The top 1,000 vocabulary words have been carefully chosen to represent difficult but common words that appear in everyday academic and business writing. These words are also the most likely to appear on the SAT, ACT, GRE, and ToEFL.
To create this list, we started with the words that give our users the most trouble and then ranked them by how frequently they appear in our corpus of billions of words from edited sources. If you only have time to study one list of words, this is the list.
impart, propriety, consecrate, proceeds, fathom, objective, clad, partisan, faction, contrived, venerable, restrained, besiege, manifestation, rebuke, insurgent, rhetoric, scrupulous, ratify, stump, discreet, imposing, wistful, mortify, ripple, premise, subside, adverse, caprice, muster, comprehensive, accede, fervent, cohere, tribunal, austere, recovering, stratum, conscientious, arbitrary, exasperate, conjure, ominous, edifice, elude, pervade, foster, admonish, repeal, retiring, incidental, acquiesce, slew, usurp, sentinel, precision, depose, wanton, odium, precept, deference, fray, candid, enduring, impertinent, bland, insinuate, nominal, suppliant, languid, rave, monetary, headlong, infallible, coax, explicate, gaunt, morbid, ranging, pacify, pastoral, dogged, ebb, aide, appease, stipulate, recourse, constrained, bate, aversion, conceit, loath, rampart, extort, tarry, perpetrate, decorum, luxuriant, cant, enjoin
transmit (knowledge or skills)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Long before writing and books were in common use, proverbs were the principal means of imparting instruction.
—Preston, Thomas
correct or appropriate behavior
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: I felt a trifle doubtful about the propriety of taking a short cut across private grounds, and said as much.
—Sutphen, Van Tassel
render holy by means of religious rites
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The building was consecrated as a Protestant Episcopal church in May, 1814.
—Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: His own share in the proceeds was about a hundred thousand dollars.
—Stark , James H.
come to understand
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: But after flying for so many years, the idea of hanging up his sparkling wings is hard for him to fathom.
—New York Times (Mar 17, 2012)
the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The objective was to mobilize students from 18 high schools across the city to provide community services and inspire others.
—New York Times (Feb 5, 2012)
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: A few of the villagers came behind, clad in mourning robes, and bearing lighted tapers.
—Various
devoted to a cause or party
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: But given the bitter partisan divide in an election year, Democrats said they would never be able to get such legislation passed.
—Chicago Tribune (Mar 30, 2012)
a dissenting clique
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: One faction declared it would begin an armed struggle against the government of the United States.
—Slate (Feb 29, 2012)
artificially formal
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: In lesser hands the story about a young man who discovers life among the dead could be impossibly cute and contrived.
—New York Times (Mar 25, 2012)
impressive by reason of age
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Thus, after much more than two hundred years, the venerable building looks almost as it did when the first students entered its doors.
—Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
not showy or obtrusive
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: By contrast, Mr. Pei’s restrained design took time to claim my attention, particularly since it sat quietly next door to Saarinen’s concrete gull wings.
—New York Times (Oct 6, 2011)
harass, as with questions or requests
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: He can’t trot down the street without being besieged by paparazzi.
—New York Times (Mar 18, 2012)
a clear appearance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Singing and dancing are manifestations of what many Syrians describe as a much broader cultural flowering.
—New York Times (Dec 19, 2011)
an act or expression of criticism and censure
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Afterward, the leaders fought court orders to release records showing what they had done, drawing an uncommonly sharp rebuke from a federal judge.
—Washington Post (Mar 14, 2012)
in opposition to a civil authority or government
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The Free Syrian Army, an insurgent group made of defecting soldiers and based in southern Turkey, claimed responsibility for both attacks.
—New York Times (Nov 20, 2011)
using language effectively to please or persuade
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: His fiery rhetoric in support of limiting cuts to projected defense spending has surprised and impressed some of Obama's toughest Republican critics.
—Reuters (Jan 5, 2012)
having scruples; arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The reason is that the vast majority of businesses are scrupulous and treat their employees well.
