Academic Word of the Day

A daily examination of a particular academic (AWL) word and its usage in academic writing

This page examines particular academic words and their usage in academic writing.

For each word, it examines the meaning or meanings of that word and its collocations, connotations, other words in the same word families, possible synonyms, antonyms, and lexical phrases, and provides examples of its use in authentic texts which are cited and listed in the bibliography. Occasionally, where an example is taken from a text which is particularly rich in examples of the headword, the citation is also a link to the source article. There is also an indication of whether the word appears in an academic word list. These are:

AWL: The Academic Word List
NAWL: The New Academic Word List
AKL: The Academic Keyword List
OPAL: The Oxford Phrasal Academic Lexicon
NGSL: The New General Service List (a basic word list rather than an academic one)

In the example sentences the words of the day are highlighted in red. Other 'academic words' are highlighted in bold.
Where the example sentences contain 'academic' words, these are highlighted in bold, as in this paragraph. Only words from the Academic Word List (AWL), the New Academic Word List (NAWL) or some from the Academic Keyword List (AKL) are highlighted. This gives you an idea of how common and important these words are in these types of academic or technical texts.

If you need to find or highlight academic words in a text you can use the Academic Word Highlighter. This gives you a choice about which word list to use for highlighting.

The words of the day appear in order by date. They are also divided into sets of ten words, which are the ten words tested in each set of quizzes.

You can see all previous sets by going to the Previous Sets page.

You can see all previous Academic Word of the Day Quizzes by going to the Academic Word of the Day Quizzes page.

There are also occasional collocation quizzes to test recall of words in previous sets (mainly the previous 2 or 3 sets).

All the collocation quizzes are also available on the Academic Word of the Day Collocation Quizzes pages.

You can more collocates of words from various academic word lists by consulting the Collocation Dictionary.

Today's word is:

instructive AWL: ADJECTIVE informative; providing useful information
This controversy started over whether butter is harder at room temperature than it used to be. Although that question has melted away, it’s instructive to trace this story from its start. (LeBlanc 2021)But as historians and educators who have explored the instructive value of monuments, we believe statue removal can also limit the important conversations underway about their expired agendas. (Marcus and Woodward 2020)To examine whether wood is sustainably sourced, rather than contributing to higher carbon emissions, it is instructive to consider the economics of forest management. (Sohngen 2024)The inadvertent selection that turned wolves into dogs turns out to be instructive in how AI might inadvertently shape the evolution of human brains and behaviour. (Brooks 2024)America’s history of religious freedom is filled with stories that are instructive for our current moment. One such instructive lesson comes from the early 19th century. (Walker 2024)
Common collocates for this word:

instructive

example
day
parallel
comparisons
reading
figures
case
book
lesson
conversation
account
illustration
comparison
story

Word Family: instructive (adjective), instruct (verb), instruction (noun)
Synonyms: informative, helpful
15/04/2026 - Set 31
subsidise AWL: VERB TRANSITIVE to support by paying part of the cost of something
Over the weekend, Labor promised to subsidise home batteries by 30%. This would save about A$4,000 per household up front for an average battery. (Best 2025)Many countries also continue to subsidise fossil fuels, which filters into plastics and petrochemicals production through reduced costs for fossil building blocks and energy. (Bauer and Nielsen 2021)African countries such as South Africa, Ethiopia and Morocco all subsidise fossil fuel companies. This can mean taking on debt, raising taxes, or cutting public spending to free up money for the subsidies. (Leonard 2025)Nearly all governments, including Australia’s, subsidise their fishing industries. Financial support comes in many forms, from taxpayer-funded fuel to reduced boat-building costs. (Zeller, Meeuwig, and Andreoli 2024)In deciding what activities to subsidise, governments are taking this decision away from children and their parents. Governments need to ensure the needs and wants of children are taken into account when providing subsidies. (O’Donnell and Redmond 2021)
Common collocates for this word:

subsidise

exports
services
farmers
agriculture
research
travel
food
training
housing
education
production
transport
students
wages
investment

