100 Words Every Student Should Know
100 Words Every High School Student Should Know
List #1
1. Accentuate (v): to give prominence to, emphasize, or intensify
2. Alliteration (n): the repetition of same consonant sounds at the beginning of words
3. Analogy (n): similarity in some respects between things that are unalike; an
explanation of something by comparing it with something else
4. Antibody (n): a protein produced in blood or tissues in response to a toxin or foreign
body
5. Aspire (v): to have a great ambition; to desire strongly to
6. Bamboozle (v): to deceive by elaborate trickery; hoodwink
7. Bizarre (adj): very strange or odd
8. Boisterous (adj): rough and stormy; noisy and lacking restraint or discipline
9. Boycott (v or n): 1. to act together in refusing to use, buy from, or deal with
2. a refusal to (see above) as a form of protest
10. Camouflage (n) a method of concealing by making something appear as part of
natural surroundings
List #2
11. Chronology (n): The order or sequence of events; a list of events analyzed in order of time
12.Commemorate (v): To honor the memory of (someone or something), especially with a ceremony
13. Cower (v): To crouch or draw back, as from fear or pain; cringe
14. Decorum (n): Proper behavior or conduct
15. Deduction (n): 1. The act of subtracting
2. The process of reacing a conclusion based on reasoning
16. Deign (v): To be willing to do something that is beneath one’s dignity
17. Despondent (adj): Feeling depression of spirits or loss of hope
18. Dialogue (n): A conversation between two or more people
19. Divulge (v): To make known; reveal; tell
20. Eclectic (adj): Choosing or taking what appears to be the best from various sources
List #3
21. Ellipse (n): A closed curve shaped like an oval.
22. Embargo (n): An order by a government that prohibits trade with a foreign nation
23. Enthusiastic (adj): Having or showing great interest or excitement
24. Exponent (n): A person who speaks for or advocates for something
25. Exult (v): To rejoice greatly; to be triumphant
26. Fallacy (n): A false notion or mistaken belief
27. Flourish (v): 1. To grow or develop well; to do well or prosper
2. A dramatic action or gesture
28. Formidable (adj): Causing fear, dread, alarm, or great concern; admirable or awe inspiring
29. Gargoyle (n): A decorative figure found on buildings in the form of a grotesque animal or person
30. Guerrilla (n): A member of a military force not part of regular army, operating in small
groups in occupied territory
List 4
31. guru (n): a Hindu spiritual teacher; a person followed as a teacher or leader
32. heritage (n): something other than property passed down generation to generation
33. hieroglyph (n): a system of writing using pictures or symbols to represent words (esp. in Egypt)
34. hologram (n): a three dimensional image produced by a split laser beam
35. hypocrisy (n): the practice of showing or expressing feelings, beliefs, or virtues that one
does not actually possess.
36. immune (adj): protected from disease or consequence naturally, by vaccination, or by exemption
37. impertinent (adj): offensively bold; rude; irrelevant
38. inference (n): the act of deciding or conluding based on reasoning from evidence
39. introspection (n): the examination of one’s internal thoughts, beliefs, or actions
40. jaunty (adj): having or showing a carefree, self confidant air
List #5
41. jovial (adj): full of fun and good cheer; jolly
42. kilometer (n): a unit of length equal to 1,000 meters, or 0.62 of a mile
43. labyrinth (n): a complex structure of connected passages through which it is difficult to find
one’ way; a maze
44. laconic (adj): using few words; terse; concise
45. lichen (n): an organism that consists of a fungus and an alga growing in close association
with each other; often from on rocks and tree bark
46. light-year (n): the distance that light travels in one year, about 5.88 trillion miles or 9.47
trillion kilometers
47. maneuver (n): a planned movement of troops or warships; a movement or procedure that
involves skill or cunning [also a verb]
48. marsupial (n): any of various mammals, such as kangaroos, opossum, or wombat, whose
young continue to develop in a pouch outside the female’s body
49. metaphor (n): a figure of speech in which a word or phrase that is usually associated with
one thing is applied to something else
50. mosaic (n): a picture or design made on a surface by fitting together small colored pieces
List #6
51. mutation (n): A change in a gene or chromosome of an organism that can be inherited
52. nebula (n): A thinly spread cloud of interstellar gas and dust
53. nocturnal (adj): Of, relating to, active, or occuring at night
54. nuisance (n): A source of inconvenience or annoyance; a bother
55. omnivore (n): An animal that eats both plants and animals
56. outrageous (adj): Exceeding all bounds of what is right or proper; immoral or offensive
57. ozone (n): An unstable form of oxygen that is produced by electricity and is present
in the air (especially after a thunderstorm, etc.)
