? (n)
• The MD addressed the conference. (v)
adjust (v)
administration (n)
administrative (adj)
administrator (n)
admire (v)
admission (n)
• Admission to the conference is by ticket only.
admit (v)
• He admitted there were production problems.
• This ticket admits two people to the exhibition.
adult (adj & n)
advance (n)
• Could you let me know in advance?
• I’d like to make an advance booking.
advanced (adj)
• We need someone with advanced-level word-processing skills.
advantage (n)
advert (n)
advertise (v)
advertising (n)
advice (n)
advice note (n)
advise (v)
aeroplane (n)
affair (n)
• He had a lot of important affairs to take care of.
affect (v)
afford (v)
afraid (adj)
after (prep)
after-sales service (n)
afternoon (n)
afterwards (adv)
again (adv)
against (prep)
age (n)
aged (adj)
agency (n)
• Let’s use an advertising agency.
agenda (n)
agent (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 4
© UCLES 2006
• I’ve been to the travel agent to book a flight to Hong Kong.
• He’s our agent in Japan.
ago (adv)
agree (v)
agricultural (adj)
agriculture (n)
aim (n & v)
• His aim was to become MD. (n)
• We aim to increase turnover by 5% this year. (v)
air (n)
• He’s going by air instead of by train.
air-conditioned (adj)
air-conditioning (n)
airline (n)
airmail (n)
airplane (n)
airport (n)
alarm (n)
• The bank installed a new security alarm.
alike (adv & adj)
• They think alike. (adv)
• The two products are very alike. (adj)
all (adj, adv, det & pron)
allow (v)
allowance (n)
• holiday allowance
almost (adv)
alone (adv)
along (adv & prep)
aloud (adv)
alphabet (n)
already (adv)
alright (adv/adj)
also (adv)
alternative (n & adj)
although (conj)
altogether (adv)
always (adv)
amazing (adj)
ambassador (n)
ambition (n)
ambitious (adj)
among (amongst) (prep)
amount (n)
amusing (adj)
analyse (v)
analysis (n)
and (conj)
anger (n)
angry (adj)
anniversary (n)
• The company celebrated its 50th anniversary.
announce (v)
annoy (v)
annual (adj)
annual report (n)
annual return (n)
another (adj)
answer (n & v)
answer phone (n)
antique (adj & n)
anxious (adj)
any (adj & pron)
anybody (pron)
anyhow (adv)
anyone (pron)
anything (pron)
anyway (adv)
anywhere (adv)
AOB (abbrev) Any Other Business
apart from (prep)
apartment (n) (Am Eng)
apologise (v)
apology (n)
appear (v)
appearance (n)
applicant (n)
application (n)
application form (n)
apply (v)
appoint (v)
approach (n & v)
• What approach are you going to take? (n)
• We may approach the bank for a loan. (v)
appropriate (adj)
approval (n)
approve (v)
approx. (abbrev) approximate(ly)
approximate (adj)
architect (n)
area (n)
• We’re looking for extra warehousing in the Leeds area.
• He became area manager after two years.
argue (v)
• They argued about the marketing strategy.
arithmetic (n)
around (adv & prep)
arrange (v)
arrival (n)
arrive (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 5
© UCLES 2006
art (n)
• The company buys and sells work of art.
article (n)
• The newspaper article criticised the company.
as (adv & conj)
ASAP (abbrev) as soon as possible
ashamed (adj)
ask (v)
aspect (n)
• What aspect of your work do you like most?
assembly (n)
assembly line (n)
assembly plant (n)
assembly point (n)
assess (v)
assistant (n)
associate (n & v)
association (n)
assure (v)
at (prep)
at all (prep phr)
at first (prep phr)
at last (prep phr)
at least (prep phr)
at once (prep phr)
at present (prep phr)
at the same time (prep phr)
attach (v)
attack (n & v)
attend (v)
attendance (n)
attempt (n & v)
attention (n)
attitude (n)
attract (v)
attraction (n)
attractive (adj)
audience (n)
audit (v)
author (n)
authorise (v)
authority (n)
automatic (adj)
availability (n)
available (adj)
average (adj & n)
• Can you find the average of these three numbers? (n)
• He’s not a particularly effective rep. – just average. (adj)
avoid (v)
awake (adj)
award (n & v)
• She was awarded the title ‘Businessperson of the Year’. (v)
• The court awarded damages of £5,000. (v)
• Our company won an award for exports. (n)
aware (adj)
away (adv)
• The MD’s away on business until Thursday.
• He threw away the documents by mistake.
B
back (adv & n)
• When are you going back to work? (adv)
• I gave back the laptop I had borrowed. (adv)
• The cables at the back of the computer are not connected. (n)
background (n)
backwards (adv)
bad (adj)
bag (n)
baggage (n)
balance (v & n)
• The country’s balance of payments is up this month because of increased exports. (n)
• The balance is due within two weeks. (n)
• She spent hours trying to balance the company’s accounts. (v)
• Do the books balance? (v)
balance sheet (n)
ballpoint (adj & n)
ban (v & n)
bank (n & v)
bank account (n)
bank balance (n)
bank card (n)
bank charge (n)
bank clerk (n)
bank loan (n)
bank manager (n)
bank statement (n)
bank transfer (n)
banking (n)
banknote (n)
bankrupt (v & adj)
bankruptcy (n)
bar (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 6
© UCLES 2006
• The bar chart shows sales from last year.
bargain (n & v)
• Did you get a bargain? (n)
• Bargain with him. (v)
base (n & v)
• Our customer base is rather weak. (n)
• The base rate is low so more people are borrowing. (n)
• My new job is based in central Europe. (v)
• What did you base the sales projections on? (v)
basement (n)
basic (adj)
basis (n)
basket (n)
battle (n)
• There was a boardroom battle over strategy.
bay (n)
• The factory needs another loading bay.
be (v)
beat (v)
• We can beat our competitors on quality but not price.
because (conj)
because of (adv)
become (v)
before (prep)
beg (v)
• I beg your pardon.
• I begged her not to resign.
begin (v)
behave (v)
• He always behaves in a professional manner.
behaviour (n)
behind (prep & adv)
believe (v)
• I believe we’ll win the contract.
• Do you believe in the product?
bell (n)
belong (v)
below (adv & prep)
bend (n & v)
beneath (adv & prep)
benefit (n & v)
beside (adv & prep)
between (prep & adv)
beyond (prep)
bicycle (n)
big (adj)
bike (n)
bill (Am Eng) (n)
billion (n)
biography (n)
birth (n)
• What’s her date of birth? (n)
black (adj)
• The company ended the year in the black. (n)
• The true size of the black economy cannot be known. (adj)
blame (n & v)
blank (adj & n)
• I need a blank piece of paper. (adj)
• Write the correct word in each blank. (n)
blank cheque (n)
blind (n)
• The blind needs repairing.
block (n)
• It’s opposite the office block on the corner.
blow up (phr v)
The gas heater blew up.
blue (adj)
• There’s been a decline in the number of blue-collar workers.
board (n & v)
• a noticeboard, a wooden board (n)
• on board a ship/aircraft (n)
• board a plane (v)
• a board of directors (n)
board meeting (n)
boarding card (n)
boarding pass (n)
board room (n)
boat (n)
body (n)
bold (adj)
bonus (n)
• an annual bonus
book (n & v)
• I’m reading a book on marketing at the moment. (n)
• We’d better book a flight. (v)
bookcase (n)
bookkeeping (n)
booking desk (n)
booking form (n)
booking office (n)
bookshop (n)
boost (n & v)
boot (n)
• My cases are in the boot of the car.
border (n & v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 7
© UCLES 2006
bored (adj)
boring (adj)
born (adj)
borrow (v)
boss (n)
both (adj & pron)
bottom (n & adj)
• at the bottom of the page (n)
• the bottom left-hand corner (adj)
box (n)
• I ordered three boxes of floppy disks.
• Tick the box.
brain (n)
branch (n)
• The bank has a network of branches in the North.
brand (n)
• own brand (n)
• brand name (n)
• brand-new (adj)
brave (adj)
break (n & v)
• during the (lunch) break (n)
• What time shall we break for lunch? (v)
break down (n & phr v)
• Could you let me have a breakdown of last month’s sales figures? (n)
• The packing machine has broken down. (phr v)
break in (n & phr v)
• Someone broke in to the factory and stole some equipment. (phr v)
• There was a break-in at the company’s head office. (n)
break up (phr v)
• The Lexford Group was broken up into smaller companies.
• The glass bottles are broken up before entering the recycling machine.
breakfast (n)
• Could we arrange a breakfast meeting?
brick (n)
brief (adj)
• The MD made a brief visit to the factory.
• Here is the business news in brief.
briefcase (n)
bright (adj)
brilliant (adj)
bring (v)
bring forward (phr v)
• We’ll have to bring the time of the meeting forward to 10.00 a.m.
broad (adj)
brochure (n)
brush (n & v)
B.Sc. (abbrev) (Bachelor of Science)
budget (n & v)
buffet (adj & n)
bug (n)
• This software has a bug in it.
build (v)
building (n)
bulk (n)
• Bulk purchasing has allowed us to cut costs.
bullet (n & v)
• a bullet point (n)
• Bullet point this list for the meeting. (v)
bureau (n)
• I’ll get some dollars from the foreign exchange bureau.
burglar (n)
burglary (n)
bus (n)
bus station (n)
bus stop (n)
business (n)
• He runs a business. (n)
• company business (n)
• do business (v)
• be in/on business (v)
• get down to business (phr v)
• go into business (phr v)
• go out of business (phr v)
• set up in business (phr v)
business card (n)
business hours (n)
business plan (n)
business school (n)
busy (adj)
but (conj)
button (n)
• The on/off button isn’t working properly.
buy (n & v)
• We bought 300 files. (v)
• It was a good buy. (n)
buyer (n)
by (prep)
by accident (prep phr)
by air (prep phr)
by all means (prep phr)
by car (prep phr)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 8
© UCLES 2006
by day (prep phr)
by hand (prep phr)
by land (prep phr)
by mistake (prep phr)
by name (prep phr)
by oneself (prep phr)
by post (prep phr)
by sea (prep phr)
by sight (prep phr)
by train (prep phr)
C
°C (abbrev) Centigrade, Celsius
c (abbrev) cents
c (abbrev) circa
c/o (abbrev) care of
cab (n)
cabinet (n)
• filing cabinet
cable (n)
cable television (n)
café/cafe (n)
calculate (v)
calculator (n)
calendar (n)
call (n & v)
• There was a phone call for you.
• (n)
• What’s this product called? (v)
• Mr Khan called you this morning. (v)
call for (phr v)
• I’ll call for you at 3 p.m.
call in (phr v)
• I’ll call in and see you next time I’m in town.
callbox (n)
call centre (n)
calm (adj)
camera (n)
campaign (n & v)
• The advertising campaign was very successful. (n)
• The staff campaigned for better working conditions. (v)
can (n & v)
• a can of coca-cola (n)
• Can I go now? (v)
• He can speak Japanese very well. (v)
canal (n)
cancel (v)
cancellation (n)
candidate (n)
canteen (n)
capable (adj)
capacity (n)
capital (n)
• the capital (city) of a country
• to raise capital for a business
• capital letters
car (n)
car park (n)
card (n)
• identity card
• credit card
cardboard (adj & n)
care (n & v)
• We take care of our customers. (n)
• Some customers care more about good quality than price. (v)
career (n)
cargo (n)
carpet (n)
carry (v)
• carry a case
• pipes carrying water
carry on (phr v)
• I’ll carry on working until I’m 65.
carry out (a task) (phr v)
• We’ve just carried out a survey into customer satisfaction.
• Carrying out instructions is part of the job.
case (n)
• a difficult case
• a case for my laptop
• In that case…
cash (n & v)
cash book (n)
cash desk (n)
cash flow (n)
cash machine (n)
cash price (n)
cash register (n)
cash sale (n)
cassette (n)
cassette player/recorder (n)
casual (adj)
catalogue (n)
catch (v)
category (n)
catering (adj)
cause (n & v)
cc (abbrev) carbon copy
CD (n)
CD-ROM (n)
CEO (abbrev) Chief Executive Officer
ceiling (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 9
© UCLES 2006
celebrate (v)
celebration (n)
cellar (n)
Celsius (n)
cement (n)
cent (n)
centigrade (adj)
centimetre (n)
central (adj)
central bank (n)
central heating (n)
centre (n)
century (n)
certain (adj)
• be certain of something
• a certain person
certificate (n)
chain (n)
• a chain of supermarkets
chair (n & v)
• We need new chairs for the office. (n)
• Peter is Chair of the meeting this afternoon. (n)
• The Finance Director chaired the meeting in the MD’s absence. (v)
chairman (n)
chairperson (n)
chairwoman (n)
challenge (n & v)
chance (n)
change (n & v)
• It was a big change from my previous job. (n)
• Do you have any (small) change? (n)
• He changed his idea about the
• brochure. (v)
• She changed money before going to the airport. (v)
chapter (n)
character
charge (n & v)
• His charges are too high. (n)
• How much do you charge? (v)
• in charge (of)
chart (n)
charter (n)
• a customer charter
chat (n & v)
cheap (adj)
cheat (v)
check (n & v)
• I’ll do a quick check. (n)
• Check these sums. (v)
check in (n & phr v)
• Please proceed to check-in. (n)
• check in to a hotel (phr v)
check out (phr v)
• check out of a hotel
checklist (n)
cheerful (adj)
chef (n)
chemical (adj)
• the chemical industry
chemist (n)
cheque (n)
cheque card (n)
chief (adj & n)
• the chief problem (adj)
• chief executive (n)
child (n)
choice (n)
choose (v)
circle (n)
• The chairs were arranged in a circle for the meeting.
circular (adj)
• a circular letter
• a circular table
circulate (v)
city (n)
claim (n & v)
clarify (v)
class (n)
• a class of business students (n)
• first class, second class (n)
classify (v)
classroom (n)
clean (adj & v)
clear (adj & v)
• It’s all very clear to me now what happened. (adj)
• Clear your desk before you go home. (v)
• The board decided to sell some assets in order to clear company debts. (v)
• The consignment hasn’t cleared through customs yet. (v)
• The bank requires four days to clear the cheque. (v)
clerical (adj)
clerk (n)
clever (adj)
client (n)
climate (n)
• Today’s economic climate doesn’t encourage expansion.
climb (v)
• Prices have climbed steadily.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 10
© UCLES 2006
clock (n)
close (adj & v)
close down (phr v)
• The factory has closed down.
close (to) (adj)
• My house is close to my work place.
cloth (n)
clothes (n pl)
clothing (adj)
club (n)
clue (n)
cm (abbrev) centimetres
Co (abbrev) company
co-operate (v)
co-operation (n)
co-operative (adj & n)
• He is very co-operative. (adj)
• This company is a co-operative. (n)
co-ordinate (v)
co-ordination (n)
coach (n & v)
• Because of the railway strike, he went to York by coach. (n)
• The company employs a coach. (v)
coal (n)
coast (n)
coffee (n)
coffee-shop (n)
coin (n)
cold (adj & n)
colleague (n)
collect (v)
collection (n)
colour (n & v)
combination (n)
combine (v)
come (v)
come down (phr v)
• Computers have come down in price recently.
comfort (n)
command (n & n )
• command a high price (v)
• issue a command (n)
comment (n & v)
commerce (n)
commercial (n & adj)
• a television commercial (n)
• a commercial organisation (adj)
commission (n)
• to earn commission on a sale
commit (v)
• committed to her work
• commit resources to a project
committee (n)
common (adj)
• a common event
• have something in common
communicate (v)
communication (n)
commute (v)
compact (adj)
• a compact disc (CD)
• a compact office
company (n)
compare (v)
comparison (n)
compete (v)
competition (n)
• a competition
• competition from another company
competitive (adj)
competitor (n)
complain (v)
complaint (n)
complete (v & adj)
compliment (n & v)
component (n)
composition (n)
compromise (n & v)
computer (n)
computer program(me) (n)
computer programmer (n)
concentrate (v)
concentration (n)
concern (n & v)
• The budget overspend is a matter of concern. (n)
• It doesn’t concern you. (v)
concert (n)
conclusion (n)
condition (n)
• It’s in good condition.
• under these conditions
conference (n)
confidence (n)
confident (adj)
confidential (adj)
confirm (v)
• confirm an order
confirmation (n)
• waiting for a confirmation of an order
congratulations (n & int)
connect (v)
connecting (flight) (adj)
connection (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 11
© UCLES 2006
conservative (adj)
consider (v)
consignment (n)
consist (v)
constant (adj)
• constant level
construct (v)
construction (adj)
consul (n)
consulate (n)
consult (v)
consultancy (n)
consultant (n)
consultation (n)
consumer (n)
• consumer confidence
contact (n & v)
contain (v)
content(s) (n)
contest (n & v)
continent (n)
continue (v)
contract (n & v)
• He is contracted to work 20 hours per week. (v)
• The contract is due for renewal. (n)
contribute (v)
contribution (n)
control (n & v)
• He has lost control of the budget. (n)
• We can’t control prices! (v)
convenience (n)
• convenience foods
convenient (adj)
conversation (n)
cool (adj & v)
copy (n & v)
• Have you got a copy? (n)
• Copy this letter. (v)
corner (n)
corporate (adj)
• corporate client
• corporate entertainment
• corporate business
• corporate rate(s)
correct (adj & v)
• Is this correct? (adj)
• I will correct it for you. (v)
correction (n)
correspond (v)
• correspond with someone
correspondence (n)
corridor (n)
cost (n & v)
• We have to look at all the costs. (n)
• The new equipment cost more than we planned. (v)
costing(s) (n)
cotton (n)
count (v)
country (n)
countryside (n)
couple (n)
courage (n)
courier (n)
• courier service
course (n)
• an English course
• of course
court (n)
• a law court
cover (n & v)
• Put the cover on the keyboard. (n)
• My desk is covered with papers. (v)
• insurance cover (n)
• The seminar covers various topics. (v)
crash (n & v)
• My computer has crashed again. (v)
• a stockmarket crash (n)
create (v)
creation (n)
creative (adj)
credit (n & v)
• on credit (n)
• in credit (n)
• to credit an account (v)
• credit card (n)
• credit control (n)
crime (n)
criminal (n)
criticise (v)
crop (n)
cross (adj, n & v)
• I’m very cross about the two-week delay. (adj)
• Mark the box with a cross. (n)
• If you cross the road, you’ll see our office on the corner. (v)
cross out (phr v)
crossing (n)
• a pedestrian crossing
crossroads (n)
crowd (n)
crowded (adj)
culture (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 12
© UCLES 2006
cup (n)
cupboard (n)
curious (adj)
currency (n)
current (adj)
current account (n)
curriculum (n)
curriculum vitae/CV (n)
curve (n & v)
custom (n)
customer (n)
customer base (n)
customs (n)
• go through customs
• a customs officer
• customs duty
cut (n & v)
• a cut in the number of jobs (n)
• to cut some paper (v)
• to cut costs (v)
cut back (n & phr v)
• Further financial cutbacks are expected next year. (n)
• Now the project is finished, we have to cut back on the number of staff. (phr v)
cut down (on) (phr v)
• We need to cut down on spending.
cut up (phr v)
• The budget hasn’t been cut up very fairly. (phr v)
cut-price (adj)
D
daily (adj & adv)
damage (n & v)
danger (n)
dangerous (adj)
dark (adj & n)
data (n)
data processing (n)
database (n)
date (n & v)
What’s the date today? (n)
date a letter (v)
date-stamp (n & v)
day (n)
day off (n)
deadline (n)
deadlock (n)
• The negotiations reached deadlock.
deal (n & v)
a business deal (n)
make a deal (n)
deal with someone/something (v)
deal in (v)
dear (adj & int)
too dear to buy (adj)
Dear Sir (adj)
Oh dear! (int)
debit (n & v)
debt (n)
large debts
in debt
decide (v)
decimal (adj & n)
decision (n)
decision-making (n)
declare (v)
decline (n & v)
There’s been a sharp decline in sales of the MK2 model. (n)
Profits declined sharply. (v)
decrease (n & v)
deduct (v)
deep (adj & adv)
in deep trouble (adj)
sink deep into debt (adv)
defeat (n & v)
defective (adj)
defence (n)
defend (v)
definite (adj)
degree (n)
90 degrees
(have) a degree in
delay (n & v)
delegate (n & v)
delete (v)
deletion (n)
delighted (adj)
deliver (v)
delivery (n)
demand (n & v)
demonstrate (v)
demonstration (n)
demonstration in support of someone/something
a demonstration of a new product
deny (v)
dep (abbrev) depart(s)
depart (v)
department store (n)
departure (n)
depend (v)
It depends on what you want to do.
deposit (n & v)
pay a deposit (n)
deposit money in an account (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 13
© UCLES 2006
depressed (adj)
a depressed area/industry
depression (n)
economic depression
Dept (abbrev) department
depth (n)
describe (v)
description (n)
desert (n)
design (n & v)
desk (n)
desktop (adj & n)
despatch (n & v)
despite (prep)
destination (n)
destroy (v)
detail (n)
develop (v)
diagram (n)
dial (n & v)
diary (n)
dictate (v)
dictation (n)
dictionary (n)
die (v)
differ (v)
difference (n)
different (adj)
difficult (adj)
dig (v)
digital (adj)
dining room (n)
dinner (n)
dip (n & v)
There was a dip in profits last
year. (n)
• Productivity usually dips before lunch. (v)
diploma (n)
direct (adj & v)
direct cost (n)
direct debit (n)
direct mail (n)
direct marketing (n)
direction (n)
walk in the wrong direction
read the directions on the box
directory (n)
a telephone directory
disabled (adj & n)
lifts for disabled people (adj)
the disabled (n)
disappoint (v)
discount (n & v)
discover (v)
discuss (v)
discussion (n)
disc/disk (n)
compact disc
hard disk
floppy disk
disk drive (n)
dislike (n & v)
dismiss (v)
dispatch (n & v)
display (n & v)
It was a good display. (n)
She displayed her work. (v)
distance (n)
distant (adj)
distribute (v)
distribution (n)
district (n)
disturb (v)
divide (v)
division (n)
do (v)
doctor/Dr (n)
document (n)
documentary (adj & n)
documentation (n)
dollar (n)
domestic (adj)
Domestic sales are down.