Word Family: subsidise (verb), subsidy (noun)
Synonyms: finance, fund, underwrite, sponsor
14/04/2026 - Set 31
reveal AWL AKL OPAL NGSL: VERB TRANSITIVE to show (something which was previously hidden or unknown)
The experiment revealed that the participants recalled significantly more information from the second file if they had saved the previous file. (Noreen 2015)This is because monuments – whether statues, memorials or obelisks – reveal the values of the time in which they were created and advance the agendas of their creators. (Marcus and Woodward 2020)And our new study has revealed that 30 minutes of daily exercise is not enough to overcome the health risks of sitting too much. (Diaz and Chastin 2021)While such behavior is ordinarily benign, an attacker could use this to trick some apps into revealing your data. (Ruoti 2022)By revealing genetic differences that distinguish living humans from our extinct ancestors, Pääbo’s influential discoveries provide the basis for exploring what makes us uniquely human. (Götherström and Dalén n.d.)
Common collocates for this word:

reveal

themselves
details
itself
information
himself
evidence
inadequacies
patterns
plans
truth
truths
aspects
ourselves
yourself
myself

Word Family: reveal (verb), revelation (noun)
Synonyms: show, demonstrate, disclose
13/04/2026 - Set 31
2026-04-10 30 dominanceAWL: NOUN COUNTABLE having control over; being more powerful, stronger

If your left visual field is dominant, that means the right side of your brain is taking dominance for recognising faces and emotions. (Forrester 2024) Firstborns tend to possess psychological characteristics related to leadership, including responsibility, creativity, obedience and dominance. (Sabolova 2020) A final reason often suggested for the East African dominance of distance running is the motivation to achieve economic success. (Galbraith 2016) It is true that serotonin is present in crustaceans (like the lobster) and that it is highly connected to dominance and aggressive social behaviour. (Gonçalves 2018) Western dominance has always relied on its ability to project military power across the globe via the sea. (Germond 2024) Common collocates for this word:

dominance

political
male
economic
continued
continuing
increasing
cultural
growing
cerebral
traditional
social
territorial
overwhelming
institutional
medical

Word Family: dominance (noun), dominate (verb), domination (noun), dominant (adjective)Synonyms: control, sovereignty, authority, supremacy, command 10/04/2026 - Set 30Test your understanding of the words in set 30 with these quick quizzes: Quiz 30 Quiz 30B Quiz 30C
2026-04-09 30 transferAWL AKL OPAL NGSL: VERB COUNTABLE to move something from one place to another

With this knowledge, we can manipulate these genes to get stronger effects, or transfer them to other plants using modern breeding techniques. (Bohra and Varshney 2023) Food information derived from animals – such as cow’s milk – is transferred to the person drinking the milk. (Dus 2022) So by transferring pollen between flowers, bees also help pollinate flowers. (Schouten 2020) Heating of the air can occur via conduction or convection – transferring heat to these air bubbles, and sharing it between them. (Fitchett 2021) When you hit a ball with a bat, the bat transfers some of its kinetic energy to the ball to change its speed and direction.(Baron 2021) Common collocates for this word:

transfer

money
ownership
responsibility
shares
power
data
information
files
proceedings
possession
assets
funds
text
property
staff

Word Family: transfer (verb), transfer (noun)Synonyms: move, relocate, shift, transport 09/04/2026 - Set 30
2026-04-08 30 validationAWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE the act of approving or confirming that something is correct, acceptable

