A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
abase (v) : to embarrass or shame someone else; it also means to lower yourself physically or in rank
abdicate (v) : to give up power or control
abduction (n) : word abduction refers to a kidnapping, taking away or carrying someone off against his or her will
abet (v) : to give help to someone who is doing something wrong
abeyance (n) : a state of temporary inactivity or to stop for a period of time
abnegation (n) : word abnegation refers to the act of staying away from something
abominable (adj) : very unlikable, easy to hate, or disgusting
abound (v) : to exist in great size or large numbers
abrasive (adj) : something that is rough like sandpaper, or something causing friction or tension
abridge (v) : to cut short, reduce in size or to shrink
absolute (adj) : full, perfect, or complete; it also means without limits or boundaries
absorb (v) : to get someone's full interest; it also means to suck up or to take in
abstain (v) : to hold back from something, avoid, or quit
abstruse (adj) : deep, hard to understand, or complicated
abusive (adj) : treating someone or something badly or being harmful or insulting
abysmal (adj) : terrible or awful
academic (adj) : having to do with formal education or with teaching and learning
accentuate (v) : to make something more important or to highlight
accessory (n) : an assistant, and also refers to an add-on
accidental (adj) : something that happens by chance, outside the normal course of events
acclivity (n) : an upward slope (as of ground)
accolade (n) : awards, honors, or praise
accommodate (v) : to make room for something, to help out, to go well with, or to do a favor for someone
accouter (v) : to give clothing and equipment to someone, especially for military service
accrue (v) : to grow in size or number over time, to add to something slowly
acerbity (n) : bitterness, roughness or sharpness
acetic (adj) : sour, acid-like, related to vinegar
acidulous (adj) : sour or sharp in taste or manner
acquiesce (v) : to agree to without protest, generally without enthusiasm
acrid (adj) : acid, sour, biting or stinging, burning, or bitter in taste or manner
acrimonious (adj) : bitter or harsh
actuarial (adj) : having to do with insurance risks and premiums
acuity (n) : keenness, acuteness or sharpness
acumen (n) : great skill, smartness
adapt (v) : to adjust or to change something to meet a new circumstance
addendum (n) : an addition at the end of a book, an extra part, or something added
adept (adj) : highly skilled or experienced in a particular area, proficient
adjourn (v) : to postpone to a later time, or to move to another room during a meeting or in court
adjunct (n) : someone with lesser status or someone or something that provides assistance
admonish (v) : to scold gently, to correct in a well meaning way
adorn (v) : to decorate, make prettier or to beautify
adumbrate (trv) : to outline, or to foreshadow
adverse (adj) : bad, unfavorable, or against someone or something
advocacy (n) : support, help, or the act of fighting for something or someone
advocate (v) : to support, speak, or act in favor of something
aegis (n) : sponsorship, leadership or protection
affable (adj) : friendly, easy to be around, or having good manners and pleasant speech
affiliation (n) : a connection to or an association with someone or something
affinity (n) : a family relationship that is not by blood but by marriage, or a natural attraction
affix (v) : to attach, to connect, to add on, or to secure
affront (n) : an insult or show of disrespect
aftermath (n) : the results of an event, the effects or outcome of an action or situation
agenda (n) : a plan, list of things to be done or something one hopes to accomplish
agglomeration (n) : a cluster of something, mass of varied parts
aggrandize (v) : to expand something or make it bigger, to exaggerate
aghast (adj) : to be in wonder or fear, feeling great horror, or being very upset at seeing something
agility (n) : the ability to move or think quickly and easily
agnostic (n) : someone who is not certain about existence of god
agog (adj) : to be very excited, eager and full of interest
alacrity (n) : being eager, ready, and willing to do something
alchemy (n) : a medieval chemical science aiming to convert the base metals into gold
alias (n) : a false name often used as a disguise
alimony (n) : payment made to a former spouse to help with living expenses
allay (v) : to calm, to ease
allege (v) : to claim that something is true
allegory (n) : a story that symbolizes an abstract meaning
alloy (n) : a combination of two or more metals
allude (v) : to suggest or refer to something indirectly
aloft (adv) : held up, in the air, flying, or in a high place
amalgam (n) : a combination or mixture
amass (v) : to collect for oneself or to accumulate
ambience (n) : the atmosphere or feeling of a place
ambivalent (adj) : undecided or simultaneously having opposite or conflicting feelings, such as love and hate
ambulatory (adj) : able to walk
ameliorate (v) : to make more tolerable or to make better
amenable (adj) : ready to be changed or controlled
amenities (n) : pleasant qualities or behavior, or pleasant features or attractions
amiable (adj) : having a pleasant and friendly disposition
amiss (adj) : word amiss refers to something that seems wrong about a situation, when something is not right or is out of order
amity (n) : friendship and peaceful harmony
amorous (adj) : word amorous refers to being loving, full of love, having to do with sexual love
ample (adj) : plenty, more than enough
amputate (v) : to cut off a limb or body part, usually during surgery
anachronistic (adj) : out of place in a particular time period or out of chronological order
analgesic (n) : a pain killer or a remedy for pain
analogous (adj) : very similar or comparable in some way
anarchy (n) : the complete absence of government or order
ancestry (n) : family ties or all the members of your family that came before you
angular (adj) : having angles; it can also mean stiff and awkward
animosity (n) : word animosity refers to extreme dislike, hatred, or ill will
animus (n) : a feeling of strong dislike or hatred
anoint (v) : to rub or sprinkle oil on, to make sacred, or to choose by divine knowledge
anomalous (adj) : to be out of the ordinary or unusual