Domestic appliances are the company’s most profitable line.
door (n)
door-to-door (adj)
dotted line (n)
Sign on the dotted line, please.
double (adj & v)
Please book a double room. (adj)
Inflation doubled last year. (v)
doubt (n & v)
down (adj, adv & prep)
• Our computer system’s down. (adv)
• Sales of all our products are down. (adj)
• Prices have gone down. (adv)
• His office is down the corridor on the left. (prep)
downstairs (adv)
downturn (n)
downward (adj)
dozen (n)
drama (n)
dramatic (adj)
a dramatic increase
a dramatic rise
dramatically (adv)
Sales increased dramatically.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 14
© UCLES 2006
draw (v)
drawer (n)
dream (n & v)
dress (n & v)
drink (n & v)
drive (n & v)
driving licence (n)
drop (n & v)
There’s been a big drop in the number of workers. (n)
You’ve dropped your papers. (v)
drug(s) (n)
a multinational drugs company
dry (adj & v)
dry cleaning (n)
DTP (abbrev) desktop publishing
due (adv & adj)
The next payment is due in five days. (adv)
due to rising costs (adj)
due date (adj)
The plane is due at… (adv)
The train is due to arrive. (adj)
due to (prep phrase)
• The fall in sales was due to the difficult economic climate.
dull (adj)
duplicate (n & v)
during (prep)
duty (n)
pay duty on imported goods
duty-free goods
office duties
DVD (n)
E
E (abbrev) east
each (adj & pron)
• I have a business engagement on that day. (n)
eager (adj)
early (adj & adv)
go to work early (adv)
in the early 1990s (adj)
the early stages of negotiation (adj)
earn (v)
earnings (n pl)
east (adj, adv & n)
eastern (adj)
easy (adj)
eat (v)
e-commerce (n)
economic (adj)
economic growth
the economic situation
economical (adj)
economics (n)
economy (n)
edge (n)
educate (v)
education (n)
effect (n)
effective (adj)
efficient (adj)
effort (n)
e.g. (abbrev) for example, for instance
either (conj)
elect (v)
election (n)
electric (adj)
electrical (adj)
electricity (n)
electronic (adj)
electronic mail (n)
electronics (n)
elementary (adj)
elevator (Am Eng) (n)
else (adv)
email (n & v)
embarrass (v)
embassy (n)
emergency (n)
employ (v)
employee (n)
employment agency (n)
empty (adj & v)
enable (v)
enclose (v)
encourage (v)
end (n & v)
energy
engaged (adj)
• The phone was engaged.
engagement (n)
engine (n)
engineer (n)
engineering (n)
English (adj & n)
enjoy (v)
enormous (adj)
enough (adj, adv & n)
enquire (v)
enquiry (n)
enrol (v)
ensure (v)
enter (v)
entertain (v)
enthusiasm (n)
enthusiastic (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 15
© UCLES 2006
entire (adj)
entrance (n)
entry (v)
envelope (n)
environment (n)
environmental (adj)
equal (adj & v)
equip (v)
escalator (n)
escape (n & v)
especially (adv)
essential (adj)
establish (v)
estimate (n & v)
• The estimate for repairs was low. (n)
• We estimated the costs. (v)
expert (n)
EU (abbrev) European Union
exchange (v)
explanation (n)
Euro (n)
even (adv)
• Demand for our new product has exploded.
• He couldn’t even do that.
event (n)
explore (v)
ever (adv)
every (adj)
everybody (n)
everyone (n)
everything (n)
everywhere (adv)
exact (adj)
exam (abbrev) examination
examination (n)
examine (v)
example (n)
exceed (v)
excellent (adj)
except (prep & conj)
excess (n)
• excess capacity (n)
exchange (v & n)
exchange controls (n)
exchange rate (n)
excited (adj)
exciting (adj)
exclude (v)
excluding (prep)
excuse (n & v)
executive (n & adj)
exercise (n & v)
exhibit (n & v)
exhibition (n)
• a trade exhibition
exist (v)
exit (n)
expand (v)
expansion (n)
• economic expansion
expect (v)
expectation (n)
• an expectation of high growth
expenditure (n)
expense(s) (n)
• the expense of hiring staff
• to claim for travel expenses
expensive (adj)
experience (n)
experienced (adj)
experiment (n & v)
• The experiment was interesting. (n)
• They experimented with new materials. (v)
explain (v)
explode (v)
export (n & v)
express (adj & v)
• an express train (adj)
• express delivery (adj)
• express an idea (v)
• express an opinion (v)
• express an interest in (v)
extend (v)
extension (n)
What is your extension number?
external (adj)
extra (adj & adv)
extraordinary (adj)
extremely (adv)
eye (n)
F
ºF (abbrev) Farenheit
facilities (n pl)
• Leisure facilities
• The hotel has excellent facilities.
• staff facilities
facing (v & prep)
fact (n)
factor (n)
factory (n)
fail (v)
failure (n)
faint (adj)
• a faint line
fair (adj & n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 16
© UCLES 2006
• The way of calculating bonus payments is not fair. (adj)
• The sales figures were only fair. (adj)
• The trade fair usually takes place in May. (n)
faithfully (adv)
• Yours faithfully
fall (n & v)
• There was a sharp fall in profits. (n)
• Share prices were falling very quickly. (v)
false (adj)
• a false statement
family (n)
famous (adj)
fan (n)
• The fan isn’t working.
fantastic (adj)
far (adv)
fare (n)
• The return fare is £252.
fashion (n)
fast (adj & adv)
fasten (v)
fault (n)
• It’s John’s fault that the report is late.
• There’s a technical fault.
favourite (adj & n)
fax (n & v)
fax machine (n)
fear (n & v)
fee (n)
feedback (n)
feel (v)
feel like (v)
female (n & adj)
ferry (n)
festival (v)
fetch (v)
few (adj)
fiction (n)
• Sales of non-fiction have increased.
field (n)
• in the field of engineering
fight (n & v)
figure (n)
• the figure 6
• sales figures
file (n & v)
• Could you get me the file on Unicorn Holdings? (n)
• Could you file the papers from this morning’s meeting? (v)
filing cabinet (n)
fill (v)
• fill something to the top
fill in (phr v)
• I must fill in this form.
fill up (phr v)
• We’ll fill up the car with petrol before we leave.
film (n & v)
final (adj)
final demand (n)
finalise (v)
finance (n & v)
financial (adj)
financial advisor (n)
financial year (n)
find (v)
find out (phr v)
• I must find out when Mr Tanaka is arriving.
fine (adj, n & v)
finish (n & v)
fire (n & v)
• Fire completely destroyed an old warehouse. (n)
• There was a small fire at the factory. (n)
• The company has a ‘hire and fire’ approach. (n)
• He was fired for not meeting sales targets. (v)
fire alarm (n)
firm (adj & n)
• a firm offer (adj)
• a good firm to work for (n)
first (adj, adv, n & pron)
• Fill in your first name. (adj)
• first aid (n)
• first of all (adv)
• He was the first to draw attention to the mistake. (pron)
• Could you do the filing first? (adv)
fit (adj & v)
• He fitted into the team very well. (v)
• Her main business was a keep-fit centre. (adj)
fitness (n & adj)
• fitness centre (n)
• health and fitness sector (n)
fix (v)
• Could you fix the shelf to the wall?
• She managed to fix the broken photocopier.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 17
© UCLES 2006
• My PA has fixed a date for the meeting.
fixed cost (n)
fixed-term contract (n)
flag (n)
flat (adj & n)
fleet (n)
a fleet of trucks/cars/ships
flexible (adj)
flexibility (n)
flight (n)
direct flight
non-stop flight
flip chart (n)
float (v)
float a new company/shares
flood (n & v)
floor (n)
floppy disk (n)
flotation (n)
flotation on the Stock Exchange
flowchart (n)
fluctuate (v)
fluctuation (n)
fly (v)
focus (n & v)
fold (n & v)
follow (v)
following (adj & prep)
• The following people are needed at the presentation. (adj)
• Following the meeting, he made changes to the report. (prep)
fond (adj)
food (n)
Food is becoming more expensive.
The fast-food sector is growing.
foot/feet (n)
six foot/feet tall
at the foot of the page
for (prep)
forbid (v)
force (n & v)
• market forces (n)
• I was forced to resign. (v)
forecast (n & v)
• We forecast a growth in this sector. (v)
• The sales forecast is very positive. (n)
foreign (adj)
foreign currency (n)
foreign exchange (n)
foreigner (n)
foreman (n)
forget (v)
forgetful (adj)
forgive (v)
form (n & v)
fill in a form (n)
order form (n)
to form a company (v)
formal (adj)
former (adj)
fortnight (n)
fortunate (adj)
forward (v)
forward(s) (adv)
founder (n)
free (adj)
free gift (n)
free market (n)
free sample (n)
free trade (n)
freelance (adj & v)
freeze (n & v)
a price freeze (n)
to freeze prices (v)
freight (n & v)
frequent (adj)
fresh (adj)
fridge (n)
friend (n)
frighten (v)
from (prep)
front (adj & n)
fuel (n)
full (adj)
full-time (adj)
full time (adv)
fun (n)
function (n & v)
fund (n & v)
funding (n)
funny (adj)
furnish (v)
furniture (n)
future (adj & n)
G
gain (n & v)
gallery (n)
an art gallery
gallon (n)
game (n)
gap (n)
garage (n)
gas (n)
She works as an engineer in the oil and gas industry.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 18
© UCLES 2006
•
Could you put some gas in the car? (Am Eng)
gate (n)
general (adj)
generous (adj)
gentle (adj)
gentleman (n)
• Ladies and gentlemen
genuine (adj)
geography (n)
get (v)
get along with (phr v)
I get along quite well with my boss.
get around (phr v)
We’ve got around that problem.
get back (phr v)
When did you get back from New York?
get down (phr v)
Can you get down from the ladder?
Did you manage to get all the notes down?
get in (phr v)
Can visitors get in through the staff entrance?
get into/out of (phr v)
She got into/out of the taxi.
get off (phr v)
We get off at the next stop.
get on (phr v)
How is the business getting on?
Get your coat on and then we can leave.
get on with (phr v)
How are you getting on with the report?
Do you get on well with your colleagues?
get rid of (phr v)
• Could you get rid of these old files?
get up (phr v)
What time did you get up this morning?
gift (n)
gift voucher (n)
girl (n)
give (v)
give in (phr v)
Have you given in last month’s sales figures yet?
He gave in to their demands.
give out (phr v)
Will you give out these papers for me, please?
give up (phr v)
David is planning to give up his job and go freelance.
glad (adj)
glance (n & v)
I’ve glanced at the figures. (v)
glass (n & adj)
glasses (n pl)
global (adj)
global market
go (v)
go down (phr v)
Sales went down last year.
go for (phr v)
He went for the job.
go off (phr v)
He went off to work in Australia.
Suddenly the lights went off.
The alarm went off.
go on (phr v)
The meeting went on until six o’clock.
What’s going on?
The lights suddenly went on.
go out (phr v)
The fire has gone out.
We’re going out with a new client this evening.
go with (phr v)
• The new colours don’t go with our company image.
goal (n)
• career goals
gold (adj & n)
gold watch (adj)
made of gold (n)
good (adj)
goodbye (int)
goods (n pl)
govern (v)
grade (n & v)
We need high grade oil. (n)
What grade is the job? (n)
Staff were re-graded. (v)
gradual (adj)
graduate (n & v)
He’s a maths graduate. (n)
She graduated in 2001. (v)
graduation (n)
gram(me) (n)
grammar (n)
grant (n & v)
He was given a grant to study new management methods. (n)
The MD granted his request to attend the conference. (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 19
© UCLES 2006
graph (n)
graphics (n)
grateful (adj)
great (adj)
green (adj)
a green policy
greet (v)
grey (adj)
a grey area
the grey economy
gross (adj)
a gross profit
gross weight
ground (adj & n)
group (n & v)
The group was large. (n)
Trainees are grouped together for discussion activities. (v)
grow (v)
Profits grew very quickly last year.
It’s a fast-growing company.
They wanted to grow their company/business/profits/sales.
growth (n)
guarantee (n & v)
guard (n & v)
guess (n & v)
guest (n)
guest-house (n)
guide (n & v)
He has experience as a tour
guide. (n)
I’ll guide you around the factory. (v)
guilty (adj)
gymnasium (n)
H
habit (n)
hair (n)
half (adj, adv & n)
hall (n)
hallo/hello (exclam)
hand (n & v)
shake hands (n)
He handed the book to her. (v)
second-hand
on hand
in hand
by hand
to hand
hand in (phr v)
Could you hand in your report tomorrow.
hand out (phr v)
Can you hand out the minutes of the last meeting?
handbag (n)
handbook (n)
handle (n & v)
The door handle is broken. (n)
The goods were damaged because they were handled roughly. (v)
She handles telephone enquiries. (v)
He handled the situation badly. (v)
handwriting (n)
hang (v)
He decided to hang the calendar on the wall.
hang up (phr v)
She hung up at the end of the phone call.
happen (v)
happy (adj)
harbour (n)
The harbour is being extended due to an increase in shipping.
hard (adj & adv)
hardly (adv)
There was hardly any time.
He could hardly wait.
hardware (n)
hardware store
computer hardware
hate (v)
have (v)
have got (v)
have to (v)
he (pron)
head (n & v)
at the head of the company (n)
the head of marketing (n)
head a team/group (v)
headgear (n)
head office (n)
headline (n)
headquarters (n)
health (n)
health and safety (n)
hear (v)
heart (n)
in the heart of the city
the heart of the problem
heat (n & v)
Water retains heat longer than air. (n)
The market is overheated. (v)
heating (n)
heavy (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 20
© UCLES 2006
height (n)
helicopter (n)
hello/hallo (exclam)
help (n & v)
helpdesk (n)
helpline (n)
her (adj & pron)
here (adv)
hers (pron)
herself (pron)
hi-fi (n)
hi(gh)-tec(h) (adj)
hidden (adj)
hidden agenda
hidden profits
hide (v)
high (adj, adv & n)
highway (n) (Am Eng)
hill (n)
him (pron)
himself (pron)
hire (n & v)
hire a car (v)
for hire (n)
a ‘hire and fire’ approach (n)
hire more staff (v)
his (adj & pron)
history (n)
hit (n & v)
• a hit on a website (n)
• hit sales targets (v)
hobby (n)
hold (v)
hold up (n & phr v)
• He was held up in heavy traffic for over two hours. (phr v)
• There was a hold-up at customs. (n)
hole (n)
holiday (n)
home (adv & n)
honest (adj)
hope (n & v)
horrible (adj)
hospitality (n)
host (n)
hot (adj)
hotel (n)
hour (n)
hourly rate (n)
hourly fee (n)
house (n)
how (adv)
how do you do? (int)
how much (adv)
however (adv)
huge (adj)
human (n & adj)
hundred (n)
hurry (n & v)
hr (abbrev) hour
I
I (pron)
ice (n)
idea (n)
identity (n)
identity card
ID (abbrev) Identity
i.e. (abbrev) that is to say
if (conj)
ill (adj)
illegal (adj)
illness (n)
image (n)
imagination (n)
imagine (v)
immediate (adj)
immigration (n)
import (v)
import duty (n)
importance (n)
important (adj)
impossible (adj)
impress (v)
impression (n)
impressive (adj)
improve (v)
in(s) (abbrev) inch(es)
in (adv & prep)
in a hurry (prep phr)
in advance (prep phr)
in any case (prep phr)
in case of (prep phr)
in case of fire
in case of delays
in charge (of) (prep phr)
in danger (prep phr)
in debt (prep phr)
in difficulties (prep phr)
in fact (prep phr)
in front of (prep phr)
in general (prep phr)
in half (prep phr)
in ink (prep phr)
in order (prep phr)
in order to (prep phr)
in pencil (prep phr)
in pieces (prep phr)
in place (prep phr)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 21
© UCLES 2006
in private (prep phr)
in public (prep phr)
in secret (prep phr)
in sight (prep phr)
in stock (prep phr)
in the end (prep phr)
in time (prep phr)
in town (prep phr)
in turn (prep phr)
incentive (n)
inch (n)
include (v)
including (prep)
income (n)
inconvenience (n)
inconvenient (adj)
incorrect (adj)
increase (n & v)
indeed (adv)
independent (adj)
index (n)
index of a book
indicate (v)
indication (n)
individual (adj & n)
indoor (adj)
indoors (adv)
industrial (adj)
industry (n)
the steel industry
inflation (n)
influence (n & v)
She was a bad influence on the other staff. (n)
Her first boss greatly influenced her. (v)
inform (v)
information (n)
informal (adj)
information technology (IT) (n)
inhabitant (n)
in-house (adj & adv)
injure (v)
injury (n)
ink (n)
innovation (n)
innovative (adj)
inquiry (n)
inside (adv, prep & adj)
insist (v)
inspect (v)
inspection (n)
install (v)
installation (n)
instalment (n)
by instalments
instalment plan
instance (n)
instead (adv)
instead of (adv)
instructions (n)
instructor (n)
insurance (n)
insurance policy (n)
insure (v)
intelligent (adj)
intend (v)
interest (n & v)
interest rate (n)
intermediate (adj)
internal (adj)
internal promotion
internal correspondence
international (adj)
internet (n)
interpret (v)
interrupt (v)
interval (n)
interview (v)
into (prep)
introduce (v)
introduction (n)
introductory (adj)
invent (v)
invention (n)
invest (v)
invitation (n)
invite (v)
invoice (n & v)
involve (v)
iron (n)
made of iron
island (n)
issue (n & v)
issue of a magazine (n)
issues about pay (n)
to issue a statement (v)
IT (abbrev) Information Technology
it (pron)
item (n)
Several items were damaged during transportation.
