Stories of USA Today
Materials for Reading & Listening Practice
Quick Access Resources:
Print PDF Quiz/Test Online Study
 4000 CPE (A) - Spelling Practices
Word List   Next    
Read [Esc] (1)
n. manual computing device consisting of a frame holding parallel rods strung with movable counters


Spelling Word: abacus
Read [Esc] (2)
v. humiliate; lower or depress in rank or esteem


Spelling Word: abase
Read [Esc] (3)
v. embarrass; make ashamed or uneasy; disconcert


Spelling Word: abash
Read [Esc] (4)
v. subside; decrease; become less in amount or intensity


Spelling Word: abate
Read [Esc] (5)
v. make shorter; reduce to shorter form intended to represent full form, as for word or phrase


Spelling Word: abbreviate
Read [Esc] (6)
n. shortening something by omitting parts of it


Spelling Word: abbreviation
Read [Esc] (7)
v. give up, renounce, abandon, lay down, or withdraw from, as a right or claim


Spelling Word: abdicate
Read [Esc] (8)
n. abnormal;  markedly different from an accepted norm


Spelling Word: aberrant
Read [Esc] (9)
v. aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage


Spelling Word: abet
Read [Esc] (10)
n. suspended action; temporary cessation or suspension


Spelling Word: abeyance
Read [Esc] (11)
v. fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate


Spelling Word: abhor
Read [Esc] (12)
v. renounce upon oath; abandon forever


Spelling Word: abjure
Read [Esc] (13)
a. burning; radiant; bright; keenly excited; resembling flame in brilliance or color


Spelling Word: ablaze
Read [Esc] (14)
n. washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of religious rite


Spelling Word: ablution
Read [Esc] (15)
v. give up or surrender; deny something to oneself


Spelling Word: abnegate
Read [Esc] (16)
n. repudiation; self-sacrifice; renouncing your own interests in favor of interests of others


Spelling Word: abnegation
Read [Esc] (17)
n. act of waiting; delay; stay or continuance in a place


Spelling Word: abode
Read [Esc] (18)
v. cancel; put an end to; destroy completely


Spelling Word: abolish
Read [Esc] (19)
n. a reformer who favors abolishing slavery


Spelling Word: abolitionist
Read [Esc] (20)
a. detestable; extremely unpleasant; very bad


Spelling Word: abominable
Read [Esc] (21)
a. being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native


Spelling Word: aboriginal
Read [Esc] (22)
a. unsuccessful; failing to accomplish an intended objective; fruitless


Spelling Word: abortive
Read [Esc] (23)
v. be full of; be plentiful


Spelling Word: abound
Read [Esc] (24)
v. wear away by friction; scrape; erode


Spelling Word: abrade
Read [Esc] (25)
n. scratch; friction; the process of rubbing away the surface of something


Spelling Word: abrasion
Read [Esc] (26)
v. condense; shorten; reduce length of written text


Spelling Word: abridge
Read [Esc] (27)
a. abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority


Spelling Word: abrogate
Read [Esc] (28)
a. broken off; very steep; having sudden transitions from one subject to another


Spelling Word: abrupt
Read [Esc] (29)
v. leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution


Spelling Word: abscond
Read [Esc] (30)
v. assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; occupy full attention


Spelling Word: absorb
Read [Esc] (31)
v. refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice


Spelling Word: abstain
Read [Esc] (32)
a. sparing or moderation in eating and drinking; temperate


Spelling Word: abstemious
Read [Esc] (33)
a. obscure; profound; difficult to understand


Spelling Word: abstruse
Read [Esc] (34)
n. quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment; logical contradiction


Spelling Word: absurdity
Read [Esc] (35)
a. plentiful; possessing riches or resources


Spelling Word: abundant
Read [Esc] (36)
v. border upon; adjoin; touch or end at one end or side; lie adjacent


Spelling Word: abut
Read [Esc] (37)
a. bottomless; very profound; limitless; very bad


Spelling Word: abysmal
Read [Esc] (38)
n. a scholar who is skilled in academic disputation


Spelling Word: academician
Read [Esc] (39)
v. agree; give consent, often at the insistence of another; concede


Spelling Word: accede
Read [Esc] (40)
v. emphasize; stress; pronounce with stress or accent; mark with an accent


Spelling Word: accentuate
Read [Esc] (41)
n. the attribute of being easy to meet or deal with


Spelling Word: accessibility
Read [Esc] (42)
n. additional object; useful but not essential thing; subordinate or supplementary item


Spelling Word: accessory
Read [Esc] (43)
v. applaud; announce with great approval


Spelling Word: acclaim
Read [Esc] (44)
v. accustom or become accustomed to a new environment or situation; adapt


Spelling Word: acclimate
Read [Esc] (45)
n. upward slope, as of hill


Spelling Word: acclivity
Read [Esc] (46)
n. award of merit; expression of approval; praise


Spelling Word: accolade
Read [Esc] (47)
n. act of accompanying someone or something


