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GRE Word List-A
abase: lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose self-respect
abash: embarrass
abate: subside or moderate
abbreviate: shorten
abdicate: renounce; give up (position, right, or responsibility)
aberrant: abnormal or deviant
aberration: deviation from the normal; mental disorder
abet: assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
abeyance: suspended action
abhor: detest; hate
abide: dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by the rules.
Abject: (of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very humble
abjure: renounce upon oath
ablution: washing
abnegation: renunciation; self-sacrifice; self-abnegation
abode: dwelling place; home
abolish: cancel; put an end to
abominable: detestable; extremely unpleasant
abominate: loathe; hate
aboriginal: being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native; indigenous; N. aborigine
abortive: unsuccessful; fruitless
abrasive: rubbing away; tending to grind down
abridge: condense or shorten
abrogate: abolish
abscission: cutting off; separation
abscond :depart secretly and hide
absolute: complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler CF. absolutism
absolve: pardon (an offense)
abstain: refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one’s vote
abstemious: sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
abstinence: restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF. abstention: act of abstaining from vote
abstract: theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
abstruse: obscure; profound; difficult to understand
abusive: coarsely insulting; physically harmful
abut :border upon; adjoin
abysmal: bottomless
abyss: enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit
academic: related to a school; not practical or directly useful
accede: agree
accelerate: move faster
accessible: easy to approach; obtainable
accessory: additional object; useful but not essential thing
acclaim: applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great approval
Acclimate: adjust to climate or environment; adapt
acclivity: sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
accolade: award of merit; strong praise and approval
accommodate: oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony
accomplice: partner in crime
accord: agreement
accost: approach and speak first to a person
accoutre: equip; N. accoutrement
accretion: growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase; increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the castle; V. accrete
accrue: come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex. interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
acerbity bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in taste, manner, or tone)
acetic: vinegary
acidulous: slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
acme: peak; pinnacle; highest point
acne: skin disease (on the face)
acoustics :science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
acquiesce: assent; agree passively; comply without protest
acquittal: deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a specified manner
acrid: bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
acrimonious: stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter ill-natured animosity in speech or behavior
acrophobia: fear of heights
actuarial: calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
actuary: someone who advises insurance companies
actuate: motivate; activate; cause to act
acuity: sharpness (of mind or senses of sight or hearing)
acumen :mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly and well; Ex. business acumen
acute: (of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
adage: wise saying; proverb
adamant: hard; inflexible
adapt: make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust; N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
addendum: addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the end of a speech or book)
addiction: compulsive habitual need
addle: make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten (egg)
address: direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one’s efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
adept: expert at; very skilled
adhere: stick fast; be a devoted follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion; loyalty
adherent: supporter; follower
adjacent: adjoining; neighboring; close by adjoin be next to
adjourn: suspend until a later time; move from one place to another
adjunct:something attached to but holding an inferior position
adjuration: solemn urging; V. adjure: entreat earnestly; enjoin solemnly
adjutant: staff officer assisting the commander; assistant
admonish: warn or speak to with gentle disapproval; reprove
adore: love deeply and respect highly
adorn :decorate
adroit: skillful (in using mind or hand)
adulation: flattery; admiration that is more than is necessary or deserved
adulterate: make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or tainted(contaminated) substances
Advent: arrival
adventitious: accidental; casual; happening by chance
adversary: opponent; enemy
adverse: going against; opposing; unfavorable; hostile
adversity: great hardship or affliction; misfortune; calamitous event
advert: refer
advocacy: support; active pleading on behalf of someone or something
advocate: speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
aegis: shield; protection; defense
aerie: (aery,eyrie,eyry) nest of a large bird of prey
aesthetic: artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
affable: easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
affected: artificial; pretended
affidavit: written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
affiliation: joining; associating with
affinity: feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many affinities between two languages
affirmation: positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF. affirmative action: positive discrimination
affliction: state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict: inflict grievous suffering on
affluence: abundance; wealth
affront: insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the feelings of intentionally
afterlife: life after death; later part of one’s life
agape :openmouthed
agenda: items of business at a meeting
agglomeration: collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N. agglomerate: jumbled mass; heap
aggrandize: make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N. aggrandizement
aggregate: sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
aghast: filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
agility: nimbleness; ability to move quickly
agitate: stir up; disturb
agnostic: one who is skeptical of the existence or know ability of a god or any ultimate reality
agog: highly excited; intensely curious
agrarian: pertaining to land or its cultivation; Ex. agrarian reform
airy: of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
alacrity: cheerful promptness without reluctance
alchemy: medieval chemistry
alcove: nook; recess
alias: an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people); ADV. Alias
alienate: make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the ownership of
alimentary: supplying nourishment
alimony: payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
allay: calm; pacify
allege: state without proof
allegiance: loyalty
allegory: story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable
alleviate: relieve (pain)
alliteration: repetition of beginning sound in poetry
allocate: assign; set apart for a particular purpose