Awards can also lead children to depend on external validation. When kids get used to seeking approval through awards, they may struggle to find self-worth and motivation in their own efforts. (Waghorn 2024) To answer these questions, sleep scientists conduct validation studies. (Miller 2025) Gaps in research, inconsistent methodologies and the rapid pace of new device releases underscore the need for a more formalised and standardised approach to validation of devices. (Doherty 2024) Validation of the design of high-stakes examinations (a complex process that ensures we can trust the inferences we make from them) is neither required nor routinely undertaken in university courses. (Mulder and French 2023) One major feature of social media is it allows users some control over how they present themselves to others. People can edit their online appearance and sometimes present themselves inaccurately while seeking validation from others. (John and Graff 2021) Common collocates for this word:

validation

data
form
input
model
process
schema
system
address
method
password
software
product
construct
signature
certificate

Word Family: validation (noun), validate (verb), valid (adjective)Synonyms: ratification, endorsement, attestation 08/04/2026 - Set 30
2026-04-07 30 registerAWL AKL NGSL: VERB COUNTABLE to enter a record of something; to recognise, record

Different wavelengths of light register as different colors in an animal’s visual system. (Dreschel 2020) Light travels to the back of the eyeball, where it registers with rod and cone cells that send visual signals on to the brain. (Dreschel 2020) Many people don’t register in time for elections. Some don’t intend to vote, but others assume that they’re already registered. Some are also just busy. (James 2025) When we get embarrassed, the amygdala registers the emotional intensity of the situation – especially the fear of being seen negatively. (Pigott 2025) Despite the UK often being described as the drug capital of Europe, methamphetamine hardly registers as a problem. (Bowden-Jones 2013) Common collocates for this word:

register

disappointment
transfers
articles
individuals
works
distaste
disapproval
astonishment
dissatisfaction
disbelief
objection
attendance
ownership
shock
approval

Word Family: register (verb), register (noun)Synonyms: record, show, indicate 07/04/2026 - Set 30
2026-04-06 30 partnershipAWL AKL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE an agreement to work together for a common purpose

In partnership with government and business, academic research and technologies help to drive an array of vital industries. (Addie 2017) If the US is serious about equal partnership, it mustn’t treat Africa as an afterthought. It must always consult African states in shaping policies that affect them and the continent. (Isike and Oyewole 2024) This is seen not least in the area of security, where the two parties agreed on a security and defence partnership. (Larsén 2025) The WTO can remain a forum for building consensus, but its future lies in fostering flexible partnerships rather than pursuing grand, all-encompassing trade deals. (Steinbach 2025) We can design research grounded in archaeological knowledge, and may have longer-term and stronger ties to museums and to local communities, whose partnership is key to doing research right. (Prendergast n.d.) Common collocates for this word:

partnership

limited
multi-national
successful
close
equal
genuine
effective
productive
formal
strategic
unique
real
full
global
perfect

Word Family: partnership (noun), partner (noun), partner (verb)Synonyms: alliance, cooperation, coalition Lexical phrases: partnership [with, between]06/04/2026 - Set 30
2026-04-03 30 frameworkAWL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE a structure for building something; a set of rules governing how something should be done
Ghana has a broad and comprehensive legal framework for mining, with overlapping responsibilities for state institutions. (Bansah 2022) In the class, I talk with the students about human rights. We think about how this powerful idea applies to social systems. This systems framework helps us approach social justice issues in a methodical, mathematical manner. (Ordóñez 2025) In practice, this would mean replicating and expanding global regulatory frameworks that work. (Erzse 2023) The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has shown that public health policies can be protected from commercial interests. (Erzse 2023) They set out a framework for closer cooperation in areas of joint interest, such as sanctions, information sharing and cybersecurity, and allowing them to better respond to shared global challenges and uncertainties. (Larsén 2025) Common collocates for this word:

framework

legal
theoretical
conceptual
institutional
regulatory
basic
statutory
national
political
legislative
general
constitutional
administrative
social
explanatory