Spelling Word: accompaniment
Read [Esc] (48)
a. attendant; appearing or going with someone or something else


Spelling Word: accompanying
Read [Esc] (49)
n. achievement; fulfillment; something that is successful


Spelling Word: accomplishment
Read [Esc] (50)
n. a box-shaped musical instrument consisting of a folded central part with a keyboard


Spelling Word: accordion
Read [Esc] (51)
v. approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with demand or request


Spelling Word: accost
Read [Esc] (52)
v. equip; provide with military equipment


Spelling Word: accouter
Read [Esc] (53)
v. authorize; commission; give credit for


Spelling Word: accredit
Read [Esc] (54)
n. growth or increase in size by gradual external addition, fusion, or inclusion


Spelling Word: accretion
Read [Esc] (55)
v. increase, accumulate, or come about as a result of growth; accumulate over time


Spelling Word: accrue
Read [Esc] (56)
v. pile up; collect;  mount up; increase


Spelling Word: accumulate
Read [Esc] (57)
v. blame; say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind


Spelling Word: accuse
Read [Esc] (58)
n. the bitterness of speech and temper; sourness or acidness of taste, character, or tone


Spelling Word: acerbity
Read [Esc] (59)
a. having properties of vinegar; sour


Spelling Word: acetic
Read [Esc] (60)
a. slightly sour in taste or manner; sharp; caustic


Spelling Word: acidulous
Read [Esc] (61)
n. fruit of the oak, being an oval nut growing in a woody cup; a cone-shaped piece of wood


Spelling Word: acorn
Read [Esc] (62)
n. science of sound; the quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in


Spelling Word: acoustics
Read [Esc] (63)
v. assent; agree without protesting


Spelling Word: acquiesce
Read [Esc] (64)
n. act of contracting or assuming or acquiring possession of something


Spelling Word: acquisition
Read [Esc] (65)
a. unpleasantly sharp or bitter to taste or smell; bitterly pungent


Spelling Word: acrid
Read [Esc] (66)
a. bitter and sharp in language, tone, or manner


Spelling Word: acrimonious
Read [Esc] (67)
n. an abbreviation consisting of the first letters of each word in the name of something


Spelling Word: acronym
Read [Esc] (68)
n. fear of heights; abnormal fear of high places


Spelling Word: acrophobia
Read [Esc] (69)
a. calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics


Spelling Word: actuarial
Read [Esc] (70)
v. put into motion or action; activate


Spelling Word: actuate
Read [Esc] (71)
n. sharpness; acuteness of vision or perception; keenness


Spelling Word: acuity
Read [Esc] (72)
n. mental keenness; quickness of perception


Spelling Word: acumen
Read [Esc] (73)
n. wise saying; brief familiar proverb;  expression of popular wisdom


Spelling Word: adage
Read [Esc] (74)
a. flexible; becoming or being made suitable to a particular situation or use


Spelling Word: adaptable
Read [Esc] (75)
n. something added or to be added, especially a supplement to a book


Spelling Word: addendum
Read [Esc] (76)
v. cause someone to become dependent; indulge in; be devoted to


Spelling Word: addict
Read [Esc] (77)
a. something you cannot stop taking once you have started


Spelling Word: addictive
Read [Esc] (78)
v. muddle; drive crazy; become confused


Spelling Word: addle
Read [Esc] (79)
a. expert at; very skilled; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude


Spelling Word: adept
Read [Esc] (80)
n. a person who adheres; one who follows or upholds a leader, party, cause


Spelling Word: adherent
Read [Esc] (81)
a. adjoining; neighboring; close to; lying near


Spelling Word: adjacent
Read [Esc] (82)
v. be next to; be contiguous to; border on


Spelling Word: adjoin
Read [Esc] (83)
v. hear and settle a case by judicial procedure


Spelling Word: adjudicate
Read [Esc] (84)
n. something added on or attached generally nonessential or inferior


Spelling Word: adjunct
Read [Esc] (85)
v. appeal to or entreat earnestly; command or enjoin solemnly, as under oath


Spelling Word: adjure
Read [Esc] (86)
v. change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable


Spelling Word: adjust
Read [Esc] (87)
v. warn; counsel someone against something to be avoided


Spelling Word: admonish
Read [Esc] (88)
n. gentle or friendly reproof; cautionary advice or warning


Spelling Word: admonition
Read [Esc] (89)
n. clay; brick; sun-dried brick; structure built with this type of brick


Spelling Word: adobe
Read [Esc] (90)
n. a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity;


Spelling Word: adolescent
Read [Esc] (91)
v. accept; take on; raise; take into one's family


Spelling Word: adopt
Read [Esc] (92)
n. act of accepting with approval


Spelling Word: adoption
Read [Esc] (93)
n. act of playing honor to a divine being; worship paid to God; the act of addressing as a god


Spelling Word: adoration
Read [Esc] (94)
v. enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments


Spelling Word: adorn
Read [Esc] (95)
n. embellishment; decoration; something that beautifies or adorns; ornament


Spelling Word: adornment
Read [Esc] (96)
a. skillful and adept under pressing conditions


