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IBPS ENGLISH · Vocabulary in context

Use the context. Choose the meaning.

Use surrounding ideas to work out a word’s meaning, choose a suitable opposite and recognise natural word combinations.

Learn the method ↓Choose a practice set

3 worked examples · 3 practice sets · 24 original questions

BUILD A REPEATABLE METHOD

Four steps to a better answer.

Read the complete context

Look before and after the target word. A definition, example, contrast, cause or result may explain what it means here.

Make a simple prediction

Cover the options and suggest a short meaning in your own words. Decide whether the tone is positive, negative, cautious or neutral when that matters.

Substitute and compare

Try each option in the sentence. Check both meaning and grammatical form; a familiar dictionary meaning may be wrong for this particular use.

Record the useful phrase

Keep the word with its sentence or word partner, such as reach a consensus. Note the clue that led to the answer so you can apply the method again.

SEE THE THINKING

Three worked examples.

Let the sentence explain the word

The plan remained tentative: the organisers had not yet confirmed the venue or date.

Does tentative mean final, expensive or not yet fixed?

Not yet fixed or final.

The explanation after the colon says that key details are unconfirmed. It directly supports a provisional meaning. Nothing in the sentence establishes the plan’s cost.

One word, different senses

The receptionist asked for my address. The report will address the problem of long queues.

Does address have the same meaning in both sentences?

No. The first is a location; the second means deal with or give attention to.

The grammar and surrounding nouns identify the sense. In the first sentence, address is a noun associated with a person’s location. In the second, it is a verb whose object is a problem.

The sentence chooses the sense

Checking the measurements is critical to the success of the project.

Does critical mean disapproving here?

No. Here it means extremely important or essential.

The phrase “to the success of the project” points to importance. In “a critical review”, the word may instead describe evaluation or criticism. A familiar sense is not always the relevant one.

Common mistakes to avoid
Choosing the first meaning you know

A common word can have several senses. Check which one fits this sentence.

Using a clue too strongly

A sentence may suggest caution without proving fear or a legal prohibition. Match the strength of the claim.

Confusing a similar word with an opposite

Read the task carefully: closest meaning and opposite meaning require different choices.

Ignoring word partners

Correct grammar does not guarantee natural phrasing. Learn combinations such as reach a consensus and meet a deadline in context.

PUT THE METHOD TO WORK

Three sets. Twenty-four questions.

Choose a set below. Work through eight questions at a time, then review the explanations before moving to another set.

Untimed learning practice, not an official paper or full mock exam. One point per correct answer; no negative marking here. Show answer earns no point. Your score lasts for this page visit and does not predict an exam result.

Read the full questions below and expand each answer explanation. The interactive version needs JavaScript.

All 24 questions & answer explanations

Set 1 · Context clues

Read each sentence and answer the specific task: meaning, opposite, sense or word choice. Select the best option for this context, then use the explanation to identify the clue.

  1. “The meeting date is tentative because the venue is still awaiting confirmation.” Tentative most nearly means:

    1. fixed beyond any possibility of change
    2. not yet final or confirmed
    3. announced without anyone knowing
    4. far more expensive than expected
    5. held every week
    Set 1 · Answer 1 & explanation

    B. not yet final or confirmed

    The clue is that the venue still needs confirmation. Tentative means proposed or arranged provisionally rather than finally settled. The sentence does not establish secrecy, cost or a weekly schedule.

  2. “The barriers were installed to mitigate the effects of flooding, although they could not eliminate the risk.” Mitigate most nearly means:

    1. measure without acting
    2. make more severe
    3. predict with certainty
    4. reduce the severity of
    5. remove completely
    Set 1 · Answer 2 & explanation

    D. reduce the severity of

    Mitigate means make the harmful effects less severe. The contrast with “could not eliminate” rules out complete removal. Measuring, predicting and making the effects worse do not fit the purpose described.

  3. “The two records showed different totals, so the clerk investigated the discrepancy.” Discrepancy most nearly means:

    1. a difference between things expected to agree
    2. a deliberate decision to stop working
    3. an agreement signed by two people
    4. a request for an earlier appointment
    5. a complete absence of records
    Set 1 · Answer 3 & explanation

    A. a difference between things expected to agree

    The different totals provide the clue: a discrepancy is a difference or inconsistency between things that should correspond. The word does not by itself prove fraud or deliberate wrongdoing; it identifies the mismatch being investigated.

  4. “With the available staff and equipment, the proposal was feasible.” Feasible most nearly means:

    1. already completed
    2. certain to make a profit
    3. required by law
    4. impossible to carry out
    5. practical and possible to carry out
    Set 1 · Answer 4 & explanation

    E. practical and possible to carry out

    Feasible means possible and practical to do. The reference to available staff and equipment supports that judgement. It does not mean the work is finished, legally required or guaranteed to make a profit.

