The ACT English and Reading sections reward students who understand vocabulary in context. We've grouped the 295 most commonly tested ACT words into three tiers — Easy, Medium, and Hard — each with its part of speech and a plain-English definition. Work through them in order, spend the most time on the hard tier, and practice using each word in your own writing so the meanings stick.
The ACT tests vocabulary through reading comprehension and English usage rather than isolated flashcard definitions. Expect questions about word choice, meaning in context, and tone — practical vocabulary you'll actually meet in the passages, not obscure trivia. Knowing these words cold frees up time and attention for the harder reasoning each question demands.
97 foundational words that show up constantly in ACT passages.
existing or available in great quantity; more than enough.
correct; free from errors or mistakes; precise.
to get or come into possession of something.
enough or satisfactory for a particular purpose; sufficient.
next to or adjoining something else; nearby.
highly skilled or proficient at something.
having a strong desire for success or achievement.
clearly visible or understood; obvious.
to go up or climb; to rise to a higher level.
a preference or inclination that prevents impartial judgment; prejudice.
to brag or speak with excessive pride about one’s accomplishments or possessions.
to go around or avoid something (such as an obstacle or rule).
honest and straightforward; frank.
to remove or suppress parts of something that are considered objectionable.
arranged in time order (from earliest to latest).
to make something clear or easier to understand.
to happen at the same time or in the same place; to align in time.
sympathy and concern for the suffering or misfortune of others.
having the necessary ability or knowledge to do something successfully; capable.
to hide or keep something secret.
to make something more compact or concentrated; to shorten or compress.
to limit or restrict; to keep someone or something within bounds.
one after another in uninterrupted sequence.
giving rise to disagreement or public debate; debatable.
following accepted standards; traditional or usual.
to communicate or make known; to transport or carry.
believable or trustworthy.
extremely important; critical to the success or outcome.
to trick or mislead someone into believing something untrue.
a lack or shortage of something that is needed.
to represent or show something in a picture, drawing, or words.
harmful or damaging.
to make or become smaller or less; reduce.
to take apart into pieces.
having a quality that makes something noticeably different; unique.
showing a great deal of variety; very different or of various kinds.
most powerful, important, or influential; ruling or controlling.
achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense; well-organized.
extremely happy and excited; overjoyed.
to remove or get rid of something.
to roughly calculate or judge the value, number, or quantity of something (verb); a rough calculation or educated guess (noun).
lasting or existing forever; without end.
expert skill or knowledge in a particular field.
to reveal or uncover something hidden; to make something known.
covering a large area or scope; great in number or degree.
possible to do easily or conveniently; practical and achievable.
an imperfection, defect, or weakness.
forming a necessary base or core; of central importance; basic.
designed to be practical and useful; in working order.
very obvious or conspicuous; also shining with a strong light.
a thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction; an obstacle.
famous or important in history; having great significance.
unfriendly; antagonistic; angry and opposed.
supposed or imagined; based on an assumption or theory (not necessarily real).
extremely large or great; huge.
about to happen; very near in time.
fair and not biased; treating all sides equally.
to strongly suggest the truth or existence of something without stating it directly.
having no particular interest or sympathy; not caring one way or the other.
featuring new ideas or methods; creative and original in thinking.
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
the second of two things mentioned; nearer to the end.
lawful; in accordance with established rules; genuine or reasonable.
expressed clearly; easy to understand; mentally sound or clear.
very careful and precise about details.
to change or adjust something slightly, especially to improve it or make it more suitable.
to fail to care for properly; to give too little attention to something.
a particular way of considering something; point of view.
seeming reasonable or probable; believable.
powerful; having a strong effect.
exact; clearly expressed; strictly defined.
to come before something in time.
happening or done before the proper time; too early.
easily noticeable; well-known; important.
to formally forbid something by law or authority.
to make something last longer; to extend the duration of.
related to quantities (numbers and amounts) rather than qualities.
very new, different, or extreme.
unwilling or hesitant to do something.
to bring back to life, consciousness, or activity.
to change something radically or fundamentally.
in a restricted or limited manner; using or doing only a little of something.
not moving or changing; stationary; can also mean noise in a radio/TV.
after a particular thing has happened; afterward.
not obvious; delicate or fine in meaning or intent (difficult to perceive).
enough; as much as needed.
to go beyond or do better than.
having nearly the same meaning as another word; closely associated with.
perceptible by touch; something that is real or concrete.
to bring to an end; to conclude.
of little importance or value.
last, final, or greatest.
never done or known before; without previous example.
to prove or confirm that something is true or correct; to make valid.
able to adapt or be used in many different ways; having many talents or uses.
absolutely necessary or essential; related to life.
to have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from.
