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Vocabulary with a


100 SAT Words Beginning with "A" - Vocabulary List

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  1. abase

    cause to feel shame

    She is not abased or dejected, but exalted, rather.Sinclair, May

  2. aberration

    a state or condition markedly different from the norm

    While Tampa Bay has taken a huge nosedive a year after going 10-6, maybe that 2010 success was an aberration. Seattle Times (Dec 26, 2011)

  3. abhor

    feel hatred or disgust toward

    There are sane readers who abhor gratuitous violence but love Reacher’s menacing wisecracks.New York Times (Sep 20, 2011)

  4. abject

    most unfortunate or miserable

    Mr. Jobling stood wringing his hands helplessly, his flaccid features expressive of abject despair.Douglas, Hudson

  5. abrasive

    sharply disagreeable, unpleasant, or harsh

    “He has always been focused, driven, demanding and, as a result, very difficult and abrasive,” Mr. Norman said.New York Times (Oct 7, 2011)

  6. abstain

    refrain from doing, consuming, or partaking in something

    Griffin felt that he had better abstain from questioning, and let his host run on.Marsh, Richard

  7. abstract

    existing only in the mind

    Presenting an abstract concept, waving our arms trying to describe it, we will lose our audience right away.

  8. abundant

    present in great quantity

    Fringing and barrier reefs are abundant throughout the archipelago, surrounding nearly every island. Gabel, Norman E.

  9. accentuate

    stress or single out as important

    It was a carefully studied costume; and he accentuated its eccentricity by adopting theatrical attitudes and an air of satisfied negligence.Leblanc, Maurice

  10. acclimate

    get used to a certain environment

    The Jets will leave Friday for Denver, the better to acclimate to the altitude and change in time zone.New York Times (Oct 14, 2010)

  11. accomplice

    a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan

    Tiller, the thief, and a supposed accomplice, are under arrest. Various

  12. accord

    concurrence of opinion

    Friday's accord removes one of two main sticking points that have been holding up a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.Wall Street Journal (Mar 9, 2012)

  13. acerbic

    harsh or corrosive in tone

  14. acme

    the highest level or degree attainable

    Paris wholly has got to the acme of its frenzy; whirled, all ways, by panic madness.Various

  15. acquiesce

    agree or express agreement

    I favored building a fire and staying there till morning, but Frank preferred pushing on to camp, so I acquiesced.Shields, George O.

  16. acquit

    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

    He said that in the absence of other evidence, “the accused is acquitted and discharged.”New York Times (Jan 9, 2012)

  17. acrimonious

    marked by strong resentment or cynicism

    At times, the two groups squabble like schoolchildren, and the exchange gets acrimonious.BBC (Feb 9, 2010)

  18. acute

    extremely sharp or intense

    Labor shortages are already so acute in many Chinese industrial zones that factories struggle to find enough people to operate their assembly lines.New York Times (Mar 31, 2012)

  19. adamant

    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason

    But high profile or no, Mr. Kors is adamant about keeping his personal life under wraps — even as his wedding day approaches.New York Times (Aug 5, 2011)

  20. adept

    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

    He proved an adept playmaker, however, making several nice passes and finishing with 7 assists. New York Times (Jan 7, 2012)

  21. adhere

    stick to firmly

    Adhering to strict safety standards has kept me alive in some very dangerous situations.

  22. admonish

    scold or reprimand; take to task

    "Children, children, stop quarrelling, right here in public!" admonished Mrs. Dering, in a low, shocked tone.Perry, Nora

  23. adorn

    make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color

    Old master reproductions adorn chianti-colored walls; tapestries hang in the restrooms. Seattle Times (Feb 9, 2012)

  24. adroit

    quick or skillful or adept in action or thought

    Neither is he adroit in the exercise of his duty; instead performs it bunglingly; his thoughts preoccupied, and eyes wandering about.Reid, Mayne

  25. adulation

    exaggerated flattery or praise

    Taylor, a demagogue of the Democratic party, was hypocritically appealing to his "horny handed neighbors" in language of feigned adulation.Levy, T. Aaron

  26. adversity

    a state of misfortune or affliction

    Forty years in the wilderness, meeting adversities together, fighting enemies, marching as one host, made them a nation. Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman

