Uncommon Meanings, Figurative Meanings, Understanding Questions and 9 More Topics · SAT Literacy Vocabulary List

to make someone experience something unpleasant

"They subject prisoners to harsh conditions."

"The prisoners were subjected to cruel treatment and harsh conditions during their time in the camp."

to formally contract or engage services for a specific purpose or period

"They chartered a plane for the trip."

"The group decided to charter a private plane for their trip because they wanted more flexibility and privacy than a commercial airline could offer."

to gather individuals closely together in large numbers

"People the island."

"The vast continent was peopled by various indigenous tribes long before the arrival of European explorers and settlers."

to ignore or dismiss something, refusing to consider or give attention to it

"Do not discount his advice easily."

"Do not discount his advice just because he is young because he has a lot of wisdom and experience beyond his years."

a moving belt at airports where passengers pick up their luggage

"My bag is on carousel."

"After a long flight, passengers patiently waited at the carousel to retrieve their checked luggage from the plane."

the process of refining and extracting the essential elements from a complex body of information or ideas

"Distillation of ideas."

"Water distillation is a very useful process that removes impurities and produces clean drinking water for people."

a thoughtful and deliberate consideration, often calm and extended

"He needs time for reflexion."

"After much quiet reflexion, she finally decided on the best course of action for her career."

the influence or control over someone or something

"He has sway here."

"The charismatic leader's sway over his followers was evident in their unwavering loyalty and obedience to his commands."

developing or reaching success in a quick way

"Her rise to fame was meteoric."

"Her meteoric rise to fame surprised everyone in the music industry."

in a way that makes sense based on clear thinking or reasoning

"Logically the answer must be correct."

"Logically the answer must be correct because all of the evidence supports it and there is no counterargument."

in accordance with truth

"Give me the precise time."

"The precise measurements are important for the experiment to be successful."

to give special attention or importance to something

"Give special attention to this."

"The speaker will emphasize the key takeaways from the presentation for everyone to remember."

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

"His words undermine trust."

"His constant criticism began to undermine her confidence and made her doubt her own abilities."

to reach an opinion or decision based on available evidence and one's understanding of the matter

"I infer this from facts."

"From the evidence presented in the report we can infer that the company is likely to go bankrupt soon."

to use something as a basis for further development

"We can build on this success."

"The young athlete hopes to build on her recent success at the national championships and qualify for the Olympic team next year."

to express the meaning of something written or spoken with a different choice of words

"Paraphrase the passage in your own words."

"When writing research papers you must paraphrase your sources rather than copying them directly to avoid plagiarism."

the overall sense of unity, logic, and connectedness in a text or discourse, where the ideas, information, and elements are organized and presented in a clear and meaningful way

"Essay has good coherence."

"The essay has excellent logical coherence and clear structure from the beginning until the very end."

to lessen the value or quality of something

"Noise can detract from peace."

"The constant interruptions from his phone calls began to detract from the focus of the important meeting."

used to indicate that despite a previous statement or situation, something else remains true

"The task is hard nonetheless we will try."

"The task is hard nonetheless we will try our best to complete it before the deadline."

used to indicate that despite a certain fact or situation mentioned in the first clause, the second clause follows

"Even though it rained we went out."

"Even though he was tired he stayed up late to finish his work."

in replacement of something that is typically expected or required

"He gave milk in lieu of cream."

"He received a cash payment in lieu of vacation days because he could not take time off."

used to introduce statement that is in contrast to what one previously stated

"That said, I still think you are right."

"The hotel room was very small that said it was clean and the bed was comfortable."

at the starting point of a major development or change

"The company is on the cusp of success."

"The company is on the cusp of a major breakthrough that will change the industry."

used to introduce a comparison between two or more things, highlighting differences or disparities between them

"In contrast, she is calm."

"By contrast, the new model is much more efficient than the old one."

used to indicate that something follows as a result or outcome of a preceding event or action

"As a consequence the school closed early."

