ACT Top 500 Vocabulary Words
500 high-frequency words for the ACT English and Reading sections, organized by category. Includes transition words, commonly confused pairs, literary terms, and academic vocabulary from science and social studies passages.
500 words · 10 sections · Definitions · ACT-style examples · Usage notes
ACT vocabulary emphasis: The ACT English section tests your understanding of transition words, commonly confused pairs, and precise word choice in context. The ACT Reading section requires you to infer the meaning of words from context, especially in literary fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science passages. This list covers all four domains.
Section 1: Transition & Connective Words (1–50)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | accordingly | adverb | In a way that is appropriate to the circumstances; consequently. | The storm worsened overnight; accordingly, the committee postponed the outdoor ceremony. | |
| 2 | additionally | adverb | As an extra item; also; in addition. | The treatment reduced inflammation; additionally, it improved sleep quality in most patients. | |
| 3 | albeit | conjunction | Though; although; even if. | The project was completed on time, albeit with a significantly reduced budget. | |
| 4 | alternatively | adverb | As another option; used to introduce a different possibility. | You may submit the form online; alternatively, you may mail a paper copy to the office. | |
| 5 | analogously | adverb | In a way that is comparable or similar in certain respects. | Analogously, the immune system learns from past exposure, much like a student reviewing old tests. | |
| 6 | by contrast | phrase | Used to compare two things that are different. | Coastal cities experienced record rainfall; by contrast, the interior remained in severe drought. | |
| 7 | consequently | adverb | As a result; therefore. | The river flooded its banks; consequently, thousands of residents were evacuated. | |
| 8 | conversely | adverb | Introducing a statement that reverses what was just said. | Higher wages tend to reduce employee turnover; conversely, low wages often drive workers to seek other jobs. | |
| 9 | despite | preposition | Without being affected by; in spite of. | Despite the lack of direct evidence, the theory remains widely accepted in the field. | |
| 10 | explicitly | adverb | In a clear and direct way; leaving no doubt. | The passage explicitly states that correlation does not imply causation. | |
| 11 | for instance | phrase | As an example. | Many species adapt to urbanization; for instance, coyotes have expanded their range into major cities. | |
| 12 | furthermore | adverb | In addition; moreover; used to add another point. | The proposal is impractical; furthermore, it has no broad public support. | |
| 13 | hence | adverb | As a consequence; for this reason. | The sample size was small; hence, the results cannot be generalized to the wider population. | |
| 14 | however | adverb | Used to introduce a statement contrasting with the previous one. | The initial findings were promising; however, further testing revealed significant side effects. | |
| 15 | in contrast | phrase | Used to compare differences between two things. | The northern region experienced economic growth; in contrast, the south saw a sharp decline. | |
| 16 | in other words | phrase | That is to say; used to restate something more simply. | The gene is expressed in every cell type; in other words, it plays a universal role in development. | |
| 17 | in particular | phrase | Especially; specifically; more than others. | The study found several benefits, but one in particular stood out: a 40% reduction in hospital readmissions. | |
| 18 | in sum | phrase | Briefly; to summarize the main points. | In sum, the evidence supports the hypothesis that early intervention is more effective than later treatment. | |
| 19 | indeed | adverb | Used to emphasize a point; certainly; truly. | The results were, indeed, as dramatic as the researchers had predicted. | |
| 20 | likewise | adverb | In the same way; also; similarly. | Mammals regulate body temperature internally; likewise, birds maintain a constant core temperature. | |
| 21 | meanwhile | adverb | During the time that something else is happening; at the same time. | The rescue team worked through the night; meanwhile, residents sought shelter at the community center. | |
| 22 | moreover | adverb | In addition; used to introduce a point that strengthens a previous argument. | The drug was less expensive; moreover, it produced fewer adverse side effects. | |
| 23 | namely | adverb | That is to say; used to be specific about what was just mentioned. | One factor above all proved decisive, namely the failure to communicate the policy to front-line workers. | |
| 24 | nevertheless | adverb | In spite of that; however; despite this. | The evidence was circumstantial; nevertheless, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict. | |
| 25 | nonetheless | adverb | Despite what has just been said; in spite of that. | The policy has critics; nonetheless, it enjoys broad support among economists. | |
| 26 | notably | adverb | In particular; used to highlight something important. | Several cities improved their environmental scores, notably those with strong public transit networks. | |
| 27 | on the contrary | phrase | Used to contradict or oppose something just said. | She did not retreat; on the contrary, she pressed forward more vigorously than before. | |
| 28 | on the other hand | phrase | Used to introduce an alternative or contrasting view. | Urban living offers convenience; on the other hand, it often means sacrificing privacy and space. | |
| 29 | otherwise | adverb | In different circumstances; or else. | Start early; otherwise, you will not finish the exam within the allotted time. | |
| 30 | particularly | adverb | More than is usual; especially. | The second reading is particularly difficult, as it requires close attention to shifts in tone. | |
| 31 | rather | adverb | On the contrary; used to suggest the opposite or a preferred alternative. | The author does not minimize the problem; rather, she argues it is more severe than previously recognized. | |
| 32 | similarly | adverb | In the same way; likewise. | Photosynthesis converts light into energy; similarly, cellular respiration converts glucose into usable fuel. | |
| 33 | specifically | adverb | In a precise or exact way; particularly. | The passage addresses economic inequality, specifically the wage gap between urban and rural workers. | |
