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6 September 2024

6 minutes read

What are GRE High Frequency Words (GRE Word List 2024)?

Dirghayu Kaushik
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Dirghayu Kaushik

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Founder & CEO

6 September 2024

6 minutes read

GRE

Key Takeaways

  • Consistent practice with high-frequency GRE words will significantly boost your verbal score.
  • Combining flashcards with interactive learning helps retain and apply vocabulary more effectively.
  • Diversify your GRE prep by focusing on context, repetition, and daily revision to ensure success on test day.

Did you know that a staggering 20% of the words on the GRE high frequency words that appear time and again on the test? Now imagine walking into the test room, encountering words you’ve never seen, and instantly losing confidence. It’s a harsh reality—many GRE test-takers underestimate the power of a strong vocabulary and pay the price.

But here’s the good news: mastering these high-frequency words can be a game-changer. By focusing on these critical words, you’re not just preparing for one section of the GRE—you’re boosting your performance across the board. It’s about working smarter, not harder.

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When and How Vocabulary is Tested on the GRE?

Vocabulary plays a crucial role in the GRE, especially in the verbal section, where you’re tested on high-frequency words. But before all that, make sure to understand the difference between the GRE general test vs subject test. The GRE word list is your best friend here, packed with GRE high-frequency words like enervate, laconic, and ephemeral. You’ll encounter them in sentence equivalence, text completion, and reading comprehension questions. Many GRE words appear frequently on the test, and recognizing these words that appear is key to improving your GRE verbal score.

gre high frequency words 1

To ace the GRE exam, effective test prep is essential. Start by building a list of words or using flashcards to remember these tricky gre high-frequency words. During GRE preparation, focus on contextual usage by practicing 3500 word word lists, quizzing yourself, and working through practice questions. But make sure to have a clear idea of whether GRE has negative marking or not.

On test day, you’ll need to revise new and old words like audacious, esoteric, and soporific to maximize your chances of success. Remember, the new GRE challenges your ability to apply vocabulary in different scenarios, so make sure your GRE test prep includes strategies for handling words in context. Happy prepping!

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How to Approach GRE Word Lists?

When tackling GRE word lists, it’s important to focus on high-frequency words, as these are the ones that will most likely appear on your GRE test. Start with a solid GRE word list and break it down into manageable chunks. Use tools like flashcards or apps like vocabulary.com to reinforce retention. Prioritize gre high frequency words like dissonance, pragmatic, and ephemeral, since they often appear in sentence equivalence and text completion questions. Have a clear GRE action plan for the same or else things can get a bit overwhelming.

Another effective strategy is learning vocabulary in context. Incorporate the words into sentences and engage in daily practice through quizzes, GRE prep books, and practice questions. This method ensures that you’re not just memorizing words, but truly understanding their usage. These words can come in handy during GRE analytical writing as well. Consistent revision is key, so revise the words periodically throughout your GRE preparation to keep them fresh in your memory for test day.

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How To Memorize GRE Word Lists?

Memorizing GRE word lists can seem daunting, but with the right approach, it becomes much more manageable. Start by focusing on high frequency words that are most likely to appear on the GRE verbal section, such as audacious, esoteric, and soporific. Break the GRE word list into smaller sections and use spaced repetition techniques, such as flashcards, to ensure retention. You can choose the right GRE books to find such words.

Context is key, so practice using the words in sentences. Engage in quizzes and GRE test prep exercises like text completion and sentence equivalence to see these words in action. Daily practice of 3500 words, coupled with consistent revision during your prep time, will help cement these words into your long-term memory by test day.

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101 High Frequency GRE Words 2024

Here’s a list of 101 High Frequency GRE Words that will really help students get the most out of their GRE prep time. These high-frequency GRE words are critical for tackling verbal reasoning, improving scores in GRE, and excelling in reading comprehension questions. Before starting, understand the GRE cut-off for the topic as well. Learning these words with contextual usage is a great way to ensure newly learned vocab words stick. Let’s dive in!