"As a consequence the school closed early and the students were sent home because of the dangerous weather conditions."

used to introduce the second point, reason, step, etc.

"Secondly we need to buy food."

"Secondly we need to buy food and drinks for the party before we can start decorating the room."

used to introduce extra information or points

"Additionally bring your passport."

"Additionally you will need to bring your passport and a copy of your visa application to the interview."

used to provide a specific situation or instance that helps to clarify or explain a point being made

"We need tools, for example hammers."

"You should eat more fruit for example apples or bananas every single day."

in a manner that is gradually growing in degree, extent, or frequency over time

"The weather is increasingly getting warmer."

"The weather is increasingly getting warmer each year due to climate change caused by human activities."

used to indicate how something is achieved or the result of an action

"He passed the exam thereby proving his skills."

"He passed the exam thereby proving his skills and earning the respect of his teachers and classmates."

as a second choice or another possibility

"Alternatively you can take the train."

"Alternatively you can take the train instead of driving if you do not want to deal with traffic and parking."

used to provide a brief and straightforward explanation of the main points or ideas

"In summary the project was successful."

"In summary the project was successful because the team worked well together and met all of their deadlines."

in a sequential manner, referring to actions or events occurring in a specific order

"He helped me and I in turn helped him."

"He helped me and I in turn helped him so we both benefited from our cooperation and teamwork."

with no attention to the thing mentioned

"I will go regardless."

"She decided to pursue her dream career regardless of the financial risks involved in starting her own business."

over a large area or covering a wide range of subjects, places, or people

"The doctor examined the patient extensively."

"The doctor examined the patient extensively and ordered several tests to determine the cause of his symptoms."

seriously enough to cause concern or worry

"He was gravely injured in the crash."

"He was gravely injured in the crash and the doctors said that he was lucky to have survived at all."

To an unusually high degree, in a way that is far above average or standard

"The food was exceptionally delicious tonight."

"The food was exceptionally delicious tonight and the service was also very fast and friendly at the restaurant."

to an exceptional or remarkable degree

"The task was exceedingly difficult to complete."

"The task was exceedingly difficult to complete and only a few people managed to finish it on time."

to an excessive degree

"Do not be overly worried about small things."

"Do not be overly worried about small things because stress is bad for your health and happiness in the long run."

in a way that increases more and more rapidly over time

"The population grew exponentially over the decade."

"The population grew exponentially over the decade and the city had to build many new schools and hospitals to keep up."

in a manner that is of very high significance or scale

"The project was monumentally difficult."

"The project was monumentally difficult and took five years to complete but the final result was worth all the effort."

to a large amount, intensity, or degree

"The view improved tremendously."

"The view improved tremendously after we climbed to the top of the hill and could see the entire valley below us."

to a great or vast degree

"The team benefited enormously from her help."

"The team benefited enormously from her experience and she taught them many valuable skills and techniques."

complete or total, without limitation or moderation

"That is downright silly."

"His behavior was downright rude and unacceptable for a formal dinner party."

to a greater extent than is reasonable or acceptable

"Do not be unduly worried about the test."

"Do not be unduly worried about the test because you have studied hard and you are well prepared for it."

to a specific degree, particularly when compared to other similar things

"The house is relatively cheap."

"The house is relatively cheap compared to others in the same neighborhood because it needs some repairs and renovations."

used to say that something such as a number or amount is not exact

"The trip takes approximately two hours."

"The trip takes approximately two hours depending on traffic conditions and the route you choose to take."

to a degree that is enough or satisfactory for a particular purpose

"The room was adequately heated."

"The room was adequately heated so we did not feel cold even though the temperature outside was below freezing."

used to indicate that something is true or applicable only to some extent or degree

"His success was in part due to luck."

"His success was in part due to luck but mostly it came from his hard work and dedication."

to the highest or utmost degree

"She is supremely confident in her abilities."

"She is supremely confident in her abilities and never doubts herself even when facing a difficult challenge."

having a strong or far-reaching effect

"We need drastic action."