alloy: mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil; CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other metals; pure; complete; unqualified; Ex. unalloyed happiness
allude: refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference
allure: entice; attract; tempt
alluvial :pertaining to soil deposits left by running water
alms: money or goods given to the poor
aloft :upward; high up in the air
aloof: apart; not open in one’s relationship with other people; reserved; ADV
altercation: noisy quarrel
altruistic: unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altruism: unselfish concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
amalgam: combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing mercury) used for filling holes in teeth
amalgamate: (of societies or groups) combine; unite in one body
amass: collect (gradually, in a very large amount)
Amazon: female warrior
ambidextrous: capable of using either hand with equal ease
ambience :environment; atmosphere; Ex. restaurant with a pleasant ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient temperature
ambiguous: unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
ambivalence: the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes or opinions
amble: walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
ambrosia: food of the gods
ambulatory: able to walk
ambush: act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush;
ameliorate: improve
amenable: obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be tested by; Ex. amenable to sensible suggestions; Ex. He is very amenable; Ex. amenable to the usual tests
amend: correct; change ; generally for the better
amenities :convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social courtesies
amiable: agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
amicable: peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable settlement
amiss :wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss
amity: friendship; peaceful relationship as between nations
amnesia :loss of memory
amnesty :pardon (allowed by government to political criminals)
amok(amuck) :in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
amoral: non-moral; having no understanding of right and wrong
amorous: moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous advances
amorphous: formless; lacking shape or definition
amphibian :able to live both on land and in water;
amphitheater: oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
ample :enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample
abundance: largeness of space
amplify: increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one’s remarks with a graph
amputate: cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
amulet :charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil, bad luck
anachronism: an error involving time in a story; something or someone misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
analgesia: condition of being unable to feel pain
analgesic :causing insensitivity to pain
analogous :comparable; similar
analogy: similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
anarchist: person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
anarchy: absence of governing body; state of disorder
anathema: solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V. anathematize
ancestry: family descent; ADJ. ancestral
anchor: secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
ancillary: serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary
anecdote: short story of an amusing or interesting event
anemia: condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
anesthetic: substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness; N. anesthesia
anguish :acute pain; extreme suffering
angular: sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony; lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
animadversion: critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with disapproval
animated: lively; spirited
animosity :active enmity
animus: hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
annals: records arranged in yearly parts; history
anneal: reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling (metal or glass)
annex: attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate (territory) into a larger existing political unit (by force); N: building added to a large one
annihilate: destroy
annotate: comment; make explanatory notes
annuity: yearly allowance
annul :make void
anodyne: drug that relieves pain or trouble; opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne statement
anoint: consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
anomalous: abnormal; irregular
anomaly: irregularity
anonymity: state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
antagonism: hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another; opponent; adversary; principal character in opposition to the protagonist
antecede: precede
antecedents: preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
antediluvian :antiquated; extremely ancient
anthem :song of praise or patriotism; Ex. national anthem
anthology: book of literary selections by various authors; CF. omnibus
anthropoid: manlike; resembling a human being
anthropologist: student of the history and science of humankind
anthropomorphic: having human form or characteristics
anticlimax: letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or disappointing coming after something important or exciting
antidote: remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the economic troubles
antipathy: aversion; dislike or opposition
antiquated: obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
antique: made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was made in an earlier period and that is rare or valuable
antiquity: quality of being very old; ancient times
antiseptic: substance that prevents infection in a wound
antithesis: contrast; direct opposite of or to; ADJ. antithetic or antithetical
antler: bony growth on the head of a deer
anvil: iron block used in hammering out metals
apathy: lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure; ADJ. apathetic
ape: imitate or mimic (a person’s behavior or manner)
aperture: opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the amount of light
apex:tip; summit; climax; highest point
aphasia: loss of speech due to injury or illness
aphorism: pithy maxim or saying; ADJ. aphoristic
apiarist :person who keeps bees
apiary: a place where bees are kept
apiculture: bee-keeping
aplomb :poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-confidence
apocalyptic: prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N. apocalypse
apocryphal : (of a story) widely believed but untrue
apogee: highest point; the point farthest from the earth; OP. perigee
apolitical :having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
apologist: one who writes in defense of a cause or institution; N. apologia
apoplexy :stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the brain
apostate :one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N. apostasy
apothecary :druggist; pharmacist
apothegm(apophthegm) : pithy, compact saying
apotheosis: elevation to godhood; an ideal example of something
appall: dismay; shock deeply
apparent :evident; easily seen or understood; appearing as such; Ex. apparent improvement
apparition :ghost; phantom
appease: pacify or soothe; Ex. appease a crying baby; N. appeasement
appellation: name; title
append: attach
application :diligent attention; diligence; V. apply oneself
apposite: appropriate; fitting
appraise :estimate value of; N. appraisal