  5. “During the dry season, clean water was scarce.” Which word is closest to the opposite of scarce here?

    1. limited
    2. insufficient
    3. abundant
    4. costly
    5. unsafe
    Set 1 · Answer 5 & explanation

    C. abundant

    Scarce means available only in small or insufficient amounts. Abundant means plentiful, so it is the best opposite. Cost and safety are different qualities; neither tells us whether there is plenty of water.

  6. “The selection process was transparent: applicants could see the criteria and how decisions were made.” Transparent most nearly means:

    1. physically clear like glass
    2. conducted in complete secrecy
    3. finished unusually quickly
    4. open and easy to understand
    5. unnecessary to explain
    Set 1 · Answer 6 & explanation

    D. open and easy to understand

    The explanation after the colon shows that information about the process was available and understandable. This is the figurative sense of transparent. The literal sense of a see-through material does not fit a selection process.

  7. “The new procedure is designed to address repeated delays.” What does address mean here?

    1. write a street name
    2. deal with or give attention to
    3. send a parcel
    4. make the delay longer
    5. announce a person’s name
    Set 1 · Answer 7 & explanation

    B. deal with or give attention to

    Address is a verb taking “repeated delays” as its object. It means deal with or give attention to that problem. It does not guarantee that the procedure will solve it completely, and it is unrelated to a postal address here.

  8. Choose the most natural word: “After discussing the alternatives, the committee managed to ___ a consensus.”

    1. perform
    2. arrive
    3. conduct
    4. go
    5. reach
    Set 1 · Answer 8 & explanation

    E. reach

    Reach a consensus means come to general agreement. Arrive would need a preposition: arrive at a consensus. Perform, conduct and go do not form the intended expression with a consensus.

Set 2 · Precision and word partners

Use the sentence to choose the meaning, opposite or word partner requested. Prefer the option supported by the context over a stronger claim the sentence does not make.

  1. “It would be prudent to check the figures before sending the report, as a mistake could mislead readers.” Prudent most nearly means:

    1. careless and hurried
    2. certain to guarantee success
    3. careful and sensible
    4. needlessly secretive
    5. already completed
    Set 2 · Answer 1 & explanation

    C. careful and sensible

    Prudent means showing careful, sensible judgement. The reason for checking the figures supports caution. It does not mean success is guaranteed or that the report has already been completed.

  2. “The extra support helped alleviate the pressure on the small team, although its workload remained demanding.” Alleviate most nearly means:

    1. make less severe
    2. make permanent
    3. describe in detail
    4. increase sharply
    5. remove every difficulty
    Set 2 · Answer 2 & explanation

    A. make less severe

    Alleviate means lessen something unpleasant, such as pressure or suffering. The remaining demanding workload rules out removing every difficulty. Describing pressure is different from reducing it.

  3. “Ravi was reluctant to volunteer because he was unsure he could spare the time.” Reluctant most nearly means:

    1. eager to begin immediately
    2. physically unable to speak
    3. certain the task was illegal
    4. hesitant or unwilling
    5. unaware that help was needed
    Set 2 · Answer 3 & explanation

    D. hesitant or unwilling

    The uncertainty about available time explains his hesitation. Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant. The sentence does not establish a physical inability, illegality or lack of awareness.

  4. “The panel used the same criteria for every applicant to keep its decisions impartial.” Impartial most nearly means:

    1. incomplete
    2. fair and not favouring one side
    3. hidden from every applicant
    4. made without any criteria
    5. certain to please everyone
    Set 2 · Answer 4 & explanation

    B. fair and not favouring one side

    Impartial means not unfairly favouring one person or side. Applying the same criteria supports fairness. An impartial decision need not please everyone, and the sentence does not say the process lacked criteria.

  5. “The manual referred to an obsolete system that the organisation had replaced several years earlier.” Obsolete most nearly means:

    1. recently introduced
    2. temporarily unavailable
    3. always physically damaged
    4. expensive to repair
    5. no longer in use or out of date
    Set 2 · Answer 5 & explanation

    E. no longer in use or out of date

    The replacement of the old system supplies the clue. Obsolete means no longer used or out of date. An obsolete item may still function physically; the word does not by itself mean broken.

  6. “Deliveries were sporadic: several arrived one week, then none came for a fortnight.” Which is closest to the opposite of sporadic here?

    1. unpredictable
    2. occasional
    3. regular
    4. delayed
    5. rare
    Set 2 · Answer 6 & explanation

    C. regular

    Sporadic describes events occurring irregularly or only occasionally. Regular is the best opposite. Rare and occasional are closer to the original meaning; delayed refers to lateness rather than a regular pattern.

