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A lot of students immediately think of vocabulary when they hear the word SAT. But are SAT vocab words really that important for doing well on the test? Kind of. If you’re aiming for a high score, you’ll definitely want to spend some time learning key SAT words.

In this guide, we give you a comprehensive list of 262 of the most common SAT vocabulary words. We also explain how vocab is tested on the SAT, what types of questions you’ll see, and how to get the most out of your vocab prep.

How Is Vocabulary Tested on the SAT?

The SAT underwent a significant redesign in 2016, and since then vocabulary has become a far less important part of the test. This is because there are fewer vocabulary questions on the current SAT than there were on the old SAT.

That said, it’ll still benefit you to study vocab, especially if you’re aiming for a high or perfect score.

All SAT words are about medium difficulty and are tested in the context of reading passages, so you’ll get not just a sentence but an entire paragraph or passage to work with.

Context clues make memorizing SAT vocab words less important on the current SAT than it was on the old SAT, back when you had to memorize dozens of obscure words and answer questions that dealt with isolated sentences (these were called Sentence Completion problems). This made vocab questions particularly hard since you were given minimal context with which to solve them.

What Do SAT Vocabulary Questions Look Like?

Purely vocabulary-based questions don’t make up a large part of the SAT. Based on our analysis of official SAT practice tests, 13% of the Reading section (or about seven questions) ask you to match a word with its correct meaning. We call these Words in Context questions.

For these questions, you’ll need to know alternative meanings of relatively common words, such as “directly” and “hold.” While you might come across slightly more difficult SAT words, you generally shouldn’t see any as hard as those on the old SAT.

Here’s an example of a Reading vocabulary question (with the relevant part of the passage shown):

In addition to Words in Context questions, you’ll get questions that require you to pick a single word or phrase in order to paraphrase or clarify part of a passage. With these questions, you must understand what all the SAT vocab words mean so that you can choose the right answer.

Here are some examples of these questions:

In these examples, you’ll need to know the definitions of a variety of SAT vocabulary words, such as “substantiated,” “freewheeling,” and “scandalous,” so that you can select the right answer choice.

Are There Any Vocab Questions on SAT Writing?

Aside from the Reading section, are there any SAT vocab questions on the Writing and Language section? The quick answer is yes—you will see vocab questions on Writing and Language.

While most questions in this section focus on grammar, transitions, and tense, you’ll also get some vocab questions that ask you to replace SAT words in a passage; we call these Precision questions. In total, you’ll get three Precision questions, making up about 7% of the SAT Writing section.

Here’s an example of a Precision question (with the relevant part of the passage shown):

262 SAT Vocab Words You’re Bound to See on Test Day

Now that you know what kinds of vocab questions are on the SAT, let’s go over the 262 words and definitions we suggest memorizing if you want to get high scores on SAT Reading and Writing.

To compile this list, we dug through all official SAT practice tests, looking at both the Reading and Writing sections (and not just the questions but the answer choices and passages, too). We also looked at SAT words from other online vocab lists.

Though you don’t need to memorize all the words below, familiarizing yourself with most of them should help you better identify the tones of passages and make you more efficient at interpreting and answering questions correctly on SAT Reading and Writing.

Below, we give you each word, its part of speech, its definition, and an example sentence (or more if the word has multiple definitions/parts of speech). All words are listed in alphabetical order.

