people sitting in a library

SAT Vocabulary Words

English Vocabulary · SAT Preparation Live Review Preview

SAT Vocabulary Words

The current digital SAT Reading and Writing section uses short passages from literature, history and social studies, the humanities, and science. Its Craft and Structure questions ask students to determine the meaning of high-utility words in context and to choose the most logical and precise word or phrase. Vocabulary also supports evidence, inference, rhetorical synthesis, transitions, and clear Standard English expression across the section.

This independently authored 800-word beta curriculum is arranged in twenty-three pages of up to thirty-five words. Pages containing words 1–500 include five cloze questions drawn only from that enhanced range; words 501–800 remain fully visible and editable while the expanded practice layer is developed. Each row includes a passage-field label and an editable word-study note about a transparent affix, compound structure, capitalization, or dictionary base form. The list is an unofficial KSSR learning resource and is not endorsed by or affiliated with College Board. SAT is a registered trademark of College Board.

Open the basic text version — works without JavaScript and is suitable for printing.

Your private study tools

Track your learning with My Vocabulary

Use the three small controls beside any word. Your choices stay attached to your account and appear in your My Vocabulary record.

  • Star a difficult word to practise it again.
  • Check a word when you have learned it.
  • Add a note with a memory clue, synonym, or reminder.

These controls work during your free visits and save privately on this browser. Sign in to move them into your account’s My Vocabulary record.

Printable study sheet

Create a PDF worksheet

Choose any start-to-end page range and meaning language, then include or omit each practice section.

Include practice sections
800 words
Words 1–35 of 800
#WordDetailsMeaningSample sentence
1abashverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abash is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 당황하게 하다 2. 부끄럽게 하다The unexpected praise seemed to abash the normally confident speaker.
2abateverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

감소하다The wind began to abate shortly after sunset.
3abdicateverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abdicate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 책임을 저버리다 2. 권한을 포기하다A leader cannot abdicate responsibility when a policy fails.
4aberrationnoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result.

1. 이례적인 현상 2. 일탈The single cold day was an aberration in an otherwise warm month.
5abhorverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abhor is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

혐오하다The reformer came to abhor laws that punished peaceful dissent.
6abjectadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abject is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 비참한 2. 참담한The expedition ended in abject failure after both engines stopped.
7abridgeverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abridge is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

요약하다The editor will abridge the memoir for younger readers.
8absolveverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: absolve is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 책임을 면제하다 2. 무죄로 하다New evidence may absolve the driver of responsibility for the crash.
9abstainverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abstain is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

기권하다Two committee members will abstain from voting because of conflicts of interest.
10abstruseadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abstruse is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 심오하다 2. 난해The article's abstruse terminology confused readers outside the field.
11abysmaladjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: abysmal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 최악의 2. 형편없는The shelter's abysmal conditions prompted an official investigation.
12accedeverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: accede is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 요구에 응하다 2. 동의하다After months of debate, the council chose to accede to the residents' demand.
13acclaimnoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: acclaim is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 호평 2. 찬사The novelist earned critical acclaim for her vivid historical research.
14accoladenoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: accolade is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

영예The scientist accepted the accolade on behalf of her entire laboratory.
15accommodateverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: accommodate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

수용하다The revised schedule can accommodate students in different time zones.
16acquiesceverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: acquiesce is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

묵인하다Faced with a unanimous vote, the director decided to acquiesce.
17acrimonynoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: acrimony is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 악감정 2. 격렬한 반목Years of acrimony made a calm settlement difficult.
18acumennoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: acumen is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 통찰력 2. 판단력Her financial acumen helped the small company survive the recession.
19adamantadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: adamant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

단호한The physician was adamant that the trial must follow safety rules.
20adaptableadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Suffix focus: -able means capable of, suitable for, or worthy of an action.

1. 적응력이 있는 2. 융통성 있는An adaptable species can survive rapid environmental change.
21adeptadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: adept is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

정통한The mediator was adept at finding language both sides could accept.
22adjacentadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: adjacent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

인접한The museum moved the sculpture to an adjacent gallery.
23admonishverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: admonish is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

타이르다The judge had to admonish the witness for interrupting.
24adroitadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: adroit is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

노련한Her adroit response redirected the tense interview toward useful facts.
25adulationnoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result.

1. 찬사 2. 극찬The actor distrusted the sudden adulation that followed one successful film.
26advocateverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: advocate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 지지하다 2. 옹호하다Several physicians advocate earlier screening for the disease.
27aestheticadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: aesthetic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

미적(美的)The architect balanced aesthetic goals with practical safety needs.
28affableadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: affable is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

상냥한The affable professor welcomed questions after the lecture.
29affinitynoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition.

1. 친화 2. 친화력Mina felt an affinity for stories about determined explorers.
30affirmverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: affirm is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

긍정하다The ruling will affirm every citizen's right to peaceful assembly.
31agnosticadjective
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: agnostic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 특정 체계에 구애받지 않는 2. 중립적인The software is platform agnostic and works on several operating systems.
32alacritynoun
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition.

민활The volunteers responded with alacrity when extra help was requested.
33allegeverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: allege is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

주장하다Investigators allege that the contractor concealed safety defects.
34alleviateverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: alleviate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

덜다Shade trees can alleviate extreme heat on city streets.
35alludeverb
Study

Field: SAT words in context and precision

Word study: Base-form focus: allude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. 암시하다 2. 에둘러 언급하다The poem may allude to an ancient myth without naming it.

Vocabulary reading and practice

An Unexpected Accolade

Reading practice for pages 1–3. Five relevant words are highlighted.

English reading

The museum’s new aesthetic initially divides reviewers, but one respected advocate explains how its spare design directs attention toward the art. Public acclaim follows. At the opening, an unexpected accolade seems to abash the normally confident architect, who responds with a brief thank-you rather than a victory speech.

Korean translation

박물관의 새로운 미학적 구상은 처음에 평론가들의 의견을 갈라놓는다. 그러나 존경받는 한 옹호자가 절제된 디자인이 관람객의 시선을 작품에 집중시키는 방식을 설명한다. 그 뒤 대중의 찬사가 이어진다. 개막식에서 뜻밖의 표창을 받은 건축가는 당황한 듯 보이고, 승리 연설 대신 짧게 감사 인사를 한다.

Reading comprehension

1. What does the advocate explain?

The advocate explains how the design directs attention to the art.

2. What follows the favorable explanation?

Public acclaim follows.

3. Why does the accolade abash the architect?

The unexpected praise makes the architect self-conscious.

Vocabulary quiz

Choose the dictionary equivalent for each of 5 selected words.

About the digital SAT

The digital SAT Reading and Writing section measures comprehension, analysis, synthesis, rhetoric, and command of language. Its Words in Context questions ask students to determine a word’s meaning or choose the most logical and precise word for a particular passage. That means SAT vocabulary study should focus on useful academic words, multiple meanings, tone, and exact usage—not on memorizing rare words in isolation.

Use this list as one part of SAT preparation. Read each example closely, compare near-synonyms, and notice how surrounding sentences control meaning. The lesson readings and questions are designed to practise the same habits of contextual reasoning, while official College Board questions remain the best guide to the test’s exact format.

College Board test overview

Sources and curriculum references

These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.