Letter A
Barron’s High-Frequency Vocabulary · 325 words · GRE/SAT/IELTS
Intro
Letter A is the largest section of the Barron’s list — 325 words, more than any other letter. That is roughly one tenth of the whole book sitting in a single chapter, and it is where most people start and most people stall.
You do not need all 325 at the same depth. A working approach: learn the 40 below properly, with sentences, until you can use them rather than merely recognise them. Then read the full list often enough that the rest become familiar shapes you can decode in context. Recognition is enough for reading comprehension. Production — actually using the word — only matters for a smaller core.
The words are useful well beyond any single exam. Ameliorate, ambivalence, arbitrary and austere turn up in journalism and business writing constantly.
High-frequency words to learn first
abate — to become less intense. The storm abated by morning.
aberration — something that departs from the normal pattern. His outburst was an aberration; he is usually calm.
abstruse — hard to understand. The paper was so abstruse that even specialists struggled.
acquiesce — to accept something reluctantly, without protest. She acquiesced to the new schedule rather than argue.
acrid — sharp and bitter in smell or taste. An acrid smoke filled the kitchen.
adamant — refusing to be persuaded. He was adamant that the deadline would not move.
adroit — skilful, especially in handling people or situations. An adroit negotiator, she found a way through.
adulation — excessive praise. The adulation of his early fans made criticism hard to hear.
adversity — serious hardship. The family showed remarkable patience in adversity.
affable — friendly and easy to talk to. Their affable neighbour knew everyone on the street.
alacrity — brisk and cheerful willingness. He accepted the invitation with alacrity.
allay — to reduce fear or worry. The announcement did little to allay staff concerns.
alleviate — to make suffering less severe. The medication alleviated but did not remove the pain.
aloof — distant and uninvolved. She remained aloof from office politics.
ambiguous — open to more than one interpretation. The wording was deliberately ambiguous.
ambivalence — holding two conflicting feelings at once. His ambivalence about the promotion surprised everyone.
ameliorate — to improve a bad situation. The reforms did little to ameliorate overcrowding.
amenable — willing to agree or cooperate. The landlord proved amenable to a shorter lease.
amiable — pleasant and good-natured. An amiable colleague, always willing to help.
anachronism — something placed in the wrong historical period. The wristwatch in the Roman scene was an anachronism.
analogous — similar in a way that allows comparison. The heart is analogous to a pump.
anomaly — something that breaks the expected pattern. The reading was an anomaly and was checked twice.
antipathy — a strong, settled dislike. Her antipathy towards bureaucracy was well known.
apathy — a complete lack of interest or concern. Voter apathy kept turnout low.
apex — the highest point. She reached the apex of her career at forty.
aplomb — self-assurance under pressure. He handled the hostile questions with aplomb.
apprehensive — anxious about what may happen. They were apprehensive about the results.
arbitrary — based on personal whim rather than reason. The rule seemed arbitrary and was widely ignored.
arduous — demanding great effort. An arduous climb in poor weather.
articulate — able to express ideas clearly. She is unusually articulate for someone so young.
ascertain — to find out with certainty. We could not ascertain the cause of the failure.
assiduous — showing careful, persistent effort. An assiduous researcher who checked every source.
assuage — to make an unpleasant feeling less intense. Nothing could assuage his guilt.
astute — shrewd, quick to see what matters. An astute observation about the market.
audacious — boldly daring, sometimes recklessly so. An audacious plan that very nearly worked.
augment — to increase by adding to. She augmented her income with evening work.
austere — severe and plain, without comfort or decoration. An austere room with a bed and a chair.
autonomous — self-governing, independent. Each division operates as an autonomous unit.
avarice — extreme greed for wealth. The story is a study in avarice.
aversion — a strong dislike or unwillingness. He had a lifelong aversion to flying.
Commonly confused A-words
- abjure (to renounce under oath) vs adjure (to urge solemnly). One gives up; the other demands.
- adverse (unfavourable) vs averse (opposed to). Adverse conditions, but averse to risk.
- allude (to refer indirectly) vs elude (to escape). You allude to a subject; a fact eludes you.
- approbation (approval) vs reprobation (condemnation). Opposites that look alike.
- amoral (having no moral sense) vs immoral (violating morals). One lacks the framework; the other breaks it.
- ascetic (severely self-denying) vs aesthetic (concerning beauty). One letter apart, opposite worlds.
- affect (to influence) vs effect (a result). The single most common error in this letter.
