Change & Process

Vocabulary for describing transformation and development

Introduction

Much of what we discuss involves change: how things develop, transform, improve, or decline. This vocabulary helps you describe processes, transitions, and the dynamics of change across many contexts.

This chapter presents vocabulary for discussing change and processes. Whether describing social transformation, organisational restructuring, or natural phenomena, these words capture the dynamism of the world around us.

Themes

All Advanced Vocabulary in This Chapter (25)

• deteriorate To become progressively worse in quality, condition, or function over time.
• accelerate To increase in speed, rate, or pace; to cause something to happen sooner or m...
• decelerate To reduce speed or the rate of progress; to slow down.
• fluctuate To rise and fall irregularly in number, amount, or intensity; to vary unpredi...
• stabilise To make or become steady, stable, or unlikely to change or fluctuate further.
• consolidate To combine or unite separate elements into a single, stronger whole; to stren...
• converge To come together from different directions towards a common point; to tend to...
• diverge To separate and move in different directions from a common point; to differ o...
• intensify To become or make stronger, more extreme, or more concentrated in degree or f...
• diminish To make or become less in size, importance, value, or intensity; to reduce or...
• proliferate To increase rapidly in number or amount; to spread or multiply at a fast rate.
• stagnate To cease developing or progressing; to become inactive, sluggish, or unchanging.
• precipitate To cause something to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely; also, do...
• culminate To reach the highest point, peak, or most important stage; to end or conclude...
• instigate To bring about or initiate an action or event, especially one that involves c...
• initiate To cause a process or action to begin; to introduce someone to a new activity...
• terminate To bring to an end; to conclude or discontinue something, especially formally...
• supersede To take the place of something older, less effective, or less valid; to repla...
• displace To move something or someone from their usual place or position; to take the ...
• supplant To replace or take the position of someone or something, especially through f...
• revitalise To give new life, energy, or vitality to something that has declined or becom...
• rejuvenate To make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively; t...
• regenerate To bring new and more vigorous life to an area, institution, or system; to re...
• progression The process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state; ...
• catalyse To cause or accelerate a process or reaction, especially by acting as a stimu...