Test Prep Vocal Builders: Ace Those SATs!

Anyone studying for college entrance exams or striving to improve their word skills would do well to take a look at our list of words from past SATs. We have thousands of entries in our repertoire and will continue to add to this page over time. Bookmark us and visit often. A good vocabulary is the foundation of a writer's craft.  

PS. Many of these words have appeared on GREs and other graduate entrance exams as well!

1. abbey n. the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns.
   Westminster Abbey is a famous landmark in London.

2. abbot n. the head of a monastery.
   Fr. Bernard is the abbot of St. Peter's Monastery.

3. abdicate v. to give up or renounce a royal power, claim or responsibility.
   The ailing king abdicated his throne in favor of his eldest son.

4. abdomen n. the body cavity between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor; the belly.
   A person's stomach and intestines are located in the abdomen.

5. abdominal n. pertaining to or situated on the abdomen.
   Doing sit-ups strengthens the abdominal muscles.

6. abduct v. to draw or take away illegally and in secret or by force.
   The fraternity brothers had a plan to abduct their rival's mascot—a goat named Chewy.

7. abed adv. in bed or confined to bed.
   Although it was almost noon, the boy was still abed.

8. aberration n. deviation from a right, customary, or normal course.
   A sleet storm in June is an aberration of normal weather cycles.

9. abet v. to aid, promote, or encourage the commission of (an offense).
   The getaway car driver was charged with abetting the bank robbers.

10. abeyance n. temporary inactivity or suspension.
    The committee voted to hold the issue of a dues increase in abeyance.  

11. abhorrence n. a feeling of extreme aversion or loathing.
    She didn't just dislike lima beans; she had abhorrence for the vegetable.

12. abhorrent adj. very repugnant; hateful.
    The smell of the cooking stew was abhorrent to the vegetarian.

13. abide v. to remain, continue or stay; to put up with.
    I cannot abide dishonesty.

14. able-bodied adj. having a strong, healthy body; physically fit.
    Yard work is a good job for able-bodied teenagers looking to make spending money.

15. ablution n. cleansing with water or other liquid.
    Removing her makeup was part of the woman's evening ablution.
    

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16. abnegate v. to refuse or deny oneself.
    He abnegated all desserts for a month in order to lose ten pounds.

17. abnormal adj. not average, typical or usual.
    A body temperature of 102° F is abnormally high.

18. abode n. a place where a person resides.
    His humble abode consisted of only one room, but had a beautiful view of the ocean.

19. abominable adj. hateful, detestable, loathsome.
    The abominable traffic had us sitting on the interstate for four hours.

20. aboriginal adj. primitive; unsophisticated.
    The aboriginal people of Tahiti established customs that are still practiced today.

21.  aborigines n. the original of earliest known inhabitants of a country.
    The aborigines were the earliest inhabitants of Australia.

22. abortive adj. failing to succeed.
    The abortive cheating scam got the perpetrators expelled from the program.

23. aboveboard adv., adj. in open sight; without concealment, fraud, or tricks.
    Her academic achievements were obtained in an aboveboard manner.

24. abrade v. to wear away the surface by scraping or rubbing.
    He abraded his knee when he fell off his skateboard.

25. abreast adv., adj. side by side; beside each other in a line.
    The marched two abreast along the five-mile route.

26. abridge v. to shorten by omission while keeping the essential content.
    The editor's job was to abridge the 1,000-page manuscript to a more readable length.

27. abroad adv. in or to a foreign country or continent.
    The Grays decided to take their family abroad for vacation this year.

28. abrogate v. to abolish by formal or official means; to repeal.
    The election results successfully abrogated the unpopular tax increase.

29. abrupt adj. sudden or unexpected; curt or  brusque in speech or manner.
    His abrupt response surprised the interviewer.

30. abscess n. a localized collection of pus in some tissue of the body.
    His visit to the dentist was for treatment of an abscess on one tooth.

