Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Family and Relationships

Here you will learn some English words about family and relationships, such as "acquaintance", "branch", "compatible", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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acquaintance

[noun]

a person whom one knows but is not a close friend

Ex: It 's always nice to catch up with acquaintances at social gatherings and hear about their recent experiences .

band

[noun]

a group of people who come together for a particular purpose, often because they share common interests or beliefs

Ex: A band of teachers gathered to discuss improvements for the school .

bond

[noun]

a relationship formed between people or groups based on mutual experiences, ideas, feelings, etc.

adultery

[noun]

sexual intercourse involving a married person and someone other than their spouse

Ex: Despite the temptation , she remained committed to her marriage vows and chose to confront her husband about his suspected adultery.

affair

[noun]

a sexual relationship between two people in which at least one of them is already committed to someone else

Ex: She confided in her best friend about the affair, seeking advice on how to handle the situation .

ally

[noun]

someone who helps or supports someone else in certain activities or against someone else

Ex: The superhero teamed up with his former enemy to defeat a common threat, proving that sometimes even foes can become allies.

ancestor

[noun]

a blood relative who lived a long time ago, usually before one's grandparents

Ex: They shared stories about their ancestors, passing down family history to the younger generation .

ancestry

[noun]

the people that a person is descended from

Ex: The festival celebrated the rich ancestry of the local community , highlighting traditions and customs passed down through generations .

branch

[noun]

a subdivision or a group of members of an extended family sharing the same ancestors

Ex: Although they belonged to different branches of the family , the cousins maintained close relationships throughout their lives .

clan

[noun]

a large group of people who are related to each other

Ex: The wedding was a grand event , attended by members of the clan from all over the country .

adoptive

[Adjective]

(of a child or parent) related through adoption

Ex: The adoptive siblings may not share DNA , but their bond is just as strong as any biological family 's .

biracial

[Adjective]

representing or involving members of two different races

Ex: Biracial representation in media and literature is essential for promoting diversity and challenging stereotypes .

to cheat on

[Verb]

to have a secret romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one's own partner

Ex: Despite his apologies , the damage was done when he cheated on his boyfriend .

breakup

[noun]

the end of a relationship or an association

Ex: The breakup of the partnership left both entrepreneurs free to explore new business opportunities independently .

brotherly

[Adjective]

showing a level of love or care that one would only expect a brother to have

Ex: His brotherly instinct kicked in when he saw his younger sibling struggling with the heavy load , and he rushed to help .

brotherhood

[noun]

the feeling of understanding and friendship between people

Ex: Brotherhood is not just about family; it’s about building strong, compassionate bonds with others who share your values and goals.

companion

[noun]

a person or animal with which one travels or spends a lot of time

Ex: He enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his canine companion, exploring new trails together .

companionship

[noun]

the delightful feeling that one has when accompanied by people one enjoys spending time with rather than being alone

compatible

[Adjective]

(of two people) able to have a balanced and comfortable relationship

co-parent

[noun]

a person who shares the responsibilities of raising a child

Ex: The co-parents work together to create a loving and nurturing environment for their children , despite their differences .

custody

[noun]

the legal right to keep a thing or to take care of a person

descendant

[noun]

someone who shares the same blood with a specific person who lived many years ago

Ex: The ancient artifact was passed down through generations , eventually ending up in the hands of a direct descendant.

distant

[Adjective]

having a connection that is not close or direct, as in a remote familial or social relationship

Ex: Although they ’re distant kin , they share some striking physical features .

soulmate

[noun]

the perfect romantic partner for a person

tie

[noun]

a bond or connection between people, organizations, etc.

to socialize

[Verb]

to interact and spend time with people

Ex: Last weekend , they promptly socialized at a family gathering .

kin

[noun]

a person's family and relatives

Ex: I have n’t seen my kin in years , but we still keep in touch .

next of kin

[noun]

one's closest living relative or relatives

Ex: As the next of kin, you will be responsible for making decisions regarding the deceased 's estate .

kinship

[noun]

the relationship between the members of a family

parenting

[noun]

‌the process of raising or taking care of one's child or children

Ex: His parenting style emphasizes open communication and fostering independence in his children .

maternal

[Adjective]

related to or characteristic of a mother and motherhood, especially during and following childbirth

Ex: There 's a certain maternal warmth she exudes every time she talks about her newborn .

paternal

[Adjective]

having qualities or behaviors typically associated with a father, particularly in a caring, supportive, or protective manner

Ex: One of the most valuable pieces of paternal advice he received was to prioritize his education and never stop learning .

intimate

[Adjective]

(of people) having a very close relationship

Ex: Their intimate relationship allowed them to be vulnerable and honest with each other .

to inherit

[Verb]

to receive money, property, etc. from someone who has passed away

Ex: The business was smoothly transitioned to the next generation as the siblings inherited equal shares .

heritage

[noun]

an individual's religious or ethnic background that is passed down to them from their ancestors

Ex: She learned traditional recipes from her grandmother , preserving her culinary heritage for future generations .

[noun]

the person one used to be married to or have a relationship with

Ex: Despite being divorced , they both attended their daughter 's graduation , showing that they could still be amicable exes.

exclusive

[Adjective]

limited to a particular person, group, or purpose

Ex: He was granted exclusive rights to publish the author's autobiography, ensuring that no other publisher could release it.

to associate

[Verb]

to interact and spend time with someone or a group of people

Ex: We enjoy associating with like-minded individuals .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL

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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Family and Relationships