Expanding Your English Vocabulary
How to Expand Your Vocabulary
Learning New Words
A good command of English vocabulary gives you countless advantages in school, work, and everyday life. Although you can’t just develop a huge vocabulary overnight, you can expand your knowledge quickly and effectively if you follow these methods.
Flashcards and Word Lists
Some people like to study words with flashcards; others like to use word lists. Choose whichever method makes you an active participant and makes you think while you’re studying.
In either case, always try to guess a word’s meaning before you refer to its definition.
Try to learn a set number of words each day or week. If you’re a procrastinator and don’t do well without a rigid schedule, devise one that works for you. Try starting with 10 words a night.
Don’t study words in the same order every time.
This strategy (1) will bore you to death and (2) may leave you unable to remember words if you encounter them on their own or in a different order.
Using flashcards instead of a list can help you mix up the order of the words as you study.
Read, Read, Read
Reading is a long-term solution but is probably the best way to learn and retain vocabulary.
When you encounter an unfamiliar word while reading, try to guess its meaning from the context in which it’s used, then look it up to find out whether you were right. Finally, add the new word to your study list. It may seem like you’re just making more work for yourself, but you’re more likely to remember words that you’ve read in context.
Remembering New Words
Learning new words is easy; making your knowledge stick can be more difficult. The following strategies will help you remember new words as you learn them.
Make Word Associations
Link new words to people or things that are already familiar to you. For example, say you have a friend named Jennifer who always puts others’ needs before her own, donates to charity, and volunteers regularly. Rather than try to memorize the definition of altruistic, just think of Jennifer whenever you see the word altruistic, and the definition will probably stick.
Make up new associations between a word and its meaning. For example, if you have trouble remembering that archaic means “old-fashioned or outmoded,” it might help to build a new association in your head between archaic and Noah’s Ark, which is very old. This system isn’t sophisticated, but once you get a word association in your head, you’ll probably never have to look it up again.
Use New Words Every Day
It’s hard to retain new words through memorization alone. The best way to hammer a word into your mind is to use it. Whenever you learn a new vocabulary word, make a conscious effort to incorporate it into actual conversation at least twice.
When you use a word, it becomes a living thing in your mind that you’ve learned and made your own, rather than a dead, memorized “object” in your brain.
Decoding Unfamiliar Words
Even if you memorize every word on this chart, you’re still bound to come across words that you’ve never seen or studied before. Here are some methods you can use to try to guess the meanings of unfamiliar words.
Go With Your Gut
Often, your gut feeling can tell you about a word’s meaning. Using your gut may not allow you to define a word with absolute certainty, but it may put you in a better position to guess.
Are you able to tell at least whether the word connotes a good or a bad thing? Or is it neutral? Does it refer to something extreme or something slight? Starting points like these often help.
Use Word Roots
Knowledge of word roots is helpful when you encounter difficult vocabulary. Often, prefixes and suffixes—word components that appear at the beginnings or ends of some words—are the best place to start.
For example, the word misanthrope derives from the Greek root anthropo, which means “human” or “humankind,” and prefix mis–, which means “hate.” If you know these roots, you might guess that misanthrope means “one who hates or distrusts people in general.”
The last page of this chart contains an extensive list of useful word roots and prefixes. Roots and prefixes generally are easy to remember: not only are they short, but you’ll probably also recognize many from common words that you already know.
Use Foreign Languages
Although many word roots in English stem from ancient Greek or Latin words, you don’t have to be a classical scholar to dissect the meaning of alien vocabulary: Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese are just as useful because they all are direct descendants of Latin.
Often, you can guess the meaning of an English word based on its similarity to a word in another language. For example, if you know that the Spanish word simpático means “nice” or “agreeable,” you might guess that sympathetic means something similar in English—which it does (sympathetic means “able to understand the feelings of others”).
Vocabulary on Standardized Tests
Many standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, AP, and GRE, include questions that indirectly or directly test your knowledge of English vocabulary.
General Strategies
Start early. If you cram and try to memorize hundreds of vocabulary words just before your test, you’re likely to stress yourself out and not retain very much of what you learn. Instead, start using some of the above strategies several weeks or even months before your test.