31. abscission n. the act of cutting off, as in a surgical operation.
    The surgeon reported that abscission of the tumor was complete.

32. abscond v. to depart suddenly and secretly, especially for the purpose of escaping arrest.
    The cashier absconded with the day’s receipts.

33. absence n. state of being away or not being present or available.
    He chaired the meeting in the absence of the team leader.

34. absent-minded adj. lacking in attention to immediate surroundings or business.
    She was so absent-minded, she put salt in her coffee, mistaking it for sugar.

35. absolution n. forgiveness, or passing over of offenses.
    The priest granted the congregation absolution for their sins.

36. absolve v. to free from sin or its penalties.
    The sinners asked to be absolved from their transgressions.

37. absorb v. to drink in or suck up; to involve the full attention.
    She was so absorbed in the book that she didn't hear her brother enter the room.

38. absorption n. the act or process of absorbing.
    A sponge has a higher absorption rate than paper towels.

39. abstain v. to hold oneself back voluntarily.
    He abstained from sports until his ankle was completely healed.

40. abstemious adj. sparing or moderate in eating or drinking.
    The hundred-year-old man attributed his longevity to his abstemious diet.

41. allot v. to divide or distribute by share or portion.
    The pirates allotted their spoils by rank.

42. allotment n. portion.
    In times of rationing, each person may only obtain his allotment of gasoline.

43. allude v. to refer incidentally or by suggestion.
    Her letter alluded to knowledge of his past indiscretions.  

44. allusion n. an indirect and incidental reference to something without definite mention of it.
    His history paper included an allusion to Shakespeare.

45. ally n. a person connected with another for some common purpose.
    England was the United States' ally during World War II.
    

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46. almanac n. an annual publication containing a calendar for the coming year.
    The Farmers' Almanac predicts weather trends and offers helpful harvest tips.

47. aloof adv. at a distance, apart.
    In spite of urging to join the festivities, she remained aloof.

48. alteration n. change or modification.
    The new suit needed alteration to shorten the sleeves.

49. altercate v. to argue or quarrel.
    He was known to altercate with anyone who didn't agree with him.

50.  alternate n. one chosen to act in place of another.
    The first alternate was invited to compete when the original contestant took ill.

51. alternative n. one of the things or courses of action that can be chosen.
    He was asked to respond by email, or as an alternative, by text message.

52. altitude n. the height of anything above any point or base-level, as sea level.
    Mt Everest is the highest mountain on earth with an altitude of 29,035 feet.

53.  alto n. the lowest or deepest female voice.
    She sang in the alto section of the chorus.

54. altruism n. the practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of others.
     Mother Teresa was known for her altruism.

55. altruist n. one who advocates or practices altruism.
    After he retired, he donated his time and most of his fortune to help others in the spirit of a true altruist.

56. amalgam n. an alloy or union of mercury with another metal.
    In the 1960s, dental cavities were filled with amalgam.

57. amalgamate v. to mix or blend together to make a combination.
    The two companies amalgamated to become the largest internet service provider in the country.

58. amateur adj. practicing an art or occupation for pleasure rather than for financial gain or professional reasons.
    Although she had great talent, she remained an amateur figure skater.

59. amatory adj. designed to excite love.
    He couldn’t resist her amatory looks.

60.  ambidextrous adj. able to using both hands with equal skill or ease.
    Because he was an ambidextrous writer, he didn't miss any assignments after he broke his arm snowboarding.

61. ambiguous adj. having several possible meanings.
    Her ambiguous answer led everyone to believe she had something to hide.

62. ambitious adj. eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining a goal.
    His ambitious nature and hard work made his company the global success it is today.

63. ambrosial adj. divinely sweet, fragrant, or delicious.
    The ambrosial scents coming out of the kitchen promised a dessert worth waiting for.

64. ambulance n. a vehicle fitted for conveying the sick and injured.
    The cars pulled to the side of the road to allow the ambulance quicker access to the hospital’s Emergency Room entrance.