58. parasite (n): An organism that lives on or in a different kind of organism; a person
who takes advantage of the generosity of others
59. participle (n): A word having the characteristics of a verb and an adjective
60. phloem (n): A plant tissue that conducts food from the leaves of a plant
List #7
61. plateau (n): an elevated, comparatively level expanse of land
62. polygon (n): flat, closed geometric shape bounded by 3 or more line segments
63. protagonist (n): main character in a literary work
64. pulverize (v): to pound or beat into powder
65. quandary (v): a condition of doubt or uncertainty
66. quarantine (v): a condition, time, or place in which a person or animal is kept isolated in an effort to prevent the spread of disease
67. quota (n): an amount of something assigned to be done, made, or sold
68. rainforest (n): a dense evergreen forest with an annual rainfall of at least 160 inches
69. random (adj): having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective
70. recede (v): to move back and away from a limit, degree, or mark; to grow less
List #8
71. renaissance (n): a rebirth or revival; the Renaissance – revival of classical art, etc. in Europe from 14th to 16th.
72. renegade (n): a person who rejects a cause, allegiance, religion, or group for another; an outlaw
73. repose (n): the act of resting or the state of being at rest; piece of mind; tranquility
74. sacrifice (n): the act of giving up something highly valued for the sake of something else considered to be of greater value.
75. silhouette (n): a drawing consisting of the outline of something, esp. a human profile; an outline of something that appears light against dark.
76. solstice (n): either of the times of year when the sun is farthest north or south of the equator
77. spectrum (n): a broad range of related qualities, ideas, or activities
78. stereotype (n): a conventional or oversimplified idea or image
79. strategy (n): a careful plan or method, esp. used in warfare
80. suffrage (n): the right to vote in political elections
List #9
81. symbiosis (n): The close association between two or more organisms of different species, often but not always benefitting each member.
82. tariff (n): A tax or duty imposed by a government on a category of goods, like cars or steel.
83. technique (n): 1. A procedure or method for accomplishing a task, as in sciences or arts. 2. Skill in handling such procedures or methods.
84. tempo (n): The speed at which music is or ought to be played; the pace or rate of something.
85. toxin (n): A poisonous substance produced by a living organism. (toxins produced by bacteria cause disease)
86. tranquility (n): The quality or condition of being free from disturbance; calmness; serenity
87. tumult (n): Noisy and disorderly activity; emotional or mental agitation.
88. tundra (n): A cold, treeless lowland area of far northern regions, where the soil is permanently frozen.
89. ultraviolet (adj): Of or relating to radiation having wavelengths shorter than visible light but longer than x-rays.
90. unanimous (adj): Sharing the same opinion; being fully in agreement.
91. undulate (v): To move in waves or with a smooth wavy motion.
92. vaccine (n): To substance that stimulates cells in the immune system to recognize and attack disease-causing agents.
93. vacillate (v): To be unable to decide between one opinion or course of action and another; to waver.
94. vertebrate (n or adj): Any of a large group of animals having a backbone (including fish, reptile, mammals, and birds.
95. virtuoso (n or adj): A person or performer of great skill, technique, or ability.
96. voracious (adj): Eating or eager to eat great amounts of food; ravenous.
97. wretched (adj): Very unhappy or unfortunate; miserable.
98. xylem (n): A plant tissue that carries water and dissolved minerals up from its roots through the stem to its leaves. (basically, a bunch of cells that function as tubes)
99. yacht (n): a sailing vessel build for pleasure cruising
100. zoology (n): The branch of biology that deals with animals; the animals of a particular area or period.