appreciate: be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of; ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt
appreciable: difference
apprehend: arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
apprehensive: fearful; discerning
apprise: inform
approbation: approval
appropriate: acquire; take possession of for one’s own use without permission; set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
appurtenances: subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
apropos: with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the present situation
aptitude:fitness; talent
aquiline :curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
arable: fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
arbiter: person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachwear
arbitrary:unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler
arbitrate :act as judge (at the request of both sides)
arboreal :of or living in trees
arboretum :place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited
arcade: a covered passageway usually lined with shops
arcane: esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener
arch: chief; first; Ex. Archbishop
archaeology: study of artifacts and relics of early mankind
archaic: antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past
archetype: prototype; primitive pattern
archipelago: group of closely located islands
archives :public records; place where public records are kept
ardor: heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent
arduous: hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work
argot: slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people
aria :operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
arid: (of land) dry; barren; unproductive
aristocracy: hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat
armada: fleet of warships
aromatic: fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
arraign: charge in court; indict
array: marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
arrears: being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done
arrhythmic: lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
arrogance: pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one’s own importance and a lack of respect for other people)
arroyo :gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater
arsenal: storage place for military equipment
artery: blood-vessel; CF. vein
artful: exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice
articulate: effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
artifacts: object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced
artifice :deception; trickery
artisan: a manually skilled worker
artless: without guile; open and honest
ascendancy: controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant
ascertain :find out for certain; make certain
ascetic: practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism
ascribe :refer; attribute; assign
aseptic :preventing infection; having a cleansing effect
ashen: ash-colored; deadly pale
asinine:stupid; Ex. asinine remarks
askance :with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distrust); Ex. look askance at
askew: crookedly; slanted; at an angle
asperity: sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter
aspersion: slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
aspirant :seeker after position or status
aspire :seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
assail :assault
assay :analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)
assent :agree; accept; N. assessment
assert :state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action) assert one’s independence
assiduous :diligent
assimilate :absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the ways of behaving or thinking)
assuage :make less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
assumption :something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
assurance: firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one’s own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assurance
asteroid :small planet
astigmatism :eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
astral :relating to the stars
astringent :binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
astronomical: enormously large or extensive
astute :wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one’s advantage
asunder: into parts; apart; V. sunder
asylum: place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)
asymmetric: not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
atavism: resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic
atheistic: denying the existence of God; N. atheism
atone :make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for
atrocity: brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious
atrophy: wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)
attentive :alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive
audience:; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration
attenuate: make thin; weaken
attest: testify; bear witness
attire: clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel
attribute: essential quality; V: ascribe; explain
attrition: rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition
atypical: not normal; not typical
audacious: daring; bold; N. audacity
audit: examination of accounts of a business; official examination
augment: increase; add to
augury :omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)
august: impressive; majestic
aureole :sun’s corona; halo; bright circle of light
auroral: pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis
auspicious :favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices
austere: forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk’s life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
authenticate: prove genuine
authoritarian: subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another’s will; Ex. authoritarian regime/father
authoritative: having the weight of authority; regarded as providing knowledge that can be trusted; reliable; peremptory and dictatorial; Ex. authoritative dictionary/manner; CF. definitive
autocratic: having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat, autocracy
automaton: mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works by itself
autonomous: self-governing; N. autonomy
autopsy :examination of a dead body; postmortem
auxiliary: offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper; assistant
avalanche :great mass of falling snow and ice
avant-garde: group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and methods; CF. vanguard
avarice : greediness for wealth
avenge: take vengeance for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They avenged his death by burning the village; Ex. He swore to avenge his brother; Ex. They avenged themselves on their enemy.
aver: state confidently; declare as true
averse : reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to cats/doing the house work
aversion: firm dislike
avert: prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
aviary: enclosure for birds; large cage
avid :greedy; extremely eager for; Ex. avid learner; N. avidity
avocation: secondary or minor occupation
avow: declare openly; N. avowal
avuncular: of or like an uncle
awe: solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V: fill with awe; ADJ. awesome
awful: terrible; very bad
awl :pointed tool used for piercing
awry: distorted; crooked; bent; Ex. Our plans have gone awry.
Axiom :self-evident truth requiring no proof
azure: sky blue
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