Barron GRE word list - A

lower; degrade; humiliate; make humble; make (oneself) lose

abase
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
dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; Ex. abide by
abide
the rules; Ex. I can't abide rude people.
(of a condition) wretched; as low as possible; lacking pride; very
abject
humble; showing lack of self-respect; Ex. abject apology
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
being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native;
aboriginal
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
complete; totally unlimited; having complete power; certain; not
absolute
relative; Ex. absolute honesty/ruler; CF. absolutism
absolve pardon (an offense)
refrain; withhold from participation; intentionally not use one's
abstain
vote;
abstemious sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
 restraint from pleasant things, esp. eating or drinking; CF.
abstinence
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
applaud; praise; greet with great approval; announce with great
approval; Ex. The new drung has been acclaimed as the most
acclaim
important discoveries for years; N: strong expression of approval
and praise
acclimate adjust to climate or environment; adapt
acclivity sharp upslope of a hill; OP. declivity
accolade award of merit; strong praise and approval
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt;
accommodate make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating:
helpful and obliging
accomplice partner in crime
accord agreement
accost approach and speak first to a person
accoutre equip; N. accoutrement
growth or increase in size by gradual addition; growth; increase;
accretion increase by natural growth; Ex. towers and other accretions of the
castle; V. accrete
come to one as a gain; accumulate over time; come about by
accrue addition; Ex. benefits that accrue from scientific research; Ex.
interest accruing in a bank account; N. accrual
bitterness of speech and temper; ADJ. acerbic: bitter; acrid (in
acerbity
taste, manner, or tone)
acetic vinegary
acidulous slightly sour (in taste or manner); sharp; caustic
acknowledge recognize; admit
acme peak; pinnacle; highest point
acne skin disease (on the face)
science of sound; quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear
acoustics
in
acquiesce assent; agree passively; comply without protest
deliverance from a charge; V. acquit: free from a charge or
acquittal accusation; discharge from a duty; conduct (oneself) in a
specified manner
acrid bitter (to the taste or smell); sharp; bitterly pungent
stinging; caustic; bitter in words or manner; N. acrimony: bitter
acrimonious
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)
mental keenness; sharpness of judgment; ability to judge quickly
acumen
and well; Ex. business acumen
(of the senses) sharp; quickly perceptive; keen; penetrating; brief
acute
and severe; Ex. acute sense of smell/analysis/pain
adage wise saying; proverb
adamant hard; inflexible
make or become suitable for a specific use; alter; modify; adjust;
adapt N. adaptation: act of adapting; composition recast into a new
form; Ex. The play is an adaption of a short novel.
addition; appendix to book; something that is added (as at the
addendum
end of a speech or book)
addiction compulsive habitual need
make or become confused; muddle; drive crazy; become rotten
addle
(egg)
direct a speech to; speak to; deal with or discuss; direct one's
address
efforts or attention to; make with a destination; N: formal speech
adept expert at; very skilled
stick fast; be a devotd follower; N. adhesion: adhering; devotion;
adhere
loyality
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
make impure or of poorer quality by adding inferior or
adulterate
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
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful (of a
aesthetic
person or building); CF. aesthete; CF. aesthetics
affable easily approachable; easy to talk to; warmly friendly
affected artificial; pretended
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of
affidavit
law)
affiliation joining; associating with
feeling of kinship; similarity; Ex. strong affinity for her; Ex. many
affinity
affinities between two languages
positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who
affirmation refuses to take an oath; V. affirm; ADJ. affirmative; CF.
affirmative action: positive discrimination
state of distress; trial; cause of distress or suffering; V. afflict:
affliction
inflict grievous suffering on
affluence abundance; wealth
insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect; V: insult or hurt the
affront
feelings of intentionally
afterlife life after death; later part of one's life
agape openmouthed
agenda items of business at a meeting
collection; heap; V. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; N.
agglomeration
aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
make greater; increase in power, wealth, rank, or honor; N.
