Describing Appearance · GRE Essential Vocabulary List

to bend the upper side of the body forward and make a rounded back

"Hunch your shoulders in the cold wind."

"My grandmother tends to hunch her shoulders forward when she sits for a long time in her armchair."

having quick and skillful movements

"Her deft fingers worked quickly."

"Her deft fingers moved quickly across the piano keys playing a beautiful and complicated melody."

slowly and without much energy, sometimes in an attractive way

"She stretched languidly on the sofa."

"She stretched languidly on the sofa like a cat enjoying the warm sunlight coming through the window."

moving slowly or in an awkward way because of being heavy

"The bear made a lumbering movement."

"The bear made a lumbering movement as it walked slowly through the forest on its thick legs."

to adopt a drooping, slumped, or lazy posture

"Do not slouch while sitting."

"The teacher told the students not to slouch in their chairs because it was bad for their spines."

straight, with an upright position

"The pole is erect."

"The pole is erect and stands straight up without leaning to the left or right side."

to show a facial expression that signifies shame or pain

"He winced as the needle pricked his arm."

"She could not help but wince when the dentist began to drill into her sensitive tooth even though she had received a local anesthetic injection."

to curl the lip in a contemptuous smile, showing scorn or disdain

"Do not sneer at losers."

"The arrogant boy could not help but sneer at his classmates who had failed the difficult exam."

the natural color and appearance of someone's skin, especially the face

"Her complexion was clear and fair."

"She has a fair complexion that looks healthy after spending time in the countryside."

to twist our face in an ugly way because of pain, strong dislike, etc., or when trying to be funny

"She grimaced at the bitter taste."

"The bitter medicine made the little girl grimace but she swallowed it without complaining at all finally."

to smile widely in a way that displays the teeth

"She did grin widely."

"The little boy could not hide his happiness and began to grin widely when he saw the gift."

to give a half-smile, often displaying satisfaction, superiority, or amusement

"She smirks at his silly joke."

"The bully smirked at the smaller boy after pushing him to the ground in front of the other students."

to become red in the face, especially as a result of shyness or shame

"She blushed at the compliment."

"The shy girl blushed brightly when the handsome boy in her class unexpectedly complimented her on her new hairstyle."

to look or stare at someone angrily

"He glowers at rude people."

"The angry teacher glowered at the students who were talking during her important lesson about the exam."

the quality of attracting someone by being fascinating and glamorous

"The allure of the city drew her in."

"The mysterious allure of the old castle attracted many tourists every summer season."

(of a person or their clothing) lacking style, elegance, or fashionable appeal

"Her dress is dowdy."

"Her dowdy clothes made her look much older than she really was and her friends encouraged her to try a more modern style."

having a naturally dark face or complexion

"The man has a swarthy complexion."

"The man has a swarthy complexion with dark skin and black hair and brown eyes."

a mark or spot on something or someone's skin that spoils the appearance

"The painting has a blemish."

"Despite a small blemish on the surface, the antique vase was still considered valuable."

an area of skin that has turned hard and rough by being constantly exposed to friction

"A callus is hard skin."

"He developed thick callus on his hands after working hard in the garden for many weeks."

(of a person) standing or sitting with a straight back

"He is upright."

"Maintaining an upright posture can alleviate back pain and improve breathing efficiency."

moving in a way that is awkward and not smooth

"His walk is ungainly."

"The ungainly puppy tripped over its own feet and rolled down the small hill but it got up and kept running without any pain."

slender and flexible, able to bend or move smoothly and with elegance

"The dancer was supple."

"The leather is supple and soft making it comfortable to wear as a jacket."

to smile joyfully in an obvious way

"She beamed with pride and joy."

"The proud parents beamed with joy as they watched their daughter walk across the stage to receive her diploma from the university president."

to look with eyes half-opened when hit by light, or as a sign of suspicion, etc.

"He squints in the bright sunlight."

"The old man had to squint to read the small print on the medicine bottle because his eyesight was very poor."

someone's face or facial expression

"His sad countenance worried me."

"He kept a calm countenance even when receiving bad news."

(of a person) slightly fat and heavy

"The woman is stout."

"The stout woman was strong and sturdy and she could carry heavy boxes up the stairs without getting tired or out of breath."

(of a woman) small in an attractive way

"She is petite."

"The petite woman had to ask a tall stranger to reach the box on the top shelf because she could not get it herself."

(of a person) having a pleasantly rounded and slightly full-bodied appearance

"She is plump."

"The plump baker had rosy cheeks and a warm smile that made everyone feel welcome in her shop."

sexually attractive and very seductive

"Her lips are luscious."

"The singer's performance was incredibly luscious, leaving the audience spellbound by her alluring stage presence."

(of a man's face) having strong, well-defined, and attractive features

"He has a rugged face."

"The seasoned explorer was known for his rugged features and unwavering resilience in harsh conditions."

(of a man's face) not having been shaved for a long time

"He looks scruffy."

"He looks scruffy because he has not shaved or washed his hair in several days and his clothes are wrinkled."

(of a woman's body) curvy and attractive with full breasts and wide hips

"She was voluptuous."

"The artist was inspired by the model's voluptuous figure, capturing her curves with exquisite detail."