Most standardized tests require you to know only the general or basic meanings of words. Few tests require you to know all the nitty-gritty particulars and shades of meaning. As long as you have a good understanding of what a word means in simple terms, you should be all set.
Always learn words in context, whether you’re studying words for a test or just for general knowledge—it always works better than flat-out memorizing words and their definitions.
English Vocabulary A–C
A
abandon n. enthusiasm, exuberance, lack of inhibition
abate v. to reduce, lessen
abdicate v. to give up a position, usually one of leadership
abduct v. to kidnap, take by force
aberration n. something that differs from the norm
abet v. to assist, help, encourage
abhorrent adj. disgusting, detestable, repellent
abide v. 1. to put up with; 2. to remain
abject adj. wretched, miserable, degraded
abjure v. to reject, renounce
abnegation n. self-denial
abode n. a house, dwelling place
aboriginal adj. native, original, having lived in a place from the beginning
abridge v. to cut down, shorten
abrogate v. to abolish, usually by authority
abscond v. to sneak away and hide
absolution n. freedom from blame, guilt, sin
abstain v. to freely choose not to commit an action
abstemious adj. moderate or sparing in consumption or diet
abstruse adj. hard to comprehend
abysmal adj. 1. deep, limitless; 2. very bad, wretched
abyss n. a deep void or chasm
accentuate v. to stress, highlight
accessible adj. obtainable, reachable
acclaim n. high praise
accolade n. high praise; special distinction
accommodating adj. helpful, obliging, polite
accord n. an agreement
accost v. to confront verbally
accretion n. gradual growth in size or amount
acerbic adj. biting, bitter in tone or taste
acrimony n. bitterness, discord
actuate v. to activate, put into action or motion
acumen n. keen insight or perception
acute adj. 1. sharp, severe, intense; 2. brief, sudden
adamant adj. impervious, immovable, unyielding
adduce v. to cite as evidence or proof of
adept adj. highly skilled
adhere v. 1. to stick to something; 2. to follow devoutly
adjacent adj. nearby, next to, adjoining
adjudicate v. to settle an argument or dispute, especially a legal case
admonish v. to caution, criticize, reprove
adorn v. to decorate
adroit adj. skillful, clever
adulation n. extreme praise
adumbrate v. to sketch out in a vague way
advocate v. to argue in favor of something; n. a person who argues in favor of something
aesthetic adj. 1. artistic; 2. related to the appreciation of beauty
affable adj. friendly, amiable
aggrandize v. 1. to increase, make greater; 2. to exaggerate
agile adj. quick, nimble
agnostic adj. believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven; n. one who is agnostic
alacrity n. eagerness, speed
aleatory adj. depending on luck or chance
allay v. to sooth, ease
allege v. to assert, usually without proof
alleviate v. to relieve, make more bearable
allocate v. to distribute, set aside
aloof adj. reserved, distant
altercation n. a dispute, fight
altruistic adj. unselfish, concerned for the welfare of others
amalgamate v. to bring together, unite
ambiguous adj. uncertain, variably interpretable
ambivalent adj. having opposing feelings
ambulatory adj. walking, moving from place to place
ameliorate v. to improve, make more tolerable
amenable adj. willing, compliant
amiable adj. friendly, good-natured, likable
amicable adj. friendly, peaceable
amorphous adj. without definite shape or type
anachronistic adj. being out of correct chronological order
anathema n. a cursed, detested person
anecdote n. a short, humorous account
anesthesia n. loss of sensation
annex v. to take over additional territory or space; n. a room attached to a larger room or space
anomaly n. something that does not fit into the normal order
anonymous adj. unnamed, unrecognized
antagonism n. hostility
antipathy n. strong dislike, repugnance
antiseptic adj. clean, sterile
antithesis n. the absolute opposite
anxiety n. intense uneasiness
apathetic adj. lacking concern, emotion
apex n. the highest point of something
aplomb n. poise, composure
apocryphal adj. fictitious, false, wrong
appalling adj. inspiring shock, horror, disgust
appease v. to calm, satisfy
appraise v. to assess the worth or value of
approbation n. praise
arable adj. suitable for growing crops
arbiter n. one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision
arbitrary adj. based on factors that appear random