99 mid-tier words worth a second study pass.
to shorten (a word, phrase, or text) by leaving out letters or using only the first letters.
the act of refraining from or not doing something (often referring to avoiding pleasurable activities like eating rich food, drinking alcohol, etc.).
to stick to something (literally, like glue, or figuratively, like a plan or belief).
excessive praise or flattery.
difficulties; misfortune; a difficult or unpleasant situation.
related to beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
friendly and peaceable (often describing relationships or agreements).
belonging to a different time period; out of chronological order.
a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
not identified by name; of unknown identity.
a person who opposes or is hostile to the protagonist (main character) or to a certain cause; an adversary.
to expect or predict; to look forward to.
extremely dry (often describing climate or land); lacking in interest or excitement.
showing great care and perseverance; hard-working and diligent.
1) protection granted by a nation to someone fleeing danger from another country (seeking refuge); 2) an outdated term for an institution for the care of people, especially those with mental illness.
kind and generous; well-meaning.
mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
to express strong disapproval of someone or something, especially in a formal statement.
a distinguishing feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing.
(of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way; roundabout.
having the supposed ability to see events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact. (Also used as a noun for a person with this ability.)
to work jointly on an activity or project; to cooperate with others.
to settle a disagreement by each side giving up something and coming to an agreement; (noun) an agreement reached by mutual concessions.
having or showing a patronizing attitude toward others, acting as though you are superior.
subject to one or more conditions being met; not absolute.
a person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices; someone who follows the crowd.
the process or state of coming together from different directions (to form a union or uniformity).
1) expressing disapproving judgments; 2) extremely important; 3) involving analysis.
causing harm or damage.
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires, emotions, and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
to recognize or show the difference between things; to make something or someone appear different or distinct.
a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties; hard-working.
the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one’s respect; contempt. (Can also be used as a verb.)
tending to be different or develop in different directions; deviating.
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
to imitate or copy someone/something, especially with the aim to equal or surpass.
causing one to feel drained of energy; tiring.
lasting for a very short time; fleeting.
quickly fading or disappearing, like vapor.
serving as a desirable model; representing the best of its kind.
serving to lessen the seriousness of an offense (often used in the phrase 'extenuating circumstances').
1) having a red or flushed complexion; 2) excessively intricate or elaborate (as in florid writing or decoration).
happening by a lucky chance; fortunate.
economical, thrifty, not wasteful with money; simple and costing little.
easily deceived or tricked; too willing to believe things.
overused to the point of being uninteresting; lacking in originality.
arrogantly superior and disdainful; having or showing an attitude of contempt for others.
a person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life.
a proposed explanation for something, based on limited evidence, used as a starting point for further investigation.
acting or done quickly without thought; impulsive.
to attribute or assign (especially something undesirable) to someone or something.
unable to work together or exist together without conflict; not compatible.
not important or significant.
certain to happen; unavoidable.
fearless; adventurous (often used humorously).
understood or operated by intuition (instinct) rather than explicit instruction; easy to use or understand without explanation.
a feeling of great happiness and triumph; rejoicing.
to show or prove to be right or reasonable; to give a good reason for something.
a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators or government officials.
long life; long duration (particularly of life or service).
lacking excitement or interest; dull; also can mean worldly as opposed to spiritual.
feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm.
a person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation; a beginner.
to leave out or exclude (someone or something), either intentionally or forgetfully.
very rich and luxurious or lavish.
a person who is a skilled public speaker.
characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.
extremely dry; thirsty.
deceitful and untrustworthy.
(typically of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual.
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed; pompous, self-important.
having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty; commonplace or dull.
causing a strong reaction (especially deliberately); intended to arouse curiosity, interest, or strong emotion.
acting with or showing care and thought for the future; wise and cautious.
complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
characterized by bitterness or resentment.
avoiding the company of other people; solitary.
the restoration of friendly relations; the act of making up after a disagreement.
not needed or no longer useful; unnecessarily repetitive.
the act of restoring or improving something (especially a building) to a better state.
able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions; able to spring back into shape after bending or stretching.
controlled, repressed, or restricted; not excessive or extravagant.
deep respect for someone or something.
wisdom; the quality of having keen judgment and good decision-making.
to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
the condition of being spontaneous; acting on impulse or without planning.
not genuine, true, or valid; false or fake.
to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something.
existing or occurring at the surface level; not having depth (literal or figurative); shallow.
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough; excessive.
