SAT Words in Context - High-Frequency Academic Words

Question	Answer
to confirm or verify with evidence or proof	substantiate The lawyer needed to substantiate her claims with documented evidence.
to emphasize or draw special attention to	underscore The report underscores the urgent need for reform in the healthcare system.
based on observation or experience rather than theory	empirical The study relied on empirical data collected over a five-year period.
deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected	anomalous The researchers could not explain the anomalous results of the experiment.
open to more than one interpretation; unclear	ambiguous The contract contained ambiguous language that led to a legal dispute.
to publicly recommend or support a cause or policy	advocate Many scientists advocate for increased funding for climate research.
to express an idea clearly and effectively	articulate She was able to articulate her vision for the company with remarkable clarity.
to regard as being caused by someone or something	attribute Historians attribute the decline of the empire to a combination of internal and external pressures.
to strengthen or support with additional material	bolster New findings bolster the theory that sleep is essential for memory consolidation.
a person or event that triggers significant change	catalyst The invention of the printing press was a catalyst for the spread of knowledge.
showing smug self-satisfaction with one's achievements	complacent The team became complacent after their early success and failed to prepare for tougher opponents.
including all or nearly all elements; thorough	comprehensive The government released a comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis.
to admit or acknowledge that something is true after first resisting it	concede After reviewing the data, the critic had to concede that the policy was effective.
a general agreement among a group of people	consensus The committee reached a consensus on the new safety regulations.
to think deeply or carefully about something	contemplate She sat by the window to contemplate the decision that would shape her career.
based on or in accordance with what is traditionally done	conventional The artist rejected conventional techniques in favor of bold experimentation.
a firmly held belief or opinion	conviction She spoke with deep conviction about the importance of equal access to education.
to develop or nurture over time through care and effort	cultivate Good teachers cultivate a love of learning in their students.
done consciously and intentionally; careful and unhurried	deliberate The architect made a deliberate choice to use sustainable materials throughout the building.
to show or represent in a picture or with words	depict The novel depicts life in a small Southern town during the 1930s.
to obtain something from a specified source	derive Many English words derive from Latin and Greek roots.
to become progressively worse in condition or quality	deteriorate Without proper maintenance, the historic building continued to deteriorate.
to plan or invent a method or strategy through careful thought	devise The engineers devised an innovative solution to reduce energy consumption.
to make or become less in size, amount, or importance	diminish The new evidence did not diminish the strength of the original argument.
to perceive or recognize something with difficulty or insight	discern It can be difficult to discern fact from opinion in biased reporting.
to reject or refuse to consider something seriously	dismiss Critics were quick to dismiss the theory, but later research proved it correct.
to recognize or point out differences between things	distinguish The ability to distinguish reliable sources from unreliable ones is a critical skill.
showing a great deal of variety; widely differing	diverse The university prides itself on its diverse student body, representing over fifty countries.
to develop or present in further detail	elaborate The professor asked the student to elaborate on her thesis statement.
to draw out a response or reaction from someone	elicit The comedian's routine never failed to elicit laughter from the audience.
to accept or adopt willingly and enthusiastically	embrace The community chose to embrace the proposed changes rather than resist them.
to come into view or become apparent	emerge New details about the scandal continued to emerge throughout the investigation.
to declare one's public approval or support of	endorse Several prominent physicians endorse the new dietary guidelines.
to increase or improve the quality, value, or extent of	enhance The new software update is designed to enhance the user experience.
clearly seen or understood; obvious	evident It was evident from the data that the treatment had a positive effect.
to serve as a typical or perfect example of	exemplify Her career exemplifies the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion	explicit The instructions were explicit about which materials to use.
to make an action or process easier or more achievable	facilitate The new bridge will facilitate trade between the two regions.
to rise and fall irregularly in number or amount	fluctuate Gas prices tend to fluctuate with changes in global oil supply.
to encourage the development or growth of something	foster The mentorship program aims to foster leadership skills in young professionals.
forming a necessary base or core; of central importance	fundamental Access to clean water is a fundamental human right.
to produce or create something	generate The new wind farm will generate enough electricity to power thousands of homes.
a system in which members are ranked according to status or authority	hierarchy The corporate hierarchy determines who makes final decisions on major projects.
a proposed explanation made as a starting point for investigation	hypothesis The scientist tested her hypothesis by conducting a series of controlled experiments.
to make clear or easier to understand; to light up	illuminate The documentary aims to illuminate the complex history of the civil rights movement.
to put a plan or system into effect	implement The school board voted to implement a new curriculum starting next fall.