Word	Definition	Example Sentence
Abate	v. to become less active, less intense, or less in amount	As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated.
Abstract	adj. existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality	Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of the abstract painting.
Abysmal	adj. extremely bad	I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!
Accordingly	adv. in accordance with	All students must behave accordingly.
Acquisition	n. the act of gaining a skill or possession of something	Language acquisition is easier for kids than it is for adults.
Adapt	v. to make suit a new purpose v. to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation	The US has adapted many foreign foods to better suit the tastes of Americans. Dogs are known for their ability to quickly adapt to their environments.
Adept	adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area)	Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin.
Adequate	adj. having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose	Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit.
Advent	n. the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic)	The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb.
Adversarial	adj. relating to hostile opposition	An adversarial attitude will make you many enemies in life.
Advocate	n. someone who promotes or defends something v. to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.)	I am an advocate for free higher education. Environmental protesters often advocate for cleaner energy practices.
Aesthetic	adj. relating to beauty or refined taste	The aesthetic decorations at the wedding reception made you feel as if you were a character in a fairy tale.
Afford	v. to be able to buy v. to be able to spare	He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a new car. I can’t afford to lose any more pencils!
Agitate	v. to promote something (usu. a cause)	They’re agitating for better health care.
Allow	v. to permit or consent to	US law allows citizens to speak freely.
Allude	v. to make a secretive mention of something	She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say anything more about it.
Altercation	n. a noisy argument or confrontation	Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar.
Ambiguous	adj. unclear or vague in meaning	Her ambiguous statement made me question whether she could be trusted.
Ambitious	adj. having a powerful desire for success or achievement	Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be president someday.
Ambivalence	n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options	His ambivalence prevented him from immediately signing the contract.
Analogous	adj. similar but not identical	Green onions are considered analogous to spring onions.
Annihilate	v. to destroy or cause devastating destruction	The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels.
Anomaly	n. something different from the norm	This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens.
Anticipate	v. assume to be likely to happen	The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it would be.
Antipathy	n. a strong feeling of dislike	Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom.
Apex	n. the highest point of something	The spring play was the apex of our school year.
Apprehension	n. fearful expectation of something	Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her missing the train.
Articulate	v. to clearly express in words	She articulated her opinion on the price of the house.
Artificial	adj. something made; not occurring naturally	Many candies use artificial flavors to make them taste fruity.
Assertion	n. a strong declaration	His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone laugh.
Austere	adj. extremely plain adj. stern and forbidding adj. relating to self-denial	He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods. My boss had an austere expression on her face. An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody.
Authenticity	n. the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived	The police officer doubted the authenticity of the suspect’s story.
Avenue	n. an intangible path or approach to something	The company has decided to pursue other avenues.
Avid	adj. actively interested in or enthusiastic about something	Gerald is an avid soccer fan.
Basic	adj. relating to the foundation or basis of something	You have to start with basic Russian before you can move on to the advanced level.
Bear	v. to have as a characteristic v. to have (a child) v. to bring forth v. to put up with	She bears a strong resemblance to your mother. Judy will bear her first child later this year. My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year. I can’t bear her complaining any longer!
Benevolent	adj. kind, generous	Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.
Bias	n. a preconception that prevents objectivity	It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime.
Bittersweet	adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness	The ending of the romance movie was bittersweet.
Bolster	v. to support, strengthen, or fortify	If we work together, we should be able to lift and then bolster the couch.
Boost	n. an increase or growth v. to increase or make grow	The boost in profits was a welcome change. In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your customers.
Brawl	n. an intense, loud fight v. to fight loudly and disruptively	A brawl broke out at school today after one student accused another of cheating. The two students brawled for an hour.
Brevity	n. the quality of being brief or terse	The brevity of their time together made it all the more romantic.
Candid	adj. direct, blunt	Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor.
Candor	n. the trait of being honest and frank	I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up.
Capitalize	v. to use to your advantage	I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having your work the cash register.
Capture	v. to trap or take possession of v. to successfully represent or imitate v. to captivate, mesmerize v. to catch or seize	The spy was captured by the enemy. Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of life. I was captured by her beauty. The cops captured the criminal three days after the incident.
Civic	adj. relating to the city or citizens	Voting is a civic duty.
Clinical	adj. emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting)	Her clinical approach to situations allows her to handle them more effectively.
Clout	n. special advantage or power	Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout.
Coarse	adj. indicating a rough texture adj. lacking refinement or sophistication	The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never been washed. The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised the other members of royalty.
Coincide	v. to happen at the same time	It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the concert coincided with my finals.
Commission	n. the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product)	This painting was commissioned by a rich merchant in 1589.
Comparable	adj. able to be compared	This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn.
Competent	adj. sufficiently qualified	We need to hire a competent web developer to create a good website for our company.
Complacent	adj. satisfied, with no desire to change or improve	Though he had never won any awards or even been published, he was complacent with his life as a poet.
Complement	v. to make perfect or complete	This wine perfectly complements this platter of gourmet cheese.
Concede	v. to be forced to agree or surrender v. to admit to a transgression	With no chance of winning the battle, the army at last conceded. Dan conceded to pranking his sister.
Conceive	v. to imagine or come up with	The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the early 1900s.
Condone	v. to overlook, approve, or allow	She couldn’t condone her daughter’s rebellious behavior.
Conducive	adj. able to bring about or be suitable for	The noisy students hardly made the campus library conducive to studying.
Conduct	v. to control or manage v. to behave a certain way	The group conducted their research abroad last year. Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly.
Confide	v. to share something secretive with someone	She confided all of her biggest secrets in her best friend.
Confine	v. to put limits on; to restrict	We are going to confine the use of this drinking fountain.
Consensus	n. overall agreement	After weeks of debating, the panel finally came to a consensus.
Constitute	v. to form or compose (part of) something	The desire for equality constituted the civil rights movement.
Contemplate	v. to think deeply about	She contemplated telling her teacher about the cheating student.
Contend	v. to maintain or assert (an opinion)	The president contends that the US government will not negotiate with terrorists.
Contradict	v. to be in contrast with	The camera footage contradicts his alibi.
Controversial	adj. highly debatable and causing contention	Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take place.
Conventional	adj. abiding by accepted standards	She lives a conventional life in the suburbs.
Convey	v. to pass on or transfer (information)	I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French.
Conviction	n. a firm belief in something	Her religious convictions prevent her from eating meat.
Corroborate	v. to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim)	The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day.
Counteract	v. to work in opposition to	This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones.
Counterargument	n. an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument	Make sure to include a counterargument in your essay so that you can show you’ve considered the topic from all perspectives.
Counterproductive	adj. hindering the achievement of a goal	Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to get to the train station.
Culmination	n. the final act or climax	The culmination of the performance was unforgettable.
Cultivate	v. to foster the growth of	Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students—they cultivate their academic potential.
Decree	v. to declare formally and with authority	The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth be a national holiday.
Deference	n. respect; regard	Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center.
Deficient	adj. not enough in degree or amount	I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient.
Demonstrate	v. to do as an example v. gives evidence for	Could you demonstrate the dance move for me? This book’s use of words such as “grim” and “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone.
Demur	v. to object to	She demurred at my request to transfer to a different department.
Deplete	v. to (over)use over time (usu. resources)	The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food.
Desolate	adj. bare, barren, empty	The moon is one giant, desolate landscape.
Devise	v. to come up with (a plan)	Lana devised a plan to make herself famous.
Dilemma	n. a problem, usually requiring a choice between two options	The main dilemma is whether to pay for a commercial or not.
Diligence	n. conscientiousness; the quality of being committed to a task	Diligence and confidence will get you far in life.
Diminish	v. to become smaller in scope or degree	The itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts to diminish after a few days.
Dire	adj. hopeless and dangerous or fearful	When the police didn’t explain what was happening right away, Jane knew that the situation must be dire.
Discord	n. disagreement	Disputes over money caused intense discord in the family.
Disdain	n. a lack of respect and strong dislike (toward something or someone)	He looked at me with such disdain that I immediately knew the job wouldn’t work out.
Dismay	n. hopelessness, stress, or consternation v. to fill with woe or apprehension	To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test. Many were dismayed by the town’s implementation of metered parking.
Disparage	v. to belittle or speak down to	A good boss is stern but never disparages his or her employees.
Dispatch	v. to send off a message or messenger	The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s house.
Diversification	n. the act of becoming diverse	Lately, there’s been noticeable diversification of students at higher institutions.
Doctrine	n. a principle, theory, or position, usu. advocated by a religion or gov’t	Devoutly religious people often live their lives according to their doctrines.
Dominion	n. power and authority (usu. over a territory) n. a legal territory	The country claimed to have dominion over parts of Russia. Puerto Rico is a dominion of the US.
Dreary	adj. sad, gloomy, dull	The gray clouds in the sky made the day feel dreary.
Dubious	adj. doubtful, questionable	The man’s claims to the throne were dubious since nobody knew where he’d come from.
Eccentric	adj. peculiar or odd; deviating from the norm	She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around.
Egregious	adj. extremely bad	After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel as though she’d made an egregious mistake.
Eloquent	adj. having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing)	His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely compelling.
Eminent	adj. superior or distinguished; high in position or status	Our town made news when the eminent magician came to perform at our local theater.
Emit	v. to discharge, give forth, or release	Plants consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen.
Emphatic	adj. very expressive; using emphasis	Her emphatic smile told me she was excited to ride the roller coaster.
Empirical	adj. derived from experience, observation, or an experiment	You need empirical evidence to support your claim.
Endow	v. to equip or bestow (usu. a quality or ability)	According to the myth, the gods endowed him with the gift of healing.
Endure	v. to withstand, sustain, or hold out against	I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford accept or reject me?
Entail	v. to involve or include	A doctoral program entails long nights and a heavy workload.
Entrenched	adj. firmly established	Her face will forever be entrenched in my memory.
Enumerate	v. to specify or count	I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to remind my students when their papers are due.
Envy	n. excessive jealousy v. to admire and be jealous of	His envy of her is quite obvious. She envies her coworker’s social skills.
Erratic	adj. having no fixed course; deviating from the norm	The car became erratic after slipping on ice.
Establish	v. to enact v. to found (a business, group, school, etc.)	They established a law that made it illegal to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol. Our group established a new branch in Chicago.
Evoke	v. to draw forth or call up	Horror movies are great at evoking fear.
Exacerbate	v. to make worse or increase the severity of	The doctor told me not to run as it can exacerbate my knee injury.
Excel	v. to do something extremely well or to be superior in	She was a well-rounded student but excelled especially in science.
Exert	v. to put into use (usu. as effort)	Don’t exert all of your energy at once.
Exhilarating	adj. invigorating, stimulating, or exciting	The music playing at the club was catchy and exhilarating.
Expend	v. to use up (as in energy or money)	Be careful not to expend all your energy in the first half of a marathon.
Exploit	v. to use selfishly or for profit	The shoddy company exploited its workers by paying them extremely low wages.
Facilitate	v. to aid the progress of	In grad school, advisors facilitate students’ research and offer constructive criticism.
Feasibility	n. the practicality or possibility of something	The feasibility of her project was doubtful; she’d have to go all the way to Antarctica and back before the school year ended.
Ferocity	n. viciousness, violence	The lion is just one wild animal known for its ferocity.
Fiscal	adj. related to (government) money	Fiscal policy is how the government uses money to influence the economy.
Flourish	v. to prosper, grow, or make fast progress	After one year, the tiny plants had flourished into a breathtaking garden.