Spelling Word: adroit
Read [Esc] (97)
n. excessive flattery or admiration; unmerited praise


Spelling Word: adulation
Read [Esc] (98)
v. make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances


Spelling Word: adulterate
Read [Esc] (99)
v. give hint or indication of something; disclose partially or guardedly; overshadow; shade


Spelling Word: adumbrate
Read [Esc] (100)
n. coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important


Spelling Word: advent
Read [Esc] (101)
a. accidental; casual; not inherent but added extrinsically


Spelling Word: adventitious
Read [Esc] (102)
n. support; active pleading on behalf of something


Spelling Word: advocacy
Read [Esc] (103)
n. nest of a bird, such as an eagle, built on a cliff or other high place


Spelling Word: aerie
Read [Esc] (104)
a. easily approachable; warmly friendly


Spelling Word: affable
Read [Esc] (105)
v. associate; cause a group to become part of or form a close relationship with another


Spelling Word: affiliate
Read [Esc] (106)
n. natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship; relationship by marriage


Spelling Word: affinity
Read [Esc] (107)
v. state something as true; assert; confirm


Spelling Word: affirm
Read [Esc] (108)
n. positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath


Spelling Word: affirmation
Read [Esc] (109)
v. fasten; append; add on; secure to something


Spelling Word: affix
Read [Esc] (110)
n. cause or condition of pain, suffering, or distress


Spelling Word: affliction
Read [Esc] (111)
n. abundance; a plentiful supply of material goods; wealth


Spelling Word: affluence
Read [Esc] (112)
a. able to pay for


Spelling Word: affordable
Read [Esc] (113)
n. insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect


Spelling Word: affront
Read [Esc] (114)
n. outcome; consequence, especially of a disaster or misfortune


Spelling Word: aftermath
Read [Esc] (115)
n. collection; heap; act or process of gathering into a mass


Spelling Word: agglomeration
Read [Esc] (116)
v. increase the scope of; extend; intensify; make greater in power, influence, stature, or reputation


Spelling Word: aggrandize
Read [Esc] (117)
v. worsen; make worse or more troublesome


Spelling Word: aggravate
Read [Esc] (118)
v. gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to


Spelling Word: aggregate
Read [Esc] (119)
n. several things grouped together or considered as a whole


Spelling Word: aggregation
Read [Esc] (120)
a. struck by shock, terror, or amazement


Spelling Word: aghast
Read [Esc] (121)
n. mentally quick; moving quickly and lightly


Spelling Word: agility
Read [Esc] (122)
v. cause to move with violence or sudden force; upset; disturb


Spelling Word: agitate
Read [Esc] (123)
n. anxiety; extreme emotional disturbance


Spelling Word: agitation
Read [Esc] (124)
n. one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality


Spelling Word: agnostic
Read [Esc] (125)
a. pertaining to land or its cultivation; relating to agricultural or rural matters


Spelling Word: agrarian
Read [Esc] (126)
n. sickness;a slight but often persistent illness 


Spelling Word: ailment
Read [Esc] (127)
v. be broadcast on television or radio


Spelling Word: air
Read [Esc] (128)
a. aloft; flying; in the air


Spelling Word: airborne
Read [Esc] (129)
n. cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness


Spelling Word: alacrity
Read [Esc] (130)
n. medieval chemistry; magical or mysterious power or process of transforming


Spelling Word: alchemy
Read [Esc] (131)
n. nook; small, recessed section of a room


Spelling Word: alcove
Read [Esc] (132)
n. established procedure for solving problem


Spelling Word: algorithm
Read [Esc] (133)
n. arrangement; association; alliance


Spelling Word: alignment
Read [Esc] (134)
a. providing nourishment; concerned with food, nutrition, or digestion


Spelling Word: alimentary
Read [Esc] (135)
n. soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash; one of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, and ammonia


Spelling Word: alkali
Read [Esc] (136)
v. calm; pacify; reduce the intensity of; relieve


Spelling Word: allay
Read [Esc] (137)
n. suggestion without proof that someone has done something wrong


Spelling Word: allegation
Read [Esc] (138)
v. state without proof; assert to be true


Spelling Word: allege
Read [Esc] (139)
n. symbolic representation of abstract ideas or principles in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form


Spelling Word: allegory
Read [Esc] (140)
n. repetition of a beginning sound in poetry


Spelling Word: alliteration
Read [Esc] (141)
v. assign; distribute according to plan


Spelling Word: allocate
Read [Esc] (142)
v. combine; mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate


Spelling Word: alloy
Read [Esc] (143)
v. refer casually or indirectly, or by suggestion


Spelling Word: allude
Read [Esc] (144)
v. attract with something desirable; be highly, often subtly attractive


Spelling Word: allure
Read [Esc] (145)
n. temptation; enticement; any real or apparent good held forth or operating, as a motive to action


Spelling Word: allurement
Read [Esc] (146)
n. indirect reference; symbolical reference or comparison; metaphor