—The Guardian (Jun 4, 2010)
approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Company officials at Safeway said those replacement workers will remain on standby until the agreement is ratified by union members.
—Washington Post (Mar 29, 2012)
cause to be perplexed or confounded
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Though family members long suspected Evans, a local handyman who frequently hired local youths, the case stumped investigators for years.
—Washington Post (Aug 30, 2011)
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Sarkozy has attempted to tone down his image, becoming more discreet about his private life.
—BusinessWeek (Feb 8, 2012)
impressive in appearance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: These buildings were grand and stylized with intricate details and a bit of an imposing presence.
—Scientific American (Mar 5, 2012)
showing pensive sadness
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: She turned toward him, her face troubled, her eyes most wistful.
—Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Intensely mortified at this humiliation, the king fell sick , and henceforth his health failed rapidly.
—Various
stir up (water) so as to form ripples
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: That could precipitate higher interest rates that would ripple across the economy.
—Washington Post (Jul 27, 2011)
a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Success, real success, comes to the jack of all trades, a major premise handed down from pioneer days.
—Gilbert, Clinton W. (Clinton Wallace)
wear off or die down
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Affliction is allayed, grief subsides, sorrow is soothed, distress is mitigated.
—Webster, Noah
contrary to your interests or welfare
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: High doses can have adverse effects and even cause death.
—Seattle Times (Mar 26, 2012)
a sudden desire
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Nobody is really in charge, and decisions are made on whim and caprice.”
—New York Times (Apr 10, 2011)
gather or bring together
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Yet Fox needed all the strength that he could muster.
—Rosebery, Archibald Phillip Primrose
broad in scope
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The United States Army developed a comprehensive plan to address problematic race relations in the 1970s, recognizing that they were hampering military effectiveness.
—New York Times (Feb 6, 2012)
yield to another's wish or opinion
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Therefore he made up his mind to accede to his uncle's desire.
—Streck fuss, Adolph
characterized by intense emotion
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: But, to fervent applause and scattered fist pumps from two sets of worshipers, he pledged to legally challenge the claims against him.
—New York Times (Sep 26, 2010)
cause to form a united, orderly, and aesthetically consistent whole
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Two antagonistic values may cohere in the same object.
—Anderson, Benjamin M. (Benjamin McAlester)
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The military has historically been protected from civilian courts, with any crimes committed by soldiers being decided in closed military tribunals.
—Wall Street Journal (Feb 15, 2012)
severely simple
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: A certain austere simplicity was noticeable all over Longfellow's house.
—Anonymous
returning to health after illness or debility
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: “The recovering economy is bringing more people back into the market.
—Washington Post (Mar 22, 2012)
people having the same social, economic, or educational status
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: She belonged to the upper stratum of the profession, and, knowing it, could not sink .
—George, Walter Lionel
characterized by extreme care and great effort
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: A conscientious hostess would be very much mortified if she served chicken out of its proper course.
—Reed, Myrtle
based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Sandra Nurse, a member of Occupy's direct action working group, said police treated demonstrators roughly and made arbitrary arrests.
—Time (Mar 18, 2012)
exasperate or irritate
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Shopkeepers, exasperated at the impact of higher taxes and reduced consumer spending, are planning to close down for the day.
—New York Times (Feb 7, 2012)
summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Vacation homes typically conjure up dreams of blue skies, pristine sand and crystalline waters.
—Wall Street Journal (Feb 28, 2012)
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The Count's words were so ominous, so full of sinister meaning that for the moment he felt like crying out with fear.
—Hocking, Joseph
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: They are here erecting a fine stone edifice for an Episcopal Church.
—Clark , John A.
escape, either physically or mentally
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: But despite racking up world titles, Olympic gold was eluding him.
—The Guardian (Feb 10, 2012)
spread or diffuse through
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: An air of intense anticipation pervaded the General’s dining room.