Fluctuate	v. to be unstable; to rise and fall	Stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it difficult to determine when to buy or sell one.
Foment	v. to stir up	The civilians accused their leader of fomenting political unrest.
Foreseeable	adj. capable of being predicted or anticipated	I can’t imagine aliens visiting us in the foreseeable future.
Frankly	adv. directly, clearly	I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive.
Freewheeling	adj. carefree	His freewheeling attitude often got him in trouble at work.
Fundamental	adj. the most essential or most basic part	A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part of an essay.
Galvanizing	adj. thrilling, exciting, stimulating	The galvanizing performance left everyone spellbound.
Geriatric	adj. relating to old age	I became interested in geriatric medicine shortly after my grandfather passed away from cancer.
Hostile	adj. harmful, dangerous	The voices around the corner sounded angry, hostile even.
Hypothetical	adj. supposed; related to a hypothesis	For my physics homework, I must come up with a hypothetical situation.
Ignominious	adj. publicly shameful or humiliating	The politician’s expensive campaign ultimately ended in ignominious defeat.
Impart	v. to transmit, bestow, or disclose	Parents must impart common sense to their children.
Impartiality	n. the equal and objective treatment of opposing views	To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to follow these general guidelines.
Imposing	adj. impressive (esp. in size or appearance)	The old mansion was imposing in its huge size and gothic architecture.
Imposition	n. an unnecessary burden	If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you proofread my paper?
Imprudent	adj. not cautious or prudent; rash	Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t be imprudent about money.
Incite	v. to encourage or stir up	Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd.
Indifference	n. apathy, emotional detachment	The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset their parents.
Indiscriminately	adv. randomly; with little or no distinction	Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately.
Indulge	v. to give into; to satisfy or gratify	My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance movies.
Infer	v. to guess, conclude, or derive by reasoning	You can infer from this quotation that the writer didn’t care for “pretty” language.
Innovative	adj. novel or new (esp. as an idea or invention)	Her invention was incredibly innovative and won her multiple awards.
Insatiable	adj. can’t be satisfied	A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to be insatiable.
Inversion	n. a reversal	The culture’s norms were an inversion of our own.
Invoke	v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a higher power)	The shaman attempted to invoke a demon.
Irreconcilable	adj. incapable of being in harmony or agreed upon	The couple’s differences were ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice but to break up.
Lament	v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn	Susan lamented her missed chance at going to Europe with her high school class.
Locomotion	n. movement	Physics involves the study of locomotion.
Lucrative	adj. capable of making a lot of money; profitable	Writing books isn’t a particularly lucrative career, unless you’re J.K. Rowling.
Malicious	adj. harmful, spiteful	The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants from their home.
Malleable	adj. capable of being molded or changed	Children’s minds are malleable but only for so long.
Materialistic	adj. superficial; focus on material possessions	Many people accuse Americans of being materialistic.
Melodramatic	adj. extravagant or exaggerated (as of a melodrama)	The melodramatic play was well liked by the audience.
Modest	adj. simple and humble adj. small in size or amount	They moved into a modest house in the countryside. I received a modest sum of money for my help at the company event.
Modify	v. to change, alter, or tweak	Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it wouldn’t carry the disease.
Momentous	adj. historically significant	Her win in the election was momentous.
Novel	adj. new, innovative	We are looking for novel ways to approach the project.
Nuance	n. a subtle difference in meaning	Body-language experts even understand the nuances of facial expressions.
Null	adj. legally void and ineffective	The government declared their marriage null.
Objectivity	n. judgment based on observations instead of emotions or opinions	In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost importance.
Obsolete	adj. no longer used; rare or uncommon	Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback.
Omnipotent	adj. almighty and all powerful	Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human destiny.
Onset	n. the beginning or early stages	At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things were looking up.
Opine	v. to openly express an opinion	The new employee opined at the company meeting.
Ornate	adj. highly detailed and decorated	That ornate silverware must be worth thousands of dollars!
Oust	v. to remove or force out of (usu. a position or office)	Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods, the pirates ousted their captain.
Paramount	adj. predominant, superior, most important	Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees.
Peculiar	adj. strange, bizarre	Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate experienced a peculiar feeling, as if someone was watching her.
Perish	v. to die; to pass away	According to the news, nobody perished in the fire.
Persecute	v. to cause suffering to	They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with their views of the world.
Petulant	adj. cranky, pouty, irritable	Petulant children are especially difficult to care for.
Pinnacle	n. highest level or degree	Many believe that composers such as Beethoven and Mozart represent the pinnacle of classical music.
Pitiable	adj. deserving pity	The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it some food and took it inside to care for it.
Plausible	adj. reasonable and possibly true	Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth.
Postulate	v. to assert	The literary critic postulates that romanticism and naturalism are actually interconnected.
Potent	adj. having great influence adj. having a strong, chemical effect	The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US. The potion was definitely potent—it healed my wounds immediately!
Pragmatic	adj. practical, useful	It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study engineering than it is to study philosophy.
Precedent	n. an example or subject from earlier in time	This change in law is without historical precedent.
Predecessor	n. someone who comes before you (usu. in position or office)	My predecessor gave me many tips for running the office.
Prescribe	v. to command orders v. to issue authorization for medications	The directions for our essay prescribe a length of at least ten pages. A doctor must prescribe you this medication before you can begin taking it.
Principle	n. basic truth, assumption, or rule	Remember the universal principle: treat others as you want them to treat you.
Prohibit	v. to command against, to outlaw	Alcohol was prohibited in the US in the 1920s.
Prompt	adj. punctual, on time n. a cue to begin something; instructions v. to incite, propel, or cause to act	She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her homework. I had to write an essay based on a prompt. The possibility of a scholarship prompted him to apply to Harvard.
Promulgate	v. to put into law or formally declare	The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty with the neighboring countries.
Prosecute	v. to bring criminal action against someone (in a trial)	The suspect was prosecuted yesterday.
Provocative	adj. intending to provoke, inspire, or arouse	Her nude paintings are considered quite provocative.
Qualitative	adj. involving qualities of something (features and content)	I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings.
Quantitative	adj. involving quantities (numbers and amounts)	We must conduct a quantitative analysis.
Quirk	n. a strange habit	His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles.
Ramify	v. to split into two or more branches	Cars ramified throughout the world in the twentieth century.
Rash	adj. without attention to danger or risk	Her rash decision to pass the car nearly resulted in a crash.
Raw	adj. unrefined adj. not processed; uncooked (as in food)	He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to work on his performance skills. In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to eat raw fish.
Readily	adv. right away and without difficulty	Water was readily available at different points in the race.
Reconsideration	n. thinking again about a previously made choice	The judges’ reconsideration of her performance resulted in her victory.
Reform	n. a change for the better; improvement v. to improve via change	The reform made it so that only those 18 and older can legally drive. The government reformed its vague policies on marijuana use.
Refute	v. to prove to be untrue, unfounded, or incorrect	The student refuted the professor’s claim in class.
Reinforce	v. to strengthen or add support to	We can use these pipes to reinforce the structure.
Reluctantly	adv. somewhat unwillingly	Max reluctantly agreed to see the horror movie with his friends.
Renounce	v. to give up (usu. power or a position) v. to cast off	Our CEO renounced her position yesterday. He renounced his friend after he caught her stealing money from him.
Reproach	v. to criticize	The mother reproached her daughter’s school for making students come in during a blizzard.
Repudiate	v. to refuse to recognize as true v. to cast off	The father repudiated his son’s marriage. She repudiated her son once she found out he’d married someone without telling her.
Retention	n. the act of keeping something	Water retention can make you weigh more on certain days.
Satiated	adj. satisfied (usu. in hunger)	I felt satiated after eating a snack.
Savvy	adj. having practical intelligence or knowledge	My brother is not very savvy when it comes to using public transportation.
Scandalous	adj. morally offensive, often causing damage to one’s reputation	The scandalous politician decided it was best to resign from office.
Scorn	v. to look down on with disdain	It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use improper grammar.
Scrupulous	adj. paying great attention to detail	I am a scrupulous proofreader and never miss an error.
Scrutinize	v. to examine carefully and critically	The teacher scrutinized her students’ essays.
Secrete	v. to produce or release (a substance)	Trees secrete a sticky substance called sap.
Sentiment	n. opinion n. a tender or moving gesture	I am of the sentiment that you should never give out your passwords to anyone. Even though I’m not a big fan of porcelain dolls, I appreciated the sentiment.
Sheer	adj. so thin that light can shine through	The curtains on the window were so sheer you could clearly see inside the house.
Simple	adj. easy; not complex adj. undecorated	This math problem is so simple even a first grader can solve it. The simple beauty of the ocean is what makes it memorable.
Sinister	adj. ominous, evil	Medieval peasants believed sinister demons could harm humans.
Solidarity	n. the joining of commonalities or common purposes among a group	I stood in solidarity with other female students by refusing to wear the school’s sexist uniform.
Sparingly	adv. insufficiently, meagerly, or in a restricted manner	Due to my condition, I must eat salt sparingly.
Spawn	v. to release eggs v. to call forth or generate	Frogs typically spawn in ponds. The topic spawned an ongoing debate among his family members.
Spur	v. to stimulate or incite	Her bravery spurred others to act.
Squalid	adj. run-down, sordid, or sleazy	The squalid cabin needed a new roof and an exterminator.
Stark	adj. very plain; devoid of any details or features	Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen sense of isolation.
Static	adj. motionless adj. changeless	The ball is static. Her life has been static for the past three years.
Subordinate	adj. lower in rank n. someone lower in rank v. to make dependent on or put at a lower rank	The subordinate officers work every day. My subordinate will check you in. You aren’t my boss—you can’t subordinate me to the role of receptionist!
Subsequently	adv. happening later or after something	I subsequently went home.
Substantial	adj. very large in amount or degree	I was shocked to find a substantial amount of money beneath the park bench.
Substantiate	v. to strengthen with new evidence or facts	It is important for scientists to substantiate their theories whenever possible.
Subtle	adj. hard to detect or analyze	I detected in her expression a subtle hint of irritation.
Sufficient	adj. enough; just meeting a requirement	These boxes should be sufficient for our move.
Surly	adj. unfriendly; inclined to anger	The bartender was a surly fellow who wasn’t afraid to start a fight.
Surmount	v. to get on top of or overcome	They managed to surmount the language barrier by using a translation app.
Susceptible	adj. to be vulnerable (to something)	Children are more susceptible to certain illnesses than adults are.
Tactful	adj. skilled at dealing with people	Her tactful attitude toward our class made her one of my favorite teachers.
Taut	adj. pulled tight	The rubberband was taut and ready to be fired.
Teeming	adj. abundantly filled (usu. with living organisms)	Doorknobs are not as clean as they look and are often teeming with germs.
Temperament	n. usual mood or feelings	She had a hostile temperament, making her intimidating to most people.
Tentative	adj. not yet finalized	We haven’t made any official arrangements yet, but the tentative location for our wedding is Hawaii.
Transparent	adj. see-through; so thin that light can shine through adj. truthful or easy to perceive	Stained window glass isn’t as transparent as regular window glass is. She was transparent about her plans to end her marriage.
Treacherous	adj. dangerous and unstable	The journey was becoming treacherous, but they continued on regardless.
Tremendous	adj. very large, good, or bad in degree or size	Tremendous news! You don’t have to repay your loans!
Ubiquitous	adj. being everywhere at once	Cell phones are ubiquitous these days.
Unadorned	adj. undecorated, plain	Though the dress was cheap and unadorned, it was by far her favorite one on the rack.
Undermine	v. to weaken or subvert (usu. gradually or secretly)	Parents should take care not to constantly undermine their children.
Underscore	v. to emphasize or give additional weight to	This sentence seems to underscore the overall meaning of the passage.
Undulate	v. to move as ripples or in a wavy pattern	Belly dancers are known for their ability to skillfully undulate their stomachs.
Unilateral	adj. one-sided	The unilateral decision was deemed unfair by the other party involved.
Unjust	adj. unfair; not justified	The court’s decision is unjust—he should not go free.
Unmitigated	adj. downright, utter, total	My speech was an unmitigated disaster!
Unprecedented	adj. completely new and never having happened before; historic	The number of protestors was unprecedented.
Unveil	v. to make visible; to reveal	We plan to unveil our plans for the new company project on Sunday.
Urge	n. desire or impulse v. to encourage or persuade	He had the urge to tell his parents about his acceptance to Columbia but decided against it. She urged her sister to apply to Stanford.
Validate	v. to prove or declare valid	Your selfish actions do not validate your feelings for me.
Viability	n. ability to be done in a practical or useful way	The viability of the solution is questionable.
Vital	adj. urgently necessary	It is vital that you respond by the deadline.
Vow	v. to promise	My brother quickly broke his vow to never eat chocolate again.
Warrant	v. to prove to be reasonable	Wanting to look cool in front of your friends doesn’t warrant breaking the law.
Yield	n. production of an amount v. to give way to or surrender to v. to produce or supply	The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded 10,000. Cars turning right on red must yield to oncoming traffic. Our experiment yielded many unique-looking vegetables.