Spelling Word: allusion
Read [Esc] (147)
n. confederate; partner; collaborator


Spelling Word: ally
Read [Esc] (148)
ad. in or into a high place; high or higher up


Spelling Word: aloft
Read [Esc] (149)
a. apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote


Spelling Word: aloof
Read [Esc] (150)
n. a passage from one form or state to another; change


Spelling Word: alteration
Read [Esc] (151)
a. unselfishly generous; concerned for others


Spelling Word: altruistic
Read [Esc] (152)
v. combine; unite in one body; mix or alloy metal with mercury


Spelling Word: amalgamate
Read [Esc] (153)
v. collect; gather for oneself, as for one's pleasure or profit


Spelling Word: amass
Read [Esc] (154)
v. astonish; affect with wonder


Spelling Word: amaze
Read [Esc] (155)
a. awesome; astounding; surprising


Spelling Word: amazing
Read [Esc] (156)
a. capable of using either hand with equal ease


Spelling Word: ambidextrous
Read [Esc] (157)
n. particular environment or surrounding influence; an atmosphere of the environment


Spelling Word: ambience
Read [Esc] (158)
n. state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty


Spelling Word: ambiguity
Read [Esc] (159)
a. unclear or doubtful in meaning


Spelling Word: ambiguous
Read [Esc] (160)
n. aspiration; a strong wish to achieve something


Spelling Word: ambition
Read [Esc] (161)
a. aspiring; having a strong desire for success or achievement


Spelling Word: ambitious
Read [Esc] (162)
n. state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes, such as love and hate


Spelling Word: ambivalence
Read [Esc] (163)
a. mixed;  experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings


Spelling Word: ambivalent
Read [Esc] (164)
n. moving at an easy pace; walk slowly or leisurely


Spelling Word: amble
Read [Esc] (165)
a. able to walk; formed or adapted for walking; not stationary


Spelling Word: ambulatory
Read [Esc] (166)
v. make or become better; improve; grow better


Spelling Word: ameliorate
Read [Esc] (167)
a. responsive to advise or suggestion; responsible to a higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable


Spelling Word: amenable
Read [Esc] (168)
v. change for the better; improve; remove faults or errors


Spelling Word: amend
Read [Esc] (169)
n. a change or changes made to the words of a text; revision


Spelling Word: amendment
Read [Esc] (170)
n. convenient features; courtesies


Spelling Word: amenities
Read [Esc] (171)
n. pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions


Spelling Word: amenity
Read [Esc] (172)
a. good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly


Spelling Word: amiable
Read [Esc] (173)
a. exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome


Spelling Word: amicable
Read [Esc] (174)
n. friendship; peaceful relations, as between nations


Spelling Word: amity
Read [Esc] (175)
a. moved by sexual love; loving


Spelling Word: amorous
Read [Esc] (176)
a. formless; lacking shape or definition


Spelling Word: amorphous
Read [Esc] (177)
a. able to live both on land and in water


Spelling Word: amphibian
Read [Esc] (178)
n. oval building with tiers of seats from central open space or arena


Spelling Word: amphitheater
Read [Esc] (179)
n. addition of extra material or illustration or clarifying detail


Spelling Word: amplification
Read [Esc] (180)
v. broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make larger or more powerful; increase


Spelling Word: amplify
Read [Esc] (181)
v. cut off part of the body, especially by surgery; prune


Spelling Word: amputate
Read [Esc] (182)
a. having time error in the story; erroneous in date; in the wrong time


Spelling Word: anachronistic
Read [Esc] (183)
a. serving to reduce sensibility to pain without loss of consciousness


Spelling Word: analgesic
Read [Esc] (184)
a. comparable; similar or alike


Spelling Word: analogous
Read [Esc] (185)
v. diagnose; study, or examine something in detail to discover more about it


Spelling Word: analyze
Read [Esc] (186)
n. a person who seeks to overturn established government; advocate of abolishing authority


Spelling Word: anarchist
Read [Esc] (187)
n. solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse


Spelling Word: anathema
Read [Esc] (188)
n. detailed analysis;  the scientific study of the body and how its parts are arranged


Spelling Word: anatomy
Read [Esc] (189)
a. inherited or inheritable by established rules


Spelling Word: ancestral
Read [Esc] (190)
n. family descent; series or line of ancestors; lineage


Spelling Word: ancestry
Read [Esc] (191)
a. serving as aid or accessory; auxiliary


Spelling Word: ancillary
Read [Esc] (192)
a. experiencing extreme discomfort or discontent; feeling, expressing, or caused by anguish


Spelling Word: anguished
Read [Esc] (193)
a. sharp-cornered; consisting of an angle or angles; stiff in manner


Spelling Word: angular
Read [Esc] (194)
n. the feeling of enmity or ill will; an attitude that informs one's actions; disposition


Spelling Word: animus
Read [Esc] (195)
n. a chronological record of the events of successive years


Spelling Word: annals
Read [Esc] (196)
v. append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing political unit


Spelling Word: annex
Read [Esc] (197)
v. destroy completely; reduce to nonexistence


Spelling Word: annihilate
Read [Esc] (198)
v. comment; make explanatory notes


Spelling Word: annotate
Read [Esc] (199)
a. bothersome; troublesome; irritating


Spelling Word: annoying
Read [Esc] (200)
n. annual payment of allowance or income; periodical payment, amounting to a fixed sum in each year


Spelling Word: annuity
Read [Esc] (201)
v. make or declare void or invalid; reduce to nothing


Spelling Word: annul
Read [Esc] (202)
n. source of relaxation or comfort; medicine that relieves pain


Spelling Word: anodyne
Read [Esc] (203)
v. apply oil or similar substance to; put oil on during religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration.