  27. advocacy

    active support of an idea or cause

    That sentiment faded after the 1930s, he said, as consumer advocacy focused more on protecting shoppers.New York Times (Nov 11, 2011)

  28. aesthetic

    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste

    In old-fashioned, aesthetic terms, his glossy, color pictures of modern housing projects in Turkish cities under moody, gray skies are beautiful.New York Times (Oct 14, 2011)

  29. affable

    diffusing warmth and friendliness

    She is restless, irritable, out of sorts, censorious, complaining at home; animated, gracious, affable, complaisant abroad. Hyde, William De Witt

  30. affinity

    a close connection marked by community of interests

    Malaysia has a close affinity with many Middle Eastern nations through their shared religion.

  31. affliction

    a cause of great suffering and distress

    Firm and exceptional natures are thus moulded out of miseries, misfortunes and afflictions.Leonard, Arthur Glyn

  32. affluent

    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

    Affluent families can afford guns, which are more efficient for bagging some elusive animals than a poorer household’s typical snare trap. New York Times (Dec 27, 2011)

  33. aggrandize

    embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of

  34. agile

    moving quickly and lightly

    Are not many beasts physically stronger, more nimble and agile than man?Nordau, Max Simon

  35. agrarian

    relating to rural matters

  36. alacrity

    liveliness and eagerness

    The men obeyed with alacrity, as all were glad to go, lying in camp so long. Terrill, J. Newton

  37. alienate

    arouse hostility or indifference in

    Keeping schools closed and blocking certain public services is not a strategy we support and could alienate public opinion and play into the governor’s hand.New York Times (Feb 18, 2011)

  38. allege

    report or maintain

    David is alleged to have written several Psalms, but of this there is little evidence beyond pious assertion.Bradlaugh, Charles

  39. allegiance

    the act of binding yourself to a course of action

    Notwithstanding this good fortune, Pontiac daily saw his followers dropping off from their allegiance; for even the boldest had lost heart. Parkman, Francis

  40. allegory

    a style in which characters and events are symbolic

    Achingly beautiful, quiet and graceful, his award-winning novel Waiting is a love story superimposed on a political allegory.

  41. alleviate

    provide physical relief, as from pain

    Lewis said he got a Synvisc shot – an injection commonly used to alleviate arthritic symptoms – in his left knee on Monday.Washington Post (Mar 7, 2012)

  42. allude

    make an indirect reference to

    In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Mr. Obama turned up the heat, alluding to the plan without fleshing out details.New York Times (Jan 27, 2012)

  43. aloof

    distant, cold, or detached in manner

  44. altruistic

    showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others

  45. ambiguous

    having more than one possible meaning

    "The election law in New York is written in an ill-defined, ambiguous way," Goldfeder said, adding that he did not believe any laws were broken.

  46. ambivalent

    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow

    "If managers are ambivalent, or wavering, then investor uncertainty increases and the stocks become more volatile."

  47. ameliorate

    make better

    Possessed of broadly humanitarian sympathies, he became interested in ameliorating the conditions of imprisoned debtors.Bolton, Herbert Eugene

  48. amiable

    diffusing warmth and friendliness

    He was also remarkable for his amiable and cheerful manners.Anonymous

  49. amicable

    characterized by friendship and good will

  50. amnesty

    a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense

    After three years in prison, he was released last October in an amnesty that freed about 200 political detainees.Seattle Times (Mar 5, 2012)

  51. amorphous

    having no definite form or distinct shape

    The problem is that where genes are tidy bits of DNA, the environment is huge, amorphous and hard to quantify.New York Times (Jun 9, 2010)

  52. ample

    more than enough in size or scope or capacity

    Both are highly respected and well known, with ample experience in development and economic policy making.New York Times (Mar 22, 2012)

  53. anachronism

    locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed

    Today, the British monarchy seems like even more of an anachronism, notes my friend Merida, a London bureau friend now living in New York.