suggested though not directly expressed; understood without being stated	implicit There was an implicit understanding between the two negotiators that certain topics were off limits.
a likely consequence or effect of an action or decision	implication The implication of the new tax law is that middle-income families will pay more.
to begin or introduce a system, policy, or period officially	inaugurate The president will inaugurate the new research center at a ceremony next month.
a natural tendency or disposition to act in a particular way	inclination His inclination toward solitude made him well suited for the research position.
to take in or include as part of a whole	incorporate The architect decided to incorporate elements of traditional design into the modern building.
to point out or show; to serve as a sign of	indicate The survey results indicate a growing concern among voters about healthcare costs.
having no particular interest or concern; unbiased	indifferent The public remained largely indifferent to the policy change until it affected them personally.
certain to happen; unavoidable	inevitable Some economists argue that a market correction is inevitable after such rapid growth.
existing as a natural or permanent quality of something	inherent There are inherent risks in any new business venture.
featuring new methods or ideas; original and creative	innovative The company's innovative approach to recycling earned it widespread recognition.
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles	integrity The journalist's integrity was evident in her refusal to publish unverified claims.
to explain the meaning of information or a creative work	interpret Scholars continue to interpret the ancient texts in different ways.
to cite or appeal to as an authority or justification	invoke The lawyer chose to invoke a rarely used statute in her defense.
happening in a way contrary to what is expected, often with wry humor	ironic It is ironic that the fire station burned down due to faulty wiring.
to show or prove to be right or reasonable	justify The researchers had to justify their methodology before the review board.
conforming to the law or to rules; valid and acceptable	legitimate The committee raised legitimate concerns about the proposed budget.
expressed clearly and easy to understand	lucid The professor's lucid explanation helped even the struggling students grasp the concept.
lacking interest or excitement; dull and ordinary	mundane She longed for adventure to escape the mundane routine of her daily life.
to make ineffective; to nullify or deny	negate One careless mistake could negate months of hard work on the project.
a subtle difference in meaning, expression, or sound	nuance A skilled translator captures every nuance of the original text.
not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; impartial	objective A good journalist strives to present an objective account of events.
not well known; difficult to understand; to conceal or make unclear	obscure The poet's references to obscure historical events puzzled many readers.
a statement or situation that seems contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth	paradox It is a paradox that standing still can sometimes be the fastest way to move forward.
continuing firmly in a course of action despite difficulty	persistent Her persistent efforts to improve working conditions eventually paid off.
a particular attitude or way of regarding something; a point of view	perspective Traveling abroad gave her a new perspective on her own culture.
seeming reasonable or probable; believable	plausible The detective considered several plausible explanations for the missing evidence.
dealing with things sensibly and realistically; practical	pragmatic The mayor took a pragmatic approach to the budget crisis, cutting costs without eliminating essential services.
to come before in time, order, or importance	precede A period of economic instability often precedes major political change.
present as the strongest or main element; having the greatest influence	predominant Agriculture remains the predominant industry in many rural communities.
widespread in a particular area or at a particular time	prevalent The use of smartphones is now prevalent across all age groups.
very great or intense; having deep meaning or insight	profound The discovery had a profound impact on the field of genetics.
to formally forbid by law, rule, or authority	prohibit City ordinances prohibit the use of fireworks within residential areas.
important; well known; standing out conspicuously	prominent Several prominent scholars have endorsed the new research methodology.
a natural inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way	propensity Teenagers have a propensity for risk-taking behavior, according to recent studies.
causing strong reaction by deliberately challenging norms or opinions	provocative The author's provocative essay sparked a heated debate about free speech.
not or no longer needed because it is repetitive or unnecessary	redundant The editor removed several redundant sentences that repeated the same idea.
to prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false	refute The scientist presented compelling data to refute the rival hypothesis.
closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand	relevant The judge ruled that the testimony was not relevant to the case.
unwilling and hesitant; disinclined to do something	reluctant Many employees were reluctant to adopt the new system without proper training.
to settle or find a solution to a problem or dispute	resolve The mediator helped both parties resolve their differences through dialogue.
extremely thorough and careful; demanding strict attention to detail	rigorous The program's rigorous admissions process ensures only the most qualified candidates are accepted.
to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly	scrutinize Voters should scrutinize each candidate's record before casting a ballot.
sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention	significant The researchers found a significant correlation between exercise and mental health.
not easily convinced; having doubts about something	skeptical Many experts remain skeptical about the long-term viability of the proposal.
so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe	subtle The subtle shift in the author's tone reveals a growing disillusionment.
