How To Improve Sat Vocabulary With 104 Essential Words (2024)

While you may have read that the SAT doesn’t test vocabulary, this is only partly true. No, you won’t have to define “splendiferous” anymore, but you will need to know, as the test-maker the College Board puts it, “high-utility academic words and phrases.” What’s that mean? In short, these SAT words are words that are likely to crop up in college readings.

It’s important to note that not all vocabulary questions on the SAT test your knowledge of these high-utility words. In fact, questions that deal with vocabulary—also known as “Vocabulary in Context” questions—tend to be focused on how more common words with multiple meanings are used in specific contexts than on knowing one definition for particularly difficult words. Because there’s no guarantee of which words will appear on the SAT and knowing a single word typically doesn’t have a huge impact, that effort is better spent locking in your strategy for “Vocabulary in Context” questions (e.g. using context clues to figure out the answer) than memorizing a bunch of difficult words.

That being said, if you’re close to your target score, improving your vocabulary with high-utility words can be just what you need to put you over the edge. This post will look at how the SAT tests vocabulary in different sections before zooming in to look at some of the key vocabulary terms to know for test day, what they mean, and how to use them in context to build a strong vocabulary. Finally, you can test your knowledge with our SAT vocab words quiz and download the 100+ SAT Vocabulary Words to Study on the Go PDF for future reference.

How Does the SAT Test Vocabulary?
- SAT Vocabulary in the Reading Section
- SAT Vocabulary in the Writing Section
Top 104 Most Common SAT Words (+ Bonus Quiz!)
Where to Find Additional SAT Word Lists
Top Three Tips for Improving Your SAT Vocabulary
- Read as Much as Possible
- Use Effective Memorization Techniques
- Use It or Lose It

How Does the SAT Test Vocabulary?

You’ll see “Vocabulary in Context” questions in two sections: Reading and Writing. Basically, the two sections that contribute to your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. But the way vocab shows up in each is slightly different! Here’s what to look for by section.

SAT Vocabulary in the Reading Section

Here’s the good news: the SAT doesn’t test vocabulary in and of itself on the critical reading section. You won’t be asked to define words. And some of the more intense SAT vocab questions haven’t been around since your parents had to take the test. (For example, analogies like runner is to marathon as oarsman is to regatta? Come on, we can’t all grow up Kennedys.) On the other hand, having a broad knowledge of words with several different meanings is still important (don’t worry, “regatta” only has one).

Why is it important to know words with different meanings? Because vocabulary is primarily tested (and most directly tested) through the SAT’s Words in Context questions. Yep, in context. This is great news because it means that you’ll have plenty of clues to help you figure out the answer. And as stated before, many of these words are quite common. However, you’ll have a huge leg up on SAT Reading if you already know the definitions of the more difficult words.

Take a look at a sample SAT Reading question to get a better sense of what we mean:

Compared to most scientific specializations, the field of ecology is relatively young. It was only in the 18th century that a group of scientists began investigating the relationships among organisms, their biotic communities of flora and fauna, and their abiotic environments. You can think of ecology as a nexus where the disciplines of biology,
geology, hydrology, botany, and others converge in an attempt to make sense of the complex systems that give rise to, support, and respond to a given organism.

departure
category
link
agreement

Want to know the answer? Click here!

SAT Vocabulary in the Writing Section

In some ways, knowing the definitions of vocabulary words is almost more important on the Writing section as knowing it on the Reading section. Why? Because here, you’re asked to select the best word for a given context. You’re not looking for a synonym; instead, you’re going to find the best word to create the desired meaning.

While this may seem like this is trying to get you to learn grammar rather than vocabulary, it’s actually not. In the College Board’s words:

“It’s worth noting here that these language use questions aren’t directly about grammar, usage, or mechanics. Instead, these questions try to get you to think about how language should be used to accomplish particular writerly aims, such as being clearer, more precise, or more economical.”

Take a look at the following passage:

The Brooklyn Museum features an item that might, for the first time ever, be the sole star of the show. Since its inception nearly 100 year ago, this accessory has been part of the limelight but has always been attached to the human body—whether in flight, in pivot, or in mid-stride. I’m talking about the lowly sneaker, which finally has the limelight all to itself in the exhibit “The Rise of Sneaker Culture.”

I should be honest: upon walking into the exhibit I did not expect much. After all, how edifying can one Air Jordan sneaker encased in a wall possibly be? But the exhibit offers much more than an endless procession of athletic shoes.