arbitration n. the process or act of resolving a dispute via a neutral third party
arcane adj. obscure, secret, known only by a few
archaic adj. 1. of or relating to an earlier time period; 2. outdated
archetypal adj. the most representative or typical example of something
ardent adj. passionate, enthusiastic
arduous adj. difficult, strenuous
arid adj. excessively dry
arrogate v. to take or claim without justification
artisan n. a craftsman
ascertain v. to perceive or learn
ascetic adj. practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious; n. one who is ascetic
ascribe v. to assign, credit, attribute to
aspersion n. a curse, expression of ill will
assess v. to evaluate
assiduous adj. hardworking, diligent
assuage v. to ease, pacify
astute adj. very clever, crafty
asylum n. 1. a place of refuge, protection; a sanctuary; 2. an institution in which the insane are kept
atone v. to repent, make amends
attain v. to achieve, arrive at
attribute v. to credit, assign; n. a facet or trait
atypical adj. not typical, unusual
audacious adj. daring, bold, reckless
audible adj. able to be heard
augment v. to add to, expand
auspicious adj. favorable, indicative of good things
austere adj. 1. strict, stern; 2. bare, bleak
autonomous adj. independent, self-governing
auxiliary adj. supplementary, subsidiary, on the side
avarice n. greed
aversion n. a particular dislike for something
B
baleful adj. 1. sinister, ominous; 2. harmful
balk v. to stop short and refuse to proceed
ballad n. a love song or song that tells a narrative
banal adj. dull, trivial, trite, commonplace
bane n. source of harm or ruin
bard n. a poet, often a singer as well
bashful adj. shy, excessively timid
battery n. 1. a device that supplies power; 2. assault, beating
behemoth n. something of tremendous power or size
belated adj. late, delayed
belie v. to show something to be false or wrong
bellicose adj. prone to violence and aggression
belligerent adj. prone to aggression and conflict
bemused adj. confused, bewildered
benediction n. a blessing or prayer
benefactor n. a donor, one who gives money or gifts
benevolent adj. marked by goodness or doing good
benign adj. 1. mild, favorable; 2. harmless, unthreatening
bequeath v. to pass on, give
berate v. to scold vehemently
bereft adj. devoid of, without
bias n. a tendency, inclination, prejudice
bifurcate v. to divide into two parts, branches, or forks
bilious adj. bad-tempered, irritable
bilk v. to cheat or defraud
blandish v. to coax by using flattery
blasé adj. 1. indifferent, unconcerned; 2. sophisticated
blatant adj. noisy, conspicuously offensive or vulgar
blemish n. an imperfection, flaw
blight n. 1. a plague, disease; 2. something that destroys hope; v. to cause to deteriorate
bombastic adj. excessively confident; overblown, pompous
boon n. a gift or blessing
bourgeois adj. preoccupied with material or commercial interests; n. a middle-class person, capitalist
brazen adj. excessively bold, brash, shameless
brusque adj. short, abrupt, dismissive
bucolic adj. rustic, rural
buffet v. to strike with force; n. an arrangement of food set out on a table
burnish v. to polish, shine
buttress v. to support, hold up; n. something offering support
Byzantine adj. 1. complicated or intricate; 2. characterized by intrigue or deviousness
C
cacophony n. tremendous noise, disharmonious sound
cadence n. a rhythm, progression of sound
cajole v. to urge, coax
calamity n. an event with disastrous consequences
calibrate v. to set, standardize
callous adj. harsh, cold, unfeeling
calumny n. an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies
camaraderie n. brotherhood, jovial unity
candor n. honesty, frankness
canvas n. a piece of cloth on which an artist paints
canvass v. to examine closely, inspect, scrutinize
capacious adj. very spacious
capitulate v. to surrender, give in
capricious adj. subject to whim, fickle
captivate v. to get the attention of, hold
carouse v. to party, celebrate
carp v. to annoy, pester
catalog n. a list or collection; v. to list, enter into a list
catalyst n. something that causes an event to happen
caucus n. a meeting, usually held by people working toward the same goal
caustic adj. 1. harsh, corrosive; 2. sarcastic
cavort v. to leap about, behave boisterously
celerity n. quickness, haste
censure n. harsh criticism; v. to rebuke formally
cerebral adj. related to the intellect
chaos n. absolute disorder, disorganization, confusion
charisma n. charm or magnetism of personality