"The company took drastic measures to cut costs including reducing salaries and eliminating bonuses for all employees regardless of seniority."

emphasizing the intensity or pureness of a particular quality or emotion

"It is sheer luck."

"The sheer size of the mountain was overwhelming and we realized that climbing to the top would take much longer than we had planned."

to make something more powerful

"Exercise helps strengthen your muscles."

"Regular exercise can strengthen your muscles and improve your overall physical health over time."

to enhance the strength or effect of something

"She bolstered her argument with facts."

"The company decided to bolster its marketing efforts by hiring a famous celebrity for their advertisements."

to reduce from the difficulty or intensity of a problem, issue, etc.

"This medicine will alleviate pain."

"This medication can help alleviate the symptoms of allergies such as sneezing and itchy eyes."

to provide support or justification in order to make something stronger or more secure

"The evidence buttresses his argument well."

"The lawyer presented new evidence to buttress his argument and convince the jury of his client's complete innocence."

to bring back strength or energy to something that was previously lacking

"The new park revitalized the neighborhood."

"The city plans to revitalize the old industrial area by building new parks housing and shops to attract new residents and businesses."

to cause a feeling of strength and energy

"The vacation rejuvenated her completely."

"The weekend vacation at the spa helped to rejuvenate her tired mind and body after months of stressful work."

to make something, particularly something unpleasant or unsatisfactory, better or more bearable

"This medicine will ameliorate your pain."

"The new medicine can help ameliorate the painful symptoms of this chronic disease significantly."

impossible to resist or refuse, usually because of being very appealing or attractive

"The cake is irresistible."

"The chocolate cake was irresistible so I ate two slices of it."

the ability or potential of doing something or achieving a certain goal

"The machine has great capability."

"She has great capability to solve complex problems quickly and efficiently even under strong pressure."

to publicly support or recommend something

"She advocates for environmental protection policies."

"The environmental group advocates for stronger government regulations to reduce carbon emissions from factories and power plants."

to support, defend, or fight for a cause, principle, or person

"She champions the rights of the poor."

"The civil rights lawyer dedicated her entire career to champion the cause of justice for marginalized and underrepresented communities in the city."

to advance the progress or growth of something

"The scholarship will further her education."

"The scholarship will help further her education and allow her to attend the university of her dreams."

to make someone want to do something by giving them a reason or encouragement

"Good teachers motivate their students."

"Good teachers know how to motivate their students by making lessons interesting and relevant to their lives."

to help something, such as a process or action, become possible or simpler

"Technology facilitates communication across long distances."

"The new software is designed to facilitate communication between different departments within the large organization."

to work with other people in order to achieve a common goal

"Please cooperate with the security check process."

"The two departments agreed to cooperate on the project to share resources and expertise for better results."

to publicly state that one supports or approves someone or something

"The athlete endorsed the sports drink brand."

"The famous athlete decided to endorse the new sports drink in exchange for a lucrative multi year sponsorship deal with the company."

to work with someone else in order to create something or reach the same goal

"Scientists collaborate on important research projects together."

"The two artists decided to collaborate on a new song that would combine their unique musical styles."

to present or give something, often with a sense of honor or generosity

"The king bestowed a title upon him."

"The queen decided to bestow a noble title upon the loyal knight who had served the kingdom faithfully for many years."

to provide a gift or quality, to someone or something, often implying a permanent gift or quality

"The university was endowed by a rich donor."

"The wealthy philanthropist decided to endow a new scholarship fund to help disadvantaged students attend the prestigious university."

to generously give or spend, especially on luxurious or extravagant things

"She lavished gifts on her grandchildren."

"The grandparents lavished expensive gifts on their grandchildren for their birthdays and always spoiled them with attention and treats."

to add to something's value, effect, size, or amount

"He will augment his income."

"She decided to augment her savings by taking on a part-time job during the weekends to afford her dream vacation."

the act of bringing something back into active and noticeable existence or prominence

"There is a resurgence of interest in vinyl records."