Top 104 Most Common SAT Words (+ Bonus Quiz!)

Let’s be real: there are thousands of possible SAT words out there. But there are a few—well, to be exact, 104—that show up time and time again. Because of this, they’re crucial to SAT vocab success. Learning these top 104 is a great way to start off your SAT vocabulary study!

Word	Definition	Used in Sentence
abolish	to officially put an end to (its noun form is “abolition”)	Abraham Lincoln is perhaps best known for his efforts to abolish slavery.
abrupt	sudden or curt	Although she was trying to be nice, her response was still abrupt.
agitation	anxiety; the fast stirring of a liquid	The night before the big game, I was in a state of agitation.
alteration	change from a previous norm	After we missed the bus the third time, our homeroom decided that serious alterations in the schedule were needed.
ambiguous	open to more than one interpretation; unclear	My teacher’s instructions about the paper were ambiguous; nobody knew what to write.
ambivalent	having mixed feelings	Due to his ambiguous instructions, I had ambivalent feelings about my teacher despite his warm manner.
arcane	difficult to understand	I fell asleep moments after I opened the arcane and academic book.
aromatic	having a pleasant smell	Smelling aromatic oils can be a good way to reduce stress.
assumption	an idea accepted as fact without proof	My mother made the assumption that I wanted to go to State, but she hadn’t talked to me first.
begrudging	to envy; to give reluctantly	I begrudged my sister her new laptop, since I hadn’t had a new one in three years.
belligerent	war-like, inclined to fight	It is hard not to provoke my cat, who is belligerent with all other animals.
bias	inclination for or against a group of people or a particular outcome	The scientific study seemed compelling at first, but eventually scientists found that it showed numerous biases.
characterize	describe distinctive features; to be typical of	I shouldn’t have been surprised that Jess was so spontaneous, since that was characteristic of her.
condescension	disdain	My father loves to deliver lectures at the dinner table, not realizing how condescending they can make him sound.
consequently	as a result	I got a C on the midterm; consequently, my final grade will not be higher than a B.
conserve	protect	The importance of conserving our natural environment has become increasingly clear.
contentious	controversial	Rebecca would have become student body president if some of her proposals hadn’t been so contentious.
conventional	aligned with general beliefs	Jake, who won the election, had much more conventional beliefs, in line with what most students thought.
convey	express	I tried to convey my disappointment to my parents without telling them directly.
corroborate	confirm; support	Lucy said that she’d been in the house all day, and her sister corroborated this statement.
corrupt	dishonest for personal gain	Politicians are known for being corrupt, but I think some of them must have more altruistic goals.
counterargument	an argument opposing an idea set forth elsewhere	While I thought I made a strong case, my debate opponent’s counterarguments were just too good.
curtail	cut short	My neighbor had been talking for two hours and eventually, I had to curtail her.
deplete	use up	I was only two blocks from home when I realized that I had completely depleted my car’s gas supply.
dismay	disappointment and distress	My father was dismayed that I wouldn’t attend his alma mater, but I’m happy with my decision.
ebullient	highly enthusiastic	Luke laughs a lot at everything; he’s always been ebullient.
eloquent	well-spoken	Very few presidents have been known for their eloquence, even though they give many speeches.
emerging	beginning; new	The emerging music scene had few followers at the beginning but soon became very popular.
empathetic	feeling sympathy	When I volunteered at the hospital, it was hard not to be empathetic to the patients there.
engagement	participation; an appointment	One component of our grades would be based on our engagement in class discussions.
enigmatic	mysterious	The enigmatic guy seemed compelling at first, but once the mystery was gone, so was my interest.
entrenched	solidly established	It can be difficult to get rid of deep-rooted, entrenched beliefs, since we often take them for granted.
enumerate	to list	I didn’t think I was late that much, but my mother enumerated many occasions on which I had been.
ephemeral	short-lived	My interest in the boy band was embarrassing but thankfully ephemeral.
equivocal	vague	My mother’s answer to my question about how she’d met my father was equivocal, and I could tell she was embarrassed by the story.
esoteric	known only to a select group	I thought I should have known the book they were discussing, but later I discovered it was esoteric.
exertion	effort	Running a marathon would take so much exertion that I just don’t feel up to it.
exhilarating	wildly exciting	The day I got my college acceptance letters was exhilarating.
exonerate	free from blame	My aunt thought I’d taken the car until she saw me in the living room; I was then exonerated.
fastidious	nit-picky, fussing over details	There are some typos in my essay; I just hope the teacher isn’t too fastidious.
fluctuate	to change irregularly	My grades fluctuated for a while when I was a freshman, but they’re consistent now.
foreshadow	to allude to coming events	Looking back, my early interest in dancing foreshadowed my life in my teens.
fundamentally	centrally	Fundamentally, I don’t believe that certain human rights are up for debate.
garner	gather	Before submitting my applications, I had to garner several letters of recommendation.
garrulous	talkative	My grade would have been better but I was too garrulous in class; my best friend sat beside me and we could never shut up.
gregarious	flocking, sociable	Sometimes I wish I were more gregarious, but I prefer having one or two close friends instead.
hasten	to do something quickly	Realizing the deadline was the next day, I hastened to put together my application.
hypothetical	based on a hypothesis; theoretical	Hypothetically, I’d love to travel the world, but I don’t have the time or money right now.
imperative	absolutely necessary	The principal insisted that taking an interest in our classes was imperative to our success.
indifferent	expressing no opinions on a matter	The school newspaper reporter wanted to interview me about the issue, but I wasn’t a good source because I was too indifferent.
indigenous	native to a certain area	Planting indigenous plants is one way to begin setting up a carbon sink.