Complete list — A
All 325 words, with plain meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| abase | to humiliate or lower in rank or self-respect |
| abash | to embarrass or make ashamed |
| abate | to lessen in intensity |
| abbreviate | to shorten |
| abdicate | to formally give up power or responsibility |
| aberrant | departing from what is normal |
| aberration | a deviation from the usual pattern |
| abet | to help someone do something wrong |
| abeyance | a state of temporary suspension |
| abhor | to detest utterly |
| abjure | to renounce formally, under oath |
| ablution | a ceremonial washing |
| abnegation | self-denial; giving something up |
| abode | a place where someone lives |
| abolish | to end or do away with formally |
| abominable | thoroughly detestable |
| abominate | to loathe |
| aboriginal | native to a region from the earliest times |
| abortive | failing to achieve its purpose |
| abrasive | harsh; wearing away by rubbing |
| abridge | to shorten while keeping the substance |
| abrogate | to repeal or cancel formally |
| abscission | the act of cutting off |
| abscond | to leave secretly, usually to avoid consequences |
| absolve | to clear of blame or guilt |
| abstain | to hold back from doing something |
| abstemious | sparing, especially in food and drink |
| abstract | theoretical rather than concrete |
| abstruse | difficult to understand |
| abusive | insulting or harshly mistreating |
| abut | to border on; to touch at the edge |
| abysmal | extremely bad; bottomless |
| abyss | a vast, seemingly bottomless chasm |
| academic | relating to study; also, of no practical consequence |
| accede | to agree or give consent |
| accelerate | to speed up |
| accessible | easy to reach or approach |
| accessory | an additional item; also, an accomplice |
| acclaim | enthusiastic public praise |
| acclimate | to adjust to a new climate or setting |
| acclivity | an upward slope |
| accolade | an award or expression of praise |
| accomplice | a partner in wrongdoing |
| accord | agreement |
| accost | to approach and speak to someone boldly |
| accoutre | to equip or outfit |
| accrue | to accumulate over time |
| acetic | relating to or tasting of vinegar |
| acidulous | slightly sour, in taste or in manner |
| acknowledge | to admit or recognise |
| acme | the highest point |
| acne | a skin condition causing pimples |
| acoustics | the science of sound; the sound quality of a space |
| acquiesce | to accept without protest |
| acrid | sharply bitter in smell or taste |
| acrophobia | fear of heights |
| actuarial | relating to the calculation of risk and insurance |
| actuary | a person who calculates insurance risk |
| actuate | to set in motion; to motivate |
| acuity | sharpness of mind or of the senses |
| adage | a traditional saying expressing a common truth |
| adamant | refusing to change one’s mind |
| adapt | to adjust to new conditions |
| addiction | a compulsive, habitual dependence |
| addle | to confuse or muddle |
| adept | highly skilled |
| adhere | to stick firmly; to follow closely |
| adherent | a supporter of a cause or person |
| adjacent | next to; adjoining |
| adjoin | to be next to and joined with |
| adjourn | to suspend a meeting until later |
| adjunct | something added in a secondary role |
| adjuration | a solemn, earnest appeal |
| adjutant | a military officer who assists a commander |
| admonish | to warn or reprove gently |
| adore | to love and respect deeply |
| adorn | to decorate |
| adroit | skilful, especially with the hands or in handling situations |
| adulation | excessive praise or flattery |
| adventitious | happening by chance; not essential |
| adversary | an opponent |
| adverse | unfavourable; working against |
| adversity | serious misfortune or hardship |
| advert | to refer to |
| advocacy | active support for a cause |
| advocate | to argue in favour of; a person who does so |
| aegis | protection or sponsorship |
| affable | friendly and easy to approach |
| affected | artificial; put on for effect |
| affidavit | a written statement sworn to be true |
| affiliation | a formal connection to an organisation |
| affluence | wealth; abundance |
| afterlife | existence after death |
| agape | open-mouthed with wonder |
| agenda | a list of items to be dealt with |
| aggrandize | to increase power, wealth or importance |
| aghast | struck with shock or horror |
| agility | nimbleness of body or mind |
| agitate | to stir up or disturb |
| agnostic | one who holds that God’s existence cannot be known |
| agog | eagerly excited |
| agrarian | relating to farming or farmland |
| airy | light and open; also, insubstantial |
| alacrity | cheerful readiness |
| alchemy | medieval chemistry; a seemingly magical transformation |
| alcove | a recessed section of a room |
| alias | an assumed name |
| alienate | to make someone unfriendly or withdrawn |
| alimentary | relating to nourishment and digestion |
| alimony | payments made to a former spouse after divorce |