Spelling Word: anoint
Read [Esc] (204)
a. deviating from normal or common order, form, or rule


Spelling Word: anomalous
Read [Esc] (205)
n. active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor


Spelling Word: antagonism
Read [Esc] (206)
v. precede; go before in time, and sometimes in place, rank, or logical order


Spelling Word: antecede
Read [Esc] (207)
n. preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background


Spelling Word: antecedents
Read [Esc] (208)
v. be earlier in time; go back further


Spelling Word: antedate
Read [Esc] (209)
a. antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times


Spelling Word: antediluvian
Read [Esc] (210)
n. book of literary selections by various authors


Spelling Word: anthology
Read [Esc] (211)
a. regarding human beings as the center of the universe


Spelling Word: anthropocentric
Read [Esc] (212)
a. manlike; resembling a human, especially in shape or outward appearance


Spelling Word: anthropoid
Read [Esc] (213)
a. having human form or characteristics


Spelling Word: anthropomorphic
Read [Esc] (214)
n. any substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms


Spelling Word: antibiotic
Read [Esc] (215)
v. act in advance of; deal with ahead of time; predict


Spelling Word: anticipate
Read [Esc] (216)
n. the letdown in thought or emotion; decline viewed in disappointing contrast with the previous rise


Spelling Word: anticlimax
Read [Esc] (217)
n. strong feeling of aversion; dislike


Spelling Word: antipathy
Read [Esc] (218)
n. any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion


Spelling Word: antique
Read [Esc] (219)
n. contrast; direct contrast; opposition


Spelling Word: antithesis
Read [Esc] (220)
n. entire horn, or any branch of the horn


Spelling Word: antler
Read [Esc] (221)
n. a heavy block of iron or steel with a smooth, flat top on which metals are shaped by hammering


Spelling Word: anvil
Read [Esc] (222)
a. feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent


Spelling Word: apathetic
Read [Esc] (223)
n. lack of interest, or the attitude of not caring resulting from it; the indifference


Spelling Word: apathy
Read [Esc] (224)
n. alcoholic beverage taken before a meal as an appetizer


Spelling Word: aperitif
Read [Esc] (225)
n. opening; diameter of such an opening; hole


Spelling Word: aperture
Read [Esc] (226)
n. highest point; vertex; summit; climax


Spelling Word: apex
Read [Esc] (227)
n. loss of speech due to injury or illness


Spelling Word: aphasia
Read [Esc] (228)
n. definition or concise statement of principle; tersely phrased statement of truth or opinion


Spelling Word: aphorism
Read [Esc] (229)
n. a place where bees and beehives are kept, especially where bees are raised for their honey


Spelling Word: apiary
Read [Esc] (230)
n. poise; self-confident assurance


Spelling Word: aplomb
Read [Esc] (231)
a. untrue; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious


Spelling Word: apocryphal
Read [Esc] (232)
n. the highest point; point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited


Spelling Word: apogee
Read [Esc] (233)
a. having aversion or lack of concern for political affairs


Spelling Word: apolitical
Read [Esc] (234)
a. offering or expressing an apology or excuse; serving as or containing a formal justification or defense


Spelling Word: apologetic
Read [Esc] (235)
n. a person who argues in defense or justification of something, such as doctrine, policy, or institution


Spelling Word: apologist
Read [Esc] (236)
v. beg pardon; tell someone that you are sorry for having done something


Spelling Word: apologize
Read [Esc] (237)
n. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs


Spelling Word: apostate
Read [Esc] (238)
n. text character used to mark the possessive or to show the omission of letters or numbers


Spelling Word: apostrophe
Read [Esc] (239)
n. elevation to godhood; fact or action of becoming a god; an ideal example of something


Spelling Word: apotheosis
Read [Esc] (240)
v. depress or discourage with fear; grow faint or become weak


Spelling Word: appall
Read [Esc] (241)
n. ghostly figure; sudden or unusual sight; appearance; state of being visible


Spelling Word: apparition
Read [Esc] (242)
n. attraction; charm; attract; fascinate; challenge


Spelling Word: appeal
Read [Esc] (243)
a. attractive or interesting; charming


Spelling Word: appealing
Read [Esc] (244)
n. name; title; the act of naming; the act of appealing for aid, sympathy


Spelling Word: appellation
Read [Esc] (245)
v. attach; add as supplement or appendix