indiscriminate	without consideration	There were so many random people at the party that it felt like Tom must have handed out invitations indiscriminately.
indispensable	vital	I’ve found that keeping my planner up to date is an indispensable practice.
indistinct	unclear	Her voice was indistinct and so I missed most of what she said.
infrastructure	the organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or project	One major challenge to foreign aid is distributing it, since infrastructure—including roads and local organizations to help with distribution—can be lacking in remote areas.
keen	eager; incisive; to wail	He had a keen wit, but sometimes his observations hit too close to home.
magnanimous	kind-hearted, likely to forgive	I’d really insulted her, but luckily she was magnanimous and we were soon friends again.
malevolence	hostility	I don’t think that political campaigns have to be characterized by malevolence, even though many politicians see their opponents as enemies.
melodramatic	exaggerated	I wasn’t sure how worried I should be, since his stories were always a little melodramatic.
menacing	inspiring fear	The grey sky was menacing, and I was sure it would rain later.
modification	change	I always revise my essays because I find that modifications are usually necessary to make my ideas clear.
naïve	innocent; likely to believe anything	I used to think it was easy to get into a top-10 school, but I was a little naïve.
neglect	fail to care for	I’ve never been able to keep a plant alive, mostly because I tend to neglect them.
null	invalid; related to zero	We spent years researching the problem only to find that our hypothesis was null.
obsolete	no longer useful	My dad thought I could use his old word processor without realizing that the technology was totally obsolete.
omnipotence	having unlimited power	David acted like his position as editor gave him omnipotence and was always a little mean to his “subordinates.”
opaque	not transparent	I really prefer my tights to be opaque, because I hate how shiny the transparent ones can be.
oppress	to keep in a state of hardship	While we thought our allowances were low, it wasn’t as though we were being oppressed.
ornate	highly decorated	My sister loves having a really ornate holiday season, but I think it’s better to be more subdued.
pantheon	the group of gods of a people	I didn’t know about the Greek pantheon until I read about legends containing Zeus.
pending	awaiting decision	Even after three days, I could see that my status hadn’t been decided and was still listed as “pending.”
preclude	to prevent from happening	To preclude my tendency to procrastinate, I set aside the same hour every day to study.
profuse	excessive	She thanked me so profusely that it was embarrassing and, after a minute, I had to ask her to stop.
regression	return to an earlier state	My uncle saw my low grade as a regression, but I just saw it as a step in the learning process rather than a set-back.
reinforce	strengthen; back up	I studied for the SAT in different ways to reinforce my knowledge.
render	to provide; to make	I was on the fence about which school to attend until one offered me a full scholarship, rendering my indecision a thing of the past.
renounce	to declare the abandonment of something formally	After the club refused to let Julie in, I renounced my membership in it due to the unfairness of the decision.
repeal	to revoke	Our school tried to pass a strict dress code but soon repealed it when students ignored the guidelines.
repose	rest	When the competition was over, I was exhausted and in desperate need of repose.
reproach	express disapproval	My mother’s behavior is always perfect, completely beyond reproach.
restorative	possessing characteristics that allow it to return health or well-being	I felt so much better after the restorative massage.
reticent	not saying much	My cousin can be reticent sometimes, but I know his mind is going a mile a minute.
revere	respect deeply	I wouldn’t say I revere my teacher, but I do like her a lot.
sampling	a representative group	It turned out that the three people we’d used weren’t a representative sampling of the whole group.
scope	the extent to which something is relevant	The comments on my essay were all good except for one which called the evidence “out of scope.”
secession	formally withdrawing from membership	The South’s secession from the United States in the 19th century was unprecedented.
selfless	unselfish	My sister is entirely selfless and always helps me with anything I ask for.
simulate	imitate	The program was meant to simulate what it was like to be in space, but I didn’t feel like I was there at all.
soporific	causing sleep	The archane book was so boring that I found it soporific.
spawn	produce, often in terms of offspring	Her idea, while later disproven, spawned many more hypotheses that changed the face of science.
spectacle	a visually impressive performance	The play used red and black scenery covered in glitter, making the performance into more of a spectacle than a simple play.
stimulate	build interest in	The simulation was not at all realistic and failed to stimulate my interest in the subject.
subsequent	following	While I didn’t do well on my first paper, I used my teacher’s advice on the subsequent essays and got better grades.
suffrage	the right to vote	Although not well-known, Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee was a key figure in the New York women’s suffrage movement.
supremacy	predominance; the state of being in control of all others	Our principal was so kind that nobody ever challenged her supremacy in the school.
synchronized	occurring at the same time	Our answers were synchronized, as though we’d practiced speaking together.
tenacious	not giving in easily	I knew that to get into the school of my dreams, I’d have to work long and hard; I’d have to be tenacious.
undermine	make less effective	Her argument seemed compelling, but when I left her house I thought of six examples that would undermine it.
urbane	refined, of the city	Going to college in New York seemed like a great idea; I thought I’d come back more sophisticated and urbane.
venerable	deserving of respect	My grandfather didn’t speak much, but he was wise when he did, making him a venerable figure in our family.
verbose	using too many words	If you used all these words in the same sentence, you would definitely be verbose.
vitality	being strong and energetic	I was exhausted and weak, but a nap soon restored my vitality.
warrant	justification; to justify	Andrew didn’t think the punishment was warranted and argued against it successfully.
yield	to produce; to give way	The apple crop was great this year and yielded way more than we thought it would.