  54. analogous

    similar or equivalent in some respects

    The two conditions, although apparently analogous, are, in reality, very different. Various

  55. anecdote

    short account of an incident

    With his fourth book, “Business at 16,” Mr. Bagchi hopes to get teenagers interested in business, partly by using fictional anecdotes, including boy-meets-girl stories.New York Times (Nov 29, 2011)

  56. animosity

    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility

    In this brutal contest, two opposing teams face off against each other with competing agendas, borrowed tuxedos and tight smiles concealing deep animosities.New York Times (Jan 14, 2011)

  57. annihilate

    kill in large numbers

    Men deployed may fall back and escape; a mass of columns under direct artillery fire must surrender or be annihilated.Morse, John

  58. anomaly

    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule

    In this view, crises can be understood only as anomalies, the consequences of unusual outside shocks.

  59. anonymous

    having no known name or identity or known source

    Throughout the process, the targeted consumers are tagged with an alphanumeric code, removing their names and making the data anonymous. New York Times (Feb 21, 2012)

  60. antagonism

    an actively expressed feeling of dislike and hostility

    It bred a sense of resentment and secret antagonism which he took less pains to hide, from that night.Prichard, Katharine Susannah

  61. antecedent

    someone from whom you are descended

    Paul Bunyan is known by his mighty works; his antecedents and personal history are lost in doubt.Laughead, W. B.

  62. anthropomorphic

    suggesting human features for animals or inanimate things

    The same anthropomorphic fallacy that accords human attributes to giant corporations like BP distorts clear thinking about how to limit their political influence.

  63. anticipate

    be excited or anxious about

    I will continue to sit here as usual, waiting, grinning, tapping and anticipating my future.New York Times (Mar 22, 2012)

  64. antipathy

    a feeling of intense dislike

    At any rate, they had, as a matter of fact, produced widespread discontent and bitter antipathies between classes.Stephen, Leslie

  65. antithetical

    sharply contrasted in character or purpose

    Memorisation has a bad reputation in education today, dismissed as antithetical to creativity.

  66. apathy

    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

    When not thus engaged, his days were passed in listless apathy.Anonymous

  67. aptitude

    inherent ability

    If there is such a thing as inherited aptitude for art it certainly showed itself in the family of Bach.Forkel, Johann Nikolaus

  68. arbitrary

    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference

    The pieces don’t build or develop, sections are carelessly joined, endings seem arbitrary. New York Times (Jun 4, 2011)

  69. arcane

    requiring secret or mysterious knowledge

    Not just the knowledge of world geography but the very conceptualisation of space in this late medieval map looks to us remote and arcane.

  70. archaic

    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period

    There are other advantages as well to reading the classics electronically—you can tap archaic words on the screen for an instant definition.

  71. archetype

    something that serves as a model

    In many ways, Mr. Romney and Mr. Huntsman embody the Mormon archetype: clean-cut, Republican American family men.New York Times (Nov 18, 2011)

  72. ardent

    characterized by intense emotion

    Age, study, experience, retirement, reflection, had in no wise dimmed the fire of his ardent nationalism.McCarthy, Justin

  73. arduous

    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion

    He seemed about thirty-five years of age, though the trace of arduous mental and physical exertion gave him a rather worn and older appearance.Lindley, Augustus F.

  74. aristocratic

    belonging to or characteristic of the nobility

    Several aristocratic families were stripped of their status after World War II, limiting the number of royal matches.

  75. artifice

    the use of deception or trickery

    But small men use lying artifices and disguises to protect themselves.Hillis, Newell Dwight

  76. ascetic

    characteristic of the practice of rigorous self-discipline

    Another frequent cause of visions is long-continued fasting combined with more or less ascetic devotion.Vere, Maximilian Schele de

  77. aspire

    have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

    India’s leaders, eager for a bigger footprint in global affairs, now aspire to a permanent seat on an expanded United Nations Security Council.New York Times (Mar 31, 2012)

  78. assimilation

    the process of absorbing one cultural group into another

    On the contrary, they themselves become Americanised, thanks to that faculty of assimilation which they possess in a high degree.Allyn, Jack

  79. assuage

    provide physical relief, as from pain

    Moreover, I became at rest within myself, and the gaping, aching void which has filled my vitals these many days, became assuaged. Hamilton, J. Angus

  80. atone

    make amends for

    But let us pause for a moment to remember what “redeeming” actually is: atoning or making up for some mistake or wrongdoing.New York Times (Jan 25, 2011)

  81. attest

    provide evidence for

    Anticipating compensation, thousands flooded treatment centers seeking medical certificates attesting to their cholera.New York Times (Mar 31, 2012)

