A formal and informal word list in English can be extremely helpful for those looking to improve their vocabulary. This 1000-word list provides both a formal and informal definition of each word, ensuring you know how to use them correctly in any context. Whether you’re a student studying for an English exam or simply want to brush up on your language skills, this list is perfect for you! Download it now for free.
What are the Formal Words?
Formal words are those which are generally used in formal situations, such as at work or in an academic setting. They are usually more complex and sophisticated than informal words, and can often be found in written English rather than spoken English.
Some examples of formal words include:
- accurate
- appropriate
- august
- benefit
- cogent
- comply
- conservative
- criterion
- deduce
Related: Formal Words for Academic Writing
What are Informal Words?
Informal words are those which are generally used in everyday conversation, between friends or family members. They are often shorter and simpler than formal words and can be found in both spoken and written English. While informal words are perfectly fine to use in most situations, you should avoid them if you’re trying to impress someone or sound more intelligent.
Some examples of informal words include:
- awesome
- cool
- dude
- easy
- fun
- guy
- lame
- cool
- OK
Formal and Informal Words List
| Informal | Formal |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Free | Liberate |
| Kids | Children |
| Make out | Discern |
| Mend | Repair |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Set out | Display |
| Sick | Ill |
| Think of | Conceive |
| Ask | Enquire |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Older | Senior |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Round | Circular |
| Stop | Cease |
| Build | Construct |
| But | However |
| Eager | Avid |
| Get out | Escape |
| Give | Donate |
| Give up | Quit |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Seem | Appear |
| Test | Experiment |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| Ask out | Invite |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Deal with | Manage |
| Hurt | Damage, harm |
| Idea | Notion |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| Link up | Connect |
| Okay, ok | Acceptable |
| See | Perceive |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Come after | Follow |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Go through | Examine |
| Go up | Increase |
| Hurt | Damage, harm |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| See | Perceive |
Formal Words List and Informal
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Use | Utilize |
| Ask out | Invite |
| Check | Verify |
| Eager | Avid |
| End | Terminate |
| Give up | Quit |
| Idea | Notion |
| Link up | Connect |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Test | Experiment |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Free | Liberate |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Mend | Repair |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Think of | Conceive |
| Try | Endeavour |
| Bad | Negative |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| Tell | Inform |
| Think about | Consider |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Call off | Cancel |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Free | Liberate |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Older | Senior |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Stop | Cease |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Mad | Insane |
| Older | Senior |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Round | Circular |
| Stop | Cease |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Cheap | Inexpensive |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Kids | Children |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| Sick | Ill |
| At once | Immediately |
| Away | Absent |
| Build | Construct |
| Come after | Follow |
| Give | Donate |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| Seem | Appear |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Fight | Combat |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Older | Senior |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Stop | Cease |
| Ask out | Invite |
| Deal with | Manage |
| End | Terminate |
| Idea | Notion |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| Link up | Connect |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Throw out | Eject |
| Ask out | Invite |
| At first | Initially |
| Eager | Avid |
| End | Terminate |
| Get out | Escape |
| Give up | Quit |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Test | Experiment |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Deal with | Manage |
| Go through | Examine |
100 Formal Words & Informal List
| Hurt | Damage, harm |
| Idea | Notion |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| In the end | Finally |
| Link up | Connect |
| See | Perceive |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Deal with | Handle |
| Deal with | Manage |
| Go through | Examine |
| Hurt | Damage, harm |
| Idea | Notion |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| Link up | Connect |
| See | Perceive |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Go | Depart |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Kids | Children |
| Make out | Discern |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| Sick | Ill |
| Eager | Avid |
| End | Terminate |
| Get out | Escape |
| Give up | Quit |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Seem | Appear |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Test | Experiment |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| Big/Large | Enormous |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Free | Liberate |
| Kids | Children |
| Make out | Discern |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| Mend | Repair |
| Sick | Ill |
| Think of | Conceive |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Free | Liberate |
| Kids | Children |
| Make out | Discern |
| Mend | Repair |
| Need | Request |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Sick | Ill |
| Think of | Conceive |
| At once | Immediately |
| Build | Construct |
| Get out | Escape |
| Give | Donate |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| Say | Express |
| Seem | Appear |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Get | Receive |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Older | Senior |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Round | Circular |