Don’t know all those SAT words yet? You will soon! Here’s the words from above in a handy SAT vocabulary PDF version—print it out and review on the bus or during any spare moments!

Bonus Quiz

Want a real-time snapshot of your vocabulary acumen? Try your hand at Magoosh’s SAT Vocabulary Quiz to see which you actually do know, and which you might need some more SAT vocabulary practice with before taking the next quiz. Then, check below for our tips on learning and storing SAT vocabulary terms in your long term memory!

Don’t worry about your overall time for the quiz right now. But do keep in mind that the more you practice, the quicker SAT vocab questions will be to answer–and even eliminating one possibility from the answer choices has the potential to boost your score!

If you’re studying for the SAT, you may not realize just how important SAT vocabulary is! Our experts have gathered the top 100+ SAT words you should know to make learning them easier. Test out your knowledge of those SAT vocab words in context with this quiz!

Where to Find Additional SAT Word Lists

If you got a great strategy for “Vocabulary in Context” and are pretty familiar with these 104 words and are looking to learn more, here are some additional resources:

Barron’s Premium SAT Guide comes with a flashcard app featuring 3000+ words. Do you need to learn all of these before the official test? No (particularly not the super difficult vocabulary, which the SAT will define in context)! Are they nice to have? Definitely.
The terms on this SAT vocabulary list are all useful for test day! Pick out the ones you’re least familiar with to create your own flashcards.
Magoosh vocabulary for Google Chrome. Every time you open a new tab, a new vocabulary word shows up. Simple but effective!
Magoosh’s Vocabulary Builder Workbook: a great way to learn words in context using sample sentences (so you’re less likely to forget them!)
With 700+ high-frequency words, Seberson Method’s SAT vocabulary workbook has the bonus of being free with Kindle Unlimited!

Top Three Tips for Improving Your SAT Vocabulary

Read as Much as Possible

The most effective way to study vocab for the SAT is by reading. It’s simply the best way to have a great strategy for dealing with “Vocabulary in Context” questions.