Word Family: framework (noun)Synonyms: plan, scheme, schema, structure, shell Lexical phrases: a framework for03/04/2026 - Set 30
2026-04-02 30 conclusionAWL: NOUN COUNTABLE the final part of something; the act of agreeing something after negotiations
Other lines of evidence support this conclusion. (Bamber 2020) There is a temptation to conclude from these findings that using technology leads to poorer memory — a conclusion that the authors of the study did not draw. (Cecutti and Lee 2021) So why do three people witnessing the same event reach different conclusions?(Anderson-Sieg 2021) This must be reviewed by their scientific peers – only they are qualified to assess the validity of the methods and the accuracy of the conclusions the researcher has drawn from the results. (Saunders 2013) Without such controls, it is hard for researchers to draw accurate conclusions. (Nyman 2020) Common collocates for this word:

conclusion

logical
foregone
successful
similar
obvious
main
different
satisfactory
wrong
final
clear
important
opposite
inescapable
speedy

Word Family: conclusion (noun), conclude (verb)Synonyms: end, culmination, closure 02/04/2026 - Set 30
2026-04-01 30 regulateAWL AKL OPAL NGSL: VERB TRANSITIVE to control how something is done according rules, guidelines, principles or law

Being exposed to regular patterns of light and dark regulates our circadian rhythm. (Stevens 2015) It has also successfully regulated the sale and marketing of food within and outside school premises. (Erzse 2023) Control systems make other systems behave in some desired manner. Think of the cruise control in a car, which keeps its speed constant, or the thermostat in a house that regulates temperature. (Ordóñez 2025) This gene helps regulate the body’s response to hormones such as testosterone and contains a section where a DNA sequence is repeated. (Carroll 2025) Over the past two decades, there has been growing pressure to regulate plastics around the world. (Bauer and Nielsen 2021) Common collocates for this word:

regulate

trade
competition
population
dealings
fishing
access
production
practice
market
auditors
markets
banks
firms
prices
activities

Word Family: regulate (verb), regulation (noun)Synonyms: control, monitor, govern, supervise, adjust , rectify01/04/2026 - Set 30
2026-03-31 30 identificationAWL OPAL NGSL: NOUN COUNTABLE the act or identifying, recognising something
Toxic mushrooms can resemble edible ones, and might look different according to where they grow, including across continents. Mushroom identification apps do not appear to be accurate enough in Australia. (Roberts 2023) On the basis of my experience, ChatGPT seems well-equipped to perform tasks related to the recognition and identification of human faces – including their expressions. (Kramer 2024) Eyewitness identification evidence relies on witnesses to accurately remember criminal perpetrators. (Cullen 2023) In 2020, a team of eyewitness experts published nine evidence-based recommendations for conducting identification procedures. (Cullen 2023) Using keys, identification books and each other we were able to describe the particular community at each study site. (Lawler 2016) Common collocates for this word:

identification

personal
positive
early
correct
formal
accurate
close
easy
unambiguous
precise
rapid
clear
unique
national
proper

Word Family: identification (noun)Synonyms: recognition, acertainment Lexical phrases: identification [of, with] 31/03/2026 - Set 30
2026-03-30 30 impactAWL AKL OPAL: NOUN COUNTABLE the effect (usually strong) of one thing on another
The impact of fires seems to be proportional to the severity (the area covered) and intensity (the heat) of the fire, up to a certain point. (Kirk 2017) When we included education in our analysis we find that its impact on output was massively larger in Korea than in Ghana. (Teal 2016) With technology now well ingratiated into our everyday life, researchers have been investigating the lasting impact that it is having on the way that we learn and remember information. (Noreen 2015) Things are not perfect, and there are concerns about poverty, conflict, resources running out and the ecological impact of 8 billion humans and their dietary choices. (Grant 2023) Common collocates for this word:

impact

environmental
significant
major
full
immediate
direct
economic
likely
considerable
visual
real
adverse
negative
profound
dramatic

Word Family: impact (noun), impact (verb)Synonyms: effect, implication, repercussion Lexical phrases: impact [on, upon, of]30/03/2026 - Set 30

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