The first item will be a discussion of the recent sales figures.
its (pron)
itself (pron)
J
jealous (adj)
jet (plane) (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 22
© UCLES 2006
go by jet
job (n)
job description (n)
job satisfaction (n)
job security (n)
join (v)
I joined the company last year.
joint (adj)
joint venture
joke (n)
journal (n)
journalist (n)
journey (n)
judge (n & v)
jump (n & v)
There’s been a big jump in
prices. (n)
Share prices have jumped by 200%. (v)
junction (n)
just (adv)
K
keen (adj)
I’m not keen on the new product.
He’s keen to increase sales.
keep (v)
Costs keep rising.
keep on (phr v)
They kept on advertising even though profits were falling.
keep up (phr v)
Keep up the good work!
He has to keep up with new technological developments.
key (n & adj)
key to a lock (n)
key to success (n)
This is a key post. (adj)
key in (phr v)
• She keyed in the data very quickly.
keyboard (n)
computer keyboard
kg (abbrev) kilogram
kilo/kilogram/kilogramme (n)
km (abbrev) kilometer/kilometre
kilometre (n)
kph (abbrev) kilometres per hour
kind (adj & n)
My boss is a very kind person. (adj)
What kind of work do you do? (n)
kiosk (n)
kitchen (n)
knock (n & v)
knock down (phr v)
They knocked down the building to make way for the new road.
know (v)
knowledge (n)
L
label (n & v)
lab (abbrev) laboratory
laboratory (n)
labour (n)
manual labour
the labour market
lack (n & v)
ladder (n)
career ladder
lady (n)
Ladies and Gentlemen…
lamp (n)
land (n & v)
landlady (n)
landlord (n)
language (n)
laptop (n)
large (adj)
laser (n)
laser disk (n)
laser printer (n)
last (adj, adv & v)
late (adj)
later (adv)
laugh (n & v)
launch (v & n)
The company is holding a product launch for the XPL2. (n)
We are launching a new service. (v)
laundry (n)
The hotel has a laundry service.
lavatory (n)
law (n)
lawyer (n)
lay (v)
layout (n)
office layout
page layout
lazy (adj)
lb (abbrev) pound weight
lead (v)
Where does this road lead?
We lead the market in computer games.
leader (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 23
© UCLES 2006
•
J & K Electrics are the market leaders.
leadership (n)
leading (adj)
a leading brand
leaflet (n)
learn (v)
least (adj & adv)
the least amount (adj)
at least (adv)
leave (n & v)
leave out (phr v)
He left out several important facts from his report.
lecture (n & v)
left (n, adj & adv)
legal (adj)
leisure (n)
leisure industry (n)
lend (v)
length (n)
less (adj, adv & pron)
lesson (n)
let (v)
Her boss wouldn’t let her attend the conference.
I’m going to let my house for six months.
let’s (v)
Let’s finish the meeting early.
letter (n)
letter-box (n)
level (adj & n)
level off (phr v)
Growth in the economy has levelled off.
level out (phr v)
Sales have started to level out.
liberal (adj)
a liberal style of management
library (n)
licence (n)
an export licence
lie (n & v)
life (n)
shelf life
lifestyle (n)
lift (n & v)
Can you give me a lift, please? (n)
The lift is going up. (n)
Please help me lift this package. (v)
light (adj, n & v)
like (prep & v)
likely (adj)
limit (n & v)
limited company (Ltd.) (n)
line (n)
the production line
lines on a page
railway line
line manager (n)
link (n & v)
• internet link (n)
• The computers are linked to a
server. (v)
liquid (n & adj)
list (n & v)
listen (v)
litre (n)
little (adj & pron)
live (v & adj)
living (adj)
cost of living
load (n & v)
The load was heavy. (n)
Load the goods onto the lorry. (v)
loan (n)
local (adj)
locate (v)
location (n)
lock (n & v)
locker (n)
logo (n)
lonely (adj)
long (adj)
long-term/long term (adj & n)
• in the long term (n)
• a long-term strategy (adj)
look (n & v)
look after (phr v)
Who’s looking after the packaging?
look ahead (phr v)
look forward to (phr v)
I look forward to seeing you.
look like (phr v)
The new model looks just like the old one.
look out (phr v)
Look out or you’ll have an accident.
look up (phr v)
Look up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.
loose (adj)
lorry (n)
lose (v)
loss (n)
lost property (n)
lot (n)
loud (adj)
lounge (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 24
© UCLES 2006
love (n & v)
low (adj, n & adv)
lower (v)
loyal (adj)
loyal staff
loyalty (n)
• customer loyalty
luck (n)
luggage (n)
lunch (n)
lunchtime (n)
luxury (n & adj)
M
m (abbrev) metre
MA (abbrev) Masters degree
machine (n)
machinery (n)
mad (adj)
madam (n)
Dear Sir/Madam
magazine (n)
mail (n)
mailbox (Am Eng) (n)
mail order (n)
mailing list (n)
mailshot (n)
main (adj)
maintain (v)
maintenance (n)
major (adj)
major client
major exports
majority (n)
make (n & v)
make up (n & v)
male (adj & n)
man (n)
manage (v)
manage a business
manage to do something
managerial (adj)
managing director (MD) (n)
manner (n)
manual (adj)
manufacture (n & v)
many (adj & pron)
map (n)
margin (n)
profit margin
mark (n & v)
market (n & v)
There’s a good market for fax machines here. (n)
She bought some flowers from the market. (n)
They marketed their goods overseas. (v)
market leader (n)
market research (n)
market share (n)
market value (n)
marketplace (n)
marketing (n)
I’ve applied for a job in marketing.
married (adj)
mass (adj)
mass market (n)
mass media (n)
mass-produce (v)
mass production (n)
master (v)
match (n & v)
The agency matches staff to vacancies. (v)
It’s important to find a job which matches your skills. (v)
The two companies in the merger are a good match. (n)
mate (n)
a workmate
material (n)
training material(s)
construction materials
raw materials
mathematics (n)
maths (abbrev) mathematics
matter (n & v)
Is anything the matter? (n)
It doesn’t matter. (v)
mature (adj)
mature attitude
mature student
mature investment
mature sector of the market
max (abbrev) maximum
maximum (adj & n)
may (v)
maybe (adv)
MBA (abbrev) Masters in Business Administration
MD (abbrev) Managing Director (n)
me (pron)
meal (n)
mean (v)
What do you mean?
What does it mean?
meaning (n)
means (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 25
© UCLES 2006
•
Use whatever means you like but sell the product.
measure (v)
measure the length of something
mechanic (n)
media (n)
medicine (n)
medium (adj)
meet (v)
Could we meet on Thursday morning?
Pleased to meet you!
Are we meeting the needs of consumers?
member (n)
membership (n)
memo (abbrev) memorandum
memorandum (n)
memory (n)
have a good/poor memory
computer memory
mend (v)
mend a faulty machine
mention (n & v)
menu (n)
merge (v)
message (n)
metal (n)
method (n)
production methods
metre (n)
microphone (n)
midday (n)
middle (adj & n)
middle-aged (adj)
middle management (n)
midnight (n)
might (v)
mild (adj)
mile (n)
millimetre (n)
mind (n & v)
His mind was on other things. (n)
Would you mind if I postponed the meeting? (v)
Who’s minding the machine for you? (v)
Mind your head! (v)
mine (pron)
mineral (adj)
mineral water (n)
min (abbrev) minimum
minimum (adj & n)
minor (adj)
minus (conj)
min (abbrev) minute
minute (n)
minutes (n & pl)
the minutes of the meeting
misc (abbrev) miscellaneous
miscellaneous (adj)
miserable (adj)
miss (n & v)
mistake (n)
misunderstand (v)
mix (n & v)
mixture (n)
mobile (adj & n)
I need a new mobile (phone).
He isn’t mobile at the moment.
model (adj & n)
It’s cheap because it’s last year’s model. (n)
She’s a model employee. (adj)
modern (adj)
moment (n)
money (n)
monopoly (n)
month (n)
more (adj, adv & pron)
morning (n)
most (adj, adv & pron)
motivate (v)
motivation (n)
motor (n)
motorbike (n)
motorcycle (n)
motorway (n)
mountain (n)
a mountain of paperwork
mouse (n)
The mouse on my computer isn’t working.
move (n & v)
movie (Am Eng) (n)
mph (abbrev) miles per hour
Mr (n)
Mrs (n)
Ms (n)
much (adj, adv & pron)
multinational (adj & n)
multiply (v)
multiply 14 by 2
music (n)
musical (adj & n)
musician (n)
must (v)
my (pron & adj)
myself (pron)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 26
© UCLES 2006
N
N (abbrev) north
name (n & v)
narrow (adj)
national (adj)
nationality (n)
nationwide (adj)
natural (adj)
nature (n)
NB (abbrev) note well
NE (abbrev) north east
NW (abbrev) north west
near (adv & prep)
neat (adj)
necessary (adj)
need (n & v)
negative (adj)
•
neighbourhood (n)
negative attitude
negotiable (adj)
negotiate (v)
negotiation (n)
neighbour (n)
neither (adj & pron)
nervous (adj)
net (n & adj)
have a net income of £20,000 a year (adj)
network (v & n)
to network computers (v)
a computer network (n)
network of agents (n)
networking (n)
never (adv)
new (adj)
news (n)
newsagent (n)
newsletter (n)
newspaper (n)
next (adj, adv & pron)
next to (prep)
nice (adj & adv)
night (n)
nil (n)
no (adv)
no. (abbrev) number (n)
no one (n)
nobody (n & pron)
noise (n)
none (n, adj & pron)
nor (conj)
neither management nor workers
Nor do I.
normal (adj)
north (adj, adv, & n)
north east (adj & n )
north west (adj & n)
not/n’t (adv)
not at all (adv)
note (n & v)
notebook (n)
notepad (n)
notepaper (n)
nothing (n & pron)
notice (n & v)
notice-board (n)
now (adv)
nowadays (adv)
nowhere (adv)
nr (abbrev) near
nuclear (adj)
number (n)
nylon (adj & n)
O
o’clock (adj & adv)
object (n & v)
objective (n)
observe (v)
obtain (v)
occupation (n)
occur (v)
of (prep)
of course (adv)
off (adv & prep)
offer (n & v)
office (n)
officer (n)
official (adj & n)
often (adv)
OHP (abbrev) overhead projector
OHT (abbrev) overhead transparency
oil (n & v)
OK/O.K./okay (int, adj & adv)
old (adj)
omit (v)
on (adv & prep)
on a journey (prep phr)
on a visit (prep phr)
on business (prep phr)
on fire (prep phr)
on foot (prep phr)
on holiday (prep phr)
on sale (prep phr)
on time (prep phr)
once (adv or adj)
one (n & pron)
one-way (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 27
© UCLES 2006
oneself (pron)
online/on-line (adv & adj)
only (adj & adv)
onto (prep)
open (adj & v)
opening hours (n)
operate (v)
They operate from an old warehouse.
Shall I show you how to operate the machine?
operation (n)
opinion (n)
opportunity (n)
oppose (v)
opposite (adj, n & prep)
option (n)
or (conj)
order (conj, n & v)
order form (n)
ordinary (adj)
organisation (n)
organise (v)
original (adj)
originality (n)
other (adj & pron)
ought (v)
ounce (n)
our (adj)
ours (pron)
ourselves (pron)
out (adv)
out of (prep)
out of date (prep phr)
out of doors (prep phr)
out of order (prep phr)
out of stock (prep phr)
out of work (prep phr)
outdoor (adj)
outdoors (adv)
outlet (n)
output (n & v)
outside (adv, n & prep)
oval (adj)
over (adv & prep)
overall (adj)
overalls (n)
overdraft (n)
overdrawn (adj)
overheads (n)
overnight (adj & adv)
overseas (adj & adv)
overtake (v)
overtime (n)
owe (v)
own (adj & v)
own brand (n)
P
p (abbrev) pence
PA (abbrev) Personal Assistant
pa (abbrev) per annum
pc (abbrev) personal computer
p./pp. (abbrev) page/pages
pack (n & v)
package (n & v)
packaging (n)
packet (n)
packing (n)
packing department
page (n)
paid leave (n)
paint (n & v)
pair (n)
paper (n)
paperclip (n)
paperwork (n)
paragraph (n)
parcel (n)
pardon (n)
Pardon?
park (n & v)
parking (n)
parliament (n)
part (n)
part-time/part time (adj & adv)
participant (n)
participate (v)
participation (n)
particular (adj)
a particular problem
partner (n)
party (n)
pass (n & v)
• security pass (n)
passenger (n)
passport (n)
past (adj, n & prep)
path (n)
patient (adj)
pattern (n)
pause (n & v)
pavement (n)
pay (n & v)
payroll (n)
peace (n)
peak (n & v)
pen (n)
pence (n)
pencil (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 28
© UCLES 2006
pension (n)
people (n pl)
per (prep)
per annum (adv)
per cent (%) (adj, adv & n)
percentage (n)
perfect (adj)
perform (v)
The company is performing well.
performance (n)
a strong performance on the stock market
perhaps (adv)
period (n)
I will be away for the whole period of her visit.
The period before the break has been cancelled.
the beginning/middle/whole/end of the period
permanent (adj)
permission (n)
permit (v & n)
person (n)
personal assistant (n)
personal computer (n)
personality (n)
personnel (n)
personnel management (n)
persuade (v)
petrol (n)
petrol station (n)
petty cash (n)
pharmaceutical (adj)
• the pharmaceutical industry
pharmacy (n)
phase (n)
phone (n & v)
photocopier (n)
photocopy (n & v)
photograph (n & v)
photography (n)
pick (v)
pick up (phr v)
• I’ll pick you up from the airport.
picture (n)
piece (n)
pile (n & v)
pilot (n)
pin (n & v)
drawing pins (n)
pin something to the notice-board. (v)
pipe (n)
a water pipe
pity (n)
What a pity!
place (n & v)
plain (adj)
It’s plain to me.
plain blue
plan (n & v)
plane (n)
planning (n)
plant (n & v)
The firm has made huge investment in new plant. (n)
A strike at the new manufacturing plant held up production. (n)
Farmers need to plant crops this month. (v)
plastic (adj & n)
platform (n)
play (n & v)
plc (abbrev) public limited company pleasant (adj)
please (int & v)
Come in, please. (int)
He tried hard to please his boss. (v)
pleasure (n)
plenty (adj & pron)
plug (n)
electric plug
plug in (phr v)
• The photocopier isn’t plugged in.
plus (conj)
pm (adv)
pocket (n)
point (n & v)
point of view (n)
police (n)
police station (n)
policy (n)
polite (adj)
political (adj)
politician (n)
politics (n)
pollution (n)
pool (n)
The company sells swimming pools.
poor (adj)
She is very poor and earns hardly any money at all.
He’s rather poor at maths.
popular (adj)
population (n)
port (n)
portable (adj)
porter (n)
position (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 29
© UCLES 2006
positive (adj)
possibility (n)
possible (adj)
post (n & v)
post office (n)
postage (n)
postcard (n)
postcode (n)
poster (n)
postman (n)
postpone (v)
potential (n & adj)
pound (n)
pour (v)
power (n)
PR (abbrev) Public Relations
practice (n)
•
The exercises in the book provide plenty of practice.
out of practice
good business practice
practise (v)
praise (n & v)
precious (adj)
predict (v)
prediction (n)
prefer (v)
preference (n)
preliminary (adj)
premises (n)
preparation (n)
prepare (v)
prescription (n)
present (adj, n & v)
presentation (n)
president (n)
press (n & v)
pretty (adj & adv)
prevent (v)
previous (adj)
price (n & v)
price list (n)
primary (adj)
of primary importance
prime minister (n)
principal (n & adj)
college principal (n)
principal activity (adj)
print (n & v)
printout (n)
priority (n)
private (adj)
prize (n)
probable (adj)
problem (n)
procedure (n)
process (n & v)
produce (n & v)
product (n)
production (n)
productive (adj)
productivity (n)
profession (n)
professional (adj & n)
professor (n)
profile (n & v)
profit (n)
profit margin
profit level
profitability (n)
profitable (adj)
programme (n & v)
progress (n)
project (n)
promise (n & v)
promote (v)
promotion (n)
promotional (adj)
prompt (adj)
pronounce (v)
pronunciation (n)
proof (n)
proofread (v)
proper (adj)
property (n)
proportion (n)
proposal (n)
We all listened to her proposal.
propose (v)
propose an idea
protect (v)
protection (n)
proud (adj)
prove (v)
provide (v)
PS (abbrev) postscript
PTO (abbrev) please turn over
public (adj & n)
public holiday (n)
public limited company (n)
public opinion (n)
public relations (PR) (n)
publication (n)
publicise (v)
publicity (n)
publish (v)
pull (n & v)
punctual (adj)
punish (v)
pupil (n)
purchase (n & v)
pure (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 30
© UCLES 2006
purpose (n & adj)
push (n & v)
put (v)
put away (phr v)
Put the file away before you leave.
put back (phr v)
The meeting was put back until Wednesday.
put down (phr v)
She put her name down for the conference.
put off (phr v)
Let’s put the meeting off until next week.
put on (phr v)
Could you put on the light?
put out (phr v)
He put out the light.
put through (phr v)
• Could you put me through to the Finance Director?
put up (phr v)
Petrol companies are putting up their prices next week.
Q
qualification (n)
qualify (v)
qualify as an accountant
qualify for a discount
quality (n)
quality control (n)
quality controller (n)
quantity (n)
quarrel (n & v)
quarter (n)
quay (n)
query (n & v)
question (n & v)
questionnaire (n)
queue (n & v)
quick (adj)
quiet (adj)
quite (adv)
quiz (n)
quotation (n)
• The quotation is higher than expected. (n)
quote (n & v)
Could you quote me a price for printing 1,000 brochures? (v)
The quote hasn’t come in yet. (n)
R
race (n & v)
radio (n)
rail (n)
railway (n)
raise (n & v)
range (n & v)
rank (n & v)
a taxi rank (n)
Wavell & Arnold plc ranks in the top 100 companies. (v)
rapid (adj)
rare (adj)
rate (n)
rather (adv)
Rd (abbrev) road
re (abbrev) regarding
reach (v)
react (v)
reaction (n)
read (v)
ready (adj)
real (adj)
realise (v)
rearrange (v)
reason (n)
receipt (n)
receive (v)
receiver (n)
telephone receiver
recent (adj)
reception (n)
reception desk in a hotel or an office
a business reception for delegates
receptionist (n)
reclaim (v)
recognise (v)
recommend (v)
recommendation (n)
record (n, adj & v)
a record of the meeting (n)
record profits (adj)
record your comments (v)
recorder (n)
a cassette recorder
recover (v)
Have you recovered from the long flight?
recovery (n)
recruit (n & v)
rectangular
red (adj & n)
in the red
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 31
© UCLES 2006
reduce (v)
reduction (n)
redundant (adj)
make someone redundant
ref (abbrev) with reference to
refer (v)
refer to something
reference (n)
a reference to something
references from a previous employer
refreshment(s) (n)
refrigerator (n)
refund (v & n)
refurbish (v)
refuse (v)
regard (n & v)
regarding (prep)
region (n)
regional (adj)
register (v)
register for an MBA
registration (n)
regret (v)
regular (adj)
regulations (n pl)
reject (v)
rejection (n)
relation (n)
industrial relations
public relations
relax (v)
relevant (adj)
reliable (adj)
reliability (n)
relief (n)
What a relief!
relocate (v)
relocation (n)
rely (v)
remain (v)
remember (v)
remind (v)
remove (v)
renew (v)
rent (n & v)
rental (adj & n)
reorganisation (n)
rep (abbrev) representative
repair (n & v)
repay (v)
repeat (n, v & adj)
replace (v)
reply (n & v)
report (n & v)
represent (v)
representative (n)
reputation (n)
request (n & v)
require (v)
rescue (n & v)
research (n & v)
R & D (abbrev) Research and Development
reservation (n)
reserve (v)
resident (n)
residential (adj)
resign (v)
resignation (n)
resources (n)
respect (n & v)
respond (v)
response (n)
responsibility (n)
responsible (adj)
rest (n & v)
restaurant (n)
result (n & v)
retail (n & v)
retail outlet (n)
retail price (n)
retain (v)
retire (v)
return (n & v)
revenue (n)
review (n & v)
revise (v)
reward (n & v)
rich (adj & n)
ride (n & v)
right (adj, adv & n)
ring (n & v)
ring back (v)
ring up (v)
rise (n & v)
risk (n & v)
rival (n & adj)
river (n)
road (n)
role (n)
roof (n)
room (n)
rough (adj)
round (adj, adv & prep)
roundabout (n)
route (n)
routine (n)
row (n)
the figure is in the end row of the column.