gre high frequency words 2
  1. Magnanimous
  2. Mercurial
  3. Fastidious
  4. Ambivalent
  5. Pedant
  6. Cumbersome
  7. Alacrity
  8. Ameliorate
  9. Bolster
  10. Capricious
  11. Caustic
  12. Chicanery
  13. Cogent
  14. Convoluted
  15. Corroborate
  16. Dearth
  17. Decorum
  18. Deride
  19. Diatribe
  20. Diffident
  21. Disabuse
  22. Disparate
  23. Dogmatic
  24. Ebullient
  25. Efficacy
  26. Elegy
  27. Enervate
  28. Engender
  29. Ephemeral
  30. Erudite
  31. Eschew
  32. Exacerbate
  33. Exculpate
  34. Exigent
  35. Fervid
  36. Florid
  37. Garrulous
  38. Gregarious
  39. Harangue
  40. Hegemony
  41. Iconoclast
  42. Impecunious
  43. Inchoate
  44. Ingenuous
  45. Inimical
  46. Insipid
  47. Intransigent
  48. Inured
  49. Irascible
  50. Laconic
  51. Laud
  52. Loquacious
  53. Lucid
  54. Malinger
  55. Misanthrope
  56. Obdurate
  57. Obsequious
  58. Occlude
  59. Onerous
  60. Opprobrium
  61. Ostentation
  62. Paragon
  63. Pedantic
  64. Perfidious
  65. Perfunctory
  66. Pervasive
  67. Phlegmatic
  68. Placate
  69. Precipitate
  70. Prevaricate
  71. Prodigal
  72. Proliferate
  73. Propensity
  74. Propitiate
  75. Prudence
  76. Quixotic
  77. Recalcitrant
  78. Repudiate
  79. Reticent
  80. Salubrious
  81. Sanguine
  82. Satiate
  83. Solicitous
  84. Specious
  85. Stolid
  86. Sublime
  87. Taciturn
  88. Tenuous
  89. Tirade
  90. Torpor
  91. Tractable
  92. Transitory
  93. Vacillate
  94. Venerate
  95. Veracity
  96. Volatile
  97. Waver
  98. Zeal
  99. Zenith
  100. Bombastic
  101. Apocryphal

These GRE high-frequency words are essential to tackle verbal reasoning, boost your GRE exam score, and ensure success in the 2024 GRE exam. Many students make the mistake of skipping this wordlist during prep, but the old GRE and new GRE alike demand a strong student’s vocabulary for reading comprehension. Vocab words like “magnanimous” or “mercurial” often appear in practice tests and can be really helpful in scoring higher, especially in verbal sections.

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Learn Words with Flashcards and Other Activities for the GRE Exam

Learning GRE high frequency words can be challenging, but using flashcards as part of your GRE prep can make it much easier. Start by compiling a comprehensive GRE word list, including the most common GRE words like enervate, audacious, and laconic—words that frequently appear in the verbal section of the GRE exam. You need to understand the benefits of GRE exam before you start with the flashcards, to give you an extra dose of motivation. The beauty of flashcards is their flexibility; they can be used anytime, anywhere, helping you master difficult vocabulary through repetition and active recall. By reviewing your flashcards daily, you can break down a daunting list of words—whether it’s 3500 words or a smaller GRE word list—into more manageable sections, making learning more systematic.

However, to truly cement these high frequency words into your memory, it’s essential to supplement flashcards with other activities. Engaging in word quizzes and vocabulary games, or even challenging yourself with contextual usage exercises, will help you understand how the words are applied in real situations. Reading articles, GRE-specific books, and essays that use advanced vocabulary can also enhance your grasp of words in context. In particular, practice focusing on text completion and sentence equivalence questions, which are key components of the GRE verbal section. These activities not only reinforce word meanings but also prepare you for how they might appear on test day. Keep a note of the GRE exam date as well.

By diversifying your learning methods and incorporating these varied activities into your GRE preparation, you’ll move beyond simple memorization to deep understanding. Consistent use of flashcards, combined with interactive learning and contextual reading, will ensure that the words stick long after your prep time is over, making you fully equipped to tackle the vocabulary challenges of the GRE exam.

Conclusion

Making the most of GRE high frequency words is a crucial step in boosting your GRE verbal score. By incorporating tools like flashcards, interactive activities, and consistent practice, you’ll not only memorize the words but also understand their contextual usage. As you continue your GRE prep, remember that success on test day comes from a balanced approach—solidifying vocabulary through repetition, applying it in practice questions, and revisiting it often. With dedication and the right strategies, you’ll confidently tackle the verbal section and achieve your desired GRE score. Happy studying!

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FAQs

How many words should I aim to learn for the GRE?

Start with 500-1000 high-frequency GRE words, and focus on quality over quantity. Master the core words first before expanding your list.

How can I improve my retention of GRE words over time?

Spaced repetition is key. Revisit words at regular intervals, using both flashcards and contextual learning to reinforce memory.

Is there a specific time of day that’s better for learning GRE vocabulary?

Early morning or just before bed can be ideal for memorization since your mind is either refreshed or preparing for sleep, helping to solidify new words.

Should I prioritize GRE-specific word lists over general vocabulary?

Yes, start with a GRE word list. The test focuses on specific high frequency words, so prioritize those before diving into broader vocab.

How do I avoid overwhelming myself with too many new words?

Break your study sessions into short, focused intervals (20-30 minutes), and limit yourself to 10-20 new words per day for more effective learning.

What’s the best way to apply GRE words in real-life contexts?

Use new words in conversations, write sentences or short paragraphs using them, or look for articles that incorporate high frequency GRE words to see them in use.

How can I ensure I’m prepared for vocabulary-based questions on the GRE?

Regularly practice text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading comprehension questions that emphasize vocabulary in context to ensure you’re test-ready.

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