| 34 | subsequently | adverb | After a particular thing happened; afterward. | The researcher identified the compound and subsequently developed a synthetic version in the laboratory. | |
| 35 | therefore | adverb | As a result or consequence of that; thus. | The experiment produced consistent results; therefore, the hypothesis was accepted as valid. | |
| 36 | though | conjunction/adverb | Despite the fact that; however; even so. | The narrative is complex; the central theme, though, is straightforward: resilience in adversity. | |
| 37 | thus | adverb | As a result or consequence of this; therefore. | Carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation; thus, increasing atmospheric concentrations trap more heat. | |
| 38 | ultimately | adverb | Finally; in the end; at the most basic level. | The debate, ultimately, comes down to how we define fairness in a pluralistic society. | |
| 39 | whereas | conjunction | In contrast or comparison with the fact that. | The older study used self-reported data, whereas the new research relied on direct physiological measurements. | |
| 40 | while | conjunction | During the time that; although; at the same time. | While the author acknowledges the benefits, she emphasizes the hidden costs of rapid industrialization. | |
| 41 | yet | conjunction/adverb | Nevertheless; but at the same time; up until now. | The theory is widely taught, yet it has never been rigorously tested under real-world conditions. | |
| 42 | as a result | phrase | Because of something; consequently. | Deforestation disrupted local rainfall patterns; as a result, crop yields fell sharply over the following decade. | |
| 43 | by the same token | phrase | In the same way; for the same reason. | Exercise improves physical health; by the same token, mental engagement helps preserve cognitive function. | |
| 44 | in addition | phrase | Also; as a further factor or item. | The plan reduces emissions; in addition, it creates thousands of jobs in the clean energy sector. | |
| 45 | in spite of | phrase | Without being affected by; regardless of. | In spite of limited resources, the team produced groundbreaking results. | |
| 46 | in turn | phrase | As a result of a situation; in response. | Habitat loss reduces biodiversity, which in turn weakens ecosystem services like pollination. | |
| 47 | not only...but also | phrase | Used to emphasize that two things are true. | The reform not only cut costs but also improved patient outcomes across the board. | |
| 48 | on account of | phrase | Because of; as a result of. | The game was postponed on account of severe thunderstorms moving through the region. | |
| 49 | provided that | phrase | On the condition or understanding that. | The experiment may proceed, provided that all safety protocols are strictly observed. | |
| 50 | to illustrate | phrase | Used to introduce an example that clarifies a point. | Behavioral economics has real policy applications; to illustrate, nudge theory has improved pension enrollment. | |
| 51 | with respect to | phrase | In relation to; concerning. | The two groups differed significantly with respect to their long-term health outcomes. |
Section 2: Commonly Confused Words (51–100)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | affect / effect | verb / noun | Affect (v): to have an impact on. Effect (n): the result or outcome of a cause. | Chronic stress can affect memory. The long-term effects of isolation on cognition are well documented. | Affect is almost always a verb; effect is almost always a noun. Exception: 'to effect change' (verb meaning to bring about). |
| 53 | allude / elude | verb / verb | Allude: to make an indirect reference. Elude: to escape or avoid. | The author alludes to earlier research without citing it directly. The suspect managed to elude capture for three days. | Allude = refer to indirectly; elude = escape or evade. |
| 54 | allusion / illusion | noun / noun | Allusion: an indirect reference to something. Illusion: a false impression or perception. | The poem contains an allusion to Greek mythology. The magician created the illusion of levitation. | An allusion is literary; an illusion is perceptual or deceptive. |
| 55 | among / between | preposition / preposition | Among: used with three or more items. Between: used with exactly two items. | The inheritance was divided among the four siblings. Negotiations between the two nations stalled over border disputes. | Between = two; among = three or more. ACT English tests this distinction regularly. |
| 56 | appraise / apprise | verb / verb | Appraise: to evaluate the value or quality of. Apprise: to inform someone of a fact. | An independent auditor was hired to appraise the company's assets. The officer apprised the commander of the latest developments. | Appraise = assess; apprise = inform. These are commonly swapped in ACT passages. |
| 57 | ascent / assent | noun / noun/verb | Ascent: the act of rising or climbing. Assent: agreement; to express agreement. | The team completed their ascent of the mountain in record time. The board gave its assent to the proposed merger. | Ascent is physical rising; assent is agreement. |
| 58 | capitol / capital | noun / noun/adjective | Capitol: the building where a legislature meets. Capital: a city seat of government; wealth; uppercase letter. | Protesters gathered on the steps of the Capitol. The capital city was chosen for its central location. | Capitol (with an 'o') refers only to the building. Capital covers everything else. |
| 59 | cite / site / sight | verb / noun / noun | Cite: to quote or reference a source. Site: a location. Sight: the ability to see; something seen. | The author cites three studies to support her claim. The construction site was closed over the weekend. The sunset was a breathtaking sight. | ACT English frequently tests cite/site/sight in editing questions. |
| 60 | complement / compliment | noun/verb / noun/verb | Complement: something that completes or goes well with another thing. Compliment: an expression of praise. | The wine complemented the meal perfectly. The professor complimented the student on the clarity of her thesis. | Complement = complete; compliment = praise. Remember: compliment has an 'i' like 'I think you're nice.' |
| 61 | compose / comprise | verb / verb | Compose: to make up; to be the components of. Comprise: to consist of; to be made up of. | Three states compose the proposed regional authority. The anthology comprises works from 40 different authors. | The whole comprises its parts; the parts compose the whole. 'Is comprised of' is widely considered incorrect on the ACT. |