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of; stealthy.
having or showing sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues; considerate and discreet.
very determined; persistent; not giving up easily.
lasting only for a short time; impermanent.
not changing in form or character; remaining the same in all cases and at all times. (Also a noun for a distinctive clothing worn by members of a group.)
deserving of respect because of age, wisdom, or character.
to clear from blame or suspicion; to show or prove to be right or justified.
feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems; cautious.
99 advanced words that separate top scorers — give these the most time.
to become less intense or to reduce in amount.
to regard with disgust and hatred; to loathe.
to formally renounce or give up (a belief, claim, or cause), often under oath.
to accept or agree to something reluctantly but without protesting.
the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain; keen insight.
unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others; selfless.
to combine or unite to form one structure or organization.
understood by few; mysterious or secret.
to give a false impression of; to disguise or contradict.
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight; warlike in manner.
hostile and aggressive; eager to fight.
high-sounding or pompous in speech or writing, but with little meaning; inflated.
a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
to surrender or stop resisting an opponent or demand.
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; unpredictable.
1) able to burn or corrode organic tissue; 2) severely critical or sarcastic in a bitter way.
the use of trickery or deceit to achieve a purpose (usually political, financial, or legal).
wary and unwilling to take risks; cautious and considering all circumstances.
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
naturally accompanying or associated; occurring with something else.
a confusing and difficult problem or question; a riddle.
to make someone or something weak or feeble.
to describe or portray something precisely; to outline or define.
to dry out thoroughly; to remove moisture from.
a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
not candid or sincere; pretending to know less than one actually does; not genuine.
essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison.
stubbornly opinionated; inclined to lay down principles as undeniably true, without consideration of evidence or others' opinions.
cheerful and full of energy; bubbling with enthusiasm.
1) (of a liquid) giving off bubbles; fizzy. 2) (of a person) vivacious and enthusiastic.
expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in a very open and enthusiastic way.
outstandingly bad; shocking.
fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing; clearly expressing something.
difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.
to make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
very attentive to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned about cleanliness or precision.
having or displaying a passionate intensity.
attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt; secretive.
excessively talkative, especially about trivial matters.
fluent and voluble but insincere and shallow (often describing speech).
(of a person) fond of company; sociable.
overly dramatic or theatrical in behavior or speech.
excessive pride or self-confidence (often leading to a downfall).
a situation in which progress is impossible, especially because of a disagreement; a deadlock.
not showing care for the consequences of an action; unwise or rash.
(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause; ceaseless.
too great or extreme to be expressed in words; indescribable.
tending to obstruct or harm; unfriendly or hostile.
an indirect or subtle (and usually derogatory) hint or remark.
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.
endless or seemingly endless (often used hyperbolically).
unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree; uncompromising.
fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful.
to place two or more things side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
the sound of a bell (especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral); an omen of death or failure.
tearful or inclined to weep; causing tears or sorrow.
using very few words; terse or concise (often sounding rude or mysterious).
to lose or lack vitality; to grow weak or feeble; to suffer from being in an unpleasant situation.
clumsy; not skillful; awkward in movement or behavior.
a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is hard to identify.
overly sentimental to the point of being sickening or silly.
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind; volatile.
to appease or soothe the anger or anxiety of someone; to calm someone down.
unclear, vague, or ill-defined; hazy.
wicked or criminal (typically describing an action or activity).
so surprised and confused that one is unsure how to react; bewildered.
to make something unclear or difficult to understand; to confuse.
overly eager to please or obey all instructions; excessively submissive and flattering.
not able to be seen through; not transparent; also used metaphorically to mean not clear or hard to understand.
stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so; apparent.
extremely unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal to a fault.
overly concerned with minor details or rules; tending to show off one’s learning.
having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
1) indicating something significant or calamitous about to happen; ominous. 2) done in a pompously or overly solemn manner to impress.
dangerously high or steep; also sudden and dramatic.
to put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force; to subdue or silence; to calm.
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
(of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse; difficult for the average person to understand.
deserving of condemnation or disapproval; blameworthy.
not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily; reserved or introverted.
most noticeable or important; standing out prominently.
optimistic or positive, especially in a bad or difficult situation.
showing dedication and diligence; hard-working.
showing interest or concern (often too much); attentive in an anxious or worried way.
an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself, especially by a character in a play.
enduring pain or hardship without showing one’s feelings or complaining.
splendid and expensive-looking; luxurious.
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; arrogantly disdainful.
reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
very weak or slight (especially of a link, argument, or relationship); lacking strength or substance.
a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen; apprehension.
to waver between different opinions or actions; to be indecisive.
showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
to decrease in vigor, power, or extent; to become weaker or smaller.
having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries (or strangers in general).
having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.
a soft, gentle breeze.
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