RSVP (abbrev) please reply
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 32
© UCLES 2006
rubber (adj & n)
rubbish (n)
ruin (n & v)
rule (n & v)
run (v)
run out of (phr v)
We’ve run out of paper for the printer.
S
S (abbrev) south
sad (adj)
SAE (abbrev) stamped addressed envelope
safe (n & adj)
safety (n )
salary (n)
sale (n )
sales (n)
same (adj & pron)
sample (n)
satisfaction (n)
satisfactory (adj)
satisfied (adj)
save (v)
say (v)
scale (n)
salary scale
large-scale
small-scale
schedule (n & v)
scheme (n)
• training scheme
school (n)
science (n)
scientific (adj)
scissors (n)
screen (n & v)
• a TV/computer screen
screw (n & v)
• Screw this in for me, please. (v)
• Have you seen the screw? (n)
sea (n)
seal (v)
search (n & v)
• customs search (n)
• a search on the internet (n)
search for (v)
season (n)
• e.g. autumn, winter
• the conference season
seasonal (staff, rates) (adj)
seat (n & v)
seatbelt (n)
sec (abbrev) second
second (adj & n)
second-hand/second hand (adj & adv)
secondary (adj)
secret (n & adj)
secretarial (adj)
secretary (n)
section (n)
• section head
sector (n)
• sector of the economy
secure (v & adj)
security (n)
see (v)
seem (v)
seldom (adv)
select (v)
selection (n)
self-employed (adj)
self-service (adj)
sell (v)
selling price (n)
seminar (n)
send (v)
send for (v)
send for something
senior (adj)
sensible (adj)
sentence (n)
Can you translate this sentence into German?
separate (adj & v)
Can you separate these for me? (v)
They work in separate offices. (adj)
series (n)
serious (adj)
servant (n)
civil servant
serve (v )
The bank serves the interests of its customers.
The rail network serves every region of the country.
In my last job, I had to serve customers.
service (n & v)
service station (n)
service agreement (n)
service charge (n)
service industry (n)
services (n pl)
customer services
set off (phr v)
set off for work
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 33
© UCLES 2006
set out (phr v)
set out on a journey
set up (phr v)
set up a business
settle (v)
feel settled in a job
settle an account
several (adj)
sex (n)
the male/female sex
shake (n & v)
shall (v)
shallow (adj)
shame (n)
What a shame!
shape (n & v)
share (n & v)
I share an office with the Marketing Director. (v)
Our market share has increased this year. (n)
shareholder (n)
shares (n & pl)
shares in the company
sharp (adj)
sharp image
a sharp rise/drop
she (pron)
sheet (n)
shelf (n)
shift (n)
night shift
shift work(er)
shine (v)
ship (n & v)
shipping (n)
shock (n)
The news of the low sales figures came as a shock.
shop (n & v)
short (adj)
shortage (n)
short-term/short term (adj & n)
should (v)
shout (n & v)
show (n & v)
shower (n)
shut (adj & v)
shy (adj)
sick (adj)
side (n)
sight (n)
in sight, out of sight
tourist sights
sightseeing (n)
sign (n & v)
a traffic sign, a sign on a wall (n)
Sign here, please. (v)
signs of economic recovery (n)
signal (n & v)
signature (n)
significant (adj)
a significant rise
signpost (n)
silence (n)
silent (adj)
silk (n & adj)
silver (n & adj)
similar (adj)
simple (adj)
simple food
a simple exercise
since (conj & prep)
sincerely (adv)
single (n & adj)
Sir (n)
sit (v)
site (n)
situate (v)
situation (n)
size (n)
skill (n)
skilled (adj)
sky (n)
sleep (n & v)
slight (adj)
slim (adj)
slow (adj)
slow down (phr v)
Sales of the X13 model have slowed down.
small (adj)
smart (adj)
smell (n & v)
smile (n & v)
smoke (n & v)
smooth (adj)
snack (n)
so (adv & conj)
so that (conj)
so-so (adj)
social (adj)
society (n)
soft (adj)
software (n)
sole (adj)
• sole agent
solid (adj)
• solid fuel
• a solid cylinder
solution (n)
solve (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 34
© UCLES 2006
some (adj & adv)
somebody (n & pron)
someone (n & pron)
something (n & pron)
sometimes (adv)
somewhere (adv)
soon (adv)
sorry (adj)
sort (n & v)
sort out (phr v)
•
•
Could you sort out my travel arrangements to Madrid?
sound (n & v)
south (adj, adv & n)
south east (n & adj)
south west (adj, adv & n)
souvenir (n)
space (n)
spare (adj & v)
• spare cash (adj)
• I can’t spare the time to see him. (v)
speak (v)
speaker (n)
• a conference speaker
special (adj)
specialise (v)
specialist (n)
speciality (n)
specifications (n pl)
speech (n)
speed (n)
spell (v)
spend (v & n)
• spend money (v)
• spend time (v)
• Our advertising spend increased this year. (n)
spill (v)
spite (n)
• in spite of
sponsor (n & v)
sport(s) (n)
spy (n & v)
square (n & adj)
• a square pattern (adj)
• Market Square (n)
St (abbrev) street
staff (n)
stage (n)
• the final stage of production
stairs (n pl)
stamp (n)
• Is there a stamp on the envelope?
• Use the company stamp.
stand (v & n)
• stand outside (v)
• a stand at an exhibition (n)
• standholder (n)
• Production stood still due to a strike. (v)
• We stood (up) to get a better view. (v)
• The factory stands on a new industrial park. (v)
standard (n & adj)
staple (n)
stapler (n)
start (n & v)
• the start of the conference (n)
• The meeting started at 2pm. (v)
start-up (adj)
• Start-up costs have increased.
state (n & v)
• Her office was in a very untidy state. (n)
• There are both state and private railways in Japan. (n)
• Please state your order clearly. (v)
station (n)
stationery (n)
statistics (n)
stay (n & v)
stay behind (phr v)
He stayed behind to finish the report.
steady (adj)
steal (v)
steam (n)
steel (n & adj)
steep (adj)
step (n & v)
• steps 1 – 3 (n)
• take steps to do something (n pl)
• step up the career ladder (v)
still (adv)
stock (n & v)
Stock Exchange (n)
stocks (n)
• stocks and shares
stone (n)
stop (v & n)
storage (n)
store (n & v)
• a department store (n)
• Store it for future use. (v)
storeroom (n)
storey (n)
storm (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 35
© UCLES 2006
• The roof of the factory was damaged in the storm.
• a storm of protests
story (n)
straight (adj & adv)
strange (adj)
stranger (n)
strategy (n)
• a business strategy
street (n)
strength (n)
strengthen (v)
stress (n & v)
• There’s a lot of stress in this job. (n)
• He stressed that it was important to be early. (v)
strict (adj)
• strict Health & Safety rules
strike (n & v)
• Most of the workers have gone on strike. (n)
• They’re striking for higher wages. (v)
string (n)
strong (adj)
structure (n & v)
• Could you describe the structure of the company? (n)
• The company was re-structured. (v)
student (n)
studies (n)
• business studies
study (n & v)
• I’m studying Marketing.(v)
• She studied the report. (v)
• The company carried out a study of consumer shopping habits. (n)
stupid (adj)
subsequently (adv)
subsidiary (n & adj)
subject (n)
• the subject of a discussion
• the subject of a sentence
• a school/college subject
subtract (v)
subway (n)
• The New York subway is a huge transport system. (Am Eng)
• Subways provide an alternative to crossing busy roads. (Br Eng)
succeed (v)
success (n)
such (adj)
sudden (adj)
suffer (v)
sufficient (adj)
suggest (v)
suggestion (n)
suit (n & v)
suitability (n)
suitable (adj)
suitcase (n)
suite (n)
sum (n)
sum up (phr v)
• The Finance Director summed up objections to the new strategy.
supermarket (n)
supervise (v)
supervision (n)
supper (n)
supplies (n pl)
supply (n & v)
support (n & v)
suppose (v)
surcharge (n)
sure (adj)
surname (n)
surplus (n)
surprise (n, v & adj)
survey (n)
sweep (v)
swing (n & v)
• There has been a swing in public opinion. (n)
• The door swung shut. (v)
switch (n & v)
system (n)
T
table (n)
take (v)
take away (phr v)
Take 15 away from 78. •
take off (phr v)
She took off her jacket.
The plane took off on time.
take out (phr v)
take out insurance/loan
take the visitors out for lunch
take out some figures from a document
take over (phr v)
The MD plans to take over one of our competitors.
take part in (phr v)
He didn’t take part in the meeting.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 36
© UCLES 2006
take place (phr v)
The conference will take place in Paris this year.
take up (phr v)
She took up golf as a good way of networking.
He took up a new position in the company.
takeover (n)
There have been several takeovers of well-known companies recently.
takings (n)
talk (n & v)
tall (adj)
tap (n)
a cold-water tap
tape (n & v)
target (n & v)
The company’s production target is 1,000 refrigerators each week. (n)
The company was targeted in a takeover bid. (v)
task (n)
taste (n & v)
tax (n & v)
taxation (n)
taxi (n)
taxpayer (n)
tea (n)
teach (v)
team (n)
tear (n & v)
technical (adj)
technician (n)
technique (n)
technological (adj)
technology (n)
tel (abbrev) telephone number
telecommunications (n)
telegram (n)
telegraph (n)
telephone (n & v)
television (n)
telex (n)
tell (v)
temperature (n)
temporary (adj)
tenant (n)
terminal (n)
an air/computer terminal
terms (n pl)
What are the terms of the agreement between the two companies?
terrible (adj)
test (n & v)
text (n)
textile (n)
than (conj)
thank (v)
thank you (int)
thanks (n)
that (adj, conj & pron)
the (det)
theatre (n)
Let’s take the visitors to the theatre.
their (adj)
theirs (pron)
them (pron)
themselves (pron)
then (adv)
theory (n)
there (adv & pron)
Put it over there, please. (adv)
There are two photocopiers in our office. (pron)
therefore (adv)
thermometer (n)
these (adj & pron)
they (pron)
thick (adj)
thief (n)
thin (adj)
thing (n)
think (v)
thirst (n)
this (adj & pron)
those (adj & pron)
though (conj)
thought (n)
through (prep)
throughout (prep)
throw (v)
throw away (phr v)
He threw away the document by mistake.
tick (n & v)
ticket (n)
tidy (adj & v)
tie (n & v)
a shirt and tie (n)
tied with string (v)
tiger (n)
tiger economy
tight (adj)
till (conj & prep)
time (n)
timetable (n & v)
tin (n)
tin-opener (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 37
© UCLES 2006
tiny (adj)
tip (n)
tired (adj)
title (n)
to (prep)
today (adv & n)
together (adv)
toilet (n)
tomorrow (adv & n)
ton(ne) (n)
tonight (adv & n)
too (adv)
tool (n)
top (n)
topic (n)
total (n)
touch (v & n)
tour (n & v)
tourist (n)
toward(s) (prep)
tower (n)
town (n)
track (n)
trade (n & v)
trade fair (n )
trade union (n)
tradesman (n)
traditional (adj)
traffic (n & v)
traffic jam (n)
traffic light(s) (n)
train (n & v)
trainee (n)
trainers (n)
tram (n)
transfer (n & v)
translate (v)
translation (n)
transport (n & v)
transportation (n)
travel (v)
travel agent (n)
travel expenses (n)
traveller’s cheque(s) (n)
trend (n)
trial (n)
trip (n)
trouble (n)
truck (Am Eng) (n)
true (adj)
trust (n & v)
I don’t have any trust in the MD. (n)
Everyone likes and trusts her. (v)
truth (n)
try (v)
tube (n)
tunnel (n)
turn (n & v)
turn around (phr v)
He turned the company around in two years.
turn down (phr v)
turn down a radio
turn down an application
turn into (phr v)
Anna has turned into a competent and confident manager.
turn off (phr v)
Turn off the lights when you leave the office.
turn on (phr v)
He turned on the computer.
turn out (phr v)
Please turn out all the lights before leaving the building.
Things turned out quite well in the end.
turn up (phr v)
Could you turn up the air conditioning – it’s rather hot and stuffy in the office?
turning (n)
the first turning on the left
turnover (n)
an annual turnover of £1 million
TV (abbrev) television
twice (adv)
twin (n)
type (n & v)
typewriter (n)
typical (adj)
typist (n)
U
ugly (adj)
under (prep)
underground (adj & n)
understand (v)
undo (v)
uniform (n)
union (n)
a trade union
unit (n)
unit cost
factory unit
industrial unit
universe (n)
university (n)
unleaded (adj)
unless (conj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 38
© UCLES 2006
until (prep)
up (adv & prep)
up-to-date/up to date (adj & adv)
update (n & v)
upgrade (n & v)
upon (prep)
upstairs (adv)
upturn (n)
upward (adj)
urgent (adj)
us (pron)
use (n & v)
used to (v)
usual (adj)
V
vacancy (n)
vacation (n)
valid (adj)
a valid passport
a valid argument
valuable (adj)
value (n & v)
van (n)
variety (n)
various (adj)
vary (v)
vehicle (n)
venture (n)
joint venture
venue (n)
very (adj & adv)
victory (n)
video (n & v)
video recorder (n)
videotape (n)
view (n)
village (n)
virus (n)
a computer virus
visa (n)
visit (n & v)
vocabulary (n)
voice (n)
volume (n)
vote (n & v)
voyage (n)
W
W (abbrev) west
wage(s) (n)
wait (n & v)
waiting room (n)
waitress (n)
wake (up) (v)
walk (n & v)
wall (n)
wallet (n)
want (v)
war (n)
a price war
warehouse (n)
warm (adj)
warn (v)
wash (n & v)
waste ( adj, v & n)
wastepaper (basket/bin) (n)
watch (v & n)
water (n & v)
wave (n & v)
way (n)
we (pron)
weak (adj)
weakness (n)
wealth (n)
wear (v & n)
sportswear (n)
footwear (n)
childrens’ wear (n)
wear out (v)
worn out clothes/equipment
I’m worn out – I need a holiday.
weather (n)
web (n)
website (n)
• on the web
week (n)
weekday (n)
weekend (n)
weigh (v)
weight (n)
welcome (n)
welfare (n)
well (adj, adv & n)
Well done! (exclam)
well-known (adj)
well-made (adj)
west (adj, adv & n)
wet (adj)
what (pron)
whatever (pron)
wheel (n & v)
when (adv & conj)
whenever (pron)
where (adv & conj)
whereas (conj)
whether (conj)
which (pron)
while (conj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 39
© UCLES 2006
whiteboard (n)
who, whom (pron)
whole (adj)
wholesale (adj & adv)
wholesaler (n)
whose (pron)
why (adv & conj)
wide (adj & adv)
width (n)
will (v)
willing (adj)
win (n & v)
window (n)
window display (n)
wing (n)
the wing of an aeroplane •
wire (n)
wise (adj)
wish (n & v)
with (prep)
withdraw (v)
within (adv & prep)
without (prep)
witness (v & n)
woman (n)
wonder (v)
wood (n)
wooden (adj)
wool (n)
word (n)
word process (v)
word processor (n)
work (n & v)
work permit (n)
workforce (n)
working hours (n)
workman (n)
workplace (n)
workshop (n)
workstation (n)
world (n)
worldwide /world-wide (adj & adv)
worried (adj)
worry (n & v)
worth (adj)
would ('d) (v)
wrap (v)
wrap up (v)
write (v)
write down (phr v)
• I’ll write down the instructions.
write out (phr v)
• I’ll write it out again.
wrong (adj)
X
Y
yard (n)
yd (abbrev) yard
year (n)
yes (int)
yesterday (adv & n)
yet (adv)
you (pron)
young (adj & n)
your (adj)
yours (pron)
yourself (pron)
youth (n)
yr (abbrev) year
Z
zero (n)
zone (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 40
© UCLES 2006
Appendix 1
Word sets
In addition to the words in the alphabetical list, BEC Preliminary candidates are expected to know:
Cardinal numbers
one, two, three, etc.
Ordinal numbers
first, second, third, fourth, etc.
Days of the week
Monday, Tuesday, etc.
Seasons of the year
spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Countries, languages and nationalities
Names of the countries, nationalities and languages, for example: Brazil/Brazilian; Canada/Canadian; China/Chinese; France/French; Ireland/Irish; India/Indian; Italy/Italian; Spain/Spanish, etc.
Continents / Oceans
Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Antartica, Europe, Atlantic, Pacific.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 41
© UCLES 2006
Appendix 2
Affixes
The words in the alphabetical list may be extended by the use of one or more of these affixes:
mini-
with nouns, sometimes without a hyphen, e.g. minibus, mini-tour
non-
with nouns and adjectives, e.g. non-essential
re-
with verbs and their related nouns, usually without a hyphen, e.g. rename, renaming
self-
with nouns and adjectives, e.g. self-importance, self-confident
un-
negative prefix, e.g. unsafe
-able
with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. affordable
-ed (-d)
with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. limited, used
-er (-r)
with verbs, to form nouns, e.g. teacher, advertiser, shopper, also comparative forms, e.g. brighter
-ese
for nationalities/languages, e.g. Japanese
-ess
referring to a woman or female animal, e.g. princess, lioness
N.B. it is less common to refer to women in this way nowadays, and usually safer to use the ‘standard’ form e.g. actor, author
-est
superlative forms, e.g. tallest
-ful
with nouns, for amount contained, e.g. spoonful; with nouns to form adjectives denoting characteristics or qualities, e.g. painful, peaceful
-ing
with verbs, for activity or state, e.g. reading, frightening
-ish
for nationalities or languages, e.g. Swedish; with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. childish
-ist
with nouns, occupations, e.g. novelist, guitarist
-less
with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. breathless
-ly
with adjectives to form adverbs, e.g. seriously; with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. friendly
-ment
with verbs to form nouns, e.g. enjoyment
-or
with verbs to form nouns, for people, e.g. inventor
-y
with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. sunny
a.m. (before noon) (adv)
abbreviation (n)
ability (n)
able (adj)
• able to go
about (adj & prep)
• The company has about 500 employees. (adj)
• The report is about share prices. (prep)
above (adj & prep)
abroad (adv)
absence (n)
absent (adj)
accept (v)
access (n & v)
accident (n)
accommodation (n)
accompany (v)
according to (prep)
account (n)
• I’d like to open a bank account.