Spelling Word: append
Read [Esc] (246)
n. something appended to or accompanying, a principal or greater thing, though not necessary to it


Spelling Word: appendage
Read [Esc] (247)
n. instinctive physical desire, especially one for food or drink


Spelling Word: appetite
Read [Esc] (248)
v. acclaim; express approval, especially by clapping the hands


Spelling Word: applaud
Read [Esc] (249)
a. capable of being applied; fit or suitable to be applied; having relevance


Spelling Word: applicable
Read [Esc] (250)
n. candidate; a person who formally requests something, especially a job


Spelling Word: applicant
Read [Esc] (251)
n. close attention; work of applying something; verbal or written request for assistance


Spelling Word: application
Read [Esc] (252)
v. designate; nominate; choose someone officially for a job or responsibility


Spelling Word: appoint
Read [Esc] (253)
a. strikingly appropriate and relevant; well-suited


Spelling Word: apposite
Read [Esc] (254)
n. assessment; evaluation; the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth


Spelling Word: appraisal
Read [Esc] (255)
v. estimate value of; evaluate, especially in an official capacity


Spelling Word: appraise
Read [Esc] (256)
a. large enough to be noticed or to affect; perceptible


Spelling Word: appreciable
Read [Esc] (257)
v. be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of


Spelling Word: appreciate
Read [Esc] (258)
n. fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; the act of seizing or capturing; understanding


Spelling Word: apprehension
Read [Esc] (259)
a. capable of knowing; conscious; relating to the faculty of apprehension; sensible or perceptive


Spelling Word: apprehensive
Read [Esc] (260)
n. the term during which one learns a trade from a skilled worker; service or legal condition of an apprentice


Spelling Word: apprenticeship
Read [Esc] (261)
v. inform; give notice to; make aware


Spelling Word: apprise
Read [Esc] (262)
n. a way of considering or doing something


Spelling Word: approach
Read [Esc] (263)
n. expression of warm approval; praise


Spelling Word: approbation
Read [Esc] (264)
v. acquire; take possession of for one's own use; set apart for specific use


Spelling Word: appropriate
Read [Esc] (265)
v. come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality, or amount


Spelling Word: approximate
Read [Esc] (266)
ad. very similarly; roughly


Spelling Word: approximately
Read [Esc] (267)
a. with reference or regard; in respect


Spelling Word: apropos
Read [Esc] (268)
a. consisting of, relating to, or being in the water


Spelling Word: aquatic
Read [Esc] (269)
a. curved or hooked like an eagle's beak


Spelling Word: aquiline
Read [Esc] (270)
a. fit for growing crops, as by plowing


Spelling Word: arable
Read [Esc] (271)
n. person with power to decide a dispute; judge


Spelling Word: arbiter
Read [Esc] (272)
a. tree-dwelling; treelike; living in trees


Spelling Word: arboreal
Read [Esc] (273)
n. a place where different tree varieties are exhibited


Spelling Word: arboretum
Read [Esc] (274)
n. the continuous portion of a circle; something curved in shape


Spelling Word: arc
Read [Esc] (275)
a. secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated


Spelling Word: arcane
Read [Esc] (276)
n. study of artifacts and relics of early humankind


Spelling Word: archaeology
Read [Esc] (277)
a. no longer current or applicable; antiquated


Spelling Word: archaic
Read [Esc] (278)
n. prototype; original model or type after which other similar things are patterned


Spelling Word: archetype
Read [Esc] (279)
n. group of closely located islands


Spelling Word: archipelago
Read [Esc] (280)
a. displaying or by strong enthusiasm or devotion; passionate


Spelling Word: ardent
Read [Esc] (281)
a. demanding great effort or labor; difficult


Spelling Word: arduous
Read [Esc] (282)
a. dry; lacking moisture, especially having insufficient rainfall to support trees or plants


Spelling Word: arid
Read [Esc] (283)
n. hereditary nobility; privileged class


Spelling Word: aristocracy
Read [Esc] (284)
n. one of the aristocracy or people of rank in a community; one of a ruling class; a noble


Spelling Word: aristocrat
Read [Esc] (285)
n. theory of numerical calculations


Spelling Word: arithmetic
Read [Esc] (286)
n. a fleet of warships; a large group of moving things


Spelling Word: armada
Read [Esc] (287)
n. arsenal; a place where arms are manufactured


Spelling Word: armory
Read [Esc] (288)
a. fragrant or sweet-smelling; caused by fragrant odor


Spelling Word: aromatic
Read [Esc] (289)
n. act of awaking from sleep; arousing from what is like sleep


Spelling Word: arousal
Read [Esc] (290)
v. officially charge someone in a court of law


Spelling Word: arraign
Read [Esc] (291)
n. composition; a plan for how something will happen


Spelling Word: arrangement
Read [Esc] (292)
n. being in debt; unpaid, overdue debt or an unfulfilled obligation


Spelling Word: arrears
Read [Esc] (293)
v. claim without justification; claim for oneself without the right


