English Vocabulary · GRE Live Review Preview
GRE Vocabulary Words
The GRE Verbal Reasoning measure asks test takers to understand and evaluate written material, analyze relationships among ideas, and use evidence within a sentence or passage. Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence all reward careful attention to connotation, contrast, logic, and precise word choice—not isolated memorization alone.
This independently authored 800-word beta curriculum prioritizes vocabulary identified in Magoosh’s official public GRE vocabulary ebook, then draws on advanced KSSR entries that have already passed English safety and structure audits. Additional official and public GRE references guide test alignment and editorial review. Overlap with SAT and advanced school-level vocabulary is intentional because the tests share academic language. Pages containing words 1–500 include five cloze questions; every word remains visible, editable in Vocabulary Studio, and available for private difficult/learned tracking. This unofficial resource is not endorsed by or affiliated with ETS.
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| # | Word | Details | Meaning | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 561 | peripatetic | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: peripatetic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | стра́нствующий | The peripatetic lecturer spoke at universities on three continents. |
| 562 | pernicious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. тлетво́рный 2. па́губный 3. зловредный | The report documents the pernicious effects of housing discrimination. |
| 563 | perpetuate | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: perpetuate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. закреплять 2. продлевать существование | Biased data can perpetuate unfair decisions. |
| 564 | pertinent | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pertinent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. подходя́щий 2. уме́стный | The judge allowed only pertinent testimony. |
| 565 | pervasive | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ive commonly forms an adjective meaning having a quality or tendency. | 1. распространяющийся 2. проникающий 3. пропитывающий | A pervasive odor indicated contamination throughout the building. |
| 566 | petulant | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: petulant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. вздорный 2. раздражи́тельный | The minister's petulant response intensified the criticism. |
| 567 | philanthropy | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: philanthropy is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | филантро́пия | Her philanthropy supported clinics and public libraries. |
| 568 | philistine | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: philistine is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. филистёрский 2. меща́нский 3. обыва́тельский | The critic unfairly called every popular reader a philistine. |
| 569 | piety | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: piety is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. на́божность 2. благоче́стие | The portrait presents the queen as a model of piety. |
| 570 | placate | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: placate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. утихомиривать 2. умиротворя́ть 3. унимать | Officials offered refunds to placate frustrated travelers. |
| 571 | plasticity | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition. | 1. ги́бкость 2. пласти́чность 3. эласти́чность | Brain plasticity allows learning to alter neural pathways. |
| 572 | platitude | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: platitude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. бана́льность 2. трюи́зм | The speech offered a platitude instead of a concrete policy. |
| 573 | plethora | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: plethora is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. изоби́лие 2. избы́ток 3. оби́лие | The archive contains a plethora of letters but few financial records. |
| 574 | poignant | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: poignant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. проникновенный 2. прони́зывающий 3. ре́зкий (о запахе) | The empty shoes form a poignant memorial. |
| 575 | polemical | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: polemical is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | полемический | The author's polemical tone leaves little room for uncertainty. |
| 576 | pragmatism | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ism often names a belief, system, movement, or practice. | 1. прагмати́зм 2. прагматизм | Fiscal pressure encouraged pragmatism over ideological purity. |
| 577 | precipitous | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. отвесный 2. крутой | The company experienced a precipitous decline in sales. |
| 578 | predilection | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -tion commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | 1. предрасполо́женность 2. скло́нность | The editor's predilection for short essays shaped the journal. |
| 579 | presumptuous | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. де́рзкий 2. на́глый 3. наха́льный | It was presumptuous to announce the decision before the board voted. |
| 580 | prodigious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. чрезме́рный 2. грома́дный 3. непоме́рный | The scholar possessed a prodigious memory for dates. |
| 581 | proliferate | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: proliferate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. размножа́ться 2. размно́житься 3. распространя́ться | Unverified reports began to proliferate online. |
| 582 | propensity | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition. | скло́нность | The material has a propensity to crack in extreme cold. |
| 583 | propitious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | благоприя́тный | Calm weather made the morning propitious for launch. |
| 584 | proponent | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: proponent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. пропонент 2. защи́тник | A leading proponent of the reform addressed the committee. |
| 585 | propriety | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: propriety is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. уме́стность 2. пра́вильность 3. обосно́ванность | The inquiry questioned the propriety of accepting expensive gifts. |
| 586 | proscribe | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: proscribe is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. запреща́ть 2. запрети́ть | The treaty will proscribe the use of certain weapons. |
| 587 | proselytize | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ize commonly forms a verb meaning to make, become, or apply. | 1. завлека́ть 2. обраща́ть | The organization may inform visitors but cannot proselytize in the school. |
| 588 | provincial | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: provincial is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | провинциа́льный | The narrator initially holds a provincial view of the wider world. |
| 589 | proportional | adjective StudyField: GRE science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: proportional is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | пропорциона́льный | Fuel use is roughly proportional to distance traveled. |
| 590 | heresy | noun StudyField: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: heresy is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. е́ресь 2. ересь | At the time, questioning the model was treated as scientific heresy. |
| 591 | punctilious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. щепети́льный 2. церемо́нный | The punctilious diplomat observed every protocol. |
| 592 | quandary | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: quandary is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. затруднительное положе́ние 2. затрудне́ние 3. недоуме́ние | Conflicting duties left the physician in a moral quandary. |
| 593 | querulous | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | ворчливый | The querulous narrator finds fault with every neighbor. |
| 594 | rancor | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: rancor is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. затаённая не́нависть 2. злопа́мятство | The agreement ended the lawsuit but not the rancor. |
| 595 | rarefied | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: rarefied is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | утончённый | The article brings rarefied theory into public discussion. |
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About GRE Verbal Reasoning
The GRE Verbal Reasoning measure examines how well test takers understand and evaluate written material, recognize relationships among words and concepts, and analyze how parts of a sentence work together. Its three principal verbal question types are Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence.
Vocabulary matters on the GRE, but memorizing a definition is only the beginning. Strong preparation also connects each word to its connotation, common contrasts, near-synonyms, and role in an argument. Use the examples, readings, and quizzes here to practise choosing words from evidence in the sentence, then use official ETS material to learn the precise test format.
Sources and curriculum references
These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.
- ETS: GRE General Test Verbal Reasoning Overview
- Magoosh: GRE Vocabulary eBook
- Kaplan Test Prep: Top 52 GRE Vocabulary Words
- Kaplan Test Prep: 48 More GRE Vocabulary Words
- Magoosh: Free GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
- Vocabulary.com: 900+ Essential GRE Words
- Reddit r/GRE: community 2,000-word cross-check
- WikDict downloadable bilingual dictionaries
- Kaikki.org / Wiktextract machine-readable Wiktionary data
- Language-Learning-decks public flashcard datasets
- SBBIC English-to-Khmer Dictionary
- English–Khmer Dictionary Dataset (machine-generated Khmer fallback; human review required)
- PanLex meanings snapshot (direct CC0 gap candidates; human review required)
- Cambridge bilingual dictionaries (individual editorial sense checks)
- Collins English–Hindi Dictionary (individual editorial checks)
- Hindwi and Rekhta dictionaries (individual Hindi/Urdu checks)
- National Institute of Korean Language: Basic Korean Dictionary
- JMdict/EDRDG Japanese dictionary project
- CC-CEDICT Chinese dictionary project
- VDict Vietnamese Dictionary (individual editorial check)
- Google Translate (machine-assisted lesson-reading draft; fluent review required)
- Kuperman et al.: Age-of-acquisition ratings for 30,000 English words