| allay | to reduce fear, worry or pain |
| allege | to assert without providing proof |
| allegiance | loyalty to a person, group or cause |
| allegory | a story whose characters symbolise deeper meanings |
| alleviate | to make pain or hardship less severe |
| alliteration | repetition of initial sounds in a phrase |
| allocate | to assign or distribute for a purpose |
| alloy | a mixture of metals; to reduce purity |
| allude | to refer to indirectly |
| allure | to attract or tempt |
| alluvial | relating to soil deposited by flowing water |
| alms | charity given to the poor |
| aloft | high up; in the air |
| aloof | distant and uninvolved |
| altercation | a noisy dispute |
| amalgamate | to combine into a single body |
| amass | to gather a large quantity of |
| amazon | a tall, strong female warrior |
| ambidextrous | able to use both hands equally well |
| ambiguous | open to more than one meaning |
| ambivalence | holding conflicting feelings at once |
| amble | to walk at a slow, easy pace |
| ambrosia | food of the gods; something delicious |
| ambulatory | able to walk; relating to walking |
| ameliorate | to make a bad situation better |
| amenable | open to suggestion; willing to cooperate |
| amend | to correct or improve |
| amenities | features that add comfort or convenience |
| amiable | pleasant and good-natured |
| amicable | friendly; without hostility |
| amiss | wrong or out of order |
| amity | friendly relations |
| amnesia | loss of memory |
| amnesty | an official pardon, usually for political offences |
| amoral | having no sense of right and wrong |
| amorous | showing romantic or sexual desire |
| amorphous | without definite shape |
| amphibian | able to live on land and in water |
| amphitheater | an oval building with tiered seating |
| amputate | to cut off a limb surgically |
| amulet | a charm worn to ward off harm |
| analgesia | inability to feel pain |
| analgesic | a substance that relieves pain |
| analogous | comparable in a relevant way |
| analogy | a comparison drawn between two things |
| anarchy | absence of government or order |
| anathema | something intensely detested; a formal curse |
| ancestry | line of family descent |
| anchor | to secure firmly |
| ancillary | providing support in a secondary role |
| anecdote | a short account of an interesting incident |
| anemia | a blood condition marked by too few red cells |
| anguish | intense mental or physical suffering |
| animadversion | a critical or hostile remark |
| animated | full of life and energy |
| animosity | strong hostility |
| animus | ill will; hostile intent |
| annals | historical records arranged by year |
| anneal | to toughen metal or glass by heating and slow cooling |
| annihilate | to destroy completely |
| annotate | to add explanatory notes |
| annuity | a fixed sum paid each year |
| annul | to declare legally void |
| anodyne | something that relieves pain; inoffensive |
| anoint | to apply oil ceremonially; to consecrate |
| anomalous | irregular; departing from the norm |
| anomaly | something that breaks the expected pattern |
| anonymity | the state of being unnamed |
| antagonism | active opposition or hostility |
| antecede | to come before |
| antecedents | earlier events or circumstances that shaped what followed |
| antediluvian | extremely old-fashioned |
| anthem | a song of praise or national pride |
| anthology | a collection of writings by various authors |
| anthropoid | resembling a human being |
| anthropologist | one who studies human societies and origins |
| anthropomorphic | attributing human form or traits to non-humans |
| antidote | a remedy that counteracts a poison or harm |
| antipathy | a deep-seated dislike |
| antiquated | outdated; no longer in use |
| antique | made long ago and often valuable |
| antiquity | great age; ancient times |
| antiseptic | preventing infection; scrupulously clean |
| antithesis | the direct opposite |
| antler | a branched horn on a deer’s head |
| anvil | an iron block on which metal is hammered |
| ape | to imitate, often clumsily |
| aperture | an opening, especially one admitting light |
| apex | the highest point |
| aphasia | loss of the ability to speak or understand speech |
| aphorism | a short statement expressing a general truth |
| apiarist | a beekeeper |
| apiary | a place where bees are kept |
| apiculture | the keeping of bees |
| aplomb | composure and self-assurance under pressure |
| apocalyptic | foretelling disaster; catastrophic |
| apocryphal | widely repeated but probably untrue |
| apogee | the highest or most distant point |
| apolitical | uninterested in politics |
| apologist | one who argues in defence of a cause |
| apoplexy | a stroke; extreme rage |
| apostate | one who abandons a faith or allegiance |
| apothecary | an old term for a pharmacist |
| apotheosis | elevation to divine status; the perfect example |
| appall | to shock and dismay |
| apparent | clearly visible; seemingly true |
| apparition | a ghost or sudden strange appearance |