charlatan n. a fraud or faker
chasm n. 1. a deep gorge or abyss; 2. a marked, often insurmountable division or separation
chastise v. to criticize severely
cherish v. to feel or show affection toward something
chide v. to scold mildly, voice disapproval
choreograph v. 1. to arrange the movements in a dance or ballet; 2. to orchestrate, plan out
chronic adj. continuing, recurrent, habitual
chronicle n. a written history; v. to write a history
circuitous adj. indirect, roundabout
circumlocution n. indirect and wordy language
circumscribe v. to mark off a boundary or limit
circumvent v. to get around, sidestep
clairvoyant adj. able to perceive things that normal people cannot; n. one who is clairvoyant
clamor n. loud noise; v. to insist loudly
clandestine adj. secret
clemency n. mercy
clergy n. members of Christian holy orders
cloying adj. sickeningly sweet
coagulate v. to thicken, clot
coalesce v. to fuse into a whole
cogent adj. intellectually convincing
cognizant adj. aware, mindful
coherent adj. logically consistent, intelligible
collateral adj. secondary or supporting; n. security for a loan
colloquial adj. characteristic of informal conversation
collude v. to conspire, act together secretly
colossal adj. enormous, gigantic
combustion n. the act or process of burning
comestible adj. edible; n. food (usually as “comestibles”)
commandeer v. to seize or confiscate, often for military use
commendation n. a notice of approval or recognition
commensurate adj. corresponding in size or amount
compelling adj. forceful, demanding attention
compensate v. to make appropriate payment for something
complacent adj. smugly ignorant of danger or threat
complement v. to complete, make perfect
compliant adj. ready to adapt oneself to another’s wishes
complicit adj. involved in or associated with a crime or wrongful act
comprehensive adj. including everything
concede v. to yield or acknowledge, often reluctantly
conciliatory adj. peace-making, calming, reconciling
concise adj. brief and direct in expression
concoct v. to fabricate, make up
concomitant adj. accompanying in a subordinate fashion
concord n. harmonious agreement
condolence n. an expression of sympathy in sorrow
condone v. to overlook deliberately, disregard
conduit n. a pipe or channel through which something passes
confection n. a sweet, fancy food
confidant n. a person entrusted with secrets
conflagration n. a great fire
confound v. to frustrate, confuse
congenial adj. pleasantly agreeable
congregation n. a gathering of people, especially for religious services
connive v. to plot, scheme
consecrate v. to dedicate something to a holy purpose
consensus n. an agreement of opinion
consign v. to give something over to another’s care
consolation n. an act of comforting
consonance n. harmony or consistency
conspicuous adj. obvious, attracting attention
constituent n. an essential part
construe v. to interpret or understand in a certain way
consummate v. 1. to complete a deal; 2. to complete a marriage ceremony through sexual intercourse; adj. 1. perfect or complete; 2. very skilled or proficient
consumption n. the act of consuming
contemporaneous adj. existing during the same time
contentious adj. having a tendency to quarrel or dispute
contravene v. to contradict, oppose, violate
contrite adj. penitent, eager to be forgiven
conundrum n. a puzzle, problem
convention n. 1. an assembly of people; 2. a rule, custom
convoluted adj. intricate or involved
copacetic adj. completely satisfactory or acceptable
copious adj. plentiful, abundant, large in number or amount
coquettish adj. flirtatious
cordial adj. warm, affectionate
coronation n. the act of crowning
corroborate v. to support with evidence
corrosive adj. having the tendency to erode or eat away
cosmopolitan adj. sophisticated, worldly
counsel n. advice; v. to give advice
coup n. 1. a brilliant, unexpected act; 2. the overthrow of a government and assumption of authority
coy adj. 1. flirtatiously shy; 2. noncommittal
craven adj. cowardly, fearful
credulity n. readiness to believe
crescendo n. a steady increase in intensity or volume
criteria n. the standards by which something is judged
culpable adj. deserving blame
cultivate v. to nurture, improve, refine
cunning adj. sly, clever at being deceitful
cupidity n. greed, strong desire
cursory adj. brief to the point of being superficial
curt adj. abrupt, brief, or concise to the point of rudeness
curtail v. to lessen, reduce