  82. attire

    clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion

    She was elegantly and fashionably attired, wearing rich earrings, gold chain and locket, three valuable rings in addition to her wedding-ring, and so forth. Whymper, Frederick

  83. attribute

    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity

    This means that fundamentally important attributes such as common sense and curiosity are starting to take primacy.Washington Post (Mar 29, 2012)

  84. attribution

    assigning to a cause or source

    But borrowing from sample essays found online or other online sources without attribution, even unintentionally, might result in your application being rejected.BusinessWeek (Dec 15, 2011)

  85. audacious

    disposed to venture or take risks

    It was such an audacious, daring thing that the very thought made her dizzy.Stokes, Katherine

  86. audible

    heard or perceptible by the ear

    Tavannes answered--but his words were barely audible above the deafening uproar.Weyman, Stanley J.

  87. augment

    enlarge or increase

    Computer engineers, in high demand but short supply, can command six-figure salaries right out of college, augmented by signing bonuses and equity or stock options.New York Times (Jan 25, 2012)

  88. augur

    predict from an omen

    But ultimately the numbers augured an inescapably grim fate: Lieberman's approval rating in Connecticut bottomed out at just 31 percent last fall.

  89. augury

    an event indicating important things to come

  90. auspicious

    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck

    The coast at the point at which he reached it seemed specially designed by nature for his favorable and auspicious reception.Johnson, Willis Fletcher

  91. austere

    severely simple

    Adams was poor, simple, ostentatiously austere; the blended influence of Calvinistic theology and republican principles had indurated his whole character.Stark, James H.

  92. authentic

    conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief

    This census is not considered authentic, as many transparent errors were found in various parts of it.Casseday, Ben

  93. authoritarian

    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule

    But, he said, “all the ingredients of a repressive regime, an authoritarian regime, are there. ”New York Times (Dec 13, 2011)

  94. authoritative

    of recognized power or excellence

    His plays are being revived, and an authoritative and exhaustive edition of his writings is being issued by a leading publishing house.Ingleby, Leonard Cresswell

  95. avarice

    reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth

    Greed about getting or keeping money pertains to avarice, not necessarily to simony.Callan, Charles Jerome

  96. avenge

    take action in return for a perceived wrong

    But Amon-Ra of Thebes avenged the dishonour that had been done him, and stirred up his adorers to successful revolt. Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry)

  97. aversion

    a feeling of intense dislike

  98. avid

    marked by active interest and enthusiasm

    An avid runner, Moyer eventually began arriving six hours early on game days to exercise on an underwater treadmill.New York Times (Mar 21, 2012)

  99. avuncular

    resembling an uncle in kindness or indulgence

  100. awe

    an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration

    The aurora deeply impressed him, inspiring feelings of awe and reverence.Mudge, Zachariah Atwell

Created on April 2, 2012 (updated August 11, 2014)

Toefl Vocabulary - Letter A - 72 Words - Vocabulary List

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities

PracticeAnswer a few questions on each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Vocabulary JamCompete with other teams in real-time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Spelling BeeTest your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

QuizCreate and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign activitiesAssign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