| 62 | continual / continuous | adjective / adjective | Continual: recurring frequently but with intervals. Continuous: unbroken; without interruption. | The engine required continual maintenance throughout the voyage. The river flows continuously from the mountains to the sea. | Continual = repeated with breaks; continuous = never stopping. |
| 63 | council / counsel | noun / noun/verb | Council: a group of people who govern or advise. Counsel: advice; to advise; a lawyer. | The city council voted to approve the new zoning ordinance. The defense counsel advised her client not to testify. | Council = group; counsel = advice or lawyer. |
| 64 | disinterested / uninterested | adjective / adjective | Disinterested: impartial; having no personal stake. Uninterested: not interested; bored. | An arbitrator should be a disinterested party with no connection to either side. The student was clearly uninterested in the lecture. | This is a high-frequency ACT distinction. Disinterested = neutral; uninterested = bored. |
| 65 | elicit / illicit | verb / adjective | Elicit: to draw out a response or reaction. Illicit: illegal or forbidden. | The survey was designed to elicit honest responses about workplace culture. The investigators uncovered an illicit trade in counterfeit medications. | Elicit = draw out; illicit = illegal. Both appear in ACT Reading answer choices. |
| 66 | eminent / imminent | adjective / adjective | Eminent: distinguished; prominent; famous. Imminent: about to happen very soon. | The prize was awarded to an eminent biologist for her lifetime of contributions. The storm was imminent, and coastal residents were urged to evacuate. | Eminent = famous; imminent = about to happen. |
| 67 | farther / further | adverb / adverb | Farther: relates to physical distance. Further: relates to degree or extent. | The second campsite is farther from the trailhead than the first. The committee decided to further investigate the allegations. | Farther = physical distance; further = additional degree. |
| 68 | fewer / less | adjective / adjective | Fewer: used with countable nouns. Less: used with uncountable nouns. | Fewer students enrolled in calculus this year than last. The revised procedure takes less time than the original. | ACT English tests fewer/less in usage questions. Countable = fewer; uncountable = less. |
| 69 | historic / historical | adjective / adjective | Historic: famous or important in history. Historical: relating to history; having occurred in the past. | The signing of the treaty was a historic moment. The novel is set against a historical backdrop of colonial expansion. | Historic = important; historical = relating to the past. |
| 70 | imply / infer | verb / verb | Imply: to suggest something without saying it directly (speaker implies). Infer: to deduce from evidence (reader infers). | The author implies that the policy is ineffective without explicitly saying so. From the data, we can infer that the treatment had a significant effect. | The writer implies; the reader infers. This is one of the most-tested ACT English distinctions. |
| 71 | its / it's | pronoun / contraction | Its: possessive form of 'it.' It's: contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.' | The company issued its annual report last Friday. It's been more than a decade since the last major policy revision. | Its (no apostrophe) = ownership. It's (with apostrophe) = it is / it has. |
| 72 | lay / lie | verb / verb | Lay: to put or place something down (takes an object). Lie: to recline; to be in a flat position (no object). | Please lay the documents on the table before the meeting begins. After the hike, she needed to lie down and rest. | Lay requires an object; lie does not. Past tense: laid / lay. Frequently tested in ACT English. |
| 73 | loose / lose | adjective / verb | Loose: not firmly fixed; not tight. Lose: to be unable to find; to fail to win. | The loose panel on the bridge was identified as a safety hazard. The team was determined not to lose another home game. | Loose = not tight; lose = misplace or fail. Easily confused in ACT editing questions. |
| 74 | passed / past | verb / adjective/preposition/noun | Passed: past tense of 'pass.' Past: relating to a previous time; beyond a point. | The bill passed the Senate by a narrow margin. The explorer walked past the ruins without stopping. | Passed is always a verb; past is everything else. |
| 75 | principal / principle | noun/adjective / noun | Principal: the head of a school; main; primary. Principle: a rule, belief, or standard. | The principal reason for the delay was a shortage of materials. The experiment was designed according to the principle of controlled variables. | Principal = main / school head; principle = rule. Remember: the principal is your pal. |
| 76 | stationary / stationery | adjective / noun | Stationary: not moving; fixed in place. Stationery: paper and writing materials. | The satellite remains stationary relative to the Earth's surface. She wrote her letter on embossed stationery. | StationEry = envelopes and paper; stationAry = stands still. |
| 77 | than / then | conjunction / adverb | Than: used in comparisons. Then: at that time; as a consequence. | The new model is more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. First calibrate the instrument; then begin data collection. | Than = comparison; then = time or sequence. |
| 78 | that / which | conjunction / pronoun | That: used in restrictive clauses (essential to meaning). Which: used in non-restrictive clauses (extra information, set off by commas). | The study that prompted the new guidelines was published in 2019. The study, which was funded by a nonprofit, examined 5,000 participants. | That restricts; which adds optional information. ACT English tests this frequently. |
| 79 | their / there / they're | pronoun / adverb / contraction | Their: possessive pronoun. There: in or at that place. They're: contraction of 'they are.' | The researchers published their findings in a peer-reviewed journal. There are significant gaps in the current body of evidence. They're likely to release an updated model next quarter. | Three distinct words — one of the most tested homophone sets on ACT English. |