| Stop | Cease |
| Think about | Consider |
| A bit | A little |
| Bad | Negative |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Round | Circular |
| Think about | Consider |
| Bad | Negative |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Round | Circular |
| Start/ Begin | Commence |
| Think about | Consider |
| Ask for | Request |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Come after | Follow |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Go through | Examine |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| See | Perceive |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Use | Utilize |
| At once | Immediately |
| Build | Construct |
| Eager | Avid |
| Get out | Escape |
| Give | Donate |
| Give up | Quit |
| Let | Allow |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Seem | Appear |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| At once | Immediately |
| Build | Construct |
| Come after | Follow |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Give | Donate |
| Help | Assist |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Use | Utilize |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Come after | Follow |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Go through | Examine |
| Hurt | Damage, harm |
| See | Perceive |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Use | Utilize |
| Use/Eat | Consume |
| At once | Immediately |
| Bright/smart | Intelligent |
| Come after | Follow |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Go through | Examine |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Use | Utilize |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Free | Liberate |
| Make out | Discern |
| Mend | Repair |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Sick | Ill |
| Speed up | Accelerate |
| Think of | Conceive |
| Bad | Negative |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Kids | Children |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| At once | Immediately |
| Come after | Follow |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Explain | Disclose |
| Give | Donate |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Throw away | Discard |
| Use | Utilize |
| Bad | Negative |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Old | Elderly |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Round | Circular |
| Think about | Consider |
| At once | Immediately |
| Build | Construct |
| End | Terminate/ Finish |
| Get out | Escape |
| Give | Donate |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Pick up | Collect |
| Rich | Wealthy |
| Seem | Appear |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| Build | Construct |
| Eager | Avid |
| Get out | Escape |
| Give up | Quit |
| Look into | Investigate |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Seem | Appear |
| Test | Experiment |
| Wait for | Await |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| Bad | Negative |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Help | Aid/ Assist |
| Think about | Consider |
| Ask out | Invite |
| Deal with | Manage |
| End | Terminate |
| Idea | Notion |
| Link up | Connect |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Right | Correct |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Test | Experiment |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Older | Senior |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Stop | Cease |
| Wrong | Incorrect |
| Bad | Negative |
| Break out | Erupt |
| Expect | Anticipate |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Go down | Decrease |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Lucky | Fortunate |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| Think about | Consider |
| Book | Reserve |
| Brave | Courageous |
| Enough | Sufficient |
| Fall out | Quarrel |
| Happy | Pleased |
| Kids | Children |
| Make out | Discern |
| Make up | Fabricate |
| Mend | Repair |
| Sick | Ill |
| Think of | Conceive |
| Afraid | Fearful |
| Avoid | Evade |
| Chance | Opportunity |
| Climb | Ascend |
| Free | Liberate |
| Make out | Discern |
| Mend | Repair |
| Refer to | Consult |
| Remove | Eliminate |
| Think of | Conceive |
| Ask out | Invite |
| Deal with | Manage |
| End | Terminate |
| Hurt | Damage, harm |
| Idea | Notion |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| Link up | Connect |
| Say sorry | Apologies |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Ask out | Invite |
| Eager | Avid |
| End | Terminate |
| Give up | Quit |
| Pin down | Determine |
| Settle for | Choose |
| Talk about | Discuss/consider |
| Test | Experiment |
| Tough | Difficult |
| Want/ hope | Desire |
| Beat up | Assault |
| Dare | Challenge |
| Deal with | Manage |
| Friendly | Amiable |
| Go through | Examine |
| Hurt | Damage, harm |
| Imagine | Envisage |
| See | Perceive |
| Show | Demonstrate |
| Use | Utilize |
| Ease | Facilitate |
| Empty | Vacant |
| Give out | Distribute |
| Go away | Leave/ depart |
| Lack | Deficiency |
| Older | Senior |
| Put/ set down | Deposit |
| Round | Circular |
| Small | Diminutive |
| Stop | Cease |
List Of Formal And Informal Words For IELTS
| Informal | Formal |
| Babies, Children, Kids (younger) | Offspring, Infants |
| Bad, Poor, Rubbish, Useless | Unacceptable, Unsatisfactory |
| Boss, Manager, | Superior, Supervisor |
| Criminals, Crooks | Lawbreakers, Offenders |
| Elderly people, Old people | Retirees, Senior citizens |
| Family, Folks | Relatives, |
| Fine, OK, Alright | Satisfactory, Acceptable |
| Good, Great, Awesome | Desirable, Preferable |
| Happy (person) | Delighted, Satisfied |
| Happy (situation) | Delightful, Satisfying |
| Kind, Friendly, | Neighborly, Sociable |
| Man, Guy | Male |
| Nice, Polite, | Agreeable, Considerate |
| Police, Cops | Law enforcement, |
| Poor (country) | Poverty, Developing |
| Poor (person) | Underprivileged, In poverty |
| Rich (country) | Developed, Wealthy |
| Rich (person) | Privileged, Wealthy |
| Rude, Impolite, Nasty, Cheeky | Disagreeable, Abusive |
| Sad (person) | Distressed, Regretful |
| Sad (situation) | Distressing, Regrettable |
| Stupid, Crazy, Dumb | Mistaken, Misguided |
| Stupid, Crazy, Dumb (idea) | Questionable, Misguided |
| Teenagers, Kids (older) | Youths, Adolescents |
| Things, Stuff | Possessions, Items |
| Tired of, Sick of, Fed up with | Dissatisfied with, |
Related: 1000 Vocabulary Words for IELTS