"The country experienced a strong economic resurgence after the government implemented new policies last year."

an individual who financially supports an artist, charity, cause, etc.

"The patron donated money."

"The wealthy patron donated millions to the museum allowing it to expand its collection."

a special right, immunity or advantage that only a particular person or group has

"Education is special privilege."

"Having access to good quality education is a special privilege that not everyone in the world can enjoy."

a supporter who usually speaks publicly in favor of a theory, idea, or plan

"He is a proponent of renewable energy."

"She is a strong proponent of environmental protection and works hard to save forests and rivers every day."

trust and confidence placed in someone or something

"His reliance on caffeine is strong."

"The country has heavy reliance on imported oil for its energy needs every single year."

the noise people make by clapping, and sometimes shouting, in order to express their enjoyment or approval

"The audience responded with loud applause immediately"

"The actor received loud applause from the audience after his emotional performance in the final scene of the play."

to diminish in quantity or size over time

"Water supplies dwindled during the drought."

"The food supplies began to dwindle rapidly as more and more refugees arrived at the camp every single day."

to gradually drain or deplete someone's power or strength

"The heat sapped our energy completely."

"The intense heat of the desert sun sapped the energy of the exhausted hikers who had run out of water."

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

"His words undermine trust."

"His constant criticism began to undermine her confidence and made her doubt her own abilities."

to gradually disappear or spread out

"The crowd dissipated after the concert ended."

"The thick morning fog began to dissipate as the sun rose higher in the clear sky."

to make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse or more severe

"His comments only exacerbated the argument."

"His rude comments only served to exacerbate the already tense situation between the two angry coworkers in the office."

difficult to notice or detect because of its slight or delicate nature

"There is a subtle difference."

"There is a subtle difference between the two shades of blue but you have to look closely to see it."

a physical or mental condition that prevents a person from using some part of their body completely or learning something easily

"Her disability does not limit her ambition."

"The company installed wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms to accommodate employees with physical disabilities and comply with the new regulations."

a flaw or weakness that reduces the quality or effectiveness of something or someone

"His main shortcoming was impatience."

"His only shortcoming as a manager was his impatience with slow workers though he was otherwise fair and supportive."

a flaw or deficiency that impairs the quality or effectiveness of something

"A defect in the plan."

"The manufacturing defect caused many products to break easily after only a few weeks of normal daily use."

to make something unclear or difficult to understand

"Don't muddy the water."

"His confusing and contradictory explanation only served to muddy the issue further instead of clarifying it for the confused audience."

to create difficulty or obstacles that make it hard for something to happen or progress

"The snow impeded our travel plans."

"The fallen tree across the road impeded the progress of the emergency vehicles trying to reach the accident scene."

to intentionally damage or undermine something, often for personal gain or as an act of protest or revenge

"Someone sabotages the factory machinery deliberately."

"The disgruntled employee tried to sabotage the project by deleting important files from the shared computer drive."

to create obstacles or difficulties that prevent progress, movement, or success

"Heavy traffic hindered our progress."

"The heavy rain and strong winds greatly hindered the firefighters' efforts to control the massive wildfire that was spreading quickly through the dry forest."

the state of being unclear due to multiple possible meanings

"The ambiguity of the statement confused everyone."

"The contract contained a dangerous ambiguity about who was responsible for repairs and both parties interpreted the clause differently."

a very small and barely noticeable difference in tone, appearance, manner, meaning, etc.

"She understands subtle nuance."

"She understands every subtle nuance of the language after living in the country for many years."

done with little or no difficulty

"Her dance seemed effortless."

"The effortless grace of the professional dancer made the difficult routine look easy even though she had practiced it for thousands of hours."

difficult to grasp mentally

"The answer is elusive."

"The elusive criminal managed to escape from the police three times and they still have not been able to catch him."

clear in meaning or expression

"Her speech was comprehensible."