| 80 | who / whom | pronoun / pronoun | Who: subject pronoun (does the action). Whom: object pronoun (receives the action). | Who conducted the original experiment? The scientist whom the committee recognized is a pioneer in the field. | Who = he/she; whom = him/her. Replace with he/him to test: he → who; him → whom. |
| 81 | whose / who's | pronoun / contraction | Whose: possessive form of 'who.' Who's: contraction of 'who is' or 'who has.' | The researcher whose work challenged prevailing assumptions received little recognition at first. Who's responsible for the error in the final report? | Whose = belonging to whom; who's = who is/has. |
| 82 | your / you're | pronoun / contraction | Your: possessive pronoun. You're: contraction of 'you are.' | Your analysis of the data is thorough and well-organized. You're expected to revise the methodology section before the final submission. | Your = belonging to you; you're = you are. Tested in ACT English conventions questions. |
| 83 | amount / number | noun / noun | Amount: used with uncountable quantities. Number: used with countable items. | The amount of rainfall last year was record-breaking. The number of participants in the study exceeded expectations. | Amount = uncountable; number = countable. Parallel to less/fewer. |
| 84 | accept / except | verb / preposition | Accept: to receive willingly; to agree to. Except: excluding; other than. | The university agreed to accept the student's late application. All committee members voted in favor except the treasurer. | Accept = receive; except = exclude. |
| 85 | adverse / averse | adjective / adjective | Adverse: harmful; unfavorable. Averse: having a strong dislike or opposition. | Adverse weather conditions delayed the launch by two weeks. The committee was averse to any proposal that increased costs. | Adverse = harmful conditions; averse = personal reluctance. |
| 86 | aggravate / irritate | verb / verb | Aggravate: to make worse. Irritate: to annoy; to inflame. | Cold weather can aggravate joint pain. The constant interruptions began to irritate the presenter. | Aggravate = worsen; irritate = annoy. ACT-style usage distinction. |
| 87 | anxious / eager | adjective / adjective | Anxious: feeling worry or nervousness. Eager: enthusiastic; keenly interested. | She was anxious about the results of the biopsy. The students were eager to begin the field research. | Anxious connotes worry; eager connotes enthusiasm. |
| 88 | assure / ensure / insure | verb / verb / verb | Assure: to tell someone confidently. Ensure: to make certain. Insure: to provide insurance. | The director assured the team that funding would continue. Strict protocols ensure the accuracy of the results. The equipment was insured against accidental damage. | Assure = promise; ensure = make certain; insure = financial protection. |
| 89 | bring / take | verb / verb | Bring: to carry toward the speaker or a specific point. Take: to carry away from the speaker. | Please bring the samples to the laboratory immediately. Remember to take your identification card when you leave. | Bring = toward; take = away. Depends on the speaker's position. |
| 90 | can / may | modal / modal | Can: expresses ability or capability. May: expresses permission or possibility. | This technology can process thousands of samples per hour. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. | Can = ability; may = permission or possibility. ACT English tests formal usage. |
| 91 | compare to / compare with | phrase / phrase | Compare to: to assert similarity between two unlike things. Compare with: to examine similarities and differences. | He compared her voice to a lark in flight. The study compared the new treatment with the existing standard of care. | Compare to = likening; compare with = analytical examination. |
| 92 | comprise / constitute | verb / verb | Comprise: to include; to consist of. Constitute: to make up; to form. | The curriculum comprises four core modules. Those four modules constitute the entire first-year requirement. | Comprise = include (whole comprises parts); constitute = make up (parts constitute the whole). |
| 93 | credible / credulous | adjective / adjective | Credible: believable; reliable. Credulous: too willing to believe things; gullible. | The witness provided a credible account of the events. The fraudster targeted credulous investors who never questioned his claims. | Credible = trustworthy; credulous = gullible. |
| 94 | data / datum | noun / noun | Datum: a single piece of information (singular). Data: multiple pieces of information (plural). | This datum alone does not support the conclusion. The data indicate a strong correlation between the two variables. | Formally, data is plural and takes a plural verb. ACT English tests subject-verb agreement with collective nouns. |
| 95 | discreet / discrete | adjective / adjective | Discreet: careful and prudent; avoiding notice. Discrete: individually separate and distinct. | The investigator conducted a discreet inquiry to avoid alerting the subject. The process involves three discrete stages, each with its own quality checkpoint. | Discreet = careful/tactful; discrete = separate/distinct. |
| 96 | economic / economical | adjective / adjective | Economic: relating to economics or the economy. Economical: thrifty; avoiding waste. | The policy has far-reaching economic consequences. The new engine design is more economical than its predecessor. | Economic = of the economy; economical = thrifty. |
| 97 | famous / infamous / notorious | adjective / adjective / adjective | Famous: well known for good reasons. Infamous: well known for bad reasons. Notorious: famous for something bad. | The famous biologist published her landmark study in 1984. The infamous con artist defrauded thousands of investors. The town is notorious for its harsh winters. | All mean well-known, but infamous/notorious carry negative connotations. |
| 98 | further / farther | adverb / adverb | Further: to a greater degree; additional. Farther: to a greater physical distance. | The new data further complicate the picture. The second base camp is farther from the summit than the first. | Repeated from Set 1 — this pair is frequently tested on ACT English. |
| 99 | historic / historical | adjective / adjective | Historic: famous or important in history. Historical: relating to history or the past. | The moon landing was a historic achievement. The novel draws on historical accounts from the period. | Historic = important; historical = relating to history. |