How to Study SAT Words Effectively: 3 Essential Tips

Now that you’ve got a huge list of SAT vocabulary words you can work with, what’s the best way to study them? Here are three key tips to help you get the most out of your SAT vocab studies.

#1: Make Flashcards and Use the Waterfall Method

One of the absolute best ways to study SAT vocab words is to make flashcards. This lets you control which SAT words you study and even randomizes them so that you don’t accidentally memorize words in a predetermined order.

We recommend using the waterfall method to study your flashcards. With this method, you’ll get to see all the words in your deck, going over the most challenging words more often than the ones you already know or sort of know.

Here’s how to use the waterfall method:

Once you’ve made your flashcards, split them up into decks (you can put whatever words you want in these decks) of about 30-50 cards each. Choose one deck to be your Starting Stack.

Go through your Starting Stack, looking at each and every card. For the words you know, put them in a Know It pile. For the words you don’t know, put them in a separate Struggled pile as so:

Now, pick up your Struggled pile and go through each card in it (leave your Know It pile where it is). Put the cards you know in a second Know It pile and the ones you don’t know in a Struggled pile.

You should now have two Know It piles and one Struggled pile:

Repeat this process of picking up your Struggled pile and going through each card until you’re left with about one to five cards in your Struggled pile:

By now you should know most, if not all, cards in your deck. But it isn’t enough to just go through them once—you also have to work back up your “waterfall” of cards.

To do this, combine your Struggled pile with your last Know It pile (the pile closest to the Struggled pile). This will be your Working pile. Go through all the cards in this pile. If there are any words you forgot, go through the entire pile again and again until you’ve learned all the definitions in it.

Continue this pattern by combining your current Working pile with the next Know It pile. Go through all these cards until you know each one.

At the end, you should have made your way all the back to your original Starting Stack. You now know all the SAT words and their meanings in your deck! Repeat this waterfall method with the other decks you make so that you can learn even more critical SAT vocab words.

#2: Focus On Words You Don’t Know

If you don’t have time to study the entire list above or only want to learn some SAT words, use our list to make a new vocab list containing only the words you don’t know. So if you know a word or are fairly sure you’ll be able to recognize it on test day, skip it and instead focus on the words you’ll have the most trouble remembering. Once you have your list, use the waterfall method to study it.

If you’re not a fan of paper flashcards, you can opt for digital flashcards. Anki is a free software you can download and use to make your own flashcards. The program uses spaced-repetition software (SRS) to show you difficult cards more often than those you know (basically, a digital version of the waterfall method).

#3: Take Official SAT Practice Tests

Since the majority of the words in our list above come from official SAT practice tests, once you’ve studied these SAT words, you can put your knowledge to the test by taking a practice test. This lets you see whether you truly know the meanings of the words and whether you’ll be able to get the right answers in the context of a full-length, timed test—just like the real SAT.

If you miss any questions because you forgot the meaning of a word, go back over our SAT vocab words list using your flashcards and the waterfall method.

The Best SAT Vocab Flashcards

If you plan to make your own SAT vocab flashcards from our list, you’ll need at least 300 blank index cards and a system to keep them organized. These basic cards are an affordable option that are also available in fun colors. You can keep them organized with plastic baggies or rubber bands, or you can get an organizer. Alternatively, try these easy-flip flashcards that include binder clips.

Though we strongly recommend making your own flashcards, you can also buy pre-made ones. There aren’t a lot of options for the new SAT. We’d recommend going with Barron’s 1100 Words You Need to Know, a series of exercises to master key words and idioms, or Manhattan’s GRE flashcards if you’re looking for a challenge.

Conclusion: The Importance of Studying SAT Vocabulary

Overall, vocabulary words don’t play a huge part on the SAT. That said, you’ll definitely have some questions on both the Reading and Writing sections that test your knowledge of SAT words, so it’s important to study those most likely to appear on test day.

The best way to study SAT vocabulary is to make flashcards and use the waterfall method. This ensures you know all the words in your deck and aren’t glossing over any difficult ones.

If you don’t want to make flashcards or don’t have time to study the whole list, however, it’s a good idea to pick out the words you don’t know and study just those. With these, you can either make a smaller deck of paper flashcards or opt for digital flashcards.

No matter how you choose to study SAT vocab words, be sure to test out what you’ve learned in the context of full-length practice tests. Nearly all the words in our list above come from official SAT practice tests, so you’re guaranteed to come across them in some form!

What’s Next?

Want more tips on how to study SAT vocabulary words? Check out our expert tips for memorizing SAT words fast and learn why the waterfall method works so well.

Aiming for a high SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score? Take a peek at our in-depth guides to getting a perfect Reading score and learning how to read SAT passages.

Taking the ACT instead? Then you’ll need to know vocab for that test, too. Learn what words to expect on the ACT and how to study them.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?

Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don’t improve your SAT score by 160 points or more.

Our classes are entirely online, and they’re taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you’ll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you’ll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We’ll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you’ll never be confused about what to study next.

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Many students relate the phrase “SAT” with vocabulary. But is good language important to pass the examination? In a way, yes. It can help the candidates get good marks in the SAT exam. Thus, investing some time in vocab learning is important for better academic communication. There are many vocabulary words in the dictionary. But here is a list of top SAT vocabulary words that candidates can refer to.

Words	Meaning
Abandon	Give Up
Abate	Less Intense
Abet	Encourage
Accede	Agreeing On A Demand
Adapt	Adjust
Adequate	Enough
Ambivalence	Uncertainty
Analogous	Parallel
Anomaly	Oddity
Expect	Predict
Antipathy	Hostility
Apex	Tip
Apprehension	Anxiety
Articulate	Fluent
Artificial	False
Assertion	Declaration
Authenticity	Genuine
Avenue	Path
Basic	Fundamental
Bear	Support
Berate	Scold
Bias	Partiality
Bittersweet	Partly bitter or sweet
Boost	Increase
Bovine	Relating To Cattle
Braggart	A Person Who Boasts About Achievements
Brawl	Fight
Brevity	Shortness
Burnish	Polish
Cacophony	Harsh Mixture Of Sounds
Candid	Frank
Capture	Catch
Catalyst	Substance That Leads To Chemical Reaction Increase
Cache	Collection Of Similar Items
Censorious	Critical Of Others
Clout	Smack
Coincide	Occur
Commission	An Offer
Comparable	Similar
Competent	Capable
Complacent	Self-satisfied
Concede	Admit
Conceive	To Produce Something
Conduct	Manage
Constitute	Compose
Course	Route
Culmination	Climax
Dearth	Lack
Deference	Respect
Demagogue	Rabble-rouser
Demur	To Object To
Deplete	Use Over Time
Desolate	Empty
Devise	To Come Up With
Dilemma	Confusion
Diluvial	Biblical Flood
Diminish	To Become Small
Dire	Hopeless
Disdain	Lack Of Respect
Dispassionate	No Strong Interest
Doctrine	Belief
Effluvia	Harmful Odor
Eloquent	Expressive Communication Skills
Eminent	High Position
Emulate	Match
Endure	To Withstand
Entail	To Invoice
Specify	State
Epochal	Significant
Erratic	Deviating From The Norm
Establish	To Found
Excel	To Top
Exploit	To Use For-Profit
Expound	Present
Ferocity	Violence
Flourish	Prosper
Forcible	Forceful
Frankly	Directly
Fundamental	Basic
Galvanizing	Shock
Geriatric	Relating To Old People
Hostile	Aggressive
Hubris	Excessive Pride
Impart	Spread
Impartiality	Unfairness
Imposition	Forcing
Indifference	Lack Of Interest
Indulge	Give Away To
Importunate	Persistent
Innovative	Original
Inversion	Reverse
Lament	Groan
Locomotion	Movement
Malicious	Bitter
Materialistic	Worldly
Modest	Humble
Mawkish	Sentimental
Novel	Book
Null	Invalid
Objectify	Degrade To A Status
Omnipotent	Supreme
Onset	Beginning
Opine	Suggest
Oust	Expel
Pandemic	Widespread
Paramount	Most Important
Patrician	Aristocrat
Peculiar	Strange
Potent	Powerful
Perish	Fall
Persecute	Oppress
Petulant	Peevish
Pinnacle	Peak
Pitiable	Deserving Pity
Plausible	Credible
Prompt	Give Rise To
Polyglot	Writing Or Speaking In Many Languages
Provocative	Infuriating
Prescribe	Order
Prestidigitation	Sleight Of Hand
Prohibit	Banning
Placid	Tranquil
Prosecute	Criminal Proceedings Against A Person
Quantitative	Expressible Amount
Quirk	Oddity
Quarry	Mine For Stone
Ramify	To Split Up Into Branches
Rancor	Bitterness
Rarefy	Become Less Solid
Rash	Reckless
Raw	Uncooked
Reapproach	To approach anew
Reform	Improve
Refute	Disprove
Reinforce	Strengthen
Resilient	Strong
Revile	Criticize
Rife	Widespread
Sanctimonious	Pious
Satiated	To excess
Savvy	Sharpness
Scandalous	Disreputable
Scorn	Contempt
Sagacious	Wise
Scrupulous	Careful
Sedition	Agitation
Sacrosanct	Very Holy
Sentiment	Emotion
Sheer	Utter
Sallow	Yellowish
Simple	Easy
Sinecure	Soft Option
Spawn	Offspring In Great Numbers
Spur	Incentive
Subordinate	Junior
Stroke	Strengthen
Significant	Important
Subtle	Fine
Ample	Many
Surly	Grumpy
Surmount	Overcome
Sybarite	Sensualist
Tactful	Considerate
Taut	Tight
Teeming	Be full of
Temperament	Nature
Tentative	Approximate
Terse	Abrupt
Transparent	Clear
Tremendous	Extreme
Trounce	Beat Hollow
Ubiquitous	Everywhere
Unadorned	Undecorated
Undermine	Wear Away
Unwitting	Unconscious
Underscore	Line Drawn Under A Word
Undulate	Surge
Unilateral	Involving Only One Group Or Community
Upbraid	Scold
Unjust	Unfair
Uproarious	Very funny
Unmitigated	Absolute
Unprecedented	Unmatched
Unveil	Reveal
Urge	Desire
Upshot	Outcome
Usury	Lending Money
Validate	Prove
Viability	State Of Being Viable
Vital	Important
Venal	Corrupt
Vow	Oath
Vital	Essential
Warrant	Authorization
Winsome	Appealing
Wry	Ironic
Yeoman	Attendant
Yield	Surrender
Yowl	Making A Loud Cry
Zenith	High Point

How Is Vocabulary Accessed On The SAT?