  7. Choose the natural word: “If you notice a problem, please ___ your concern with the supervisor.”

    1. raise
    2. rise
    3. arise
    4. grow
    5. lift up
    Set 2 · Answer 7 & explanation

    A. raise

    Raise a concern means bring it to someone’s attention. Raise takes an object here: your concern. Rise and arise do not take that object in this pattern; grow and lift up do not express the intended workplace meaning.

  8. “The project’s main objective is to reduce the time needed to process each form.” What does objective mean here?

    1. a fair and unbiased attitude
    2. an objection to a proposal
    3. a detailed record of past work
    4. an aim or goal
    5. an accidental result
    Set 2 · Answer 8 & explanation

    D. an aim or goal

    Objective is a noun meaning aim or goal in this sentence. The phrase following is explains that goal. Objective can also be an adjective meaning unbiased, but that sense does not fit this grammatical use.

Set 3 · Evidence and precise meanings

Use the stated context to choose a meaning, opposite or natural word combination. Distinguish supporting evidence from certainty and match the grammatical use of each word.

  1. “The time-stamped entry helped corroborate the visitor’s account of when she arrived.” Corroborate most nearly means:

    1. contradict without evidence
    2. replace with an unrelated account
    3. support with additional evidence
    4. prove every detail beyond any possible doubt
    5. hide from the investigator
    Set 3 · Answer 1 & explanation

    C. support with additional evidence

    Corroborate means support or confirm an account with additional evidence. A record can support the arrival time without proving every detail of the person’s account or eliminating every possible doubt.

  2. “The team issued a provisional timetable while it waited for the final venue confirmation.” Provisional most nearly means:

    1. temporary and subject to change
    2. permanent and unchangeable
    3. already cancelled
    4. deliberately misleading
    5. copied without permission
    Set 3 · Answer 2 & explanation

    A. temporary and subject to change

    Provisional means arranged for the present but not yet final. Waiting for confirmation explains why the timetable may change. The word does not itself imply deception, cancellation or copying.

  3. “The laboratory applied stringent checks: every sample had to meet the same demanding requirements.” Stringent most nearly means:

    1. optional
    2. careless
    3. unrelated
    4. strict and demanding
    5. recently removed
    Set 3 · Answer 3 & explanation

    D. strict and demanding

    The reference to demanding requirements explains stringent: strict or rigorous. The sentence says the checks applied to every sample, so optional or careless does not fit.

  4. “After the disruption, the resilient team reorganised its work and recovered quickly.” Resilient most nearly means:

    1. unable to change its plans
    2. able to recover after difficulties
    3. certain never to face another problem
    4. unwilling to work together
    5. free from all responsibility
    Set 3 · Answer 4 & explanation

    B. able to recover after difficulties

    Resilient describes the ability to recover or adapt after difficulty. Reorganising and recovering provide the evidence. It does not mean the team can never suffer another problem.

  5. “The instruction was ambiguous; two readers understood it in different ways.” Ambiguous most nearly means:

    1. extremely detailed
    2. obviously false
    3. written in a foreign language
    4. impossible to read aloud
    5. open to more than one interpretation
    Set 3 · Answer 5 & explanation

    E. open to more than one interpretation

    The two interpretations show the ambiguity. An ambiguous statement may be grammatically clear and readable but allow different meanings; it is not necessarily false or written in another language.

  6. “The complicated process could deter people from applying.” Which word is closest to the opposite of deter here?

    1. discourage
    2. prevent
    3. encourage
    4. delay
    5. confuse
    Set 3 · Answer 6 & explanation

    C. encourage

    Deter means discourage someone from doing something. Encourage is the best opposite. Prevent, delay and confuse do not express giving someone the confidence or motivation to apply.

  7. Choose the natural word: “We should examine all the evidence before we ___ a conclusion.”

    1. draw
    2. do
    3. perform
    4. reach to
    5. conduct
    Set 3 · Answer 7 & explanation

    A. draw

    Draw a conclusion means form a judgement from evidence. Reach a conclusion is also natural, but the option reach to has an unnecessary preposition. Do, perform and conduct do not form the intended expression.

  8. “The new workshop generated considerable interest among local volunteers, who asked how they could join.” What does interest mean here?

    1. money charged on a loan
    2. a share of ownership
    3. a legal entitlement to property
    4. curiosity or a wish to be involved
    5. a fixed appointment time
    Set 3 · Answer 8 & explanation

    D. curiosity or a wish to be involved

    The volunteers’ questions about joining show attention and a wish to take part. Interest has financial and legal senses in other contexts, but those meanings are not supported here.

MAKE THE LEARNING STICK

Review before moving on.

  1. Copy each target word with the context clue that explains it.
  2. Write a new sentence using the same sense, rather than merely replacing the example’s names.
  3. Keep a short phrase list, including reach a consensus, address a problem and mitigate an effect.

Use the IBPS exam routes and official sources for the current pattern, timings and marking rules. These lessons develop shared English skills; question types and requirements differ by exam and stage.

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