A great—but often neglected—way of learning vocab is by reading. That’s right, whether you are reading a book for your English class or simply skimming a magazine you should always look up unknown words. Here’s why:

You’ll encounter words in context. Reading allows you to see how a word functions in the context of what you are reading. Oftentimes you can guess what the meaning is. Sometimes you may be right. Regardless, you should always consult a trusty dictionary.
You’ll use the dictionary better—not just looking up any old word. I do not recommend that you start reading through a dictionary. In addition to becoming bored by words that look very similar, you will not retain much of what you read. Running to the dictionary after seeing a word you do not know is a very different experience. You will be far more likely to remember that word because you are only looking up that word. The moment when your mind sees the definition should be somewhat special (versus seeing one definition after another the way you do with flashcards).
You’ll bump into flashcard words. There is nothing like bumping into a friend. The surprise alone makes us giddy. We are also far more likely to remember such surprise encounters. In the same way, if you see one of the words you have been studying in a vocabulary list suddenly pop up while you are reading, this reinforces the memory of the word. And if you can’t remember the meaning, just run to your dictionary.

Use Effective Memorization Techniques

If reading’s the best way to learn new vocabulary words for the SAT, what’s the worst way? By far, through rote memorization (just looking at lists and trying to memorize). Think about math as an analogy: just learning the formulas isn’t going to get you very far. You need to see those formulas in action–and preferably put them into action yourself–to pick up on the nuance of each and every one. The same is true with vocabulary.

In the end, there’s no fast way to memorize vocabulary to retain it long-term (the SAT is all about systematic vocabulary improvement), but the following tips and practical advice will speed up the process!

Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition sounds like a complex system, but it’s actually an evidence-based technique you can use to move vocabulary words into your long-term memory. In short, you study the material repeatedly, increasing how much time you spend between each session.

You can use apps like Anki, which rely on spaced-repetition algorithms, to help you master this.

Even though this is actually an incredibly efficient system, it’s still best to try spaced repetition when you have at least a month for vocabulary study!

Mnemonic Devices

You’ve probably used verbal mnemonic devices at least once before. For example, in math, you can remember the abbreviation PEMDAS, which describes the order of operations, as “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.” When you need to use it, remembering the sentence helps you get the acronym, from which you can find the operations in order: parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.

However, there are also visual memorization techniques you can use to retain vocabulary words. Drawing pictures on your flashcards is a simple way to do this. But you can also go more Sherlockian and create a mind palace in which you think of a standout image for each new word that you learn! (It doesn’t have to be a palace–it can be an abandoned house or a modern apartment–anything that works for you!)

Use It or Lose It

The more you use these words both in practice AND away from either language section, the better you’ll do on test day. Often I’ve had students in class use SAT words to describe something in class. “I’m feeling phlegmatic.” While this is by no means the most eloquent sentence, the fact that a learner is using the word correctly, including its pronunciation, means that they have a strong grasp of a word. If you just learn hundreds of words without ever using them, they will eventually evaporate. The key to doing well on the SAT is to make sure vocabulary words stick in your head. Saying them aloud is a great way to make this happen.

Another great way is to describe people you know, celebrities, or even random people using SAT vocabulary. We all know a friend who is garrulous (talkative), a celebrity who is contentious (controversial), and a random person walking by as saturnine (sand and morose).

Another way? By writing! Storytelling is a special form of application. It’s not for everyone, but if you journal, blog, or just like to write random stories, then telling stories using SAT words will be a great way for the words to stick in your head. The stories don’t have to be Pulitzer Prize-worthy, but as long as you are having fun, that’s the important part.

Also, don’t simply look up words and write a nonsensical sentence with 10 vocab words. You should be using the words that are already inside your head (which means that you already have to be studying vocab).

All Magoosh SAT prep plans are digital SAT ready! Start studying today.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale
Rachel is a Magoosh Content Creator. She writes and updates content on our High School and GRE Blogs to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. As a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, Rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, and she is one of the authors of our Magoosh ACT Prep Book. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University, an MA in Cinematography from the Université de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. in Film Studies from University College London. For over a decade, Rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. Her novel, THE BALLERINAS, is forthcoming in December 2021 from St. Martin’s Press, while her memoir, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, co-written with Jessica Pan, was published in 2014 by Penguin Random House. Her work has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including Vanity Fair Hollywood. When she isn’t strategically stringing words together at Magoosh, you can find Rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. Join her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!
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