—Burnett, Carolyn Judson
promote the growth of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Mr. Horne accused the district’s Mexican-American studies program of using an antiwhite curriculum to foster social activism.
—New York Times (Mar 19, 2012)
take to task
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: "Children, children, stop quarrelling, right here in public!" admonished Mrs. Dering, in a low, shocked tone.
—Perry, Nora
cancel officially
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: If Republicans repeal the law, Ms. Schakowsky said, they would be “taking away benefits that seniors are already getting.”
—New York Times (Mar 19, 2012)
not arrogant or presuming
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Foster was an extremely modest, unworldly, retiring gentleman.
—Rosenbach, A. S. W.
not of prime or central importance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The models themselves are incidental on “Scouted,” merely empty planets around which revolve some fascinating characters and plenty more dull ones.
—New York Times (Nov 27, 2011)
to agree or express agreement
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: American officials initially tried to resist President Karzai’s moves but eventually acquiesced.
—New York Times (Mar 9, 2012)
(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: In fact, intense focus may be one reason why so-called savants become so extraordinary at performing extensive calculations or remembering a slew of facts.
—Scientific American (Mar 3, 2012)
seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: More than anything, though, officials expressed concern about reigniting longstanding Mexican concerns about the United States’ usurping Mexico’s authority.
—New York Times (Mar 15, 2011)
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The prisoners undressed themselves as usual, and went to bed, observed by the sentinel.
—Drake, Samuel Adams
the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: At this time, home ranges of small rodents can not be measured with great precision, therefore any such calculations are, at best, only approximations.
—Douglas, Charles L.
force to leave (an office)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Late Wednesday, Mr. Touré, the deposed president, spoke out from hiding for the first time.
—New York Times (Mar 30, 2012)
occurring without motivation or provocation
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: I am not a sentimentalist by any means, yet I abominate wanton cruelty.
—Stables, Gordon
state of disgrace resulting from detestable behavior
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: This was one of the men who bring odium on the whole class of prisoners, and prejudice society against them.
—Henderson, Frank
rule of personal conduct
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The law of nature has but one precept, "Be strong."
—Williams, C. M.
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Other rules, as indicated in Mr. Collins' book , concerned deportment, and demanded constant deference to superiors.
—Faris, John T. (John Thomson)
a noisy fight
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Armed rebels have joined the fray in recent months.
—Reuters (Jan 27, 2012)
openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The actor was candid about his own difficult childhood growing up with alcoholic parents.
—Seattle Times (Feb 17, 2012)
unceasing
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: What makes the galumphing hubby such an enduring stock character?
—Slate (Mar 26, 2012)
improperly forward or bold
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Imagine calling a famous writer by his first name—it seemed impertinent, to say the least.
—Watkins, Shirley
lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Many critics were less than enamored with the kind of “easy listening” Mr. Williams embodied, deriding his approach as bland and unchallenging.
—New York Times (Oct 9, 2011)
give to understand
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: "Good heavens, do you mean to insinuate that I did anything crooked?" said Bojo loudly, yet at the bottom ill at ease.
—Johnson, Owen
insignificantly small; a matter of form only (`tokenish' is informal)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: He sought nominal damages of one dollar from each defendant.
—Reuters (Jan 23, 2012)
humbly entreating
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The colonists asked for nothing but what was clearly right and asked in the most respectful and even suppliant manner.
—Judson, L. Carroll
lacking spirit or liveliness
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Many viewers, bored by the languid pace of the show, tuned out early.
—New York Times (Dec 30, 2011)
praise enthusiastically
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: I have heard lots of women simply rave about him.
—Kauffman, Reginald Wright
relating to or involving money
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: A hundred years ago, monetary policy – control over interest rates and the availability of credit – was viewed as a highly contentious political issue.
—New York Times (Mar 29, 2012)
in a hasty and foolhardy manner
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: “They may not be wishing to rush headlong back into the same sort of risks just yet.”