| 100 | i.e. / e.g. | abbreviation / abbreviation | i.e.: that is; used to clarify or restate. e.g.: for example; used to give examples. | The study focused on one outcome, i.e., long-term survival rates. Several environmental factors were measured, e.g., temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels. | i.e. = in other words (restate); e.g. = for example. Latin abbreviations common in ACT Reading passages. |
Section 3: Literary & Rhetorical Terms (101–150)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | allegory | noun | A story or narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. | The passage describes the novel as a political allegory in which the farm animals represent the workers of a society. | |
| 102 | alliteration | noun | The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words. | The poet's use of alliteration — 'slipping, sliding, soaring' — creates a sense of fluid movement. | |
| 103 | allusion | noun | An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or work of literature or art. | The title's allusion to Hamlet signals that the story will explore themes of indecision and mortality. | |
| 104 | anachronism | noun | A thing belonging to a time period other than the one being portrayed. | The historian pointed out an anachronism in the film: characters using terminology that was not coined until decades later. | |
| 105 | anaphora | noun | The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. | The speech employs anaphora — 'We will not rest. We will not yield. We will not surrender' — to build emotional momentum. | |
| 106 | antithesis | noun | The placing of contrasting ideas side by side, often in parallel structure. | The antithesis of 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' captures the contradictions of the era. | |
| 107 | archetype | noun | A universal symbol, pattern, character type, or theme recurring across literature and cultures. | The mentor archetype appears across world literature, from Merlin in Arthurian legend to Atticus Finch in American fiction. | |
| 108 | assonance | noun | The repetition of the same vowel sound in closely connected words. | The line 'the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain' illustrates assonance through the repeated long-a sound. | |
| 109 | catharsis | noun | The release of strong emotions through art, especially tragedy. | Aristotle argued that tragedy produces catharsis, allowing the audience to purge feelings of pity and fear. | |
| 110 | chiasmus | noun | A rhetorical device in which words or grammatical structures are reversed in successive phrases. | The famous chiasmus 'Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country' inverts the structure for emphasis. | |
| 111 | connotation | noun | The emotional or cultural associations of a word, beyond its literal meaning. | The word 'serpent' carries negative connotations of deception, even when used outside a biblical context. | |
| 112 | denotation | noun | The literal, dictionary definition of a word; its direct meaning. | The denotation of 'home' is simply a dwelling place, but its connotations include warmth, safety, and belonging. | |
| 113 | denouement | noun | The final resolution of the plot, typically following the climax. | In the denouement, the narrator reveals that the letter was never sent, reframing the entire story. | |
| 114 | diction | noun | The choice and use of words in speech or writing; a writer's word choices. | The author's formal diction signals the narrator's emotional distance from the events being described. | |
| 115 | dramatic irony | noun | A situation in which the audience knows something that the characters do not. | The dramatic irony is evident when readers understand that the 'gift' the character receives will lead to her downfall. | |
| 116 | epithet | noun | A descriptive word or phrase used to characterize a person or thing. | In the poem, the sea is given the epithet 'wine-dark,' a phrase borrowed from Homeric tradition. | |
| 117 | exposition | noun | The part of a narrative that introduces background information and establishes context. | The novel's lengthy exposition establishes the political history of the island before the main conflict begins. | |
| 118 | extended metaphor | noun | A metaphor that is developed over several lines, stanzas, or an entire work. | The poem uses an extended metaphor of a river to trace the narrator's emotional journey from grief to acceptance. | |
| 119 | flashback | noun | A scene set in a time earlier than the main narrative. | A flashback to the protagonist's childhood explains her deep distrust of authority figures. | |
| 120 | foreshadowing | noun | A warning or indication of a future event; early clues planted by the author. | The dark clouds described in the opening paragraph serve as foreshadowing for the catastrophe that follows. | |
| 121 | hyperbole | noun | Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally; used for emphasis. | The author uses hyperbole when describing the character's courage as 'enough to move mountains.' | |
| 122 | imagery | noun | Descriptive language that appeals to the senses; vivid mental pictures created by words. | The passage's rich imagery — rotting wood, salt air, peeling paint — conveys the decay of the once-grand estate. | |
| 123 | irony | noun | The expression of meaning through language that normally signifies the opposite; a discrepancy between what is expected and what occurs. | The passage uses irony: the character who lectures others on honesty is later revealed to be a fraud. | |
| 124 | juxtaposition | noun | Placing two elements side by side to highlight their differences. | The author's juxtaposition of luxury and poverty in the same scene makes the inequality impossible to ignore. | |
| 125 | metaphor | noun | A figure of speech that applies a word or phrase to something it does not literally denote. | The metaphor 'life is a journey' underlies much of the poem's structure and imagery. | |
| 126 | motif | noun | A recurring element — image, symbol, or theme — that carries meaning throughout a work. | The motif of water recurs throughout the novel, representing the possibility of renewal and change. | |
| 127 | narrator | noun | The voice that tells the story; the person through whose perspective events are presented. | The narrator's reliability is called into question when it becomes clear that her account contradicts official records. | |
| 128 | ode | noun | A lyric poem typically addressed to a particular subject, often in an exalted or dignified manner. | Keats's 'Ode to a Nightingale' explores the tension between immortality and human transience. | |