aggrandize
aggrandizement
sum; total; ADJ. V: gather into a mass or whole; accumulate; add
aggregate
up to; Ex. aggregate 100 dollars
aghast filled with great surprise or fear; horrified
agility nimbleness; ability to move quickly
agitate stir up; disturb
one who is skeptical of the existence or knowability of a god or
agnostic
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
an assumed name esp. by a criminal (usually to mislead people);
alias
ADV. alias
make unfriendly or hostile; estrange; separate; change the
alienate
ownership of
alimentary supplying nourishment
alimony payments made regularly to an ex-spouse after divorce
allay calm; pacify
allege state without proof
allegiance loyalty
story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols;
allegory
fable
alleviate relieve (pain)
alliteration repetition of beginning sound in poetry
allocate assign; set apart for a particular purpose
mixture as of metals; something added that lowers in value or
purity; V: mix; make less pure; lower in value or quality; spoil;
alloy
CF. unalloyed: not in mixture with other maetals; 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
apart; not open in one's relationship with other people; reserved;
aloof
ADV.
altercation noisy quarrel
unselfishly generous; concerned for others; N. altiruism: unselfish
altruistic
concern for the welfare of others; unselfishness; OP. egoism
combination of different things; mixture of metals (containing
amalgam
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
environment; atmosphere; Ex. restraurant with a pleasant
ambience ambience; ADJ. ambient: completely surrounding; Ex. ambient
temperature
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible
ambiguous
interpretation
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
ambivalence
or opinions
amble walking at an easy unhurried pace; V: walk slowly and aimlessly
ambrosia food of the gods
ambulatory able to walk
act of lying in wait to attack by surprise; sudden attack made
ambush
from a concealed position; Ex. lie in ambush; V.
ameliorate improve
obedient; compliant; readily managed; responsive; willing to be
led; answerable or accountable legally; responsible; able to be
amenable
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
convenient features that helps to make life pleasant; social
amenities
courtesies
amiable agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly
peaceful; politely friendly; not quarrelsome; Ex. amicable
amicable
settlement
amiss wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
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 nonmoral; having no understanding of right and wrong
moved by sexual love; loving; of sexual love; Ex. amorous
amorous
advances
amorphous formless; lacking shape or definition
amphibian able to live both on land and in water; N.
amphitheater oval building with tiers of seats; CF. arena
enough; abundant; spacious; large in size; Ex. ample
ample opportunity/garden; N. amplitude: quality of being ample;
abundance; largeness of space
increase in size or effect; expand; broaden or clarify by
amplify expanding; intensify; make stronger; Ex. amplify one's remarks
with a graph
amputate cut off part of body; prune (a limb)
charm; talisman; an object worn believed to protect against evil,
amulet
bad luck
an error involving time in a story; something or someone
anachronism
misplaced in time; ADJ. anachronistic
analgesia condition of being unable to feel pain
analgesic causing insensitivity to pain; N.
analogous comparable; similar
analogy similarity; parallelism; comparing two similar things
person who seeks to overturn the established government;
anarchist
advocate of abolishing authority
anarchy absence of governing body; state of disorder
solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse; V.
anathema
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; N.
anecdote short story of an amusing or interesting event
anemia condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; ADJ. anemic
substance that removes sensation with or without loss of
anesthetic
consciousness; N. anesthesia
anguish acute pain; extreme suffering
sharp-cornered; having an angle; not rounded (body); bony;
angular
lean; gaunt; stiff in manner
 critical remark; V. animadvert: comment critically with
animadversion
disapproval
animated lively; spirited
animosity active enmity
animus hostile feeling or intent; animosity; hostility; disposition
annals records arranged in yearly parts; history
reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling
anneal
(metal or glass)
attach; add to a large thing; take possession of; incorporate
annex (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
drug that relieves pain or trouble;opiate; ADJ. Ex. anodyne
anodyne
statement
anoint consecrate; put oil on (in a religious ceremony)
anomalous abnormal; irregular
anomaly irregularity
anonymity state of being nameless; anonymousness; ADJ. anonymous
hostility; active opposition; V. antagonize: cause to become an
enemy; N. antagonist: person who is opposed to another;
antagonism
opponent; adversary; principal character in oppostion to the
protagonist
antecede precede
preceding events that influence what comes later; ancestors or
antecedents
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; N.
anthropologist student of the history and science of humankind
anthropomorphic having human form or characteristics
letdown in thought or emotion; something unexciting, ordinary, or
anticlimax
disappointing coming after something important or exciting
remedy to counteract a poison or disease; Ex. antidote to the
antidote
economic troubles
antipathy aversion; dislike or opposition
antiquated obsolete; old-fashioned; outdated
made in an earlier period and usu. valuable; N: object that was
antique
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; ADJ.
