Formal and Informal Word List

FORMAL AND INFORMAL WORDS
NEUTRAL MORE FORMAL INFORMAL
Achieve attain pull sth off
afraid intimidated scared
agree conclude trash sth out
allow permit ok
answer acknowledge get back to sb
approval assent thumbs up
bad unpleasant lousy
brave gallant gutsy
buy purchase pick sth up
chance opportunity break
child infant kid
choose select pick
clothes clothing gear
complaint grievance gripe
confirm verify back sb/sth up
dare venture Stick your neck out
delay postpone put sth off
dirty soiled grubby
event incident business
expect anticipate bargain on sth.
expensive costly pricey
fail founder get nowhere
find locate sniff sb/sth out
finish complete wrap sth up
give contribute chip in
grief sorrow heartache
hate detest can’t stand
hit strike bash
home residence place

hurry hasten get a move on
important momentous big
information particulars info
jail imprison lock sb up
Joke jest kid
kind benevolent sweet
learn acquire pick sth up
leave resign quit
long for sth covet be dying for sth
look observe check sth out
main principal number one
man gentleman/lady guy/gal
material matter stuff
meet assemble get together
meet encounter run into sb
mess disorder clutter
nuisance inconvenience pain
often frequently a lot
permission consent the go-ahead
pleasure (verb) honour treat
poor destitute hard up
popular desirable hot
punish discipline come down on sb
remove discard get rid of sb/sth
rest respite time out
revolution reversal u-turn
rich affluent loaded
safe secure ok
skill aptitude knack
solution remedy fix

start commence kick off
stay remain hang around
stop cease pack sth in
suspicious dubious fishy
tell inform fill sb in
think hold reckon
tired weary worn out
try attempt have a go
understand comprehend get
useful of use handy
VIP dignitary big shot
visit attend drop in
warning caution tip-off
work toil slog
THINK - believe, presume, consider, conceive, suppose, imagine, reckon, guess, recall, in my opinion, as
for me
GOOD – pleasing, effective, dependable, expert, practiced, proficient, skillful, advantageous, beneficial,
estimable, good, honorable, respectable, reputable, neat, nifty, satisfactory, acceptable, solid, superb
BAD - atrocious, abominable, awful, dreadful, painful, terrible, unspeakable, deplorable, distressing,
lamentable, pitiful, hopeless, horrid, incompetent, unskilled, mediocre, naughty