65. ambulate v. to walk about or move from place to place.
    After six weeks in a cast, she was once again able to ambulate through her garden.

66. ambush n. the act of lying concealed for the purpose of a surprise attack.
    With naturally honed instincts, the cat waited in ambush for the unsuspecting mouse.

67. ameliorate v. to make or become better.
    She wanted not only to learn from, but to ameliorate her drawing instructor.

68. amenable adj. willing or ready to answer, agree, or yield.
    The dog was well trained and amenable to commands.  

69. amicable adj. friendly, peaceable, or showing good will.
    Offering to assist in changing the flat tire was an amicable gesture.

70. amity n. friendship.
    The club was based on amity and common interests.

71. amorous adj. inclined to love.
    She was surprised to receive the amorous birthday card.

72. amorphous adj. without determinate shape; formless.
    They sat on the hill and watched the amorphous clouds pass overhead.

73.  amour n. a love affair.
    When he looked in her eyes, he knew it was amour.

74.  ampere n. the basic unit of electric current.
    Appliances purchased in the U.S. cannot be used in Europe because of the ampere difference.

75. ampersand n. the character or symbol representing the word and (&).
    Wilson & Sons uses the ampersand in its company name.

76. amphibious adj. living both on land and in water.
    Toads are amphibious creatures.

77. amphitheater n. an oval or round building constructed around a central open space or arena.
    The Superdome is a modern-day amphitheater.

78. amplitude n. largeness.
    The amplitude of the storm was responsible for the great area of damage it caused.

79. amply adv. sufficiently.
    He was amply rewarded for his dedication.

80. amputate v. to cut off, as by surgery.
    It was necessary to amputate the hand to save the arm and the boy's life.

81. amusement n. anything that entertains.
    Playing computer games is a waste of time to some and an amusement to others.

82. anachronism n. anything occurring or existing out of its proper time.
    She caught many anachronisms in the book, such as the medieval knight using an electric razor.

83. anagram n. the letters of a word or phrase so transposed as to make a different word or phrase.
    Angel is an anagram for glean.

84. analogous adj. corresponding (to some other) in some function or other particular way.
    Many think the computer is analogous to the human brain.

85. analogy n. a similarity on which a comparison can be made.
    I see no analogy between your situation and mine.
    

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86. analyst n. one who is skilled in separating information into its elements.
    The lab analyst evaluated the water sample for toxic chemicals.

87. analyze v. to examine minutely or critically.
    He was asked to analyze the situation and determine the best course of action.

88. anarchy n. absence of government or law.
    When the old king died without an heir, the island descended into a state of anarchy.

89. anathema n. a person or thing detested or loathed.
    Prime rib is an anathema to a person following a vegetarian diet.

90. anatomy n. the science dealing with the structure of animals and plants.
    Anatomy is required learning for all first-year medical students.

91. archaeology n. the study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their remains.
    She spent a semester in Egypt studying archaeology with the museum's field team.

92. archetype n. the original pattern or model.
    Venus de Milo was the archetype for nearly all of her sculpture that year.

93. archipelago n. any large group or chain of islands.
    They vacationed in the Malay Archipelago last winter.

94. ardent adj. having intense feeling or passion.
    Wanting a basketball scholarship, he practiced his free throws with an ardent spirit.

95. ardor n. great warmth of feeling.
    She spoke with ardor about her work with sick children.

96. arid adj. very dry.
    The arid climate left them parched and searching for water.

97. aristocracy n. a class of persons holding exceptional rank and privileges.
    The British aristocracy goes back to the beginning of the realm.

98. aristocrat n. a nobleman or one who holds rank and privilege.
    His main problem was that he had the tastes of an aristocrat and the income of a serf.

99. armada n. a fleet of warships.
    In 1588, the Spanish Armada was invincible against England.

100. armful n. as much as can be held in the arm or arms.
     The struggling toddler was an armful for the young babysitter.

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