"The professor spoke slowly and clearly so that his lecture would be comprehensible to the international students who were still learning the language."

capable of being seen or observed

"The difference is discernible."

"The difference between the two shades of white is barely discernible to the naked eye."

impossible to comprehend

"The mystery is unfathomable."

"The depths of the ocean are unfathomable to humans without special equipment and many species remain undiscovered in the dark waters."

so slight or gradual that it cannot be noticed

"The change was imperceptible."

"The change in temperature was imperceptible but she still put on a jacket anyway."

difficult or impossible to understand or interpret

"His handwriting is indecipherable."

"His handwriting is indecipherable so nobody can read his notes from class."

unable to be read or understood because of poor handwriting or print quality

"The signature is illegible."

"The signature on the document is illegible so we cannot tell who signed it."

in a way that involves intense physical effort

"He worked strenuously."

"He strenuously denied the accusations and claimed that he had never met the woman who accused him of the crime."

to perform better or achieve superior results compared to someone or something else in a competitive context

"The new species outcompeted the native ones."

"The larger stronger invasive species can easily outcompete the native animals for limited food resources leading to their eventual decline."

to go beyond a particular limit, quality, or standard, often in an exceptional way

"Music can transcend language barriers."

"Great art has the power to transcend cultural boundaries and speak to people from all around the entire world."

to succeed in reaching a goal, after hard work

"She will attain her dream."

"Through consistent effort and unwavering determination, he managed to attain his long-held ambition."

to finally accomplish a desired goal after dealing with many difficulties

"You can achieve anything with hard work."

"With hard work and determination anyone can achieve their dreams regardless of their background or circumstances."

to have a rapid development or growth

"Her talent burgeoned at a young age."

"The small startup began to burgeon into a huge multinational corporation within just a few years of its founding."

a desired and impressive goal achieved through hard work

"The accomplishment was great"

"The accomplishment of completing the project ahead of schedule impressed the entire management team"

great knowledge and exceptional skill in a field

"He achieved complete mastery."

"He achieved complete mastery of the piano after practicing many hours every single day for ten years."

the state of gaining power, control, or dominance over others

"His political ascendance surprised."

"His rapid political ascendance surprised many people who did not expect him to become leader so quickly."

the state of being successful, particularly by earning a lot of money

"The nation enjoyed years of prosperity."

"The country enjoyed long economic prosperity and development after implementing new policies ten years ago."

a great victory, success, or achievement gained through struggle

"The triumph was celebrated"

"The triumph was celebrated across the city after the national team won the final match"

having the power to achieve a desired outcome or make a strong impression

"The medicine was effectual."

"The new medicine proved effectual in treating the symptoms of the disease quickly."

a quality that renders a thing or person as trustworthy or believable

"Source has high credibility."

"The news source has high credibility because it always reports facts accurately and honestly."

the quality or state of being factual or true

"Factuality of report."

"The factuality of the report was questioned by many experts after new evidence appeared."

the state or quality of being without any errors

"High accuracy needed."

"High accuracy is needed when performing delicate medical operations on patients."

the state or quality of implying the truth

"Story has verisimilitude."

"The story has great verisimilitude and feels very realistic to the readers."

respected and trusted due to having a good reputation

"We hired a reputable company."

"We hired a reputable contractor who has been in business for over twenty years."

covering or including all aspects of something

"The report is comprehensive."

"The comprehensive report covered every aspect of the problem from start to finish."

to change the shape or condition of something in a way that is no longer clear or natural

"Heat can distort metal."

"Extreme heat can distort the metal structure, causing it to lose its original shape and integrity over time."

to make very precise adjustments, usually small ones, to improve or perfect something

"He fine tuned the guitar strings."

"The engineer spent hours trying to fine-tune the machine for optimal performance and efficiency."

to make something change from a particular state, condition or position to another

"We will transition now."

"The company is currently transitioning to a new software system which may cause some temporary disruptions in workflow."

to change something in a significant or fundamental way

"The internet revolutionized global communication."