  1. abandon

    forsake; leave behind

  2. abash

    cause to be embarrassed

  3. abdicate

    give up power, duties, or obligations

  4. abet

    assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing

  5. abridge

    lessen, diminish, or curtail

  6. abrogate

    revoke formally

  7. abstemious

    marked by temperance in indulgence

  8. academic

    associated with an educational institution

  9. accede

    yield to another's wish or opinion

  10. accelerate

    move faster

  11. accolade

    a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

  12. accord

    concurrence of opinion

  13. acrimonious

    marked by strong resentment or cynicism

  14. acumen

    shrewdness shown by keen insight

  15. admonish

    scold or reprimand; take to task

  16. admonition

    a firm rebuke

  17. adversary

    someone who offers opposition

  18. adverse

    in an opposing direction

  19. adversity

    a state of misfortune or affliction

  20. aesthetic

    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste

  21. affable

    diffusing warmth and friendliness

  22. affluent

    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

  23. aggression

    a disposition to behave forcefully and energetically

  24. aggressive

    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight

  25. alacrity

    liveliness and eagerness

  26. alienate

    arouse hostility or indifference in

  27. allay

    lessen the intensity of or calm

  28. allude

    make an indirect reference to

  29. allure

    the power to entice or attract

  30. allusion

    passing reference or indirect mention

  31. ambiguous

    having more than one possible meaning

  32. amenable

    disposed or willing to comply

  33. amiable

    diffusing warmth and friendliness

  34. anachronism

    locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed

  35. analogous

    similar or equivalent in some respects

  36. analogy

    drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity

  37. anarchy

    a state of lawlessness and disorder

  38. animus

    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility

  39. annals

    a chronological account of events in successive years

  40. anonymous

    having no known name or identity or known source

  41. anthology

    a collection of selected literary passages

  42. antithesis

    exact opposite

  43. antithetical

    sharply contrasted in character or purpose

  44. apathetic

    showing little or no emotion or animation

  45. apathy

    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm

  46. apprehensive

    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm

  47. apprise

    inform somebody of something

  48. approbation

    official acceptance or agreement

  49. apt

    being of striking appropriateness and relevance

  50. aptitude

    inherent ability

  51. arbiter

    someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue

  52. archetype

    something that serves as a model

  53. arid

    lacking sufficient water or rainfall

  54. aristocracy

    a privileged class holding hereditary titles

  55. armistice

    a state of peace agreed to between opponents

  56. articulate

    express or state clearly

  57. ascetic

    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline

  58. askance

    with suspicion or disapproval

  59. assiduous

    marked by care and persistent effort

  60. asylum

    a shelter from danger or hardship

  61. atheist

    someone who denies the existence of god

  62. attribute

    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity

  63. augment

    enlarge or increase

  64. auspicious

    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck

  65. authentic

    not counterfeit or copied

  66. autocratic

    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule

  67. avarice

    reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth

  68. awry

    turned or twisted to one side

Created on August 3, 2013 (updated August 3, 2013)

5 vocabulary development exercises

How pleasant it is to listen to eloquent and competent speech when a person knows how to choose the right words and accurately describe his thought. And illiterate, “poor” speech, which is quite difficult to understand, cuts the ear just as much. It is a large vocabulary that is a sign of intellectual development and can help you in learning, working or speaking in front of a large audience.

Before starting the study of exercises to increase vocabulary, let's look at the types of vocabulary:

  • Active vocabulary. These are the words that we use in everyday life when communicating with friends, family, colleagues. When writing letters, SMS in chat, social networks. When we speak, we do not think about the words and do not put effort into constructing sentences.
  • Passive vocabulary. These are words that we know, but do not use in conversation. As a rule, the passive reserve can be 2-3 times greater than the active one. On occasion, we can search in our head and find the right words, but we do this very rarely.
  • External vocabulary. These are words we don't know. Usually these are specific words from the professional field of activity.

It is rather difficult to set clear boundaries in the vocabulary. Children's vocabulary can average 1000 words, adults have 10 times more. Erudite people who are constantly engaged in self-development, read a lot of books and constantly study, have a vocabulary of up to 50,000 words. Therefore, we have selected such universal exercises to expand the active vocabulary that schoolchildren, students or specialists can perform.

  1. Alphabet exercise. You need to come up with a sentence in which all words will begin with the next letter of the alphabet. Example: "Alina runs in the thick of trees. " Try to make long sentences using words from A to Z.
  2. Noun exercise. Make up a story and tell it using only nouns. "Morning. Water. Walk. Dog. Tea. Breakfast. Underground. Job. Meeting. Tasks. Dinner."
  3. Exercise "Verbs". Repeat the previous exercise, only using verbs instead of nouns.
  4. Exercise "Adjectives and adverbs". Also invent a story, just voice it now with the help of adjectives and adverbs.
  5. Exercise "Monophone". Remember all the words that start with the letter A and come up with a sentence with them, keeping the meaning. And do this with all the letters in the alphabet.

These exercises will be difficult to complete at first, so don't give up too soon. Each time, it will be easier for you to come up with stories and look for the right words. You will find even more useful information on the website "Russia - the land of opportunities". The platform hosts free online courses, webinars on marketing, PR, charity, management, psychology, and finance.

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