List #1
1. Accentuate (v): to give prominence to, emphasize, or intensify
2. Alliteration (n): the repetition of same consonant sounds at the beginning of words
3. Analogy (n): similarity in some respects between things that are unalike; an
explanation of something by comparing it with something else
4. Antibody (n): a protein produced in blood or tissues in response to a toxin or foreign
body
5. Aspire (v): to have a great ambition; to desire strongly to
6. Bamboozle (v): to deceive by elaborate trickery; hoodwink
7. Bizarre (adj): very strange or odd
8. Boisterous (adj): rough and stormy; noisy and lacking restraint or discipline
9. Boycott (v or n): 1. to act together in refusing to use, buy from, or deal with
2. a refusal to (see above) as a form of protest
10. Camouflage (n) a method of concealing by making something appear as part of
natural surroundings
List #2
11. Chronology (n): The order or sequence of events; a list of events analyzed in order of time
12.Commemorate (v): To honor the memory of (someone or something), especially with a ceremony
13. Cower (v): To crouch or draw back, as from fear or pain; cringe
14. Decorum (n): Proper behavior or conduct
15. Deduction (n): 1. The act of subtracting
2. The process of reacing a conclusion based on reasoning
16. Deign (v): To be willing to do something that is beneath one’s dignity
17. Despondent (adj): Feeling depression of spirits or loss of hope
18. Dialogue (n): A conversation between two or more people
19. Divulge (v): To make known; reveal; tell
20. Eclectic (adj): Choosing or taking what appears to be the best from various sources
List #3
21. Ellipse (n): A closed curve shaped like an oval.
22. Embargo (n): An order by a government that prohibits trade with a foreign nation
23. Enthusiastic (adj): Having or showing great interest or excitement
24. Exponent (n): A person who speaks for or advocates for something
25. Exult (v): To rejoice greatly; to be triumphant
26. Fallacy (n): A false notion or mistaken belief
27. Flourish (v): 1. To grow or develop well; to do well or prosper
2. A dramatic action or gesture
28. Formidable (adj): Causing fear, dread, alarm, or great concern; admirable or awe inspiring
29. Gargoyle (n): A decorative figure found on buildings in the form of a grotesque animal or person
30. Guerrilla (n): A member of a military force not part of regular army, operating in small
groups in occupied territory
List 4
31. guru (n): a Hindu spiritual teacher; a person followed as a teacher or leader
32. heritage (n): something other than property passed down generation to generation
33. hieroglyph (n): a system of writing using pictures or symbols to represent words (esp. in Egypt)
34. hologram (n): a three dimensional image produced by a split laser beam
35. hypocrisy (n): the practice of showing or expressing feelings, beliefs, or virtues that one
does not actually possess.
36. immune (adj): protected from disease or consequence naturally, by vaccination, or by exemption
37. impertinent (adj): offensively bold; rude; irrelevant
38. inference (n): the act of deciding or conluding based on reasoning from evidence
39. introspection (n): the examination of one’s internal thoughts, beliefs, or actions
40. jaunty (adj): having or showing a carefree, self confidant air
List #5
41. jovial (adj): full of fun and good cheer; jolly
42. kilometer (n): a unit of length equal to 1,000 meters, or 0.62 of a mile
43. labyrinth (n): a complex structure of connected passages through which it is difficult to find
one’ way; a maze
44. laconic (adj): using few words; terse; concise
45. lichen (n): an organism that consists of a fungus and an alga growing in close association
with each other; often from on rocks and tree bark
46. light-year (n): the distance that light travels in one year, about 5.88 trillion miles or 9.47
trillion kilometers
47. maneuver (n): a planned movement of troops or warships; a movement or procedure that
involves skill or cunning [also a verb]
48. marsupial (n): any of various mammals, such as kangaroos, opossum, or wombat, whose
young continue to develop in a pouch outside the female’s body
49. metaphor (n): a figure of speech in which a word or phrase that is usually associated with
one thing is applied to something else
50. mosaic (n): a picture or design made on a surface by fitting together small colored pieces
List #6
51. mutation (n): A change in a gene or chromosome of an organism that can be inherited
52. nebula (n): A thinly spread cloud of interstellar gas and dust
53. nocturnal (adj): Of, relating to, active, or occuring at night
54. nuisance (n): A source of inconvenience or annoyance; a bother
55. omnivore (n): An animal that eats both plants and animals
56. outrageous (adj): Exceeding all bounds of what is right or proper; immoral or offensive
57. ozone (n): An unstable form of oxygen that is produced by electricity and is present
in the air (especially after a thunderstorm, etc.)