Spelling Word: arrogate
Read [Esc] (294)
n. deep gully; a dry gulch; brook or creek; watercourse


Spelling Word: arroyo
Read [Esc] (295)
n. subtle but base deception; trickery; cleverness or skill; ingenuity


Spelling Word: artifice
Read [Esc] (296)
n. manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to an artist


Spelling Word: artisan
Read [Esc] (297)
a. free of artificiality; natural; open and honest


Spelling Word: artless
Read [Esc] (298)
v. move up or climb something; mount


Spelling Word: ascend
Read [Esc] (299)
n. superiority or decisive advantage; domination


Spelling Word: ascendancy
Read [Esc] (300)
n. upward slope or grade; movement upward


Spelling Word: ascent
Read [Esc] (301)
a. leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial; austere


Spelling Word: ascetic
Read [Esc] (302)
v. inscribe or dedicate; attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin; assign as a quality


Spelling Word: ascribe
Read [Esc] (303)
a. preventing infection; having cleansing effect


Spelling Word: aseptic
Read [Esc] (304)
a. ash-colored; very pale; consisting of ashes


Spelling Word: ashen
Read [Esc] (305)
a. utterly stupid or silly; inanely foolish


Spelling Word: asinine
Read [Esc] (306)
a. with a sideways or indirect look; Turned to side, especially of eyes


Spelling Word: askance
Read [Esc] (307)
ad. turned or twisted toward one side; at an angle


Spelling Word: askew
Read [Esc] (308)
n. the sharpness of temper; roughness or harshness, as of surface, sound, or climate


Spelling Word: asperity
Read [Esc] (309)
v. deprive of oxygen to the extent of producing death or severe symptoms; suffocate


Spelling Word: asphyxiate
Read [Esc] (310)
n. one who aspires, as to advancement, honors, or a high position


Spelling Word: aspirant
Read [Esc] (311)
n. ambition; something that you hope to achieve


Spelling Word: aspiration
Read [Esc] (312)
v. assault; attack with or as if with violent blows


Spelling Word: assail
Read [Esc] (313)
n. a violent attack; an onslaught


Spelling Word: assault
Read [Esc] (314)
v. analyze; evaluate; examine by trial or experiment; put to the test


Spelling Word: assay
Read [Esc] (315)
n. a group of persons together in one place


Spelling Word: assemblage
Read [Esc] (316)
v. express agreement to what is alleged or proposed; accept


Spelling Word: assent
Read [Esc] (317)
v. declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly


Spelling Word: assert
Read [Esc] (318)
a. positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory


Spelling Word: assertive
Read [Esc] (319)
v. estimate  value; judge worth of something


Spelling Word: assess
Read [Esc] (320)
n. act of judging or assessing; amount determined as payable


Spelling Word: assessment
Read [Esc] (321)
a. constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or persistent


Spelling Word: assiduous
Read [Esc] (322)
v. incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble


Spelling Word: assimilate
Read [Esc] (323)
n. help, especially money or resources that are given to people  


Spelling Word: assistance
Read [Esc] (324)
v. ease or lessen pain; satisfy or appease


Spelling Word: assuage
Read [Esc] (325)
ad. in a way that causes something to be certain; undoubtedly


Spelling Word: assuredly
Read [Esc] (326)
n. eye defect that prevents proper focus


Spelling Word: astigmatism
Read [Esc] (327)
a. amazed; very surprised


Spelling Word: astonished
Read [Esc] (328)
v. affect with wonder; surprise; shock


Spelling Word: astound
Read [Esc] (329)
a. causing contraction; having the effect of drawing tissue together; stern or austere


Spelling Word: astringent
Read [Esc] (330)
n. a physicist who studies astronomy


Spelling Word: astronomer
Read [Esc] (331)
n. branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole


Spelling Word: astronomy
Read [Esc] (332)
ad. into separate parts or pieces; apart


Spelling Word: asunder
Read [Esc] (333)
a. not identical on both sides of a dividing central line


Spelling Word: asymmetric
Read [Esc] (334)
n. resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; deformity returning after the passage of two or more generations


Spelling Word: atavism
Read [Esc] (335)
a. displaying characteristics of previous cultural era or previous ancestral form


Spelling Word: atavistic
Read [Esc] (336)
a. denying existence of God; godless


Spelling Word: atheistic
Read [Esc] (337)
n. art of training by athletic exercises; games and sports of athletes


Spelling Word: athletics
Read [Esc] (338)
n. air; a mixture of gases that surrounds any planet


Spelling Word: atmosphere
Read [Esc] (339)
n. a tiny piece of anything; the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element


Spelling Word: atom
Read [Esc] (340)
n. brutal deed; atrocious condition, quality, or behavior; monstrousness


Spelling Word: atrocity
Read [Esc] (341)
n. wasting away; decrease in size; reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease


Spelling Word: atrophy
Read [Esc] (342)
n. a bond, as of affection or loyalty; fond regard; supplementary part; accessory