—BusinessWeek (Dec 24, 2010)
incapable of failure or error
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: But conductors are no more infallible than other people, and once in a blue moon in going through a train they miss a passenger.
—Lynde, Francis
influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: He used his most enticing manner and did his best to coax the little animal out again.
—Kay, Ross
elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: He urged judges to resist the rigid guidelines and to write opinions explicating their reasons for doing so.
—New York Times (Jan 22, 2010)
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Gaunt, starved, and ragged, the men marched northwards, leaving the Touat country upon their left hand.
—Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
suggesting the horror of death and decay
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Earlier in the day, however, his demise was watched by spectators with a morbid fascination.
—New York Times (Aug 16, 2010)
wandering freely
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: His detective work is fascinating and wide ranging.
—Seattle Times (Feb 1, 2012)
cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: How they pacified him I don’t know, but at the end of two hours he had cooled off enough to let us go aboard.
—Quincy, Samuel M.
(used with regard to idealized country life) idyllically rustic
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: He made a considerable reputation as an accomplished painter of quiet pastoral subjects and carefully elaborated landscapes with cattle.
—Various
stubbornly unyielding
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Some analysts expect Mr. Falcone, who is known for his dogged determination, to just continue to limp along while slashing costs.
—New York Times (Feb 15, 2012)
fall away or decline
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Although Gardner’s competitive appetite ebbed after 2004, other cravings did not.
—New York Times (Jan 28, 2012)
someone who acts as assistant
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: She later found work as a teacher’s aide in a Head Start program in Harlem.
—New York Times (Jan 12, 2012)
cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The king also has tried to appease public anger over corruption.
—New York Times (Feb 9, 2012)
specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The mayor has an executive order in place stipulating that all top officials, except those granted a waiver, live in the city.
—New York Times (Sep 22, 2011)
something or someone turned to for assistance or security
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Bargain hunters and holiday shoppers are bad guys’ favorite targets and have little or no recourse when shoddy or fake merchandise arrives.
—Forbes (Nov 22, 2011)
lacking spontaneity; not natural
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: All his goodness, however, will be of a forced, constrained, artificial, and at bottom unreal character.
—Hyde, William De Witt
moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: “You called her ‘an interfering, disagreeable old woman’!” whispered Bertha with bated breath, glancing half fearfully at the door as she spoke.
—Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.
a feeling of intense dislike
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Already my passive dislike had grown into an active aversion.
—Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
an artistic device or effect
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: An urban panorama is viewed from a high vantage point, a conceit used in topographic art to render vast perspectives.
—New York Times (Sep 30, 2011)
(usually followed by `to') strongly opposed
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Friends and political allies are loath to talk about her, knowing the family’s intense obsession with privacy.
—New York Times (Aug 14, 2011)
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The night was gloomy, dark , and wet; the soldiers, wearied with watching at the ramparts, dozed, leaning on their weapons.
—Sienkiewicz, Henryk
obtain by coercion or intimidation
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: The owners, in turn, have called the lawyers shakedown artists bent on ruining their good reputations to extort money.
—New York Times (Jan 27, 2012)
leave slowly and hesitantly
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: For two days I tarried in Paris, settling my little property.
—Ford, Paul Leicester
perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Come on it’s just a cruel joke perpetrated by the airline industry.”
—Forbes (Dec 11, 2011)
propriety in manners and conduct
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Wishing to observe the rules of decorum she invited him to stay for supper, though absolutely nothing had been prepared for a guest.
—Sudermann, Hermann
produced or growing in extreme abundance
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Her luxuriant curly hair, restrained by no net, but held together simply by a flowering spray, waved over her shoulders in all its rich abundance.
—Elisabeth Burstenbinder (AKA E. Werner)
insincere talk about religion or morals
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: It was the familiar cant of the man rich enough to affect disdain for money, and Wade was not impressed.
—Day, Holman
give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
EXAMPLE SENTENCE: He turned to beck on the others forward with one hand, while laying the other over his mouth in a gesture enjoining silence.
—Breckenridge, Gerald