| 129 | onomatopoeia | noun | The use of words that imitate the sounds they describe. | The poet employs onomatopoeia — 'buzz,' 'hiss,' 'crack' — to immerse the reader in the sensory world of the battlefield. | |
| 130 | oxymoron | noun | A figure of speech combining contradictory terms for rhetorical effect. | The phrase 'deafening silence' is an oxymoron that captures the overwhelming absence of sound after the explosion. | |
| 131 | paradox | noun | A seemingly self-contradictory statement that nonetheless reveals a deeper truth. | The paradox 'the more we know, the more we realize we don't know' captures the nature of scientific inquiry. | |
| 132 | persona | noun | The voice or character adopted by an author; the role an author plays in a text. | The poet adopts a detached, scholarly persona that contrasts sharply with the raw emotion of the subject matter. | |
| 133 | personification | noun | Giving human characteristics to non-human things. | The passage personifies the river as an old man who 'remembers every stone and bend of his long journey.' | |
| 134 | rhetorical question | noun | A question asked for effect, to which no answer is expected or required. | The author opens with a rhetorical question — 'Who among us has never felt the weight of regret?' — to draw readers in. | |
| 135 | satire | noun | The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to expose and criticize human folly or vice. | The passage identifies the novel as a satire of corporate culture, using absurdist situations to critique workplace hierarchy. | |
| 136 | simile | noun | A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.' | The scientist's prose is as precise and unadorned as a laboratory report, which the reviewer considers a virtue. | |
| 137 | soliloquy | noun | A dramatic monologue in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually alone on stage. | Hamlet's soliloquy reveals his inability to commit to action despite his clear awareness of what must be done. | |
| 138 | subtext | noun | The underlying meaning or theme of a text; what is implied rather than stated. | The subtext of the exchange — that neither character trusts the other — is never made explicit but pervades every line. | |
| 139 | symbol | noun | A person, place, object, or event that represents something beyond itself. | The broken clock functions as a symbol of the character's refusal to accept the passage of time. | |
| 140 | syntax | noun | The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences; sentence structure. | The author's inverted syntax — placing the verb before the subject — creates a sense of urgency in the opening pages. | |
| 141 | tone | noun | The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and style. | The tone of the final paragraph shifts from resignation to defiance, signaling the narrator's transformation. | |
| 142 | tragedy | noun | A serious drama or narrative in which the protagonist suffers a major reversal of fortune. | The play follows the structure of classical tragedy, as the hero's fatal flaw leads inevitably to his ruin. | |
| 143 | understatement | noun | A statement that presents something as less significant than it is. | Describing the pandemic as 'a bit of an inconvenience' is a deliberate understatement that underscores the narrative's dark humor. | |
| 144 | unreliable narrator | noun | A narrator whose credibility is compromised by bias, limited knowledge, or self-interest. | The reader gradually recognizes the narrator as unreliable when her account is contradicted by physical evidence in the text. | |
| 145 | verisimilitude | noun | The appearance of being true or real; lifelike quality. | The historical novel's verisimilitude is achieved through meticulous attention to period detail and dialect. | |
| 146 | voice | noun | The distinctive style and personality of a writer as expressed in their work. | The author's voice is recognizable across all her works — sharp, sardonic, and deeply empathetic. | |
| 147 | volta | noun | A rhetorical shift or turn in a poem, typically between the octave and sestet of a sonnet. | The poem's volta occurs in line 9, where the speaker's longing suddenly transforms into acceptance. | |
| 148 | wit | noun | Keen intelligence; clever and humorous expression; mental sharpness. | The essayist's wit transforms what could be a dry subject into one of the most entertaining passages in the collection. | |
| 149 | zeugma | noun | A figure of speech in which a word applies to multiple parts of a sentence in different ways. | The zeugma 'she lost her keys and her temper' links two grammatically parallel but semantically different phrases. | |
| 150 | anecdote | noun | A short, often amusing account of an incident, used to illustrate a point. | The author opens with an anecdote about a failed experiment that sets the tone for the rest of the essay. |
Section 4: Science Passage Vocabulary (151–200)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | acceleration | noun | The rate of change of velocity; the process of speeding up. | The ACT Science passage measured acceleration by tracking the change in velocity over equal time intervals. | |
| 152 | adaptation | noun | A change in an organism that increases its fitness in its environment. | The thick fur coat of the arctic fox is an adaptation that allows it to survive in extreme cold. | |
| 153 | amplitude | noun | The maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation; in waves, the height from rest to peak. | Students were asked to identify which graph showed the greatest wave amplitude at a given frequency. | |
| 154 | anomaly | noun | Something that deviates from what is standard or expected. | The data point was flagged as an anomaly because it fell far outside the expected range of measurements. | |
| 155 | bacteria | noun | Single-celled microorganisms that can be beneficial or harmful; prokaryotes. | The experiment examined how temperature affected the growth rate of bacteria in a controlled medium. | |
| 156 | biodiversity | noun | The variety of life in a given ecosystem, habitat, or on Earth as a whole. | Scientists concluded that the restored wetland showed significantly greater biodiversity than the surrounding agricultural land. | |
| 157 | catalyst | noun | A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed. | The passage explained that enzymes act as biological catalysts, accelerating metabolic reactions in living cells. | |