The SAT question paper has undergone many changes. Before, many questions used to come from the vocabulary. Today, only fewer vocabulary questions appear in the examination. But, learning the SAT vocabulary word list PDF can help the candidate come out with good results.

All SAT terms are tricky and examiners access them in the context of reading passages. Thus, candidates will have to solve more sentences. It is not a compulsion to memorize all the SAT vocabulary words in the PDF. But students can learn from the SAT vocabulary word list PDF to get good results. They can get better results than other students by going through the list.

What Is The Format Of SAT Vocabulary Question?

Few questions will come from the Vocabulary Cartoons II SAT word power PDF. Yet, you can expect roughly seven questions from the Reading section. Candidates will have to match a word with its correct definition. To solve this section, students need to learn the synonyms of words such as “directly”, “hold”, etc. They might also have to pick a word or phrase to clarify the passage. So, read the synonyms of the words mentioned in the Vocabulary Cartoons II SAT word power PDF. This will make your SAT vocabulary words practice more efficient. Also, it will help you get good grades in the section.

Is There Any Vocabulary on the SAT Writing?

Yes, some questions appear from vocabulary on the SAT writing. You will also find vocab questions in the Language and Writing section. This sub-section focuses on transitions, grammar, and tense. But you can also expect to get Precision questions. Only three precision questions appear in the paper. Here, you have to replace SAT vocabulary words with the words in the passage.

What are the 3 Essential Tips To Study SAT Words?

Now that you have a list, you must be wondering how to learn SAT vocabulary words in easy steps. We have mentioned three essential tips to help you understand the SAT vocabulary words.

Study The Flash Cards Using The Waterfall Method

This is one of the best SAT vocabulary words practice. For this method, make flashcards, i.e., write each word on a card and create a deck. For example, you can write all the Vocabulary Cartoons II SAT word power PDF words and build a separate deck. Now split the deck into 30-50 cards each. Now choose a deck randomly and look at each card. You can create a different pile for “Know” and “Don’t Know” stacks.

Whichever SAT vocabulary words you learn in the process, put them in the “Know” file. Put the others in the “Don’t Know” pile. Repeat this process until all your cards in the “Don’t Know” pile shift to the “Know” pile. Then, repeat the same process before your examination. With this pattern, you will have the best SAT vocabulary words practice. Besides, you will beat the tough questions like a pro.

Pay More Attention To Unknown Words

Suppose you don’t have enough time to revise the complete Vocabulary Cartoons II SAT word power PDF. You can use our inventory to create a new vocab list with unknown words. You can skip the simpler terms. Concentrate on the ones you’ll have the most trouble remembering. Once you’ve compiled your list, review it using the waterfall approach.

If you don’t like paper flashcards, you can use digital flashcards instead. Several free programs use spaced-repetition software (SRS) to display more challenging cards. So, you can prepare these from online platforms. This will broaden your vocabulary.

Take SAT Practice Tests

The majority of the SAT vocabulary word list PDF words are from actual SAT practice exams. So, you may put your learning into practice by taking mock tests. After you have studied the SAT vocabulary word list PDF, take the mock test to prepare better. This allows you to check if you understand the meanings of the words. Besides, it will also help you know if you’ll answer the questions in the timed test setting. This way, you can prepare for the actual SAT examination.

How To Make The Best SAT Vocab Flashcards?

You can make your flashcards. For this, you will need 300 blank index cards. You can buy them in various colors at low prices. You can use elastic bands to keep them together. Besides, you can also use binder-clipped flash cards. These flashcards are available in ready-made versions on the market.

Conclusion

To sum up, these are some easy tips on learning SAT vocabulary words and memorizing them all. Vocabulary words don’t play a significant role in the SAT. Yet you’ll almost have some SAT word questions in the Reading and Writing sections. Thus, the SAT vocabulary word practice is essential to pass the exam with good results.

Making flashcards and the waterfall approach is the best SAT vocabulary word practice method. This ensures that you are familiar with the terms in your deck and not skipping any tough ones. But, if you don’t want to create flashcards, there is another way too. You can pick the difficult words and study them. No matter what method you choose, try to cover all the words. This is because all the words from the pdf come from SAT practice tests.

Источник

Looking to build your vocabulary? Then practice this list of 100 «top words» — the kind that used to be tested on the SAT before 2016. If you’re a high school student prepping for the SAT, check out Vocabulary.com’s
Roadmap to the SAT, which focuses on the vocabulary you’ll need to ace today’s SAT test.

100 words

60,302 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities

Full list of words from this list:

abate

become less in amount or intensity
abdicate

give up power, duties, or obligations
aberration

a state or condition markedly different from the norm
abstain

refrain from doing, consuming, or partaking in something
adversity

a state of misfortune or affliction
aesthetic

characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
amicable

characterized by friendship and good will
anachronistic

chronologically misplaced
arid

lacking sufficient water or rainfall
asylum

a shelter from danger or hardship
benevolent

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
bias

a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
boisterous

marked by exuberance and high spirits
brazen

unrestrained by convention or propriety
brusque

rudely abrupt or blunt in speech or manner
camaraderie

the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
canny

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
capacious

large in the amount that can be contained
capitulate

surrender under agreed conditions
clairvoyant

someone who can perceive things not present to the senses
collaborate

work together on a common enterprise or project
compassion

a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering
compromise

an accommodation in which both sides make concessions
condescending

characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
conditional

imposing or depending on or containing an assumption
conformist

someone who follows established standards of conduct
conundrum

a difficult problem
convergence

the act of coming closer
deleterious

harmful to living things
demagogue

a leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions
digression

a message that departs from the main subject
diligent

quietly and steadily persevering in detail or exactness
discredit

the state of being held in low esteem
disdain

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
divergent

tending to move apart in different directions
empathy

understanding and entering into another’s feelings
emulate

strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
enervating

causing weakness or debilitation
ephemeral

anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
evanescent

short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear
exemplary

worthy of imitation
extenuating

partially excusing or justifying
florid

elaborately or excessively ornamented
forbearance

a delay in enforcing rights or claims or privileges
fortitude

strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity
fortuitous

lucky; occurring by happy chance
foster

providing nurture though not related by blood or legal ties
fraught

filled with or attended with
frugal

avoiding waste
hackneyed

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
haughty

having or showing arrogant superiority
hedonist

someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures
hypothesis

a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
impetuous

characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
impute

attribute or credit to
inconsequential

lacking worth or importance
inevitable

incapable of being avoided or prevented
intrepid

invulnerable to fear or intimidation
intuitive

spontaneously derived from or prompted by a natural tendency
jubilation

a feeling of extreme joy
lobbyist

someone who is employed to persuade how legislators vote
longevity

the property of having lived for a considerable time
mundane

found in the ordinary course of events
nonchalant

marked by casual unconcern or indifference
opulent

rich and superior in quality
orator

a person who delivers a speech
ostentatious

intended to attract notice and impress others
parched

extremely thirsty
perfidious

tending to betray
pragmatic

concerned with practical matters
precocious

characterized by exceptionally early development
pretentious

creating an appearance of importance or distinction
procrastinate

postpone doing what one should be doing
prosaic

lacking wit or imagination
prosperity

the condition of having good fortune
provocative

serving or tending to excite or stimulate
prudent

marked by sound judgment
querulous

habitually complaining
rancorous

showing deep-seated resentment
reclusive

withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
reconciliation

the reestablishment of cordial relations
renovation

the act of improving by renewing and restoring
restrained

under control
reverence

a feeling of profound respect for someone or something
sagacity

the trait of having wisdom and good judgment
scrutinize

examine carefully for accuracy
spontaneous

said or done without having been planned in advance
spurious

plausible but false
submissive

inclined or willing to give in to orders or wishes of others
substantiate

establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
subtle

difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
superficial

of, affecting, or being on or near the surface
superfluous

more than is needed, desired, or required
surreptitious

marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
tactful

having a sense of what is considerate in dealing with others
tenacious

stubbornly unyielding
transient

lasting a very short time
venerable

profoundly honored
vindicate

show to be right by providing justification or proof
wary

marked by keen caution and watchful prudence

Created on December 23, 2009
(updated August 18, 2021)

Источник

SAT Vocabulary 2023

This SAT words list is selected from native English media; most words are with sentences and contexts on popular topics of 2023. The vocabulary is a valuable supplement to enhance SAT vocabulary skills. In addition to the picked example, each word has a handy link to access more sentences and meanings, which helps master new words precisely.

Meanwhile, we include previous SAT vocabulary (2021-2022) on this web page for those who want to review early words.

This short vocabulary is just for hot words for current popular topics, so it’s just a supplement in SAT vocabulary building. To meet the basic requirements of SAT and the diverse circumstances of high school students, we recommend below SAT/ACT lists to study on demand, which can effectively sharpen your reading and writing vocabulary.