Spelling Word: attachment
Read [Esc] (343)
v. achieve or accomplish; gain


Spelling Word: attain
Read [Esc] (344)
n. something, such as an accomplishment or achievement; achievement


Spelling Word: attainment
Read [Esc] (345)
v. be present at; go to; take care of; tend


Spelling Word: attend
Read [Esc] (346)
n. act of being present


Spelling Word: attendance
Read [Esc] (347)
n. aide; servant; accompanying; a person who participates in a meeting


Spelling Word: attendant
Read [Esc] (348)
n. act or state of attending or heeding; application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought


Spelling Word: attention
Read [Esc] (349)
v. make slender, fine, or small; weaken; lessen the density of


Spelling Word: attenuate
Read [Esc] (350)
n. clothes, especially of a particular or formal type; dress


Spelling Word: attire
Read [Esc] (351)
n. appeal; a characteristic that provides pleasure and attracts


Spelling Word: attraction
Read [Esc] (352)
a. appealing; pleasing; inviting; tempting


Spelling Word: attractive
Read [Esc] (353)
n. essential quality; reputation; honor


Spelling Word: attribute
Read [Esc] (354)
n. a gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the workforce without firing employees; wearing away through harassment


Spelling Word: attrition
Read [Esc] (355)
a. not normal; unusual or irregular; not representative of a group, class, or type


Spelling Word: atypical
Read [Esc] (356)
a. fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold


Spelling Word: audacious
Read [Esc] (357)
n. area of theater or concert hall where the audience sits


Spelling Word: auditorium
Read [Esc] (358)
a. of or relating to hearing, the organs of hearing, or the sense of hearing


Spelling Word: auditory
Read [Esc] (359)
n. hand tool for boring holes; hollow drill used to take core samples of soil, ice


Spelling Word: auger
Read [Esc] (360)
v. make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity


Spelling Word: augment
Read [Esc] (361)
n. sign of something coming; art or practice of foretelling events by signs or omens


Spelling Word: augury
Read [Esc] (362)
n. the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere; halo


Spelling Word: aureole
Read [Esc] (363)
a. characteristic of dawn; dawning, eastern, like a new beginning; relating to the atmospheric phenomenon auroras


Spelling Word: auroral
Read [Esc] (364)
a. attended by favorable circumstances; marked by success; prosperous


Spelling Word: auspicious
Read [Esc] (365)
a. strict or severe in the discipline; severely simple and unornamented


Spelling Word: austere
Read [Esc] (366)
v. prove genuine; establish authenticity of


Spelling Word: authenticate
Read [Esc] (367)
a. expecting absolute obedience; completely dominating another's will


Spelling Word: authoritarian
Read [Esc] (368)
a. weighting authority; peremptory and dictatorial


Spelling Word: authoritative
Read [Esc] (369)
n. biography or story written by yourself


Spelling Word: autobiography
Read [Esc] (370)
n. dictator; ruler having unlimited power


Spelling Word: autocrat
Read [Esc] (371)
a. having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial


Spelling Word: autocratic
Read [Esc] (372)
n. the mechanism that imitates actions of humans


Spelling Word: automaton
Read [Esc] (373)
a. self-governing; not controlled by others or by outside forces; independent


Spelling Word: autonomous
Read [Esc] (374)
n. independence; self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination


Spelling Word: autonomy
Read [Esc] (375)
a. convenient for use or disposal; not busy, free; obtainable; accessible


Spelling Word: available
Read [Esc] (376)
n. greediness for wealth; the insatiable desire to gain


Spelling Word: avarice
Read [Esc] (377)
v. declare to be true; affirm


Spelling Word: aver
Read [Esc] (378)
a. reluctant; disinclined; turned away or backward; unwilling


Spelling Word: averse
Read [Esc] (379)
n. large cage, building, or enclosure in which birds are reared or kept


Spelling Word: aviary
Read [Esc] (380)
a. greedy; eager for; marked by keen interest and enthusiasm


Spelling Word: avid
Read [Esc] (381)
n. activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment


Spelling Word: avocation
Read [Esc] (382)
v. declare openly; acknowledge openly, boldly, and unashamedly


Spelling Word: avow
Read [Esc] (383)
n. open declaration; frank acknowledgment


Spelling Word: avowal
Read [Esc] (384)
a. in the manner of an uncle, about uncle; kind, genial, benevolent, or tolerant


Spelling Word: avuncular
Read [Esc] (385)
a. difficult to handle or manage


Spelling Word: awkward
Read [Esc] (386)
n. roof-like cover, usually of canvas, extended over or before any place as a shelter from the sun, rain, or wind


Spelling Word: awning
Read [Esc] (387)
ad. in a position that is turned toward one side; away from the correct course


Spelling Word: awry
Read [Esc] (388)
n. self-evident truth requiring no proof


Spelling Word: axiom
Read [Esc] (389)
n. pin or spindle on which a wheel revolves, or which revolves with a wheel; transverse bar connecting the opposite wheels


Spelling Word: axle
Read [Esc] (390)
a. sky blue; light purplish-blue


Spelling Word: azure