existing or occurring at the surface; lacking depth or thoroughness	superficial A superficial reading of the text misses the deeper themes the author explores.
something added to complete or make up for a deficiency	supplement The textbook includes an online supplement with additional practice exercises.
to maintain or keep going over a period of time	sustain The economy needs steady investment to sustain long-term growth.
clear and definite; real and not imaginary; able to be touched	tangible The charity wanted to show tangible results from its fundraising efforts.
not certain or fixed; provisional or hesitant	tentative The committee reached a tentative agreement, pending further review.
to make a thorough or dramatic change in form or character	transform The internet has transformed the way people access information worldwide.
to weaken or damage gradually, especially from within	undermine Spreading misinformation can undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
never done or known before; without previous example	unprecedented The pandemic led to unprecedented changes in workplace culture.
capable of working successfully; feasible and practical	viable Solar energy has become a viable alternative to fossil fuels in many regions.
liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse	volatile The stock market has been especially volatile during periods of political uncertainty.
to voluntarily refrain from doing something	abstain Several council members chose to abstain from voting on the controversial measure.
to provide lodging or room for; to adjust to meet needs	accommodate The hotel can accommodate up to three hundred guests for the conference.
to gather together or acquire an increasing amount over time	accumulate Researchers accumulate data from multiple trials before drawing conclusions.
the process of changing to fit new conditions or environments	adaptation The species' rapid adaptation to urban environments surprised biologists.
to make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe	alleviate The new medication is expected to alleviate symptoms within a few days.
a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief	assertion His bold assertion that the project would succeed was met with doubt.
to occur at the same time or place as something else	coincide The festival is timed to coincide with the summer solstice.
evoking interest or attention in a powerfully irresistible way	compelling The documentary presents a compelling case for renewable energy investment.
a thing that contributes extra features to something else to improve it	complement The new park serves as a perfect complement to the existing community center.
to form or devise a plan or idea in the mind	conceive It is hard to conceive of a world without access to the internet.
to bring to an end; to arrive at a judgement after reasoning	conclude The researchers conclude that early intervention is key to improving outcomes.
to combine separate elements into a single, stronger whole	consolidate The company plans to consolidate its regional offices into one headquarters.
living or occurring at the same time; belonging to the present era	contemporary The museum features both classical and contemporary works of art.
to deny the truth of a statement by asserting the opposite	contradict The witness's testimony appeared to contradict the physical evidence.
prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion on a topic	controversy The proposed highway project generated significant controversy among local residents.
able to be believed; convincing and trustworthy	credible The report was supported by credible sources and peer-reviewed studies.
believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful	cynical Years of broken campaign promises had made voters increasingly cynical.
a lack or shortage of something necessary	deficiency A vitamin D deficiency can lead to weakened bones and fatigue.
to use up the supply or resources of something	deplete Overfishing threatens to deplete marine populations beyond recovery.
a great difference or inequality between things	disparity The disparity in wages between men and women remains a pressing social issue.
the expression of disagreement with an official view or decision	dissent The judge's written dissent outlined a very different reading of the law.
to pull or twist out of shape; to give a misleading account of	distort Critics accused the media of trying to distort the candidate's actual position.
not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable	erratic The patient's erratic heartbeat prompted the doctor to order further tests.
possible and practical to accomplish easily	feasible Engineers determined that building a tunnel under the river was feasible with current technology.
to create difficulty for someone or something; to delay progress	hinder Poor infrastructure continues to hinder economic development in the region.
to bring about or cause something to happen	induce High temperatures can induce chemical reactions that would not occur otherwise.
inborn; natural rather than acquired or learned	innate Many psychologists debate whether creativity is innate or can be taught.
to make the effects of something less severe or unpleasant	mitigate Planting trees along the riverbank can help mitigate the impact of flooding.
a concept, belief, or idea about something	notion The notion that success requires only talent and no effort is misleading.
more important than anything else; supreme in rank	paramount Patient safety is of paramount importance in any medical procedure.
of secondary importance; on the edge or fringe of something	peripheral The report focused on the main findings, only briefly mentioning peripheral details.
spreading widely throughout an area or group of people	pervasive Social media's influence on young people has become increasingly pervasive.
not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse	precarious Many families find themselves in a precarious financial situation after job loss.
producing a great deal of work, results, or offspring	prolific The author was remarkably prolific, publishing over thirty novels in her career.
to cause to be or become; to provide or give a service or help	render The heavy snowfall rendered the mountain roads impassable.