• Our company has an account at Transport Solutions.
accountancy (n)
accountant (n)
accounting (n)
accounts (n)
accuracy (n)
accurate (adj)
achieve (v)
acknowledge (v)
acquaintance (n)
acquire (v)
acquisition (n)
across (prep)
act (v)
action (n)
• The company has reasons for its actions.
• Industrial action has affected production.
• We need to develop an action plan.
active (adj)
activity (n)
actor (n)
actual (adj)
ad (abbrev) (advertisement or advert)
adapt (v)
add (v)
addition (n)
• In addition, I’d like to order a new printer.
• With his experience, he will be a useful addition to the team.
additional (adj)
address (n & v)
• Could I have your email address? (n)
• The MD addressed the conference. (v)
adjust (v)
administration (n)
administrative (adj)
administrator (n)
admire (v)
admission (n)
• Admission to the conference is by ticket only.
admit (v)
• He admitted there were production problems.
• This ticket admits two people to the exhibition.
adult (adj & n)
advance (n)
• Could you let me know in advance?
• I’d like to make an advance booking.
advanced (adj)
• We need someone with advanced-level word-processing skills.
advantage (n)
advert (n)
advertise (v)
advertising (n)
advice (n)
advice note (n)
advise (v)
aeroplane (n)
affair (n)
• He had a lot of important affairs to take care of.
affect (v)
afford (v)
afraid (adj)
after (prep)
after-sales service (n)
afternoon (n)
afterwards (adv)
again (adv)
against (prep)
age (n)
aged (adj)
agency (n)
• Let’s use an advertising agency.
agenda (n)
agent (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 4
© UCLES 2006
• I’ve been to the travel agent to book a flight to Hong Kong.
• He’s our agent in Japan.
ago (adv)
agree (v)
agricultural (adj)
agriculture (n)
aim (n & v)
• His aim was to become MD. (n)
• We aim to increase turnover by 5% this year. (v)
air (n)
• He’s going by air instead of by train.
air-conditioned (adj)
air-conditioning (n)
airline (n)
airmail (n)
airplane (n)
airport (n)
alarm (n)
• The bank installed a new security alarm.
alike (adv & adj)
• They think alike. (adv)
• The two products are very alike. (adj)
all (adj, adv, det & pron)
allow (v)
allowance (n)
• holiday allowance
almost (adv)
alone (adv)
along (adv & prep)
aloud (adv)
alphabet (n)
already (adv)
alright (adv/adj)
also (adv)
alternative (n & adj)
although (conj)
altogether (adv)
always (adv)
amazing (adj)
ambassador (n)
ambition (n)
ambitious (adj)
among (amongst) (prep)
amount (n)
amusing (adj)
analyse (v)
analysis (n)
and (conj)
anger (n)
angry (adj)
anniversary (n)
• The company celebrated its 50th anniversary.
announce (v)
annoy (v)
annual (adj)
annual report (n)
annual return (n)
another (adj)
answer (n & v)
answer phone (n)
antique (adj & n)
anxious (adj)
any (adj & pron)
anybody (pron)
anyhow (adv)
anyone (pron)
anything (pron)
anyway (adv)
anywhere (adv)
AOB (abbrev) Any Other Business
apart from (prep)
apartment (n) (Am Eng)
apologise (v)
apology (n)
appear (v)
appearance (n)
applicant (n)
application (n)
application form (n)
apply (v)
appoint (v)
approach (n & v)
• What approach are you going to take? (n)
• We may approach the bank for a loan. (v)
appropriate (adj)
approval (n)
approve (v)
approx. (abbrev) approximate(ly)
approximate (adj)
architect (n)
area (n)
• We’re looking for extra warehousing in the Leeds area.
• He became area manager after two years.
argue (v)
• They argued about the marketing strategy.
arithmetic (n)
around (adv & prep)
arrange (v)
arrival (n)
arrive (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 5
© UCLES 2006
art (n)
• The company buys and sells work of art.
article (n)
• The newspaper article criticised the company.
as (adv & conj)
ASAP (abbrev) as soon as possible
ashamed (adj)
ask (v)
aspect (n)
• What aspect of your work do you like most?
assembly (n)
assembly line (n)
assembly plant (n)
assembly point (n)
assess (v)
assistant (n)
associate (n & v)
association (n)
assure (v)
at (prep)
at all (prep phr)
at first (prep phr)
at last (prep phr)
at least (prep phr)
at once (prep phr)
at present (prep phr)
at the same time (prep phr)
attach (v)
attack (n & v)
attend (v)
attendance (n)
attempt (n & v)
attention (n)
attitude (n)
attract (v)
attraction (n)
attractive (adj)
audience (n)
audit (v)
author (n)
authorise (v)
authority (n)
automatic (adj)
availability (n)
available (adj)
average (adj & n)
• Can you find the average of these three numbers? (n)
• He’s not a particularly effective rep. – just average. (adj)
avoid (v)
awake (adj)
award (n & v)
• She was awarded the title ‘Businessperson of the Year’. (v)
• The court awarded damages of £5,000. (v)
• Our company won an award for exports. (n)
aware (adj)
away (adv)
• The MD’s away on business until Thursday.
• He threw away the documents by mistake.
B
back (adv & n)
• When are you going back to work? (adv)
• I gave back the laptop I had borrowed. (adv)
• The cables at the back of the computer are not connected. (n)
background (n)
backwards (adv)
bad (adj)
bag (n)
baggage (n)
balance (v & n)
• The country’s balance of payments is up this month because of increased exports. (n)
• The balance is due within two weeks. (n)
• She spent hours trying to balance the company’s accounts. (v)
• Do the books balance? (v)
balance sheet (n)
ballpoint (adj & n)
ban (v & n)
bank (n & v)
bank account (n)
bank balance (n)
bank card (n)
bank charge (n)
bank clerk (n)
bank loan (n)
bank manager (n)
bank statement (n)
bank transfer (n)
banking (n)
banknote (n)
bankrupt (v & adj)
bankruptcy (n)
bar (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 6
© UCLES 2006
• The bar chart shows sales from last year.
bargain (n & v)
• Did you get a bargain? (n)
• Bargain with him. (v)
base (n & v)
• Our customer base is rather weak. (n)
• The base rate is low so more people are borrowing. (n)
• My new job is based in central Europe. (v)
• What did you base the sales projections on? (v)
basement (n)
basic (adj)
basis (n)
basket (n)
battle (n)
• There was a boardroom battle over strategy.
bay (n)
• The factory needs another loading bay.
be (v)
beat (v)
• We can beat our competitors on quality but not price.
because (conj)
because of (adv)
become (v)
before (prep)
beg (v)
• I beg your pardon.
• I begged her not to resign.
begin (v)
behave (v)
• He always behaves in a professional manner.
behaviour (n)
behind (prep & adv)
believe (v)
• I believe we’ll win the contract.
• Do you believe in the product?
bell (n)
belong (v)
below (adv & prep)
bend (n & v)
beneath (adv & prep)
benefit (n & v)
beside (adv & prep)
between (prep & adv)
beyond (prep)
bicycle (n)
big (adj)
bike (n)
bill (Am Eng) (n)
billion (n)
biography (n)
birth (n)
• What’s her date of birth? (n)
black (adj)
• The company ended the year in the black. (n)
• The true size of the black economy cannot be known. (adj)
blame (n & v)
blank (adj & n)
• I need a blank piece of paper. (adj)
• Write the correct word in each blank. (n)
blank cheque (n)
blind (n)
• The blind needs repairing.
block (n)
• It’s opposite the office block on the corner.
blow up (phr v)
The gas heater blew up.
blue (adj)
• There’s been a decline in the number of blue-collar workers.
board (n & v)
• a noticeboard, a wooden board (n)
• on board a ship/aircraft (n)
• board a plane (v)
• a board of directors (n)
board meeting (n)
boarding card (n)
boarding pass (n)
board room (n)
boat (n)
body (n)
bold (adj)
bonus (n)
• an annual bonus
book (n & v)
• I’m reading a book on marketing at the moment. (n)
• We’d better book a flight. (v)
bookcase (n)
bookkeeping (n)
booking desk (n)
booking form (n)
booking office (n)
bookshop (n)
boost (n & v)
boot (n)
• My cases are in the boot of the car.
border (n & v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 7
© UCLES 2006
bored (adj)
boring (adj)
born (adj)
borrow (v)
boss (n)
both (adj & pron)
bottom (n & adj)
• at the bottom of the page (n)
• the bottom left-hand corner (adj)
box (n)
• I ordered three boxes of floppy disks.
• Tick the box.
brain (n)
branch (n)
• The bank has a network of branches in the North.
brand (n)
• own brand (n)
• brand name (n)
• brand-new (adj)
brave (adj)
break (n & v)
• during the (lunch) break (n)
• What time shall we break for lunch? (v)
break down (n & phr v)
• Could you let me have a breakdown of last month’s sales figures? (n)
• The packing machine has broken down. (phr v)
break in (n & phr v)
• Someone broke in to the factory and stole some equipment. (phr v)
• There was a break-in at the company’s head office. (n)
break up (phr v)
• The Lexford Group was broken up into smaller companies.
• The glass bottles are broken up before entering the recycling machine.
breakfast (n)
• Could we arrange a breakfast meeting?
brick (n)
brief (adj)
• The MD made a brief visit to the factory.
• Here is the business news in brief.
briefcase (n)
bright (adj)
brilliant (adj)
bring (v)
bring forward (phr v)
• We’ll have to bring the time of the meeting forward to 10.00 a.m.
broad (adj)
brochure (n)
brush (n & v)
B.Sc. (abbrev) (Bachelor of Science)
budget (n & v)
buffet (adj & n)
bug (n)
• This software has a bug in it.
build (v)
building (n)
bulk (n)
• Bulk purchasing has allowed us to cut costs.
bullet (n & v)
• a bullet point (n)
• Bullet point this list for the meeting. (v)
bureau (n)
• I’ll get some dollars from the foreign exchange bureau.
burglar (n)
burglary (n)
bus (n)
bus station (n)
bus stop (n)
business (n)
• He runs a business. (n)
• company business (n)
• do business (v)
• be in/on business (v)
• get down to business (phr v)
• go into business (phr v)
• go out of business (phr v)
• set up in business (phr v)
business card (n)
business hours (n)
business plan (n)
business school (n)
busy (adj)
but (conj)
button (n)
• The on/off button isn’t working properly.
buy (n & v)
• We bought 300 files. (v)
• It was a good buy. (n)
buyer (n)
by (prep)
by accident (prep phr)
by air (prep phr)
by all means (prep phr)
by car (prep phr)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 8
© UCLES 2006
by day (prep phr)
by hand (prep phr)
by land (prep phr)
by mistake (prep phr)
by name (prep phr)
by oneself (prep phr)
by post (prep phr)
by sea (prep phr)
by sight (prep phr)
by train (prep phr)
C
°C (abbrev) Centigrade, Celsius
c (abbrev) cents
c (abbrev) circa
c/o (abbrev) care of
cab (n)
cabinet (n)
• filing cabinet
cable (n)
cable television (n)
café/cafe (n)
calculate (v)
calculator (n)
calendar (n)
call (n & v)
• There was a phone call for you.
• (n)
• What’s this product called? (v)
• Mr Khan called you this morning. (v)
call for (phr v)
• I’ll call for you at 3 p.m.
call in (phr v)
• I’ll call in and see you next time I’m in town.
callbox (n)
call centre (n)
calm (adj)
camera (n)
campaign (n & v)
• The advertising campaign was very successful. (n)
• The staff campaigned for better working conditions. (v)
can (n & v)
• a can of coca-cola (n)
• Can I go now? (v)
• He can speak Japanese very well. (v)
canal (n)
cancel (v)
cancellation (n)
candidate (n)
canteen (n)
capable (adj)
capacity (n)
capital (n)
• the capital (city) of a country
• to raise capital for a business
• capital letters
car (n)
car park (n)
card (n)
• identity card
• credit card
cardboard (adj & n)
care (n & v)
• We take care of our customers. (n)
• Some customers care more about good quality than price. (v)
career (n)
cargo (n)
carpet (n)
carry (v)
• carry a case
• pipes carrying water
carry on (phr v)
• I’ll carry on working until I’m 65.
carry out (a task) (phr v)
• We’ve just carried out a survey into customer satisfaction.
• Carrying out instructions is part of the job.
case (n)
• a difficult case
• a case for my laptop
• In that case…
cash (n & v)
cash book (n)
cash desk (n)
cash flow (n)
cash machine (n)
cash price (n)
cash register (n)
cash sale (n)
cassette (n)
cassette player/recorder (n)
casual (adj)
catalogue (n)
catch (v)
category (n)
catering (adj)
cause (n & v)
cc (abbrev) carbon copy
CD (n)
CD-ROM (n)
CEO (abbrev) Chief Executive Officer
ceiling (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 9
© UCLES 2006
celebrate (v)
celebration (n)
cellar (n)
Celsius (n)
cement (n)
cent (n)
centigrade (adj)
centimetre (n)
central (adj)
central bank (n)
central heating (n)
centre (n)
century (n)
certain (adj)
• be certain of something
• a certain person
certificate (n)
chain (n)
• a chain of supermarkets
chair (n & v)
• We need new chairs for the office. (n)
• Peter is Chair of the meeting this afternoon. (n)
• The Finance Director chaired the meeting in the MD’s absence. (v)
chairman (n)
chairperson (n)
chairwoman (n)
challenge (n & v)
chance (n)
change (n & v)
• It was a big change from my previous job. (n)
• Do you have any (small) change? (n)
• He changed his idea about the
• brochure. (v)
• She changed money before going to the airport. (v)
chapter (n)
character
charge (n & v)
• His charges are too high. (n)
• How much do you charge? (v)
• in charge (of)
chart (n)
charter (n)
• a customer charter
chat (n & v)
cheap (adj)
cheat (v)
check (n & v)
• I’ll do a quick check. (n)
• Check these sums. (v)
check in (n & phr v)
• Please proceed to check-in. (n)
• check in to a hotel (phr v)
check out (phr v)
• check out of a hotel
checklist (n)
cheerful (adj)
chef (n)
chemical (adj)
• the chemical industry
chemist (n)
cheque (n)
cheque card (n)
chief (adj & n)
• the chief problem (adj)
• chief executive (n)
child (n)
choice (n)
choose (v)
circle (n)
• The chairs were arranged in a circle for the meeting.
circular (adj)
• a circular letter
• a circular table
circulate (v)
city (n)
claim (n & v)
clarify (v)
class (n)
• a class of business students (n)
• first class, second class (n)
classify (v)
classroom (n)
clean (adj & v)
clear (adj & v)
• It’s all very clear to me now what happened. (adj)
• Clear your desk before you go home. (v)
• The board decided to sell some assets in order to clear company debts. (v)
• The consignment hasn’t cleared through customs yet. (v)
• The bank requires four days to clear the cheque. (v)
clerical (adj)
clerk (n)
clever (adj)
client (n)
climate (n)
• Today’s economic climate doesn’t encourage expansion.
climb (v)
• Prices have climbed steadily.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 10
© UCLES 2006
clock (n)
close (adj & v)
close down (phr v)
• The factory has closed down.
close (to) (adj)
• My house is close to my work place.
cloth (n)
clothes (n pl)
clothing (adj)
club (n)
clue (n)
cm (abbrev) centimetres
Co (abbrev) company
co-operate (v)
co-operation (n)
co-operative (adj & n)
• He is very co-operative. (adj)
• This company is a co-operative. (n)
co-ordinate (v)
co-ordination (n)
coach (n & v)
• Because of the railway strike, he went to York by coach. (n)
• The company employs a coach. (v)
coal (n)
coast (n)
coffee (n)
coffee-shop (n)
coin (n)
cold (adj & n)
colleague (n)
collect (v)
collection (n)
colour (n & v)
combination (n)
combine (v)
come (v)
come down (phr v)
• Computers have come down in price recently.
comfort (n)
command (n & n )
• command a high price (v)
• issue a command (n)
comment (n & v)
commerce (n)
commercial (n & adj)
• a television commercial (n)
• a commercial organisation (adj)
commission (n)
• to earn commission on a sale
commit (v)
• committed to her work
• commit resources to a project
committee (n)
common (adj)
• a common event
• have something in common
communicate (v)
communication (n)
commute (v)
compact (adj)
• a compact disc (CD)
• a compact office
company (n)
compare (v)
comparison (n)
compete (v)
competition (n)
• a competition
• competition from another company
competitive (adj)
competitor (n)
complain (v)
complaint (n)
complete (v & adj)
compliment (n & v)
component (n)
composition (n)
compromise (n & v)
computer (n)
computer program(me) (n)
computer programmer (n)
concentrate (v)
concentration (n)
concern (n & v)
• The budget overspend is a matter of concern. (n)
• It doesn’t concern you. (v)
concert (n)
conclusion (n)
condition (n)
• It’s in good condition.
• under these conditions
conference (n)
confidence (n)
confident (adj)
confidential (adj)
confirm (v)
• confirm an order
confirmation (n)
• waiting for a confirmation of an order
congratulations (n & int)
connect (v)
connecting (flight) (adj)
connection (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 11
© UCLES 2006
conservative (adj)
consider (v)
consignment (n)
consist (v)
constant (adj)
• constant level
construct (v)
construction (adj)
consul (n)
consulate (n)
consult (v)
consultancy (n)
consultant (n)
consultation (n)
consumer (n)
• consumer confidence
contact (n & v)
contain (v)
content(s) (n)
contest (n & v)
continent (n)
continue (v)
contract (n & v)
• He is contracted to work 20 hours per week. (v)
• The contract is due for renewal. (n)
contribute (v)
contribution (n)
control (n & v)
• He has lost control of the budget. (n)
• We can’t control prices! (v)
convenience (n)
• convenience foods
convenient (adj)
conversation (n)
cool (adj & v)
copy (n & v)
• Have you got a copy? (n)
• Copy this letter. (v)
corner (n)
corporate (adj)
• corporate client
• corporate entertainment
• corporate business
• corporate rate(s)
correct (adj & v)
• Is this correct? (adj)
• I will correct it for you. (v)
correction (n)
correspond (v)
• correspond with someone
correspondence (n)
corridor (n)
cost (n & v)
• We have to look at all the costs. (n)
• The new equipment cost more than we planned. (v)
costing(s) (n)
cotton (n)
count (v)
country (n)
countryside (n)
couple (n)
courage (n)
courier (n)
• courier service
course (n)
• an English course
• of course
court (n)
• a law court
cover (n & v)
• Put the cover on the keyboard. (n)
• My desk is covered with papers. (v)
• insurance cover (n)
• The seminar covers various topics. (v)
crash (n & v)
• My computer has crashed again. (v)
• a stockmarket crash (n)
create (v)
creation (n)
creative (adj)
credit (n & v)
• on credit (n)
• in credit (n)
• to credit an account (v)
• credit card (n)
• credit control (n)
crime (n)
criminal (n)
criticise (v)
crop (n)
cross (adj, n & v)
• I’m very cross about the two-week delay. (adj)
• Mark the box with a cross. (n)
• If you cross the road, you’ll see our office on the corner. (v)
cross out (phr v)
crossing (n)
• a pedestrian crossing
crossroads (n)
crowd (n)
crowded (adj)
culture (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 12
© UCLES 2006
cup (n)
cupboard (n)
curious (adj)
currency (n)
current (adj)
current account (n)
curriculum (n)
curriculum vitae/CV (n)
curve (n & v)
custom (n)
customer (n)
customer base (n)
customs (n)
• go through customs
• a customs officer
• customs duty
cut (n & v)
• a cut in the number of jobs (n)
• to cut some paper (v)
• to cut costs (v)
cut back (n & phr v)
• Further financial cutbacks are expected next year. (n)
• Now the project is finished, we have to cut back on the number of staff. (phr v)
cut down (on) (phr v)
• We need to cut down on spending.