| 158 | chromosome | noun | A structure in the cell nucleus that carries genetic information in the form of genes. | Students were asked to count the number of chromosomes visible in the cell division diagram provided. | |
| 159 | combustion | noun | The chemical process of burning; rapid oxidation that produces heat and light. | The passage described the combustion of fossil fuels as the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions. | |
| 160 | compound | noun | A substance formed from two or more elements chemically bonded together. | Water is the compound formed when hydrogen and oxygen combine in a ratio of two to one. | |
| 161 | concentration | noun | The amount of a substance in a given volume of solution; the process of making denser. | As the concentration of the acid increased, the reaction rate also increased proportionally. | |
| 162 | conduction | noun | The transfer of heat or electricity through a substance without movement of the material. | The passage compared the rate of thermal conduction in metals versus insulators at the same temperature. | |
| 163 | control | noun | In an experiment, the group or condition that is not subjected to the variable being tested. | The control group received a placebo so that researchers could compare outcomes with the treatment group. | |
| 164 | correlation | noun | A mutual relationship between two variables; a statistical measure of their co-occurrence. | The graph showed a strong positive correlation between hours of sunlight and plant growth rate. | |
| 165 | decay | noun/verb | The gradual decomposition of organic matter; the process of breaking down over time. | The passage described how the rate of radioactive decay remains constant regardless of environmental conditions. | |
| 166 | diffusion | noun | The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to low concentration. | The experiment demonstrated that oxygen enters the bloodstream through diffusion across the alveolar membrane. | |
| 167 | ecosystem | noun | A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. | The introduction of a non-native predator can disrupt the balance of an entire ecosystem. | |
| 168 | electrode | noun | A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves a substance. | In the electrolysis experiment, students identified the cathode and anode electrodes and recorded the gases produced at each. | |
| 169 | element | noun | A substance consisting of atoms of only one type; a basic chemical constituent. | The passage identified carbon as the element most central to organic chemistry. | |
| 170 | enzyme | noun | A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms. | At temperatures above 40°C, the enzyme's structure changed and its catalytic activity declined sharply. | |
| 171 | equilibrium | noun | A state of balance; in chemistry, when forward and reverse reaction rates are equal. | The system reached equilibrium when the rate of evaporation equaled the rate of condensation. | |
| 172 | erosion | noun | The gradual wearing away of rock or soil by wind, water, or other natural agents. | The data showed that erosion rates increased significantly when vegetation cover was removed from the hillside. | |
| 173 | evolution | noun | The gradual development of species through natural selection over many generations. | The passage examined fossil evidence that supports the theory of evolution by natural selection. | |
| 174 | friction | noun | The resistance to motion when two surfaces are in contact. | The experiment measured how different surface materials affected the force of friction on a sliding block. | |
| 175 | gene | noun | A sequence of DNA that encodes for a specific protein and trait. | Researchers identified the gene responsible for the production of a key structural protein in bone tissue. | |
| 176 | habitat | noun | The natural environment in which an organism lives. | Deforestation destroyed the primary habitat of three endangered bird species found only in that region. | |
| 177 | hypothesis | noun | A testable prediction or explanation for an observation; a proposed answer to a scientific question. | The students formed a hypothesis predicting that increasing light intensity would increase the rate of photosynthesis. | |
| 178 | inheritance | noun | The transmission of genetic traits from parents to offspring. | The passage described Mendel's experiments as foundational to the modern understanding of genetic inheritance. | |
| 179 | ion | noun | An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the gain or loss of electrons. | When sodium chloride dissolves in water, it separates into positively charged sodium ions and negatively charged chloride ions. | |
| 180 | isotope | noun | An atom of an element with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons. | Carbon-14 and Carbon-12 are isotopes of the same element but differ in their neutron count. | |
| 181 | kinetic energy | noun | The energy of a moving object; energy of motion. | As the roller coaster descended, potential energy was converted to kinetic energy. | |
| 182 | molecule | noun | The smallest unit of a substance that retains its chemical properties; a group of atoms bonded together. | A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. | |
| 183 | mutation | noun | A change in the DNA sequence of an organism. | The passage explained that most mutations are neutral, with only a small fraction affecting an organism's fitness. | |
| 184 | osmosis | noun | The movement of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration. | The experiment measured osmosis by observing the movement of water into a sucrose solution through a dialysis membrane. | |
| 185 | photosynthesis | noun | The process by which plants use sunlight, water, and CO₂ to produce glucose and oxygen. | Students were asked to explain why photosynthesis rates declined in plants exposed to only red light. | |
| 186 | pollination | noun | The transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part, enabling fertilization. | The decline in bee populations threatens pollination and the agricultural systems that depend on it. | |
| 187 | protein | noun | A large molecule made of amino acids that performs many structural and functional roles in organisms. | The passage described how proteins fold into specific three-dimensional shapes that determine their biological function. | |
| 188 | radiation | noun | The emission of energy as waves or particles; electromagnetic or nuclear energy transfer. | The experiment measured how different materials attenuated radiation emitted from a controlled source. | |