Recent Added SAT Words:

SAT Vocabulary 2021-2022

algorithm Speak

amputation Speak

biennale Speak

carousel Speak

caste Speak

catalog Speak

collaborate Speak

come a long way Speak

compose Speak

consolidate Speak

deformable Speak

disentangle Speak

disinformation Speak

dismay Speak

droplet Speak

empirical Speak

encompass Speak

entail Speak

ethical dimensions Speak

the competency throughout the curriculum so that students will identify ethical principles in the analysis of social and political problems
Example sentences Words in context Close

fluorescence Speak

foray Speak

genetic blueprint Speak

grapple Speak

holomorphic Speak

impairment Speak

implication Speak

inaugural Speak

inferior Speak

interconversion Speak

intermediary Speak

intuition Speak

jockey Speak

lancet Speak

malevolent Speak

miss out on Speak

namesake Speak

neoantigen Speak

nontradable Speak

oddity Speak

overhead Speak

overrun Speak

perception Speak

periphery Speak

perspective Speak

photosynthesis Speak

pivot Speak

plod Speak

promote Speak

prone Speak

prosthetic Speak

rejuvenate Speak

savor Speak

sow discord Speak

stigma Speak

tab Speak

tackle Speak

tease out Speak

transcribe Speak

uplift Speak

venue Speak

waft Speak

zing Speak

Источник

By on May 21, 2021 in SAT

While you may have read that the SAT doesn’t test vocabulary, this is only partly true. No, you won’t have to define “splendiferous” anymore, but you will need to know, as the test-maker the College Board puts it, “high-utility academic words and phrases.” What’s that mean? In short, these SAT words are words that are likely to crop up in college readings.

It’s important to note that not all vocabulary questions on the SAT test your knowledge of these high-utility words. In fact, questions that deal with vocabulary—also known as “Vocabulary in Context” questions—tend to be focused on how more common words with multiple meanings are used in specific contexts than on knowing one definition for particularly difficult words. Because there’s no guarantee of which words will appear on the SAT and knowing a single word typically doesn’t have a huge impact, that effort is better spent locking in your strategy for “Vocabulary in Context” questions (e.g. using context clues to figure out the answer) than memorizing a bunch of difficult words.

That being said, if you’re close to your target score, improving your vocabulary with high-utility words can be just what you need to put you over the edge. This post will look at how the SAT tests vocabulary in different sections before zooming in to look at some of the key vocabulary terms to know for test day, what they mean, and how to use them in context to build a strong vocabulary. Finally, you can test your knowledge with our SAT vocab words quiz and download the 100+ SAT Vocabulary Words to Study on the Go PDF for future reference.

How Does the SAT Test Vocabulary?
- SAT Vocabulary in the Reading Section
- SAT Vocabulary in the Writing Section
Top 104 Most Common SAT Words (+ Bonus Quiz!)
Where to Find Additional SAT Word Lists
Top Three Tips for Improving Your SAT Vocabulary
- Read as Much as Possible
- Use Effective Memorization Techniques
- Use It or Lose It

How Does the SAT Test Vocabulary?

You’ll see “Vocabulary in Context” questions in two sections: Reading and Writing. Basically, the two sections that contribute to your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. But the way vocab shows up in each is slightly different! Here’s what to look for by section.

SAT Vocabulary in the Reading Section

Here’s the good news: the SAT doesn’t test vocabulary in and of itself on the critical reading section. You won’t be asked to define words. And some of the more intense SAT vocab questions haven’t been around since your parents had to take the test. (For example, analogies like runner is to marathon as oarsman is to regatta? Come on, we can’t all grow up Kennedys.) On the other hand, having a broad knowledge of words with several different meanings is still important (don’t worry, “regatta” only has one).

Why is it important to know words with different meanings? Because vocabulary is primarily tested (and most directly tested) through the SAT’s Words in Context questions. Yep, in context. This is great news because it means that you’ll have plenty of clues to help you figure out the answer. And as stated before, many of these words are quite common. However, you’ll have a huge leg up on SAT Reading if you already know the definitions of the more difficult words.

Take a look at a sample SAT Reading question to get a better sense of what we mean:

Compared to most scientific specializations, the field of ecology is relatively young. It was only in the 18th century that a group of scientists began investigating the relationships among organisms, their biotic communities of flora and fauna, and their abiotic environments. You can think of ecology as a nexus where the disciplines of biology,
geology, hydrology, botany, and others converge in an attempt to make sense of the complex systems that give rise to, support, and respond to a given organism.

departure
category
link
agreement

Want to know the answer? Click here!

SAT Vocabulary in the Writing Section

In some ways, knowing the definitions of vocabulary words is almost more important on the Writing section as knowing it on the Reading section. Why? Because here, you’re asked to select the best word for a given context. You’re not looking for a synonym; instead, you’re going to find the best word to create the desired meaning.

While this may seem like this is trying to get you to learn grammar rather than vocabulary, it’s actually not. In the College Board’s words:

“It’s worth noting here that these language use questions aren’t directly about grammar, usage, or mechanics. Instead, these questions try to get you to think about how language should be used to accomplish particular writerly aims, such as being clearer, more precise, or more economical.”

Take a look at the following passage:

The Brooklyn Museum features an item that might, for the first time ever, be the sole star of the show. Since its inception nearly 100 year ago, this accessory has been part of the limelight but has always been attached to the human body—whether in flight, in pivot, or in mid-stride. I’m talking about the lowly sneaker, which finally has the limelight all to itself in the exhibit “The Rise of Sneaker Culture.”

I should be honest: upon walking into the exhibit I did not expect much. After all, how edifying can one Air Jordan sneaker encased in a wall possibly be? But the exhibit offers much more than an endless procession of athletic shoes.

Now take a look at its corresponding SAT vocab question. Don’t let the form of the question scare you! In the context of the passage, is there a better word than “procession”?

NO CHANGE
secession
production
regression

Now, can you answer this question without knowing what the three harder vocabulary words (“procession,” “secession,” and “regression”) mean? Possibly…but probably not. It’s key to know definitions of words in advance so that you can spend your time figuring out the context, rather than trying to figure out what the words mean on test day.

(Oh and the answer and explanation for this question can be found here!)

Top 104 Most Common SAT Words (+ Bonus Quiz!)

Let’s be real: there are thousands of possible SAT words out there. But there are a few—well, to be exact, 104—that show up time and time again. Because of this, they’re crucial to SAT vocab success. Learning these top 104 is a great way to start off your SAT vocabulary study!