cut up (phr v)
• The budget hasn’t been cut up very fairly. (phr v)
cut-price (adj)
D
daily (adj & adv)
damage (n & v)
danger (n)
dangerous (adj)
dark (adj & n)
data (n)
data processing (n)
database (n)
date (n & v)
What’s the date today? (n)
date a letter (v)
date-stamp (n & v)
day (n)
day off (n)
deadline (n)
deadlock (n)
• The negotiations reached deadlock.
deal (n & v)
a business deal (n)
make a deal (n)
deal with someone/something (v)
deal in (v)
dear (adj & int)
too dear to buy (adj)
Dear Sir (adj)
Oh dear! (int)
debit (n & v)
debt (n)
large debts
in debt
decide (v)
decimal (adj & n)
decision (n)
decision-making (n)
declare (v)
decline (n & v)
There’s been a sharp decline in sales of the MK2 model. (n)
Profits declined sharply. (v)
decrease (n & v)
deduct (v)
deep (adj & adv)
in deep trouble (adj)
sink deep into debt (adv)
defeat (n & v)
defective (adj)
defence (n)
defend (v)
definite (adj)
degree (n)
90 degrees
(have) a degree in
delay (n & v)
delegate (n & v)
delete (v)
deletion (n)
delighted (adj)
deliver (v)
delivery (n)
demand (n & v)
demonstrate (v)
demonstration (n)
demonstration in support of someone/something
a demonstration of a new product
deny (v)
dep (abbrev) depart(s)
depart (v)
department store (n)
departure (n)
depend (v)
It depends on what you want to do.
deposit (n & v)
pay a deposit (n)
deposit money in an account (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 13
© UCLES 2006
depressed (adj)
a depressed area/industry
depression (n)
economic depression
Dept (abbrev) department
depth (n)
describe (v)
description (n)
desert (n)
design (n & v)
desk (n)
desktop (adj & n)
despatch (n & v)
despite (prep)
destination (n)
destroy (v)
detail (n)
develop (v)
diagram (n)
dial (n & v)
diary (n)
dictate (v)
dictation (n)
dictionary (n)
die (v)
differ (v)
difference (n)
different (adj)
difficult (adj)
dig (v)
digital (adj)
dining room (n)
dinner (n)
dip (n & v)
There was a dip in profits last
year. (n)
• Productivity usually dips before lunch. (v)
diploma (n)
direct (adj & v)
direct cost (n)
direct debit (n)
direct mail (n)
direct marketing (n)
direction (n)
walk in the wrong direction
read the directions on the box
directory (n)
a telephone directory
disabled (adj & n)
lifts for disabled people (adj)
the disabled (n)
disappoint (v)
discount (n & v)
discover (v)
discuss (v)
discussion (n)
disc/disk (n)
compact disc
hard disk
floppy disk
disk drive (n)
dislike (n & v)
dismiss (v)
dispatch (n & v)
display (n & v)
It was a good display. (n)
She displayed her work. (v)
distance (n)
distant (adj)
distribute (v)
distribution (n)
district (n)
disturb (v)
divide (v)
division (n)
do (v)
doctor/Dr (n)
document (n)
documentary (adj & n)
documentation (n)
dollar (n)
domestic (adj)
Domestic sales are down.
Domestic appliances are the company’s most profitable line.
door (n)
door-to-door (adj)
dotted line (n)
Sign on the dotted line, please.
double (adj & v)
Please book a double room. (adj)
Inflation doubled last year. (v)
doubt (n & v)
down (adj, adv & prep)
• Our computer system’s down. (adv)
• Sales of all our products are down. (adj)
• Prices have gone down. (adv)
• His office is down the corridor on the left. (prep)
downstairs (adv)
downturn (n)
downward (adj)
dozen (n)
drama (n)
dramatic (adj)
a dramatic increase
a dramatic rise
dramatically (adv)
Sales increased dramatically.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 14
© UCLES 2006
draw (v)
drawer (n)
dream (n & v)
dress (n & v)
drink (n & v)
drive (n & v)
driving licence (n)
drop (n & v)
There’s been a big drop in the number of workers. (n)
You’ve dropped your papers. (v)
drug(s) (n)
a multinational drugs company
dry (adj & v)
dry cleaning (n)
DTP (abbrev) desktop publishing
due (adv & adj)
The next payment is due in five days. (adv)
due to rising costs (adj)
due date (adj)
The plane is due at… (adv)
The train is due to arrive. (adj)
due to (prep phrase)
• The fall in sales was due to the difficult economic climate.
dull (adj)
duplicate (n & v)
during (prep)
duty (n)
pay duty on imported goods
duty-free goods
office duties
DVD (n)
E
E (abbrev) east
each (adj & pron)
• I have a business engagement on that day. (n)
eager (adj)
early (adj & adv)
go to work early (adv)
in the early 1990s (adj)
the early stages of negotiation (adj)
earn (v)
earnings (n pl)
east (adj, adv & n)
eastern (adj)
easy (adj)
eat (v)
e-commerce (n)
economic (adj)
economic growth
the economic situation
economical (adj)
economics (n)
economy (n)
edge (n)
educate (v)
education (n)
effect (n)
effective (adj)
efficient (adj)
effort (n)
e.g. (abbrev) for example, for instance
either (conj)
elect (v)
election (n)
electric (adj)
electrical (adj)
electricity (n)
electronic (adj)
electronic mail (n)
electronics (n)
elementary (adj)
elevator (Am Eng) (n)
else (adv)
email (n & v)
embarrass (v)
embassy (n)
emergency (n)
employ (v)
employee (n)
employment agency (n)
empty (adj & v)
enable (v)
enclose (v)
encourage (v)
end (n & v)
energy
engaged (adj)
• The phone was engaged.
engagement (n)
engine (n)
engineer (n)
engineering (n)
English (adj & n)
enjoy (v)
enormous (adj)
enough (adj, adv & n)
enquire (v)
enquiry (n)
enrol (v)
ensure (v)
enter (v)
entertain (v)
enthusiasm (n)
enthusiastic (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 15
© UCLES 2006
entire (adj)
entrance (n)
entry (v)
envelope (n)
environment (n)
environmental (adj)
equal (adj & v)
equip (v)
escalator (n)
escape (n & v)
especially (adv)
essential (adj)
establish (v)
estimate (n & v)
• The estimate for repairs was low. (n)
• We estimated the costs. (v)
expert (n)
EU (abbrev) European Union
exchange (v)
explanation (n)
Euro (n)
even (adv)
• Demand for our new product has exploded.
• He couldn’t even do that.
event (n)
explore (v)
ever (adv)
every (adj)
everybody (n)
everyone (n)
everything (n)
everywhere (adv)
exact (adj)
exam (abbrev) examination
examination (n)
examine (v)
example (n)
exceed (v)
excellent (adj)
except (prep & conj)
excess (n)
• excess capacity (n)
exchange (v & n)
exchange controls (n)
exchange rate (n)
excited (adj)
exciting (adj)
exclude (v)
excluding (prep)
excuse (n & v)
executive (n & adj)
exercise (n & v)
exhibit (n & v)
exhibition (n)
• a trade exhibition
exist (v)
exit (n)
expand (v)
expansion (n)
• economic expansion
expect (v)
expectation (n)
• an expectation of high growth
expenditure (n)
expense(s) (n)
• the expense of hiring staff
• to claim for travel expenses
expensive (adj)
experience (n)
experienced (adj)
experiment (n & v)
• The experiment was interesting. (n)
• They experimented with new materials. (v)
explain (v)
explode (v)
export (n & v)
express (adj & v)
• an express train (adj)
• express delivery (adj)
• express an idea (v)
• express an opinion (v)
• express an interest in (v)
extend (v)
extension (n)
What is your extension number?
external (adj)
extra (adj & adv)
extraordinary (adj)
extremely (adv)
eye (n)
F
ºF (abbrev) Farenheit
facilities (n pl)
• Leisure facilities
• The hotel has excellent facilities.
• staff facilities
facing (v & prep)
fact (n)
factor (n)
factory (n)
fail (v)
failure (n)
faint (adj)
• a faint line
fair (adj & n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 16
© UCLES 2006
• The way of calculating bonus payments is not fair. (adj)
• The sales figures were only fair. (adj)
• The trade fair usually takes place in May. (n)
faithfully (adv)
• Yours faithfully
fall (n & v)
• There was a sharp fall in profits. (n)
• Share prices were falling very quickly. (v)
false (adj)
• a false statement
family (n)
famous (adj)
fan (n)
• The fan isn’t working.
fantastic (adj)
far (adv)
fare (n)
• The return fare is £252.
fashion (n)
fast (adj & adv)
fasten (v)
fault (n)
• It’s John’s fault that the report is late.
• There’s a technical fault.
favourite (adj & n)
fax (n & v)
fax machine (n)
fear (n & v)
fee (n)
feedback (n)
feel (v)
feel like (v)
female (n & adj)
ferry (n)
festival (v)
fetch (v)
few (adj)
fiction (n)
• Sales of non-fiction have increased.
field (n)
• in the field of engineering
fight (n & v)
figure (n)
• the figure 6
• sales figures
file (n & v)
• Could you get me the file on Unicorn Holdings? (n)
• Could you file the papers from this morning’s meeting? (v)
filing cabinet (n)
fill (v)
• fill something to the top
fill in (phr v)
• I must fill in this form.
fill up (phr v)
• We’ll fill up the car with petrol before we leave.
film (n & v)
final (adj)
final demand (n)
finalise (v)
finance (n & v)
financial (adj)
financial advisor (n)
financial year (n)
find (v)
find out (phr v)
• I must find out when Mr Tanaka is arriving.
fine (adj, n & v)
finish (n & v)
fire (n & v)
• Fire completely destroyed an old warehouse. (n)
• There was a small fire at the factory. (n)
• The company has a ‘hire and fire’ approach. (n)
• He was fired for not meeting sales targets. (v)
fire alarm (n)
firm (adj & n)
• a firm offer (adj)
• a good firm to work for (n)
first (adj, adv, n & pron)
• Fill in your first name. (adj)
• first aid (n)
• first of all (adv)
• He was the first to draw attention to the mistake. (pron)
• Could you do the filing first? (adv)
fit (adj & v)
• He fitted into the team very well. (v)
• Her main business was a keep-fit centre. (adj)
fitness (n & adj)
• fitness centre (n)
• health and fitness sector (n)
fix (v)
• Could you fix the shelf to the wall?
• She managed to fix the broken photocopier.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 17
© UCLES 2006
• My PA has fixed a date for the meeting.
fixed cost (n)
fixed-term contract (n)
flag (n)
flat (adj & n)
fleet (n)
a fleet of trucks/cars/ships
flexible (adj)
flexibility (n)
flight (n)
direct flight
non-stop flight
flip chart (n)
float (v)
float a new company/shares
flood (n & v)
floor (n)
floppy disk (n)
flotation (n)
flotation on the Stock Exchange
flowchart (n)
fluctuate (v)
fluctuation (n)
fly (v)
focus (n & v)
fold (n & v)
follow (v)
following (adj & prep)
• The following people are needed at the presentation. (adj)
• Following the meeting, he made changes to the report. (prep)
fond (adj)
food (n)
Food is becoming more expensive.
The fast-food sector is growing.
foot/feet (n)
six foot/feet tall
at the foot of the page
for (prep)
forbid (v)
force (n & v)
• market forces (n)
• I was forced to resign. (v)
forecast (n & v)
• We forecast a growth in this sector. (v)
• The sales forecast is very positive. (n)
foreign (adj)
foreign currency (n)
foreign exchange (n)
foreigner (n)
foreman (n)
forget (v)
forgetful (adj)
forgive (v)
form (n & v)
fill in a form (n)
order form (n)
to form a company (v)
formal (adj)
former (adj)
fortnight (n)
fortunate (adj)
forward (v)
forward(s) (adv)
founder (n)
free (adj)
free gift (n)
free market (n)
free sample (n)
free trade (n)
freelance (adj & v)
freeze (n & v)
a price freeze (n)
to freeze prices (v)
freight (n & v)
frequent (adj)
fresh (adj)
fridge (n)
friend (n)
frighten (v)
from (prep)
front (adj & n)
fuel (n)
full (adj)
full-time (adj)
full time (adv)
fun (n)
function (n & v)
fund (n & v)
funding (n)
funny (adj)
furnish (v)
furniture (n)
future (adj & n)
G
gain (n & v)
gallery (n)
an art gallery
gallon (n)
game (n)
gap (n)
garage (n)
gas (n)
She works as an engineer in the oil and gas industry.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 18
© UCLES 2006
•
Could you put some gas in the car? (Am Eng)
gate (n)
general (adj)
generous (adj)
gentle (adj)
gentleman (n)
• Ladies and gentlemen
genuine (adj)
geography (n)
get (v)
get along with (phr v)
I get along quite well with my boss.
get around (phr v)
We’ve got around that problem.
get back (phr v)
When did you get back from New York?
get down (phr v)
Can you get down from the ladder?
Did you manage to get all the notes down?
get in (phr v)
Can visitors get in through the staff entrance?
get into/out of (phr v)
She got into/out of the taxi.
get off (phr v)
We get off at the next stop.
get on (phr v)
How is the business getting on?
Get your coat on and then we can leave.
get on with (phr v)
How are you getting on with the report?
Do you get on well with your colleagues?
get rid of (phr v)
• Could you get rid of these old files?
get up (phr v)
What time did you get up this morning?
gift (n)
gift voucher (n)
girl (n)
give (v)
give in (phr v)
Have you given in last month’s sales figures yet?
He gave in to their demands.
give out (phr v)
Will you give out these papers for me, please?
give up (phr v)
David is planning to give up his job and go freelance.
glad (adj)
glance (n & v)
I’ve glanced at the figures. (v)
glass (n & adj)
glasses (n pl)
global (adj)
global market
go (v)
go down (phr v)
Sales went down last year.
go for (phr v)
He went for the job.
go off (phr v)
He went off to work in Australia.
Suddenly the lights went off.
The alarm went off.
go on (phr v)
The meeting went on until six o’clock.
What’s going on?
The lights suddenly went on.
go out (phr v)
The fire has gone out.
We’re going out with a new client this evening.
go with (phr v)
• The new colours don’t go with our company image.
goal (n)
• career goals
gold (adj & n)
gold watch (adj)
made of gold (n)
good (adj)
goodbye (int)
goods (n pl)
govern (v)
grade (n & v)
We need high grade oil. (n)
What grade is the job? (n)
Staff were re-graded. (v)
gradual (adj)
graduate (n & v)
He’s a maths graduate. (n)
She graduated in 2001. (v)
graduation (n)
gram(me) (n)
grammar (n)
grant (n & v)
He was given a grant to study new management methods. (n)
The MD granted his request to attend the conference. (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 19
© UCLES 2006
graph (n)
graphics (n)
grateful (adj)
great (adj)
green (adj)
a green policy
greet (v)
grey (adj)
a grey area
the grey economy
gross (adj)
a gross profit
gross weight
ground (adj & n)
group (n & v)
The group was large. (n)
Trainees are grouped together for discussion activities. (v)
grow (v)
Profits grew very quickly last year.
It’s a fast-growing company.
They wanted to grow their company/business/profits/sales.
growth (n)
guarantee (n & v)
guard (n & v)
guess (n & v)
guest (n)
guest-house (n)
guide (n & v)
He has experience as a tour
guide. (n)
I’ll guide you around the factory. (v)
guilty (adj)
gymnasium (n)
H
habit (n)
hair (n)
half (adj, adv & n)
hall (n)
hallo/hello (exclam)
hand (n & v)
shake hands (n)
He handed the book to her. (v)
second-hand
on hand
in hand
by hand
to hand
hand in (phr v)
Could you hand in your report tomorrow.
hand out (phr v)
Can you hand out the minutes of the last meeting?
handbag (n)
handbook (n)
handle (n & v)
The door handle is broken. (n)
The goods were damaged because they were handled roughly. (v)
She handles telephone enquiries. (v)
He handled the situation badly. (v)
handwriting (n)
hang (v)
He decided to hang the calendar on the wall.
hang up (phr v)
She hung up at the end of the phone call.
happen (v)
happy (adj)
harbour (n)
The harbour is being extended due to an increase in shipping.
hard (adj & adv)
hardly (adv)
There was hardly any time.
He could hardly wait.
hardware (n)
hardware store
computer hardware
hate (v)
have (v)
have got (v)
have to (v)
he (pron)
head (n & v)
at the head of the company (n)
the head of marketing (n)
head a team/group (v)
headgear (n)
head office (n)
headline (n)
headquarters (n)
health (n)
health and safety (n)
hear (v)
heart (n)
in the heart of the city
the heart of the problem
heat (n & v)
Water retains heat longer than air. (n)
The market is overheated. (v)
heating (n)
heavy (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 20
© UCLES 2006
height (n)
helicopter (n)
hello/hallo (exclam)
help (n & v)
helpdesk (n)
helpline (n)
her (adj & pron)
here (adv)
hers (pron)
herself (pron)
hi-fi (n)
hi(gh)-tec(h) (adj)
hidden (adj)
hidden agenda
hidden profits
hide (v)
high (adj, adv & n)
highway (n) (Am Eng)
hill (n)
him (pron)
himself (pron)
hire (n & v)
hire a car (v)
for hire (n)
a ‘hire and fire’ approach (n)
hire more staff (v)
his (adj & pron)
history (n)
hit (n & v)
• a hit on a website (n)
• hit sales targets (v)
hobby (n)
hold (v)
hold up (n & phr v)
• He was held up in heavy traffic for over two hours. (phr v)
• There was a hold-up at customs. (n)
hole (n)
holiday (n)
home (adv & n)
honest (adj)
hope (n & v)
horrible (adj)
hospitality (n)
host (n)
hot (adj)
hotel (n)
hour (n)
hourly rate (n)
hourly fee (n)
house (n)
how (adv)
how do you do? (int)
how much (adv)
however (adv)
huge (adj)
human (n & adj)
hundred (n)
hurry (n & v)
hr (abbrev) hour
I
I (pron)
ice (n)
idea (n)
identity (n)
identity card
ID (abbrev) Identity
i.e. (abbrev) that is to say
if (conj)
ill (adj)
illegal (adj)
illness (n)
image (n)
imagination (n)
imagine (v)
immediate (adj)
immigration (n)
import (v)
import duty (n)
importance (n)
important (adj)
impossible (adj)
impress (v)
impression (n)
impressive (adj)
improve (v)
in(s) (abbrev) inch(es)
in (adv & prep)
in a hurry (prep phr)
in advance (prep phr)
in any case (prep phr)
in case of (prep phr)
in case of fire
in case of delays
in charge (of) (prep phr)
in danger (prep phr)
in debt (prep phr)
in difficulties (prep phr)
in fact (prep phr)
in front of (prep phr)
in general (prep phr)
in half (prep phr)
in ink (prep phr)
in order (prep phr)
in order to (prep phr)
in pencil (prep phr)
in pieces (prep phr)
in place (prep phr)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 21
© UCLES 2006
in private (prep phr)
in public (prep phr)
in secret (prep phr)
in sight (prep phr)
in stock (prep phr)
in the end (prep phr)
in time (prep phr)
in town (prep phr)
in turn (prep phr)
incentive (n)
inch (n)
include (v)
including (prep)
income (n)
inconvenience (n)
inconvenient (adj)
incorrect (adj)
increase (n & v)
indeed (adv)
independent (adj)
index (n)
index of a book
indicate (v)
indication (n)
individual (adj & n)
indoor (adj)
indoors (adv)
industrial (adj)
industry (n)
the steel industry
inflation (n)
influence (n & v)
She was a bad influence on the other staff. (n)
Her first boss greatly influenced her. (v)
inform (v)
information (n)
informal (adj)
information technology (IT) (n)
inhabitant (n)
in-house (adj & adv)
injure (v)
injury (n)
ink (n)
innovation (n)
innovative (adj)
inquiry (n)
inside (adv, prep & adj)
insist (v)
inspect (v)
inspection (n)
install (v)
installation (n)
instalment (n)
by instalments
instalment plan
instance (n)
instead (adv)
instead of (adv)
instructions (n)
instructor (n)
insurance (n)
insurance policy (n)
insure (v)
intelligent (adj)
intend (v)
interest (n & v)
interest rate (n)
intermediate (adj)
internal (adj)
internal promotion
internal correspondence
international (adj)
internet (n)
interpret (v)
interrupt (v)
interval (n)
interview (v)
into (prep)
introduce (v)
introduction (n)
introductory (adj)
invent (v)
invention (n)
invest (v)
invitation (n)
invite (v)
invoice (n & v)
involve (v)
iron (n)
made of iron
island (n)
issue (n & v)
issue of a magazine (n)
issues about pay (n)
to issue a statement (v)
IT (abbrev) Information Technology
it (pron)
item (n)
Several items were damaged during transportation.
