If you sometimes attend meetings in English, this vocabulary will be helpful. Study the words and then try the test.
| word part of speech | meaning | example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| absent adj | not present | The vice president is absent due to unforeseen circumstances. |
| accomplish verb | succeed in doing | We have a lot to accomplish today, so let's begin. |
| address verb | deal with; speak on | I hope we do not have to address this matter again in the future. |
| adjourn verb | close a meeting | If there are no further comments, we will adjourn the meeting here. |
| agenda noun | list of objectives to cover in a meeting | Please forward the agenda to anyone who is speaking at the meeting. |
| AGM noun(abbr.) | Annual (yearly) General Meeting | We always vote for a new chairperson at the AGM. |
| allocate verb | assign roles/tasks to certain people | I forgot to allocatesomeone to bring refreshments. |
| AOB noun(abbr.) | Any Other Business (unspecified item on agenda) | The last item on the agenda is AOB. |
| apologies noun | item on agenda announcing people who are absent; apologies for absence | Everyone is present today, so we can skip the apologies. |
| ballot noun | a type of vote, usually in writing and usually secret | Please fold your ballotin half before you place it in the box. |
| board of directors noun | group of elected members of an organization/company who meet to make decisions | The board of directors meets once a month to discuss the budget. |
| boardroom noun | a large meeting room, often has one long table and many chairs | The boardroom is reserved for a managers' meeting, so we'll have to meet in the lounge. |
| brainstorm verb | thinking to gather ideas | Let's take a few minutes and brainstorm some ways that we can cut costs. |
| casting vote noun | deciding vote (usually by the chairman) when the votes are otherwise equal | The role of treasurer was decided based on the chairman's casting vote. |
| chairperson chair noun | the person who leads or presides at a meeting | As chair, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. Allan Davis. |
| clarification verification noun | explanation/proof that something is true/understood | Before we address this matter, I'll need some clarification as to who was involved. |
| closing remarks noun | last thoughts spoken in a meeting (i.e. reminders, thank yous) | I just have a few closing remarks and then you will all be free to go. |
| collaborate verb | work together as a pair/group | The board fell apart because the members had difficulty collaborating. |
| commence verb | begin | We will commence as soon as the last person signs the attendance sheet. |
| comment verb or noun | express one's opinions or thoughts | If you have a comment, please raise your hand rather than speak out. |
| conference noun | formal meeting for discussion, esp. a regular one held by an organisation | Before the conferencethere will be a private meeting for board members only. |
| conference call noun | telephone meeting between three or more people in different locations | Please make sure I have no interruptions while I'm on the conference call. |
| confidential adjective | private; not to be shared | Any financial information shared during this meeting should be kept confidential. |
| consensus noun | general agreement | If we cannot come to a consensus by the end of the meeting we will put it to a vote. |
| deadline noun | due date for completion | The deadline for buying tickets to the conference is May 25th. |
| designate verb | assign | If no one volunteers to take the minutes I will be forced to designate someone. |
| formality noun | a procedure (often unnecessary) that has to be followed due to a rule | Everyone knows who is going to be the next vice president, so this vote is really just a formality. |
| grievance noun | complaint | The first item on the agenda relates to a grievance reported by the interns. |
| guest speaker noun | person who joins the group in order to share information or deliver a speech | I am delighted to welcome our guest speaker Holly, who is going to be offering some sales pitch tips. |
| implement verb | make something happen; follow through | It's not a question of whether or not we're going to use this idea, it's whether or not we know how to implement it. |
| mandatory adjective | required | It is mandatory that all supervisors attend Friday's meeting. |
| minutes noun | a written record of everything said at a meeting | Before we begin with today's meeting, let's quickly review the minutes from last month. |
| motion noun | a suggestion put to a vote | The motion to extend store hours has been passed. |
| objectives noun | goals to accomplish | I'm pleased that we were able to cover all of the objectivestoday within the designated time. |
| opening remarks noun | chairperson or leader's first words at a meeting (i.e. welcome, introductions) | As I mentioned in my opening remarks, we have to clear this room before the end of the hour. |
| overhead projector noun | machine with a special light that projects a document onto a screen or wall so that all can see | I'm going to put a pie chart on the overhead projector so that everyone can visualize how our profits have declined. |
| participant noun | person who attends and joins in on an event | Can I have a show of hands of all of those who were participants in last year's conference? |
| proxy vote noun | a vote cast by one person for or in place of another | There must have been one proxy votebecause I count twelve ballots but only eleven attendees. |
| punctual adjective | on time (not late) | Firstly, I want to thank you all for being punctual despite this early meeting. |
| recommend verb | suggest | I recommend that you sit closer to the front if you have trouble hearing. |
| show of hands noun | raised hands to express an opinion in a vote | From the show of hands it appears that everyone is in favour of taking a short break. |
| strategy noun | plan to make something work | We need to come up with a strategy that will allow us to have meetings less frequently. |
| unanimous adj | in complete agreement; united in opinion | The vote was unanimous to cut work hours on Fridays. |
| vote verb or noun | to express (the expression of) an opinion in a group by voice or hand etc | We need to vote for a new vice chairperson now that Jerry is retiring. |
| wrap up verb | finish | Let's wrap up here so that we can get back to our desks. |
Links