Word	Definition	Used in Sentence
abolish	to officially put an end to (its noun form is «abolition»)	Abraham Lincoln is perhaps best known for his efforts to abolish slavery.
abrupt	sudden or curt	Although she was trying to be nice, her response was still abrupt.
agitation	anxiety; the fast stirring of a liquid	The night before the big game, I was in a state of agitation.
alteration	change from a previous norm	After we missed the bus the third time, our homeroom decided that serious alterations in the schedule were needed.
ambiguous	open to more than one interpretation; unclear	My teacher’s instructions about the paper were ambiguous; nobody knew what to write.
ambivalent	having mixed feelings	Due to his ambiguous instructions, I had ambivalent feelings about my teacher despite his warm manner.
arcane	difficult to understand	I fell asleep moments after I opened the arcane and academic book.
aromatic	having a pleasant smell	Smelling aromatic oils can be a good way to reduce stress.
assumption	an idea accepted as fact without proof	My mother made the assumption that I wanted to go to State, but she hadn’t talked to me first.
begrudging	to envy; to give reluctantly	I begrudged my sister her new laptop, since I hadn’t had a new one in three years.
belligerent	war-like, inclined to fight	It is hard not to provoke my cat, who is belligerent with all other animals.
bias	inclination for or against a group of people or a particular outcome	The scientific study seemed compelling at first, but eventually scientists found that it showed numerous biases.
characterize	describe distinctive features; to be typical of	I shouldn’t have been surprised that Jess was so spontaneous, since that was characteristic of her.
condescension	disdain	My father loves to deliver lectures at the dinner table, not realizing how condescending they can make him sound.
consequently	as a result	I got a C on the midterm; consequently, my final grade will not be higher than a B.
conserve	protect	The importance of conserving our natural environment has become increasingly clear.
contentious	controversial	Rebecca would have become student body president if some of her proposals hadn’t been so contentious.
conventional	aligned with general beliefs	Jake, who won the election, had much more conventional beliefs, in line with what most students thought.
convey	express	I tried to convey my disappointment to my parents without telling them directly.
corroborate	confirm; support	Lucy said that she’d been in the house all day, and her sister corroborated this statement.
corrupt	dishonest for personal gain	Politicians are known for being corrupt, but I think some of them must have more altruistic goals.
counterargument	an argument opposing an idea set forth elsewhere	While I thought I made a strong case, my debate opponent’s counterarguments were just too good.
curtail	cut short	My neighbor had been talking for two hours and eventually, I had to curtail her.
deplete	use up	I was only two blocks from home when I realized that I had completely depleted my car’s gas supply.
dismay	disappointment and distress	My father was dismayed that I wouldn’t attend his alma mater, but I’m happy with my decision.
ebullient	highly enthusiastic	Luke laughs a lot at everything; he’s always been ebullient.
eloquent	well-spoken	Very few presidents have been known for their eloquence, even though they give many speeches.
emerging	beginning; new	The emerging music scene had few followers at the beginning but soon became very popular.
empathetic	feeling sympathy	When I volunteered at the hospital, it was hard not to be empathetic to the patients there.
engagement	participation; an appointment	One component of our grades would be based on our engagement in class discussions.
enigmatic	mysterious	The enigmatic guy seemed compelling at first, but once the mystery was gone, so was my interest.
entrenched	solidly established	It can be difficult to get rid of deep-rooted, entrenched beliefs, since we often take them for granted.
enumerate	to list	I didn’t think I was late that much, but my mother enumerated many occasions on which I had been.
ephemeral	short-lived	My interest in the boy band was embarrassing but thankfully ephemeral.
equivocal	vague	My mother’s answer to my question about how she’d met my father was equivocal, and I could tell she was embarrassed by the story.
esoteric	known only to a select group	I thought I should have known the book they were discussing, but later I discovered it was esoteric.
exertion	effort	Running a marathon would take so much exertion that I just don’t feel up to it.
exhilarating	wildly exciting	The day I got my college acceptance letters was exhilarating.
exonerate	free from blame	My aunt thought I’d taken the car until she saw me in the living room; I was then exonerated.
fastidious	nit-picky, fussing over details	There are some typos in my essay; I just hope the teacher isn’t too fastidious.
fluctuate	to change irregularly	My grades fluctuated for a while when I was a freshman, but they’re consistent now.
foreshadow	to allude to coming events	Looking back, my early interest in dancing foreshadowed my life in my teens.
fundamentally	centrally	Fundamentally, I don’t believe that certain human rights are up for debate.
garner	gather	Before submitting my applications, I had to garner several letters of recommendation.
garrulous	talkative	My grade would have been better but I was too garrulous in class; my best friend sat beside me and we could never shut up.
gregarious	flocking, sociable	Sometimes I wish I were more gregarious, but I prefer having one or two close friends instead.
hasten	to do something quickly	Realizing the deadline was the next day, I hastened to put together my application.
hypothetical	based on a hypothesis; theoretical	Hypothetically, I’d love to travel the world, but I don’t have the time or money right now.
imperative	absolutely necessary	The principal insisted that taking an interest in our classes was imperative to our success.
indifferent	expressing no opinions on a matter	The school newspaper reporter wanted to interview me about the issue, but I wasn’t a good source because I was too indifferent.
indigenous	native to a certain area	Planting indigenous plants is one way to begin setting up a carbon sink.
indiscriminate	without consideration	There were so many random people at the party that it felt like Tom must have handed out invitations indiscriminately.
indispensable	vital	I’ve found that keeping my planner up to date is an indispensable practice.
indistinct	unclear	Her voice was indistinct and so I missed most of what she said.
infrastructure	the organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or project	One major challenge to foreign aid is distributing it, since infrastructure—including roads and local organizations to help with distribution—can be lacking in remote areas.
keen	eager; incisive; to wail	He had a keen wit, but sometimes his observations hit too close to home.
magnanimous	kind-hearted, likely to forgive	I’d really insulted her, but luckily she was magnanimous and we were soon friends again.
malevolence	hostility	I don’t think that political campaigns have to be characterized by malevolence, even though many politicians see their opponents as enemies.
melodramatic	exaggerated	I wasn’t sure how worried I should be, since his stories were always a little melodramatic.
menacing	inspiring fear	The grey sky was menacing, and I was sure it would rain later.
modification	change	I always revise my essays because I find that modifications are usually necessary to make my ideas clear.
naïve	innocent; likely to believe anything	I used to think it was easy to get into a top-10 school, but I was a little naïve.
neglect	fail to care for	I’ve never been able to keep a plant alive, mostly because I tend to neglect them.
null	invalid; related to zero	We spent years researching the problem only to find that our hypothesis was null.
obsolete	no longer useful	My dad thought I could use his old word processor without realizing that the technology was totally obsolete.
omnipotence	having unlimited power	David acted like his position as editor gave him omnipotence and was always a little mean to his «subordinates.»
opaque	not transparent	I really prefer my tights to be opaque, because I hate how shiny the transparent ones can be.
oppress	to keep in a state of hardship	While we thought our allowances were low, it wasn’t as though we were being oppressed.
ornate	highly decorated	My sister loves having a really ornate holiday season, but I think it’s better to be more subdued.
pantheon	the group of gods of a people	I didn’t know about the Greek pantheon until I read about legends containing Zeus.
pending	awaiting decision	Even after three days, I could see that my status hadn’t been decided and was still listed as «pending.»
preclude	to prevent from happening	To preclude my tendency to procrastinate, I set aside the same hour every day to study.
profuse	excessive	She thanked me so profusely that it was embarrassing and, after a minute, I had to ask her to stop.
regression	return to an earlier state	My uncle saw my low grade as a regression, but I just saw it as a step in the learning process rather than a set-back.
reinforce	strengthen; back up	I studied for the SAT in different ways to reinforce my knowledge.
render	to provide; to make	I was on the fence about which school to attend until one offered me a full scholarship, rendering my indecision a thing of the past.
renounce	to declare the abandonment of something formally	After the club refused to let Julie in, I renounced my membership in it due to the unfairness of the decision.
repeal	to revoke	Our school tried to pass a strict dress code but soon repealed it when students ignored the guidelines.
repose	rest	When the competition was over, I was exhausted and in desperate need of repose.
reproach	express disapproval	My mother’s behavior is always perfect, completely beyond reproach.
restorative	possessing characteristics that allow it to return health or well-being	I felt so much better after the restorative massage.
reticent	not saying much	My cousin can be reticent sometimes, but I know his mind is going a mile a minute.
revere	respect deeply	I wouldn’t say I revere my teacher, but I do like her a lot.
sampling	a representative group	It turned out that the three people we’d used weren’t a representative sampling of the whole group.
scope	the extent to which something is relevant	The comments on my essay were all good except for one which called the evidence «out of scope.»
secession	formally withdrawing from membership	The South’s secession from the United States in the 19th century was unprecedented.
selfless	unselfish	My sister is entirely selfless and always helps me with anything I ask for.
simulate	imitate	The program was meant to simulate what it was like to be in space, but I didn’t feel like I was there at all.
soporific	causing sleep	The archane book was so boring that I found it soporific.
spawn	produce, often in terms of offspring	Her idea, while later disproven, spawned many more hypotheses that changed the face of science.
spectacle	a visually impressive performance	The play used red and black scenery covered in glitter, making the performance into more of a spectacle than a simple play.
stimulate	build interest in	The simulation was not at all realistic and failed to stimulate my interest in the subject.
subsequent	following	While I didn’t do well on my first paper, I used my teacher’s advice on the subsequent essays and got better grades.
suffrage	the right to vote	Although not well-known, Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee was a key figure in the New York women’s suffrage movement.
supremacy	predominance; the state of being in control of all others	Our principal was so kind that nobody ever challenged her supremacy in the school.
synchronized	occurring at the same time	Our answers were synchronized, as though we’d practiced speaking together.
tenacious	not giving in easily	I knew that to get into the school of my dreams, I’d have to work long and hard; I’d have to be tenacious.
undermine	make less effective	Her argument seemed compelling, but when I left her house I thought of six examples that would undermine it.
urbane	refined, of the city	Going to college in New York seemed like a great idea; I thought I’d come back more sophisticated and urbane.
venerable	deserving of respect	My grandfather didn’t speak much, but he was wise when he did, making him a venerable figure in our family.
verbose	using too many words	If you used all these words in the same sentence, you would definitely be verbose.
vitality	being strong and energetic	I was exhausted and weak, but a nap soon restored my vitality.
warrant	justification; to justify	Andrew didn’t think the punishment was warranted and argued against it successfully.
yield	to produce; to give way	The apple crop was great this year and yielded way more than we thought it would.

Don’t know all those SAT words yet? You will soon! Here’s the words from above in a handy SAT vocabulary PDF version—print it out and review on the bus or during any spare moments!

Bonus Quiz

Want a real-time snapshot of your vocabulary acumen? Try your hand at Magoosh’s SAT Vocabulary Quiz to see which you actually do know, and which you might need some more SAT vocabulary practice with before taking the next quiz. Then, check below for our tips on learning and storing SAT vocabulary terms in your long term memory!

Don’t worry about your overall time for the quiz right now. But do keep in mind that the more you practice, the quicker SAT vocab questions will be to answer–and even eliminating one possibility from the answer choices has the potential to boost your score!

If you’re studying for the SAT, you may not realize just how important SAT vocabulary is! Our experts have gathered the top 100+ SAT words you should know to make learning them easier. Test out your knowledge of those SAT vocab words in context with this quiz!

Question 1 of 10

1. Less venerated than his brother John, Robert F. Kennedy nevertheless had a vital impact on American life and justice in the 1960s as Attorney General and later as a Congressman and presidential candidate. Although his service was ephemeral, his impact was not. As Attorney General, Kennedy was known for his unceasing exertion when it came to battles he believed in, including the fight for civil rights. Some accused him of fluctuating in his personal convictions, but what they saw as inconsistency was in fact his willingness to learn and revise his opinions. Not as gregarious as his famous brother, Kennedy nevertheless was able to accomplish a great deal quietly due to his refusal to yield.

As used in sentence 1, «venerated» most nearly means

holy.

revered.

cherished.

magnified.

Question 1 of 10

Question 2 of 10

2. Less venerated than his brother John, Robert F. Kennedy nevertheless had a vital impact on American life and justice in the 1960s as Attorney General and later as a Congressman and presidential candidate. Although his service was ephemeral, his impact was not. As Attorney General, Kennedy was known for his unceasing exertion when it came to battles he believed in, including the fight for civil rights. Some accused him of fluctuating in his personal convictions, but what they saw as inconsistency was in fact his willingness to learn and revise his opinions. Not as gregarious as his famous brother, Kennedy nevertheless was able to accomplish a great deal quietly due to his refusal to yield.