| appease | to pacify by giving in to demands |
| appellation | a name or title |
| append | to add to the end of something |
| application | sustained, diligent effort |
| apposite | strikingly appropriate |
| appraise | to assess the value of |
| apprehend | to arrest; to grasp mentally |
| apprehensive | anxious about what might happen |
| apprise | to inform |
| approbation | approval |
| appurtenances | secondary items belonging to something larger |
| aptitude | a natural ability for something |
| aquiline | curved like an eagle’s beak |
| arable | suitable for growing crops |
| arbitrary | based on whim rather than reason |
| arbitrate | to settle a dispute as an impartial judge |
| arboreal | relating to or living in trees |
| arboretum | a garden where trees are grown and studied |
| arcade | a covered walkway lined with shops |
| arch- | chief; principal |
| archaeology | the study of human history through physical remains |
| archaic | belonging to an earlier period; outdated |
| archetype | an original model that others copy |
| archipelago | a group of islands |
| archives | historical records kept for reference |
| ardor | intense passion or enthusiasm |
| arduous | requiring great effort |
| argot | the specialised slang of a particular group |
| aria | a solo song in an opera |
| arid | very dry; also, dull and lifeless |
| aristocracy | the hereditary nobility |
| armada | a fleet of warships |
| aromatic | having a pleasant, distinctive smell |
| arraign | to formally charge in court |
| arrhythmic | lacking a regular rhythm |
| arroyo | a dry gully cut by water |
| arsenal | a store of weapons |
| artery | a vessel carrying blood from the heart; a main route |
| artful | skilful, often in a cunning way |
| articulate | able to express ideas clearly |
| artifacts | objects made by people, especially of historical interest |
| artifice | clever deception |
| artisan | a skilled manual worker |
| artless | without cunning; naturally simple |
| ascendancy | dominant influence or control |
| ascertain | to establish with certainty |
| ascribe | to attribute to a cause or source |
| aseptic | free from infection-causing organisms |
| ashen | pale grey, as from shock |
| asinine | extremely foolish |
| askance | with suspicion or disapproval |
| askew | crooked; out of line |
| aspersion | a damaging remark on someone’s character |
| aspirant | a person seeking a position or status |
| assail | to attack violently |
| assay | to test or analyse for content |
| assent | to agree |
| assiduous | showing careful and persistent effort |
| assimilate | to absorb fully and make one’s own |
| assuage | to make an unpleasant feeling less intense |
| asteroid | a small rocky body orbiting the sun |
| astigmatism | an eye defect causing blurred focus |
| astral | relating to the stars |
| astronomical | enormously large |
| astute | shrewd; quick to see what matters |
| asunder | into separate pieces |
| asylum | a place of refuge; protection given to refugees |
| asymmetric | not identical on both sides |
| atheistic | denying the existence of God |
| atone | to make amends for a wrong |
| atrocity | an appallingly cruel act |
| attentive | paying close attention; considerate |
| attenuate | to weaken or make thinner |
| attest | to provide evidence of; to testify |
| attire | clothing; to dress |
| attribute | a characteristic quality; to credit to a source |
| attrition | gradual reduction in strength or numbers |
| atypical | not conforming to the usual type |
| audacious | boldly daring |
| audit | an official examination of accounts |
| augment | to increase by adding |
| august | inspiring respect; dignified |
| aureole | a halo or ring of light |
| auroral | relating to the northern or southern lights |
| auspicious | suggesting a favourable outcome |
| austere | severe and plain; without comfort |
| authenticate | to prove genuine |
| authoritative | reliable because based on real expertise |
| autocratic | ruling with absolute, unchecked power |
| automaton | a machine that imitates human action |
| autonomous | self-governing |
| autopsy | an examination of a body to determine cause of death |
| auxiliary | providing additional support |
| avalanche | a mass of snow and ice sliding down a slope |
| avarice | extreme greed for wealth |
| avenge | to take retribution on behalf of someone wronged |
| aver | to state firmly as fact |
| aversion | a strong dislike |
| aviary | a large enclosure for birds |
| avid | keenly enthusiastic |
| avocation | a secondary occupation or hobby |
| avow | to declare openly |
| avuncular | kindly, in the manner of an uncle |
| awful | extremely bad; also, awe-inspiring in older usage |
| awl | a pointed tool for piercing holes |
| awry | off course; not as planned |
| axiom | a self-evident truth accepted without proof |
| azure | bright sky blue |
Closing line
That is all 325 A-words. Work through the quiz below when you can recognise most of them — twenty questions, drawn from this list, with an explanation after each.