The first item will be a discussion of the recent sales figures.
its (pron)
itself (pron)
J
jealous (adj)
jet (plane) (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 22
© UCLES 2006
go by jet
job (n)
job description (n)
job satisfaction (n)
job security (n)
join (v)
I joined the company last year.
joint (adj)
joint venture
joke (n)
journal (n)
journalist (n)
journey (n)
judge (n & v)
jump (n & v)
There’s been a big jump in
prices. (n)
Share prices have jumped by 200%. (v)
junction (n)
just (adv)
K
keen (adj)
I’m not keen on the new product.
He’s keen to increase sales.
keep (v)
Costs keep rising.
keep on (phr v)
They kept on advertising even though profits were falling.
keep up (phr v)
Keep up the good work!
He has to keep up with new technological developments.
key (n & adj)
key to a lock (n)
key to success (n)
This is a key post. (adj)
key in (phr v)
• She keyed in the data very quickly.
keyboard (n)
computer keyboard
kg (abbrev) kilogram
kilo/kilogram/kilogramme (n)
km (abbrev) kilometer/kilometre
kilometre (n)
kph (abbrev) kilometres per hour
kind (adj & n)
My boss is a very kind person. (adj)
What kind of work do you do? (n)
kiosk (n)
kitchen (n)
knock (n & v)
knock down (phr v)
They knocked down the building to make way for the new road.
know (v)
knowledge (n)
L
label (n & v)
lab (abbrev) laboratory
laboratory (n)
labour (n)
manual labour
the labour market
lack (n & v)
ladder (n)
career ladder
lady (n)
Ladies and Gentlemen…
lamp (n)
land (n & v)
landlady (n)
landlord (n)
language (n)
laptop (n)
large (adj)
laser (n)
laser disk (n)
laser printer (n)
last (adj, adv & v)
late (adj)
later (adv)
laugh (n & v)
launch (v & n)
The company is holding a product launch for the XPL2. (n)
We are launching a new service. (v)
laundry (n)
The hotel has a laundry service.
lavatory (n)
law (n)
lawyer (n)
lay (v)
layout (n)
office layout
page layout
lazy (adj)
lb (abbrev) pound weight
lead (v)
Where does this road lead?
We lead the market in computer games.
leader (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 23
© UCLES 2006
•
J & K Electrics are the market leaders.
leadership (n)
leading (adj)
a leading brand
leaflet (n)
learn (v)
least (adj & adv)
the least amount (adj)
at least (adv)
leave (n & v)
leave out (phr v)
He left out several important facts from his report.
lecture (n & v)
left (n, adj & adv)
legal (adj)
leisure (n)
leisure industry (n)
lend (v)
length (n)
less (adj, adv & pron)
lesson (n)
let (v)
Her boss wouldn’t let her attend the conference.
I’m going to let my house for six months.
let’s (v)
Let’s finish the meeting early.
letter (n)
letter-box (n)
level (adj & n)
level off (phr v)
Growth in the economy has levelled off.
level out (phr v)
Sales have started to level out.
liberal (adj)
a liberal style of management
library (n)
licence (n)
an export licence
lie (n & v)
life (n)
shelf life
lifestyle (n)
lift (n & v)
Can you give me a lift, please? (n)
The lift is going up. (n)
Please help me lift this package. (v)
light (adj, n & v)
like (prep & v)
likely (adj)
limit (n & v)
limited company (Ltd.) (n)
line (n)
the production line
lines on a page
railway line
line manager (n)
link (n & v)
• internet link (n)
• The computers are linked to a
server. (v)
liquid (n & adj)
list (n & v)
listen (v)
litre (n)
little (adj & pron)
live (v & adj)
living (adj)
cost of living
load (n & v)
The load was heavy. (n)
Load the goods onto the lorry. (v)
loan (n)
local (adj)
locate (v)
location (n)
lock (n & v)
locker (n)
logo (n)
lonely (adj)
long (adj)
long-term/long term (adj & n)
• in the long term (n)
• a long-term strategy (adj)
look (n & v)
look after (phr v)
Who’s looking after the packaging?
look ahead (phr v)
look forward to (phr v)
I look forward to seeing you.
look like (phr v)
The new model looks just like the old one.
look out (phr v)
Look out or you’ll have an accident.
look up (phr v)
Look up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.
loose (adj)
lorry (n)
lose (v)
loss (n)
lost property (n)
lot (n)
loud (adj)
lounge (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 24
© UCLES 2006
love (n & v)
low (adj, n & adv)
lower (v)
loyal (adj)
loyal staff
loyalty (n)
• customer loyalty
luck (n)
luggage (n)
lunch (n)
lunchtime (n)
luxury (n & adj)
M
m (abbrev) metre
MA (abbrev) Masters degree
machine (n)
machinery (n)
mad (adj)
madam (n)
Dear Sir/Madam
magazine (n)
mail (n)
mailbox (Am Eng) (n)
mail order (n)
mailing list (n)
mailshot (n)
main (adj)
maintain (v)
maintenance (n)
major (adj)
major client
major exports
majority (n)
make (n & v)
make up (n & v)
male (adj & n)
man (n)
manage (v)
manage a business
manage to do something
managerial (adj)
managing director (MD) (n)
manner (n)
manual (adj)
manufacture (n & v)
many (adj & pron)
map (n)
margin (n)
profit margin
mark (n & v)
market (n & v)
There’s a good market for fax machines here. (n)
She bought some flowers from the market. (n)
They marketed their goods overseas. (v)
market leader (n)
market research (n)
market share (n)
market value (n)
marketplace (n)
marketing (n)
I’ve applied for a job in marketing.
married (adj)
mass (adj)
mass market (n)
mass media (n)
mass-produce (v)
mass production (n)
master (v)
match (n & v)
The agency matches staff to vacancies. (v)
It’s important to find a job which matches your skills. (v)
The two companies in the merger are a good match. (n)
mate (n)
a workmate
material (n)
training material(s)
construction materials
raw materials
mathematics (n)
maths (abbrev) mathematics
matter (n & v)
Is anything the matter? (n)
It doesn’t matter. (v)
mature (adj)
mature attitude
mature student
mature investment
mature sector of the market
max (abbrev) maximum
maximum (adj & n)
may (v)
maybe (adv)
MBA (abbrev) Masters in Business Administration
MD (abbrev) Managing Director (n)
me (pron)
meal (n)
mean (v)
What do you mean?
What does it mean?
meaning (n)
means (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 25
© UCLES 2006
•
Use whatever means you like but sell the product.
measure (v)
measure the length of something
mechanic (n)
media (n)
medicine (n)
medium (adj)
meet (v)
Could we meet on Thursday morning?
Pleased to meet you!
Are we meeting the needs of consumers?
member (n)
membership (n)
memo (abbrev) memorandum
memorandum (n)
memory (n)
have a good/poor memory
computer memory
mend (v)
mend a faulty machine
mention (n & v)
menu (n)
merge (v)
message (n)
metal (n)
method (n)
production methods
metre (n)
microphone (n)
midday (n)
middle (adj & n)
middle-aged (adj)
middle management (n)
midnight (n)
might (v)
mild (adj)
mile (n)
millimetre (n)
mind (n & v)
His mind was on other things. (n)
Would you mind if I postponed the meeting? (v)
Who’s minding the machine for you? (v)
Mind your head! (v)
mine (pron)
mineral (adj)
mineral water (n)
min (abbrev) minimum
minimum (adj & n)
minor (adj)
minus (conj)
min (abbrev) minute
minute (n)
minutes (n & pl)
the minutes of the meeting
misc (abbrev) miscellaneous
miscellaneous (adj)
miserable (adj)
miss (n & v)
mistake (n)
misunderstand (v)
mix (n & v)
mixture (n)
mobile (adj & n)
I need a new mobile (phone).
He isn’t mobile at the moment.
model (adj & n)
It’s cheap because it’s last year’s model. (n)
She’s a model employee. (adj)
modern (adj)
moment (n)
money (n)
monopoly (n)
month (n)
more (adj, adv & pron)
morning (n)
most (adj, adv & pron)
motivate (v)
motivation (n)
motor (n)
motorbike (n)
motorcycle (n)
motorway (n)
mountain (n)
a mountain of paperwork
mouse (n)
The mouse on my computer isn’t working.
move (n & v)
movie (Am Eng) (n)
mph (abbrev) miles per hour
Mr (n)
Mrs (n)
Ms (n)
much (adj, adv & pron)
multinational (adj & n)
multiply (v)
multiply 14 by 2
music (n)
musical (adj & n)
musician (n)
must (v)
my (pron & adj)
myself (pron)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 26
© UCLES 2006
N
N (abbrev) north
name (n & v)
narrow (adj)
national (adj)
nationality (n)
nationwide (adj)
natural (adj)
nature (n)
NB (abbrev) note well
NE (abbrev) north east
NW (abbrev) north west
near (adv & prep)
neat (adj)
necessary (adj)
need (n & v)
negative (adj)
•
neighbourhood (n)
negative attitude
negotiable (adj)
negotiate (v)
negotiation (n)
neighbour (n)
neither (adj & pron)
nervous (adj)
net (n & adj)
have a net income of £20,000 a year (adj)
network (v & n)
to network computers (v)
a computer network (n)
network of agents (n)
networking (n)
never (adv)
new (adj)
news (n)
newsagent (n)
newsletter (n)
newspaper (n)
next (adj, adv & pron)
next to (prep)
nice (adj & adv)
night (n)
nil (n)
no (adv)
no. (abbrev) number (n)
no one (n)
nobody (n & pron)
noise (n)
none (n, adj & pron)
nor (conj)
neither management nor workers
Nor do I.
normal (adj)
north (adj, adv, & n)
north east (adj & n )
north west (adj & n)
not/n’t (adv)
not at all (adv)
note (n & v)
notebook (n)
notepad (n)
notepaper (n)
nothing (n & pron)
notice (n & v)
notice-board (n)
now (adv)
nowadays (adv)
nowhere (adv)
nr (abbrev) near
nuclear (adj)
number (n)
nylon (adj & n)
O
o’clock (adj & adv)
object (n & v)
objective (n)
observe (v)
obtain (v)
occupation (n)
occur (v)
of (prep)
of course (adv)
off (adv & prep)
offer (n & v)
office (n)
officer (n)
official (adj & n)
often (adv)
OHP (abbrev) overhead projector
OHT (abbrev) overhead transparency
oil (n & v)
OK/O.K./okay (int, adj & adv)
old (adj)
omit (v)
on (adv & prep)
on a journey (prep phr)
on a visit (prep phr)
on business (prep phr)
on fire (prep phr)
on foot (prep phr)
on holiday (prep phr)
on sale (prep phr)
on time (prep phr)
once (adv or adj)
one (n & pron)
one-way (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 27
© UCLES 2006
oneself (pron)
online/on-line (adv & adj)
only (adj & adv)
onto (prep)
open (adj & v)
opening hours (n)
operate (v)
They operate from an old warehouse.
Shall I show you how to operate the machine?
operation (n)
opinion (n)
opportunity (n)
oppose (v)
opposite (adj, n & prep)
option (n)
or (conj)
order (conj, n & v)
order form (n)
ordinary (adj)
organisation (n)
organise (v)
original (adj)
originality (n)
other (adj & pron)
ought (v)
ounce (n)
our (adj)
ours (pron)
ourselves (pron)
out (adv)
out of (prep)
out of date (prep phr)
out of doors (prep phr)
out of order (prep phr)
out of stock (prep phr)
out of work (prep phr)
outdoor (adj)
outdoors (adv)
outlet (n)
output (n & v)
outside (adv, n & prep)
oval (adj)
over (adv & prep)
overall (adj)
overalls (n)
overdraft (n)
overdrawn (adj)
overheads (n)
overnight (adj & adv)
overseas (adj & adv)
overtake (v)
overtime (n)
owe (v)
own (adj & v)
own brand (n)
P
p (abbrev) pence
PA (abbrev) Personal Assistant
pa (abbrev) per annum
pc (abbrev) personal computer
p./pp. (abbrev) page/pages
pack (n & v)
package (n & v)
packaging (n)
packet (n)
packing (n)
packing department
page (n)
paid leave (n)
paint (n & v)
pair (n)
paper (n)
paperclip (n)
paperwork (n)
paragraph (n)
parcel (n)
pardon (n)
Pardon?
park (n & v)
parking (n)
parliament (n)
part (n)
part-time/part time (adj & adv)
participant (n)
participate (v)
participation (n)
particular (adj)
a particular problem
partner (n)
party (n)
pass (n & v)
• security pass (n)
passenger (n)
passport (n)
past (adj, n & prep)
path (n)
patient (adj)
pattern (n)
pause (n & v)
pavement (n)
pay (n & v)
payroll (n)
peace (n)
peak (n & v)
pen (n)
pence (n)
pencil (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 28
© UCLES 2006
pension (n)
people (n pl)
per (prep)
per annum (adv)
per cent (%) (adj, adv & n)
percentage (n)
perfect (adj)
perform (v)
The company is performing well.
performance (n)
a strong performance on the stock market
perhaps (adv)
period (n)
I will be away for the whole period of her visit.
The period before the break has been cancelled.
the beginning/middle/whole/end of the period
permanent (adj)
permission (n)
permit (v & n)
person (n)
personal assistant (n)
personal computer (n)
personality (n)
personnel (n)
personnel management (n)
persuade (v)
petrol (n)
petrol station (n)
petty cash (n)
pharmaceutical (adj)
• the pharmaceutical industry
pharmacy (n)
phase (n)
phone (n & v)
photocopier (n)
photocopy (n & v)
photograph (n & v)
photography (n)
pick (v)
pick up (phr v)
• I’ll pick you up from the airport.
picture (n)
piece (n)
pile (n & v)
pilot (n)
pin (n & v)
drawing pins (n)
pin something to the notice-board. (v)
pipe (n)
a water pipe
pity (n)
What a pity!
place (n & v)
plain (adj)
It’s plain to me.
plain blue
plan (n & v)
plane (n)
planning (n)
plant (n & v)
The firm has made huge investment in new plant. (n)
A strike at the new manufacturing plant held up production. (n)
Farmers need to plant crops this month. (v)
plastic (adj & n)
platform (n)
play (n & v)
plc (abbrev) public limited company pleasant (adj)
please (int & v)
Come in, please. (int)
He tried hard to please his boss. (v)
pleasure (n)
plenty (adj & pron)
plug (n)
electric plug
plug in (phr v)
• The photocopier isn’t plugged in.
plus (conj)
pm (adv)
pocket (n)
point (n & v)
point of view (n)
police (n)
police station (n)
policy (n)
polite (adj)
political (adj)
politician (n)
politics (n)
pollution (n)
pool (n)
The company sells swimming pools.
poor (adj)
She is very poor and earns hardly any money at all.
He’s rather poor at maths.
popular (adj)
population (n)
port (n)
portable (adj)
porter (n)
position (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 29
© UCLES 2006
positive (adj)
possibility (n)
possible (adj)
post (n & v)
post office (n)
postage (n)
postcard (n)
postcode (n)
poster (n)
postman (n)
postpone (v)
potential (n & adj)
pound (n)
pour (v)
power (n)
PR (abbrev) Public Relations
practice (n)
•
The exercises in the book provide plenty of practice.
out of practice
good business practice
practise (v)
praise (n & v)
precious (adj)
predict (v)
prediction (n)
prefer (v)
preference (n)
preliminary (adj)
premises (n)
preparation (n)
prepare (v)
prescription (n)
present (adj, n & v)
presentation (n)
president (n)
press (n & v)
pretty (adj & adv)
prevent (v)
previous (adj)
price (n & v)
price list (n)
primary (adj)
of primary importance
prime minister (n)
principal (n & adj)
college principal (n)
principal activity (adj)
print (n & v)
printout (n)
priority (n)
private (adj)
prize (n)
probable (adj)
problem (n)
procedure (n)
process (n & v)
produce (n & v)
product (n)
production (n)
productive (adj)
productivity (n)
profession (n)
professional (adj & n)
professor (n)
profile (n & v)
profit (n)
profit margin
profit level
profitability (n)
profitable (adj)
programme (n & v)
progress (n)
project (n)
promise (n & v)
promote (v)
promotion (n)
promotional (adj)
prompt (adj)
pronounce (v)
pronunciation (n)
proof (n)
proofread (v)
proper (adj)
property (n)
proportion (n)
proposal (n)
We all listened to her proposal.
propose (v)
propose an idea
protect (v)
protection (n)
proud (adj)
prove (v)
provide (v)
PS (abbrev) postscript
PTO (abbrev) please turn over
public (adj & n)
public holiday (n)
public limited company (n)
public opinion (n)
public relations (PR) (n)
publication (n)
publicise (v)
publicity (n)
publish (v)
pull (n & v)
punctual (adj)
punish (v)
pupil (n)
purchase (n & v)
pure (adj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 30
© UCLES 2006
purpose (n & adj)
push (n & v)
put (v)
put away (phr v)
Put the file away before you leave.
put back (phr v)
The meeting was put back until Wednesday.
put down (phr v)
She put her name down for the conference.
put off (phr v)
Let’s put the meeting off until next week.
put on (phr v)
Could you put on the light?
put out (phr v)
He put out the light.
put through (phr v)
• Could you put me through to the Finance Director?
put up (phr v)
Petrol companies are putting up their prices next week.