As used in sentence 2, «ephemeral» most nearly means

cursory.

transient.

temporary.

momentary.

Question 2 of 10

Question 3 of 10

3. Less venerated than his brother John, Robert F. Kennedy nevertheless had a vital impact on American life and justice in the 1960s as Attorney General and later as a Congressman and presidential candidate. Although his service was ephemeral, his impact was not. As Attorney General, Kennedy was known for his unceasing exertion when it came to battles he believed in, including the fight for civil rights. Some accused him of fluctuating in his personal convictions, but what they saw as inconsistency was in fact his willingness to learn and revise his opinions. Not as gregarious as his famous brother, Kennedy nevertheless was able to accomplish a great deal quietly due to his refusal to yield.

As used in sentence 3, «exertion» most nearly means

labor.

effort.

strain.

application.

Question 3 of 10

Question 4 of 10

4. Less venerated than his brother John, Robert F. Kennedy nevertheless had a vital impact on American life and justice in the 1960s as Attorney General and later as a Congressman and presidential candidate. Although his service was ephemeral, his impact was not. As Attorney General, Kennedy was known for his unceasing exertion when it came to battles he believed in, including the fight for civil rights. Some accused him of fluctuating in his personal convictions, but what they saw as inconsistency was in fact his willingness to learn and revise his opinions. Not as gregarious as his famous brother, Kennedy nevertheless was able to accomplish a great deal quietly due to his refusal to yield.

As used in sentence 4, «fluctuating» most nearly means

swinging.

unsteadying.

changing irregularly.

shifting occasionally.

Question 4 of 10

Question 5 of 10

5. Less venerated than his brother John, Robert F. Kennedy nevertheless had a vital impact on American life and justice in the 1960s as Attorney General and later as a Congressman and presidential candidate. Although his service was ephemeral, his impact was not. As Attorney General, Kennedy was known for his unceasing exertion when it came to battles he believed in, including the fight for civil rights. Some accused him of fluctuating in his personal convictions, but what they saw as inconsistency was in fact his willingness to learn and revise his opinions. Not as gregarious as his famous brother, Kennedy nevertheless was able to accomplish a great deal quietly due to his refusal to yield.

As used in sentence 5, «gregarious» most nearly means

sociable.

talkative.

clustered.

organized.

Question 5 of 10

Question 6 of 10

6. Less venerated than his brother John, Robert F. Kennedy nevertheless had a vital impact on American life and justice in the 1960s as Attorney General and later as a Congressman and presidential candidate. Although his service was ephemeral, his impact was not. As Attorney General, Kennedy was known for his unceasing exertion when it came to battles he believed in, including the fight for civil rights. Some accused him of fluctuating in his personal convictions, but what they saw as inconsistency was in fact his willingness to learn and revise his opinions. Not as gregarious as his famous brother, Kennedy nevertheless was able to accomplish a great deal quietly due to his refusal to yield.

As used in sentence 5, «yield» most nearly means

flex.

produce.

surrender.

contribute.

Question 6 of 10

Question 7 of 10

7. After his brother’s death, Kennedy did not immediately go into politics, [7] guessing that he could only stimulate voter interest because of his family. However, the broad width of problems facing working Americans consistently inspired him to action, and he ran for a Senate seat the following year. Try-hard and fierce, Kennedy fought ceaselessly for social justice as well as an end to the Vietnam War. His selfish nature made him particularly empathetic and sensitive to the suffering of others. Politicians today would do well to follow in his footsteps.

NO CHANGE

learning

assuming

suggesting

Question 7 of 10

Question 8 of 10

8. After his brother’s death, Kennedy did not immediately go into politics, guessing that he could only stimulate voter interest because of his family. However, the broad [8] width of problems facing working Americans consistently inspired him to action, and he ran for a Senate seat the following year. Try-hard and fierce, Kennedy fought ceaselessly for social justice as well as an end to the Vietnam War. His selfish nature made him particularly empathetic and sensitive to the suffering of others. Politicians today would do well to follow in his footsteps.

NO CHANGE

scope

length

Where to Find Additional SAT Word Lists

If you got a great strategy for “Vocabulary in Context” and are pretty familiar with these 104 words and are looking to learn more, here are some additional resources:

Barron’s Premium SAT Guide comes with a flashcard app featuring 3000+ words. Do you need to learn all of these before the official test? No (particularly not the super difficult vocabulary, which the SAT will define in context)! Are they nice to have? Definitely.
The terms on this SAT vocabulary list are all useful for test day! Pick out the ones you’re least familiar with to create your own flashcards.
Magoosh vocabulary for Google Chrome. Every time you open a new tab, a new vocabulary word shows up. Simple but effective!
Magoosh’s Vocabulary Builder Workbook: a great way to learn words in context using sample sentences (so you’re less likely to forget them!)
With 700+ high-frequency words, Seberson Method’s SAT vocabulary workbook has the bonus of being free with Kindle Unlimited!

Top Three Tips for Improving Your SAT Vocabulary

Read as Much as Possible

The most effective way to study vocab for the SAT is by reading. It’s simply the best way to have a great strategy for dealing with “Vocabulary in Context” questions.

A great—but often neglected—way of learning vocab is by reading. That’s right, whether you are reading a book for your English class or simply skimming a magazine you should always look up unknown words. Here’s why:

You’ll encounter words in context. Reading allows you to see how a word functions in the context of what you are reading. Oftentimes you can guess what the meaning is. Sometimes you may be right. Regardless, you should always consult a trusty dictionary.
You’ll use the dictionary better—not just looking up any old word. I do not recommend that you start reading through a dictionary. In addition to becoming bored by words that look very similar, you will not retain much of what you read. Running to the dictionary after seeing a word you do not know is a very different experience. You will be far more likely to remember that word because you are only looking up that word. The moment when your mind sees the definition should be somewhat special (versus seeing one definition after another the way you do with flashcards).
You’ll bump into flashcard words. There is nothing like bumping into a friend. The surprise alone makes us giddy. We are also far more likely to remember such surprise encounters. In the same way, if you see one of the words you have been studying in a vocabulary list suddenly pop up while you are reading, this reinforces the memory of the word. And if you can’t remember the meaning, just run to your dictionary.

Use Effective Memorization Techniques

If reading’s the best way to learn new vocabulary words for the SAT, what’s the worst way? By far, through rote memorization (just looking at lists and trying to memorize). Think about math as an analogy: just learning the formulas isn’t going to get you very far. You need to see those formulas in action–and preferably put them into action yourself–to pick up on the nuance of each and every one. The same is true with vocabulary.

In the end, there’s no fast way to memorize vocabulary to retain it long-term (the SAT is all about systematic vocabulary improvement), but the following tips and practical advice will speed up the process!

Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition sounds like a complex system, but it’s actually an evidence-based technique you can use to move vocabulary words into your long-term memory. In short, you study the material repeatedly, increasing how much time you spend between each session.

You can use apps like Anki, which rely on spaced-repetition algorithms, to help you master this.

Even though this is actually an incredibly efficient system, it’s still best to try spaced repetition when you have at least a month for vocabulary study!

Mnemonic Devices

You’ve probably used verbal mnemonic devices at least once before. For example, in math, you can remember the abbreviation PEMDAS, which describes the order of operations, as “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.” When you need to use it, remembering the sentence helps you get the acronym, from which you can find the operations in order: parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.

However, there are also visual memorization techniques you can use to retain vocabulary words. Drawing pictures on your flashcards is a simple way to do this. But you can also go more Sherlockian and create a mind palace in which you think of a standout image for each new word that you learn! (It doesn’t have to be a palace–it can be an abandoned house or a modern apartment–anything that works for you!)

Use It or Lose It

The more you use these words both in practice AND away from either language section, the better you’ll do on test day. Often I’ve had students in class use SAT words to describe something in class. “I’m feeling phlegmatic.” While this is by no means the most eloquent sentence, the fact that a learner is using the word correctly, including its pronunciation, means that they have a strong grasp of a word. If you just learn hundreds of words without ever using them, they will eventually evaporate. The key to doing well on the SAT is to make sure vocabulary words stick in your head. Saying them aloud is a great way to make this happen.

Another great way is to describe people you know, celebrities, or even random people using SAT vocabulary. We all know a friend who is garrulous (talkative), a celebrity who is contentious (controversial), and a random person walking by as saturnine (sand and morose).

Another way? By writing! Storytelling is a special form of application. It’s not for everyone, but if you journal, blog, or just like to write random stories, then telling stories using SAT words will be a great way for the words to stick in your head. The stories don’t have to be Pulitzer Prize-worthy, but as long as you are having fun, that’s the important part.

Also, don’t simply look up words and write a nonsensical sentence with 10 vocab words. You should be using the words that are already inside your head (which means that you already have to be studying vocab).

Rachel is a Magoosh Content Creator. She writes and updates content on our High School and GRE Blogs to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. As a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, Rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, and she is one of the authors of our Magoosh ACT Prep Book. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University, an MA in Cinematography from the Université de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. in Film Studies from University College London. For over a decade, Rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. Her novel, THE BALLERINAS, is forthcoming in December 2021 from St. Martin’s Press, while her memoir, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, co-written with Jessica Pan, was published in 2014 by Penguin Random House. Her work has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including Vanity Fair Hollywood. When she isn’t strategically stringing words together at Magoosh, you can find Rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. Join her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

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By the way, Magoosh can help you study for both the SAT and ACT exams. Click here to learn more!

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