anonymity (n) : being nameless or having no personal identity
antagonism (n) : an opposition, tension or competition between two or more things
antecede (v) : to come before something
antedate (v) : to happen before a particular time or date, or to assign an earlier date to something
anthology (n) : a collection of literary pieces in a single format, like a book
anthropocentric (adj) : believing humans are central to and above everything in the universe
anthropoid (adj) : looking like a human, especially certain types of apes
anthropologist (n) : a person who studies human behavior & nature, & the development & origins of human society
antipathy (n) : dislike, hatred, or the object of dislike
antiquated (adj) : very old, behind the times, or antique
antithesis (n) : the exact opposite of something or someone
apathy (n) : lack of emotion or interest
ape (v) : to copy or mimic the actions of someone
apiary (n) : a place where bees are kept
apolitical (adj) : not political, not concerned with politicians or the government
apostate (n) : a person who turns against their religious beliefs, political party, or cause they used to support
apothegm (n) : a short, wise statement or saying
appall (v) : to horrify, shock, disgust, or revolt someone
appease (v) : to calm someone down, especially by giving in to the demands
appellation (n) : name or title
append (v) : to add on or to attach
application (n) : the act of applying or the act of putting something on
apposite (adj) : appropriate or relevant to a situation
appraise (v) : to estimate the value or worth of something
apprehensive (adj) : worried or anxious, or having fear of what may happen
apprenticeship (n) : a period of learning or studying under a master in a particular field or craft
apprise (v) : to inform or to give news
approbation (n) : an official approval, praise, or commendation
appurtenance (n) : something added to something else, or a piece of equipment
apropos (adv) : at the right time or in just the right way;
aquatic (adj) : word aquatic refers to living in or being done on the water, or related to the ocean
arbitrator (n) : a third party or person who steps in to smooth over or settle a disagreement
arboretum (n) : a place where many different types of trees and shrubs are grown for study and exhibition
arcane (adj) : meant for or known to only a select few
archaic (adj) : old and out of use
archetype (n) : a model, an original pattern, an ideal form
archipelago (n) : a group of islands or a sea that contains a group of islands
archive (n) : a preserved collection of documents or information
arduous (adj) : difficult, exhausting or requiring lots of energy and effort
aria (n) : a song performed solo, as in an opera
arid (adj) : dry, barren, lacking in rainfall, useless, or dull
armistice (n) : a temporary cease-fire between warring parties just before a peace treaty is made
arraign (v) : to charge or to accuse
arrears (n) : word arrears refers to an overdue debt or being behind in payments or in work
arrogant (adj) : full of pride and self-importance
arroyo (n) : a dry creek which fills with water after rain
arsenal (n) : a place for making and storing weapons, a storehouse, a supply, or resources
articulate (adj) : using language clearly or spoken in a way that is easily understood
artifice (n) : a trick, a deception, or a clever move
ascertain (v) : to learn, to find out with certainty, or to discover through investigation
ascetic (adj) : self-denying, simple or without luxury of any kind, strict
aseptic (adj) : germ-free; it can also mean lacking in emotion or warmth
ashen (adj) : very gray or pale, looking like ash
asinine (adj) : stupid, foolish, or lacking good sense or intelligence
aspersion (n) : a damaging remark about someone or something, or verbal abuse
assay (v) : to test, to analyze, to try or attempt to analyze the ingredients of something
assent (v) : to agree to or to approve
assert (v) : to insist on something or to state strongly
assiduous (adj) : very dedicated and determined; one who does things with great care
assonance (n) : similarity of vowel sounds or repetition of vowels
assuage (v) : to ease the pain, to soothe, or to pacify
astral (adj) : related to stars or star-like
astringent (adj) : having a harsh or biting quality; bitter or sharp
astute (adj) : very clever, smart and perceptive
asunder (adj) : cut apart or being apart in direction or position
asylum (n) : a place that offers safety; a hospital or sanctuary
atheistic (adj) : related to a disbelief in god, or rejecting god's existence
atrocity (n) : a horrible, violent or cruel act
atrophy (n) : wasting away, especially of body tissue, muscle, or organ
attenuate (v) : to weaken or to lessen the severity, intensity, or value of something
attest (v) : to declare or show that something is true
attrition (n) : wearing away, a normal loss of workers or members by retirement or dying
audacious (adj) : courageous, or having a devil-may-care attitude
audit (n) : an examination of financial records for a person or business
augment (v) : to increase, to grow, or to intensify
augury (n) : a foretelling of the future, a prediction, or the ability to tell the future
aureole (n) : a ring of light often like a halo
auroral (adj) : connected to or similar to the northern lights
auspicious (adj) : of good omen for the future, favorable or promising
authoritarian (adj) : believing in, relating to, or enforcing unquestioning obedience to authority
authoritative (adj) : truthful, reliable, or having expert knowledge
autocratic (adj) : like a tyrant, assertion of total authority
automaton (n) : a machine designed to work automatically by following a predetermined actions, a robot
autopsy (n) : word autopsy refers to an examination of a dead body, or any detailed inspection
avant-garde (adj) : descriptive of leaders in new fashion, art, literary, or architectural movements
aver (v) : to state positively or declare to be true
aversion (n) : an extreme dislike for something, or a strong reaction against something
aviary (n) : a place where birds are kept
avocation (n) : word avocation refers to any activity that is done in addition to one's regular work, usually for enjoyment
avuncular (adj) : of or like an uncle
axiom (n) : something that's generally accepted as true or self-evident
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
GRE and SAT Vocabulary words