"The invention of the smartphone revolutionized the way people communicate and access information all around the entire world."

to make something steady and prevent it from fluctuating

"The medication stabilizes his blood pressure quickly."

"The doctor gave the patient medication to stabilize his heart rate and prevent further complications from the condition."

to do something in order to make up for a wrongdoing or to make things right

"We need to redress this injustice."

"The new law aims to redress the historical injustices suffered by indigenous people by providing compensation and land rights."

to correct or improve a situation

"The doctor can remedy your condition."

"The doctor prescribed a strong antibiotic to remedy the patient's bacterial infection and help him recover quickly."

to lessen something's seriousness, severity, or painfulness

"We must mitigate the environmental damage."

"The company took immediate steps to mitigate the damage caused by the data breach by notifying affected customers and offering free credit monitoring."

to make a situation less tense or dangerous by calming emotions or reducing the likelihood of conflict or violence

"He defused the tense situation calmly."

"The experienced negotiator was able to defuse the tense hostage situation by calmly talking to the criminal and building trust."

to increase rapidly and dramatically, often referring to prices, numbers, or success

"Prices skyrocketed after the storm."

"The price of gasoline skyrocketed after the announcement of supply cuts by major oil producing countries around the world."

to place limits or boundaries on something to reduce its scope or size

"The company curtailed unnecessary expenses."

"The manager decided to curtail the meeting because everyone was tired and nothing productive was being discussed anymore."

a sudden and significant change or disruption, especially in relation to politics or social conditions

"The war caused a great upheaval."

"The company underwent a major upheaval when the new CEO fired half the managers and completely restructured the organization chart."

the action of making something bigger in size, quantity, or scope

"The enlargement of the photo was clear."

"The enlargement of the European Union brought many new member states into the economic community."

a sudden or abrupt rise in quantity, intensity, or activity

"Sudden surge happened."

"There was a sudden surge in demand for masks during the health crisis last year."

describing something that happens suddenly, often with sharp or noticeable changes

"His departure was abrupt."

"The abrupt ending of the movie left the audience confused and dissatisfied with the story."

to spread information, ideas, or knowledge to a wide audience

"Disseminate the news quickly."

"The organization uses social media and email newsletters to disseminate important information to its members quickly and efficiently."

to spread throughout and be present in every part of something

"Joy pervades the celebration."

"A feeling of anxiety and nervousness pervaded the waiting room as the patients sat quietly waiting for their test results from the doctor."

to gradually grow or increase by adding layers or parts over time

"Dust accretes on surfaces."

"Over millions of years layers of dust and gas accrete to form new stars and planets in the vastness of space."

to gather and store a large supply of food, money, etc., usually somewhere secret

"Squirrels hoard nuts."

"During times of uncertainty, some people tend to hoard essential supplies like canned goods and bottled water."

to add something that enhances or improves the quality or appearance of someone or something

"This wine complements the cheese perfectly."

"The red wine complemented the steak perfectly enhancing the flavor of both the meat and the drink."

to cause things to gather closely together

"People cluster around him."

"The stars seemed to cluster together in the night sky forming beautiful constellations that ancient people named after gods and heroes."

to hide or store something for future use

"We cache food supplies."

"The spies were instructed to cache the sensitive documents in a secure location before their planned extraction."

to bring ideas, texts, things, etc. together and create something new

"Conflate the data points."

"The journalist was careful not to conflate the two separate issues in her report because they had very different causes and required different solutions."

the act of bringing together various items, parts, or elements into a single unified whole

"An aggregation of people gathered."

"Data aggregation helps companies understand customer behavior more effectively."

the process of spreading or dispersing something widely

"The diffusion of ideas spread."

"Cultural diffusion happens when ideas and customs spread from one society to another."

the process of diverse elements uniting to form a single body, form, or group

"Many small businesses' coalescence."

"The coalescence of different ideas created a completely new approach to solving the problem."