Here are the most common vocabulary relating to the topic ‘Lifestyles’. These words are collected from different sources and can be used in both productive sections of IELTS. They can also help you better understand the Reading section of the test.
- risk-taker (noun) – someone who often takes risks.
– They are risk-takers who either make a lot of money or lose a lot.
– I’m not much of a risk-taker. - optimist (noun) – someone who always believes that good things will happen.
– She’s a born optimist (= someone who has always been optimistic). - pessimist (noun) – a person who thinks that bad things are more likely to happen or who emphasizes the bad part of a situation.
– The only difference between an optimist and a pessimist is what they chose to focus on.
– Don’t be such a pessimist! - realist (noun) – someone who hopes for or accepts only what seems possible or likely, and does not hope for or expect more.
– I’m a realist – I knew there was no way I could win, so I swam for a good finish, for points.
– She had always been a realist, not a dreamer. - materialistic (adj) – believing that having money and possessions is the most important thing in life
– Christmas has become materialistic and commercial.
– Kids these days are very materialistic. They only seem to be interested in expensive toys and computer games. - pastime (noun) – an activity that is done for enjoyment.
– Do-it-yourself is the nation’s most popular pastime.
– Visiting dance halls had been a very important pastime for many older people. - sedentary (adj) – involving little exercise or physical activity.
– My doctor says I should start playing sport because my lifestyle is too sedentary.
– Being a writer is a sedentary occupation. - routine (noun) – a usual or fixed way of doing things.
– Exercise has become part of my daily routine.
– The routine was the same every day, with nothing to relieve the monotony. - self-expression (noun) – expression of your personality, emotions, or ideas, especially through art, music, or acting.
– He regarded poetry as sentimental self-expression.
– Suppression of anger, assertion, and other forms of self-expression may heighten internalized distress. - priority (noun) – something that is very important and must be dealt with before other things
– My first/top priority is to find somewhere to live.
– You need to identify your priorities. - fulfillment (noun) – a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction because you are happy with your life.
-Wisdom will help you find fulfillment in every aspect of your life.
– They all feel a great sense of fulfillment in their work. - outlook (noun) – a person’s way of understanding and thinking about something.
– He has a fairly positive outlook on life.
– Exercise will improve your looks and your outlook. - motivate (verb) – to cause someone to behave in a particular way.
– Like so many people, he’s motivated by greed.
– He is genuinely motivated by a desire to help people. - outfit (noun) – a set of clothes worn for a particular occasion or activity.
– I’m going to wear my vampire outfit for Halloween.
– Susan wore a black outfit. - settle down (ph.v) – to start living in a place where you intend to stay for a long time, usually with your partner.
– Eventually I’d like to settle down and have a family, but not yet.