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing	rhetoric The politician's soaring rhetoric inspired the crowd but lacked concrete policy details.
to form a theory or guess without firm evidence	speculate Analysts speculate that the merger will reshape the entire industry.
showing no activity or advancement; not flowing or moving	stagnant The economy remained stagnant despite government efforts to boost spending.
to demand or specify a required condition as part of an agreement	stipulate The contract stipulates that all work must be completed within ninety days.
lower in rank or position; treated as less important	subordinate Personal interests must be subordinate to the goals of the team during a crisis.
coming after something in time or order	subsequent The initial study and all subsequent research confirmed the original findings.
to forcibly put an end to; to prevent from being expressed or published	suppress The government attempted to suppress the report detailing its failures.
to exceed or be greater than in degree or achievement	surpass This year's fundraising efforts surpass anything the organization has done before.
not changing or varying; the same in all cases or at all times	uniform The company enforces a uniform policy on workplace safety across all locations.
to check or prove the accuracy or truth of something	validate Independent testing was needed to validate the manufacturer's performance claims.
to produce or provide a result, gain, or financial return	yield The experiment failed to yield the expected results.
to make clear the nature or cause of something; to account for	elucidate The professor used several diagrams to elucidate the complex process.
to regard with respect and warm approval	esteem She is held in high esteem by her colleagues for her dedication to the field.
to increase rapidly in number or spread widely	proliferate Misinformation can proliferate on social media faster than corrections can be issued.
a whole formed by combining several different elements	aggregate The aggregate score from all three tests determines the final ranking.
to distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose	allocate The committee voted to allocate additional funding to after-school programmes.
comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes something clearer	analogous The author argued that the brain is analogous to a computer, processing information in stages.
to regard as probable; to expect or predict	anticipate Few analysts anticipated the rapid decline in manufacturing output.
a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern	apathy Voter apathy among young people has been a persistent concern for democratic institutions.
anxious or fearful that something unpleasant will happen	apprehensive Many students feel apprehensive about the transition from school to university.
based on random choice or personal whim rather than reason or system	arbitrary The selection process appeared arbitrary, with no clear criteria for inclusion.
to make something greater by adding to it; to increase	augment The researcher sought to augment the existing dataset with newly collected survey responses.
having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs independently	autonomous The region was granted autonomous status, allowing it to set its own educational policies.
a strong dislike or disinclination towards something	aversion The author expressed a deep aversion to oversimplified explanations of complex phenomena.
to restrict or limit within certain boundaries	circumscribe The new regulations effectively circumscribe the authority of local officials.
to come together to form one mass or whole; to unite	coalesce Several smaller protest movements began to coalesce into a unified campaign for reform.
existing or happening at the same time	concurrent The decline in bee populations was concurrent with the increased use of certain pesticides.
making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible; favourable	conducive A quiet environment is conducive to productive study and deep concentration.
to severely restrict the scope or extent of something	confine The author chose to confine her analysis to the period between 1900 and 1950.
to compel or force towards a particular course of action; to limit or restrict	constrain Budget limitations constrain the range of options available to policymakers.
a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things	correlate Studies consistently show that education levels correlate with higher lifetime earnings.
a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided	criterion The primary criterion for selection was the applicant's demonstrated commitment to community service.
to appoint someone to a particular position or assign a specific status	designate The area was officially designated as a protected wildlife sanctuary.
disagreement or lack of harmony between people or things	discord The proposal introduced discord among members of the committee who had previously been united.
to surround and have or hold within; to include comprehensively	encompass The study aimed to encompass a broad range of perspectives from diverse communities.
fair and impartial; just and reasonable	equitable Advocates called for a more equitable distribution of resources across all school districts.
to create or devise methodically; to express in a precise form	formulate The scientists worked for years to formulate a theory that could explain the observed phenomena.
to give pleasure or satisfaction to someone	gratify The overwhelmingly positive response to the exhibition gratified the museum's curators.
to show someone to be involved in a crime or wrongdoing; to convey as a consequence	implicate The newly discovered documents implicate several senior officials in the scandal.
to hinder, restrain, or prevent an action or process	inhibit Fear of failure can inhibit students from attempting challenging academic work.
to become or make more extreme, serious, or forceful	intensify The debate over funding priorities intensified as the election drew closer.
to divide or cause to divide into sharply contrasting groups or opinions	polarize The controversial policy has deeply polarized public opinion across the country.
arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later; temporary	provisional The committee reached a provisional agreement pending further review of the data.
a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or belief	rationale The author provided a compelling rationale for rethinking current educational practices.
to arrange or classify into distinct layers or levels	stratify Income inequality tends to stratify society into groups with vastly different opportunities.

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