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
lack of caring; indifference; lack of concern or interest in
apathy important matters; Ex. He was sunk in apathy after his failure;
ADJ. apathetic
ape imitate or mimic (a person's behavior or manner)
opening; hole; adjustable opening in a camera that limits the
aperture
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
poise; composure in difficult situations; assurance; self-
aplomb
confidence
prophetic; pertaining to revelations especially of disaster; N.
apocalyptic
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
stroke; loss of consciousness caused by too much blood in the
apoplexy
brain
one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs; N.
apostate
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
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of;
appreciate
ADJ. appreciable: enough to be felt; Ex. appreciable difference
apprehend arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive; N. apprehension
apprehensive fearful; discerning
apprise inform
approbation approval
acquire; take possession of for one's own use without permission;
appropriate
set aside for a particular purpose; allocate; CF. misappropriate
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important
appurtenances
thing
with reference to; regarding; Ex. remarks apropos (of) the
apropos
present situation; ADJ. ADV.
aptitude fitness; talent
aquiline curved; hooked; of or like an eagle; Ex. aquiline nose
arable fit for growing crops; Ex. arable land
person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a
arbiter position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of
fashion in beachware
unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary
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
esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex.
arcane
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; N.
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
hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N.
aristocracy
aristocrat
armada fleet of warships
aromatic fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell
arraign charge in court; indict
marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly;
array
adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array
being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that
arrears
should have been done
arrhythmic lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia
pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important
arrogance (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
effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds;
articulate having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and
feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints
object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-
artifacts
produced
artifice deception; trickery
artisan a manually skilled worker
artless without guile; open and honest
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the
ascendancy
ascendant
ascertain find out for certain; make certain
practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts;
ascetic
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
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex.
askance
look askance at
askew crookedly; slanted; at an angle
sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex.
asperity
asperities of a Russian winter
aspersion slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on
aspirant seeker after position or status
seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become
aspire
president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership
assail assault
analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or
assay
ore)
assent agree; accept; N. assessment
state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims,
assert etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's
independence
assiduous diligent
absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand
(knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to
assimilate
become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the
wasy of behaving or thinking)
mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe
assuage
(anger)
something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession
assumption
of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume
firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or
pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence;
assurance
Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex.
assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assuranc
asteroid small planet
astigmatism eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
astral relating to the stars
binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe;
astringent
stringent; Ex. astringent criticism
astronomical enormously large or extensive
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's
astute
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
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents;
atavism
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
wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack
atrophy
of blood or lack of use)
alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention;
considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience;
attentive
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
rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or
strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees;
attrition
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; V.
augment increase; add to
omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict;
augury
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
forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment;
austere severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex.
austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity
authenticate prove genuine
subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating
authoritarian
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
having absolute unchecked power; dictatorial; N. autocrat,
autocratic
autocracy
mechanism that imitates actions of humans; machine that works
automaton
by itself
autonomous self-governing; N. autonomy
autopsy examination of a dead body; postmortem; V.
offering or providing help; additional or subsidiary; N: helper;
auxiliary
assistant
avalanche great mass of falling snow and ice
group of artists whose work is based on the newest ideas and
avantgarde
methods; CF. vanguard
avarice greediness for wealth
take vengence for something or on behalf of someone; Ex. They
avenge 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
reluctant; disinclined; not liking or opposed; Ex. averse to
averse
cats/doing the house work
aversion firm dislike
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was
avert 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
solemn wonder; feeling of respect mixed with wonder and fear; V:
awe
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