Q
qualification (n)
qualify (v)
qualify as an accountant
qualify for a discount
quality (n)
quality control (n)
quality controller (n)
quantity (n)
quarrel (n & v)
quarter (n)
quay (n)
query (n & v)
question (n & v)
questionnaire (n)
queue (n & v)
quick (adj)
quiet (adj)
quite (adv)
quiz (n)
quotation (n)
• The quotation is higher than expected. (n)
quote (n & v)
Could you quote me a price for printing 1,000 brochures? (v)
The quote hasn’t come in yet. (n)
R
race (n & v)
radio (n)
rail (n)
railway (n)
raise (n & v)
range (n & v)
rank (n & v)
a taxi rank (n)
Wavell & Arnold plc ranks in the top 100 companies. (v)
rapid (adj)
rare (adj)
rate (n)
rather (adv)
Rd (abbrev) road
re (abbrev) regarding
reach (v)
react (v)
reaction (n)
read (v)
ready (adj)
real (adj)
realise (v)
rearrange (v)
reason (n)
receipt (n)
receive (v)
receiver (n)
telephone receiver
recent (adj)
reception (n)
reception desk in a hotel or an office
a business reception for delegates
receptionist (n)
reclaim (v)
recognise (v)
recommend (v)
recommendation (n)
record (n, adj & v)
a record of the meeting (n)
record profits (adj)
record your comments (v)
recorder (n)
a cassette recorder
recover (v)
Have you recovered from the long flight?
recovery (n)
recruit (n & v)
rectangular
red (adj & n)
in the red
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 31
© UCLES 2006
reduce (v)
reduction (n)
redundant (adj)
make someone redundant
ref (abbrev) with reference to
refer (v)
refer to something
reference (n)
a reference to something
references from a previous employer
refreshment(s) (n)
refrigerator (n)
refund (v & n)
refurbish (v)
refuse (v)
regard (n & v)
regarding (prep)
region (n)
regional (adj)
register (v)
register for an MBA
registration (n)
regret (v)
regular (adj)
regulations (n pl)
reject (v)
rejection (n)
relation (n)
industrial relations
public relations
relax (v)
relevant (adj)
reliable (adj)
reliability (n)
relief (n)
What a relief!
relocate (v)
relocation (n)
rely (v)
remain (v)
remember (v)
remind (v)
remove (v)
renew (v)
rent (n & v)
rental (adj & n)
reorganisation (n)
rep (abbrev) representative
repair (n & v)
repay (v)
repeat (n, v & adj)
replace (v)
reply (n & v)
report (n & v)
represent (v)
representative (n)
reputation (n)
request (n & v)
require (v)
rescue (n & v)
research (n & v)
R & D (abbrev) Research and Development
reservation (n)
reserve (v)
resident (n)
residential (adj)
resign (v)
resignation (n)
resources (n)
respect (n & v)
respond (v)
response (n)
responsibility (n)
responsible (adj)
rest (n & v)
restaurant (n)
result (n & v)
retail (n & v)
retail outlet (n)
retail price (n)
retain (v)
retire (v)
return (n & v)
revenue (n)
review (n & v)
revise (v)
reward (n & v)
rich (adj & n)
ride (n & v)
right (adj, adv & n)
ring (n & v)
ring back (v)
ring up (v)
rise (n & v)
risk (n & v)
rival (n & adj)
river (n)
road (n)
role (n)
roof (n)
room (n)
rough (adj)
round (adj, adv & prep)
roundabout (n)
route (n)
routine (n)
row (n)
the figure is in the end row of the column.
RSVP (abbrev) please reply
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 32
© UCLES 2006
rubber (adj & n)
rubbish (n)
ruin (n & v)
rule (n & v)
run (v)
run out of (phr v)
We’ve run out of paper for the printer.
S
S (abbrev) south
sad (adj)
SAE (abbrev) stamped addressed envelope
safe (n & adj)
safety (n )
salary (n)
sale (n )
sales (n)
same (adj & pron)
sample (n)
satisfaction (n)
satisfactory (adj)
satisfied (adj)
save (v)
say (v)
scale (n)
salary scale
large-scale
small-scale
schedule (n & v)
scheme (n)
• training scheme
school (n)
science (n)
scientific (adj)
scissors (n)
screen (n & v)
• a TV/computer screen
screw (n & v)
• Screw this in for me, please. (v)
• Have you seen the screw? (n)
sea (n)
seal (v)
search (n & v)
• customs search (n)
• a search on the internet (n)
search for (v)
season (n)
• e.g. autumn, winter
• the conference season
seasonal (staff, rates) (adj)
seat (n & v)
seatbelt (n)
sec (abbrev) second
second (adj & n)
second-hand/second hand (adj & adv)
secondary (adj)
secret (n & adj)
secretarial (adj)
secretary (n)
section (n)
• section head
sector (n)
• sector of the economy
secure (v & adj)
security (n)
see (v)
seem (v)
seldom (adv)
select (v)
selection (n)
self-employed (adj)
self-service (adj)
sell (v)
selling price (n)
seminar (n)
send (v)
send for (v)
send for something
senior (adj)
sensible (adj)
sentence (n)
Can you translate this sentence into German?
separate (adj & v)
Can you separate these for me? (v)
They work in separate offices. (adj)
series (n)
serious (adj)
servant (n)
civil servant
serve (v )
The bank serves the interests of its customers.
The rail network serves every region of the country.
In my last job, I had to serve customers.
service (n & v)
service station (n)
service agreement (n)
service charge (n)
service industry (n)
services (n pl)
customer services
set off (phr v)
set off for work
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 33
© UCLES 2006
set out (phr v)
set out on a journey
set up (phr v)
set up a business
settle (v)
feel settled in a job
settle an account
several (adj)
sex (n)
the male/female sex
shake (n & v)
shall (v)
shallow (adj)
shame (n)
What a shame!
shape (n & v)
share (n & v)
I share an office with the Marketing Director. (v)
Our market share has increased this year. (n)
shareholder (n)
shares (n & pl)
shares in the company
sharp (adj)
sharp image
a sharp rise/drop
she (pron)
sheet (n)
shelf (n)
shift (n)
night shift
shift work(er)
shine (v)
ship (n & v)
shipping (n)
shock (n)
The news of the low sales figures came as a shock.
shop (n & v)
short (adj)
shortage (n)
short-term/short term (adj & n)
should (v)
shout (n & v)
show (n & v)
shower (n)
shut (adj & v)
shy (adj)
sick (adj)
side (n)
sight (n)
in sight, out of sight
tourist sights
sightseeing (n)
sign (n & v)
a traffic sign, a sign on a wall (n)
Sign here, please. (v)
signs of economic recovery (n)
signal (n & v)
signature (n)
significant (adj)
a significant rise
signpost (n)
silence (n)
silent (adj)
silk (n & adj)
silver (n & adj)
similar (adj)
simple (adj)
simple food
a simple exercise
since (conj & prep)
sincerely (adv)
single (n & adj)
Sir (n)
sit (v)
site (n)
situate (v)
situation (n)
size (n)
skill (n)
skilled (adj)
sky (n)
sleep (n & v)
slight (adj)
slim (adj)
slow (adj)
slow down (phr v)
Sales of the X13 model have slowed down.
small (adj)
smart (adj)
smell (n & v)
smile (n & v)
smoke (n & v)
smooth (adj)
snack (n)
so (adv & conj)
so that (conj)
so-so (adj)
social (adj)
society (n)
soft (adj)
software (n)
sole (adj)
• sole agent
solid (adj)
• solid fuel
• a solid cylinder
solution (n)
solve (v)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 34
© UCLES 2006
some (adj & adv)
somebody (n & pron)
someone (n & pron)
something (n & pron)
sometimes (adv)
somewhere (adv)
soon (adv)
sorry (adj)
sort (n & v)
sort out (phr v)
•
•
Could you sort out my travel arrangements to Madrid?
sound (n & v)
south (adj, adv & n)
south east (n & adj)
south west (adj, adv & n)
souvenir (n)
space (n)
spare (adj & v)
• spare cash (adj)
• I can’t spare the time to see him. (v)
speak (v)
speaker (n)
• a conference speaker
special (adj)
specialise (v)
specialist (n)
speciality (n)
specifications (n pl)
speech (n)
speed (n)
spell (v)
spend (v & n)
• spend money (v)
• spend time (v)
• Our advertising spend increased this year. (n)
spill (v)
spite (n)
• in spite of
sponsor (n & v)
sport(s) (n)
spy (n & v)
square (n & adj)
• a square pattern (adj)
• Market Square (n)
St (abbrev) street
staff (n)
stage (n)
• the final stage of production
stairs (n pl)
stamp (n)
• Is there a stamp on the envelope?
• Use the company stamp.
stand (v & n)
• stand outside (v)
• a stand at an exhibition (n)
• standholder (n)
• Production stood still due to a strike. (v)
• We stood (up) to get a better view. (v)
• The factory stands on a new industrial park. (v)
standard (n & adj)
staple (n)
stapler (n)
start (n & v)
• the start of the conference (n)
• The meeting started at 2pm. (v)
start-up (adj)
• Start-up costs have increased.
state (n & v)
• Her office was in a very untidy state. (n)
• There are both state and private railways in Japan. (n)
• Please state your order clearly. (v)
station (n)
stationery (n)
statistics (n)
stay (n & v)
stay behind (phr v)
He stayed behind to finish the report.
steady (adj)
steal (v)
steam (n)
steel (n & adj)
steep (adj)
step (n & v)
• steps 1 – 3 (n)
• take steps to do something (n pl)
• step up the career ladder (v)
still (adv)
stock (n & v)
Stock Exchange (n)
stocks (n)
• stocks and shares
stone (n)
stop (v & n)
storage (n)
store (n & v)
• a department store (n)
• Store it for future use. (v)
storeroom (n)
storey (n)
storm (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 35
© UCLES 2006
• The roof of the factory was damaged in the storm.
• a storm of protests
story (n)
straight (adj & adv)
strange (adj)
stranger (n)
strategy (n)
• a business strategy
street (n)
strength (n)
strengthen (v)
stress (n & v)
• There’s a lot of stress in this job. (n)
• He stressed that it was important to be early. (v)
strict (adj)
• strict Health & Safety rules
strike (n & v)
• Most of the workers have gone on strike. (n)
• They’re striking for higher wages. (v)
string (n)
strong (adj)
structure (n & v)
• Could you describe the structure of the company? (n)
• The company was re-structured. (v)
student (n)
studies (n)
• business studies
study (n & v)
• I’m studying Marketing.(v)
• She studied the report. (v)
• The company carried out a study of consumer shopping habits. (n)
stupid (adj)
subsequently (adv)
subsidiary (n & adj)
subject (n)
• the subject of a discussion
• the subject of a sentence
• a school/college subject
subtract (v)
subway (n)
• The New York subway is a huge transport system. (Am Eng)
• Subways provide an alternative to crossing busy roads. (Br Eng)
succeed (v)
success (n)
such (adj)
sudden (adj)
suffer (v)
sufficient (adj)
suggest (v)
suggestion (n)
suit (n & v)
suitability (n)
suitable (adj)
suitcase (n)
suite (n)
sum (n)
sum up (phr v)
• The Finance Director summed up objections to the new strategy.
supermarket (n)
supervise (v)
supervision (n)
supper (n)
supplies (n pl)
supply (n & v)
support (n & v)
suppose (v)
surcharge (n)
sure (adj)
surname (n)
surplus (n)
surprise (n, v & adj)
survey (n)
sweep (v)
swing (n & v)
• There has been a swing in public opinion. (n)
• The door swung shut. (v)
switch (n & v)
system (n)
T
table (n)
take (v)
take away (phr v)
Take 15 away from 78. •
take off (phr v)
She took off her jacket.
The plane took off on time.
take out (phr v)
take out insurance/loan
take the visitors out for lunch
take out some figures from a document
take over (phr v)
The MD plans to take over one of our competitors.
take part in (phr v)
He didn’t take part in the meeting.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 36
© UCLES 2006
take place (phr v)
The conference will take place in Paris this year.
take up (phr v)
She took up golf as a good way of networking.
He took up a new position in the company.
takeover (n)
There have been several takeovers of well-known companies recently.
takings (n)
talk (n & v)
tall (adj)
tap (n)
a cold-water tap
tape (n & v)
target (n & v)
The company’s production target is 1,000 refrigerators each week. (n)
The company was targeted in a takeover bid. (v)
task (n)
taste (n & v)
tax (n & v)
taxation (n)
taxi (n)
taxpayer (n)
tea (n)
teach (v)
team (n)
tear (n & v)
technical (adj)
technician (n)
technique (n)
technological (adj)
technology (n)
tel (abbrev) telephone number
telecommunications (n)
telegram (n)
telegraph (n)
telephone (n & v)
television (n)
telex (n)
tell (v)
temperature (n)
temporary (adj)
tenant (n)
terminal (n)
an air/computer terminal
terms (n pl)
What are the terms of the agreement between the two companies?
terrible (adj)
test (n & v)
text (n)
textile (n)
than (conj)
thank (v)
thank you (int)
thanks (n)
that (adj, conj & pron)
the (det)
theatre (n)
Let’s take the visitors to the theatre.
their (adj)
theirs (pron)
them (pron)
themselves (pron)
then (adv)
theory (n)
there (adv & pron)
Put it over there, please. (adv)
There are two photocopiers in our office. (pron)
therefore (adv)
thermometer (n)
these (adj & pron)
they (pron)
thick (adj)
thief (n)
thin (adj)
thing (n)
think (v)
thirst (n)
this (adj & pron)
those (adj & pron)
though (conj)
thought (n)
through (prep)
throughout (prep)
throw (v)
throw away (phr v)
He threw away the document by mistake.
tick (n & v)
ticket (n)
tidy (adj & v)
tie (n & v)
a shirt and tie (n)
tied with string (v)
tiger (n)
tiger economy
tight (adj)
till (conj & prep)
time (n)
timetable (n & v)
tin (n)
tin-opener (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 37
© UCLES 2006
tiny (adj)
tip (n)
tired (adj)
title (n)
to (prep)
today (adv & n)
together (adv)
toilet (n)
tomorrow (adv & n)
ton(ne) (n)
tonight (adv & n)
too (adv)
tool (n)
top (n)
topic (n)
total (n)
touch (v & n)
tour (n & v)
tourist (n)
toward(s) (prep)
tower (n)
town (n)
track (n)
trade (n & v)
trade fair (n )
trade union (n)
tradesman (n)
traditional (adj)
traffic (n & v)
traffic jam (n)
traffic light(s) (n)
train (n & v)
trainee (n)
trainers (n)
tram (n)
transfer (n & v)
translate (v)
translation (n)
transport (n & v)
transportation (n)
travel (v)
travel agent (n)
travel expenses (n)
traveller’s cheque(s) (n)
trend (n)
trial (n)
trip (n)
trouble (n)
truck (Am Eng) (n)
true (adj)
trust (n & v)
I don’t have any trust in the MD. (n)
Everyone likes and trusts her. (v)
truth (n)
try (v)
tube (n)
tunnel (n)
turn (n & v)
turn around (phr v)
He turned the company around in two years.
turn down (phr v)
turn down a radio
turn down an application
turn into (phr v)
Anna has turned into a competent and confident manager.
turn off (phr v)
Turn off the lights when you leave the office.
turn on (phr v)
He turned on the computer.
turn out (phr v)
Please turn out all the lights before leaving the building.
Things turned out quite well in the end.
turn up (phr v)
Could you turn up the air conditioning – it’s rather hot and stuffy in the office?
turning (n)
the first turning on the left
turnover (n)
an annual turnover of £1 million
TV (abbrev) television
twice (adv)
twin (n)
type (n & v)
typewriter (n)
typical (adj)
typist (n)
U
ugly (adj)
under (prep)
underground (adj & n)
understand (v)
undo (v)
uniform (n)
union (n)
a trade union
unit (n)
unit cost
factory unit
industrial unit
universe (n)
university (n)
unleaded (adj)
unless (conj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 38
© UCLES 2006
until (prep)
up (adv & prep)
up-to-date/up to date (adj & adv)
update (n & v)
upgrade (n & v)
upon (prep)
upstairs (adv)
upturn (n)
upward (adj)
urgent (adj)
us (pron)
use (n & v)
used to (v)
usual (adj)
V
vacancy (n)
vacation (n)
valid (adj)
a valid passport
a valid argument
valuable (adj)
value (n & v)
van (n)
variety (n)
various (adj)
vary (v)
vehicle (n)
venture (n)
joint venture
venue (n)
very (adj & adv)
victory (n)
video (n & v)
video recorder (n)
videotape (n)
view (n)
village (n)
virus (n)
a computer virus
visa (n)
visit (n & v)
vocabulary (n)
voice (n)
volume (n)
vote (n & v)
voyage (n)
W
W (abbrev) west
wage(s) (n)
wait (n & v)
waiting room (n)
waitress (n)
wake (up) (v)
walk (n & v)
wall (n)
wallet (n)
want (v)
war (n)
a price war
warehouse (n)
warm (adj)
warn (v)
wash (n & v)
waste ( adj, v & n)
wastepaper (basket/bin) (n)
watch (v & n)
water (n & v)
wave (n & v)
way (n)
we (pron)
weak (adj)
weakness (n)
wealth (n)
wear (v & n)
sportswear (n)
footwear (n)
childrens’ wear (n)
wear out (v)
worn out clothes/equipment
I’m worn out – I need a holiday.
weather (n)
web (n)
website (n)
• on the web
week (n)
weekday (n)
weekend (n)
weigh (v)
weight (n)
welcome (n)
welfare (n)
well (adj, adv & n)
Well done! (exclam)
well-known (adj)
well-made (adj)
west (adj, adv & n)
wet (adj)
what (pron)
whatever (pron)
wheel (n & v)
when (adv & conj)
whenever (pron)
where (adv & conj)
whereas (conj)
whether (conj)
which (pron)
while (conj)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 39
© UCLES 2006
whiteboard (n)
who, whom (pron)
whole (adj)
wholesale (adj & adv)
wholesaler (n)
whose (pron)
why (adv & conj)
wide (adj & adv)
width (n)
will (v)
willing (adj)
win (n & v)
window (n)
window display (n)
wing (n)
the wing of an aeroplane •
wire (n)
wise (adj)
wish (n & v)
with (prep)
withdraw (v)
within (adv & prep)
without (prep)
witness (v & n)
woman (n)
wonder (v)
wood (n)
wooden (adj)
wool (n)
word (n)
word process (v)
word processor (n)
work (n & v)
work permit (n)
workforce (n)
working hours (n)
workman (n)
workplace (n)
workshop (n)
workstation (n)
world (n)
worldwide /world-wide (adj & adv)
worried (adj)
worry (n & v)
worth (adj)
would ('d) (v)
wrap (v)
wrap up (v)
write (v)
write down (phr v)
• I’ll write down the instructions.
write out (phr v)
• I’ll write it out again.
wrong (adj)
X
Y
yard (n)
yd (abbrev) yard
year (n)
yes (int)
yesterday (adv & n)
yet (adv)
you (pron)
young (adj & n)
your (adj)
yours (pron)
yourself (pron)
youth (n)
yr (abbrev) year
Z
zero (n)
zone (n)
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 40
© UCLES 2006
Appendix 1
Word sets
In addition to the words in the alphabetical list, BEC Preliminary candidates are expected to know:
Cardinal numbers
one, two, three, etc.
Ordinal numbers
first, second, third, fourth, etc.
Days of the week
Monday, Tuesday, etc.
Seasons of the year
spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Countries, languages and nationalities
Names of the countries, nationalities and languages, for example: Brazil/Brazilian; Canada/Canadian; China/Chinese; France/French; Ireland/Irish; India/Indian; Italy/Italian; Spain/Spanish, etc.
Continents / Oceans
Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Antartica, Europe, Atlantic, Pacific.
BEC Preliminary Wordlist 41
© UCLES 2006
Appendix 2
Affixes
The words in the alphabetical list may be extended by the use of one or more of these affixes:
mini-
with nouns, sometimes without a hyphen, e.g. minibus, mini-tour
non-
with nouns and adjectives, e.g. non-essential
re-
with verbs and their related nouns, usually without a hyphen, e.g. rename, renaming
self-
with nouns and adjectives, e.g. self-importance, self-confident
un-
negative prefix, e.g. unsafe
-able
with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. affordable
-ed (-d)
with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. limited, used
-er (-r)
with verbs, to form nouns, e.g. teacher, advertiser, shopper, also comparative forms, e.g. brighter
-ese
for nationalities/languages, e.g. Japanese
-ess
referring to a woman or female animal, e.g. princess, lioness
N.B. it is less common to refer to women in this way nowadays, and usually safer to use the ‘standard’ form e.g. actor, author
-est
superlative forms, e.g. tallest
-ful
with nouns, for amount contained, e.g. spoonful; with nouns to form adjectives denoting characteristics or qualities, e.g. painful, peaceful
-ing
with verbs, for activity or state, e.g. reading, frightening
-ish
for nationalities or languages, e.g. Swedish; with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. childish
-ist
with nouns, occupations, e.g. novelist, guitarist
-less
with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. breathless
-ly
with adjectives to form adverbs, e.g. seriously; with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. friendly
-ment
with verbs to form nouns, e.g. enjoyment
-or
with verbs to form nouns, for people, e.g. inventor
-y
with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. sunny