58. parasite (n): An organism that lives on or in a different kind of organism; a person
who takes advantage of the generosity of others
59. participle (n): A word having the characteristics of a verb and an adjective
60. phloem (n): A plant tissue that conducts food from the leaves of a plant
List #7
61. plateau (n): an elevated, comparatively level expanse of land
62. polygon (n): flat, closed geometric shape bounded by 3 or more line segments
63. protagonist (n): main character in a literary work
64. pulverize (v): to pound or beat into powder
65. quandary (v): a condition of doubt or uncertainty
66. quarantine (v): a condition, time, or place in which a person or animal is kept isolated in an effort to prevent the spread of disease
67. quota (n): an amount of something assigned to be done, made, or sold
68. rainforest (n): a dense evergreen forest with an annual rainfall of at least 160 inches
69. random (adj): having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective
70. recede (v): to move back and away from a limit, degree, or mark; to grow less
List #8
71. renaissance (n): a rebirth or revival; the Renaissance – revival of classical art, etc. in Europe from 14th to 16th.
72. renegade (n): a person who rejects a cause, allegiance, religion, or group for another; an outlaw
73. repose (n): the act of resting or the state of being at rest; piece of mind; tranquility
74. sacrifice (n): the act of giving up something highly valued for the sake of something else considered to be of greater value.
75. silhouette (n): a drawing consisting of the outline of something, esp. a human profile; an outline of something that appears light against dark.
76. solstice (n): either of the times of year when the sun is farthest north or south of the equator
77. spectrum (n): a broad range of related qualities, ideas, or activities
78. stereotype (n): a conventional or oversimplified idea or image
79. strategy (n): a careful plan or method, esp. used in warfare
80. suffrage (n): the right to vote in political elections
List #9
81. symbiosis (n): The close association between two or more organisms of different species, often but not always benefitting each member.
82. tariff (n): A tax or duty imposed by a government on a category of goods, like cars or steel.
83. technique (n): 1. A procedure or method for accomplishing a task, as in sciences or arts. 2. Skill in handling such procedures or methods.
84. tempo (n): The speed at which music is or ought to be played; the pace or rate of something.
85. toxin (n): A poisonous substance produced by a living organism. (toxins produced by bacteria cause disease)
86. tranquility (n): The quality or condition of being free from disturbance; calmness; serenity
87. tumult (n): Noisy and disorderly activity; emotional or mental agitation.
88. tundra (n): A cold, treeless lowland area of far northern regions, where the soil is permanently frozen.
89. ultraviolet (adj): Of or relating to radiation having wavelengths shorter than visible light but longer than x-rays.
90. unanimous (adj): Sharing the same opinion; being fully in agreement.
91. undulate (v): To move in waves or with a smooth wavy motion.
92. vaccine (n): To substance that stimulates cells in the immune system to recognize and attack disease-causing agents.
93. vacillate (v): To be unable to decide between one opinion or course of action and another; to waver.
94. vertebrate (n or adj): Any of a large group of animals having a backbone (including fish, reptile, mammals, and birds.
95. virtuoso (n or adj): A person or performer of great skill, technique, or ability.
96. voracious (adj): Eating or eager to eat great amounts of food; ravenous.
97. wretched (adj): Very unhappy or unfortunate; miserable.
98. xylem (n): A plant tissue that carries water and dissolved minerals up from its roots through the stem to its leaves. (basically, a bunch of cells that function as tubes)
99. yacht (n): a sailing vessel build for pleasure cruising
100. zoology (n): The branch of biology that deals with animals; the animals of a particular area or period.