| 189 | refraction | noun | The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. | The passage explained that refraction causes a straw to appear bent when partially submerged in water. | |
| 190 | resistance | noun | Opposition to the flow of electric current; also, the ability of an organism to withstand disease. | Ohm's Law states that resistance equals voltage divided by current. | |
| 191 | solvent | noun | A liquid that can dissolve another substance to form a solution. | Water is often called the universal solvent because of its ability to dissolve a wide range of substances. | |
| 192 | spectrum | noun | A range of electromagnetic radiation; a wide range of values or qualities. | The passage described how a prism separates white light into the full visible spectrum. | |
| 193 | synthesis | noun | The combination of components to form a whole; in chemistry, the production of a compound from elements. | The passage described the synthesis of nylon as a landmark achievement of industrial chemistry. | |
| 194 | variable | noun | Any factor that can change and that may affect the outcome of an experiment. | The independent variable was light intensity; the dependent variable was the rate of photosynthesis. | |
| 195 | velocity | noun | The speed of something in a given direction; a vector quantity. | Students were asked to calculate the average velocity of a projectile over a 5-second interval. | |
| 196 | viscosity | noun | The resistance of a fluid to flow; the 'thickness' of a liquid. | The experiment showed that viscosity decreased as the temperature of the oil increased. | |
| 197 | voltage | noun | The difference in electric potential between two points; electromotive force. | The circuit diagram required students to calculate voltage across each resistor using Ohm's Law. | |
| 198 | wavelength | noun | The distance between successive peaks of a wave. | The passage explained that higher energy electromagnetic waves have shorter wavelengths. | |
| 199 | biodegradable | adjective | Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. | Replacing plastic packaging with biodegradable materials was one proposed solution in the passage. | |
| 200 | concentration gradient | noun | A difference in the concentration of a substance across a space, which drives diffusion. | Cells maintain concentration gradients across membranes to regulate the movement of ions and water. |
Section 6: Academic English (251–300)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | aberrant | adjective | Departing from an accepted standard; atypical or deviant. | The aberrant data points were excluded from the analysis after being attributed to equipment malfunction. | |
| 252 | abstract | adjective/noun | Existing in thought rather than in concrete reality; a brief summary of a paper. | The abstract clearly outlined the study's method, findings, and conclusions in fewer than 200 words. | |
| 253 | accessible | adjective | Easy to reach, use, or understand; available to all. | The author praised the textbook for making complex ideas accessible to students without prior knowledge of the field. | |
| 254 | accommodate | verb | To make room for; to adapt to meet the needs of. | The new framework was designed to accommodate data from multiple incompatible databases. | |
| 255 | accurate | adjective | Correct in all details; free from error. | The passage stressed the importance of accurate measurement in ensuring the reproducibility of results. | |
| 256 | acknowledge | verb | To recognize or admit the existence or truth of; to express gratitude for. | The researcher acknowledged the limitations of the study in the final section of the paper. | |
| 257 | acute | adjective | Severe; having a sharp or intense quality; (of a disease) coming quickly to a crisis. | The region faces an acute shortage of qualified medical personnel. | |
| 258 | adapt | verb | To modify to suit new conditions; to adjust to a new environment. | Species that fail to adapt to rapid climate change face an increased risk of extinction. | |
| 259 | adequate | adjective | Satisfactory or acceptable; enough for a particular purpose. | The passage questioned whether the current funding level was adequate to address the growing demand. | |
| 260 | adjacent | adjective | Next to or adjoining something else; nearby without being directly connected. | The two facilities, while legally separate, occupy adjacent plots and share several key resources. | |
| 261 | aggregate | noun/verb/adjective | A whole formed by combining several different elements; to collect into a mass or whole. | The aggregate data across all four trials showed a consistent pattern that no single trial revealed alone. | |
| 262 | annual | adjective | Occurring once a year; calculated over a period of one year. | The annual report showed that operating costs had risen by 12 percent over the previous year. | |
| 263 | apparent | adjective | Clearly visible or understood; seeming real but not necessarily so. | The apparent contradiction between the two studies was resolved when researchers examined the data more closely. | |
| 264 | apply | verb | To put to use; to be relevant; to make a formal request. | The author argues that the same principles apply across all three domains of the study. | |
| 265 | attain | verb | To succeed in achieving; to reach a level or condition. | The goal is to attain literacy rates that are comparable to those of the highest-performing nations. | |
| 266 | attribute | noun/verb | A quality or characteristic; to regard as caused by. | Researchers attributed the decline in test scores to changes in instructional time, not student ability. | |
| 267 | augment | verb | To make something greater by adding to it; to increase. | The university decided to augment its scholarship fund following the dramatic increase in tuition costs. | |
| 268 | benefit | noun/verb | An advantage or profit; to receive an advantage. | Communities near the park benefit from the economic activity generated by tourism. | |
| 269 | biased | adjective | Prejudiced in favor of or against something in an unfair way. | The panel noted that the study's sample was biased toward highly educated respondents. | |
| 270 | brief | adjective/noun/verb | Short in duration; a summary of facts; to give an overview to. | The passage offers a brief overview of the competing theories before presenting the author's own argument. | |
| 271 | capacity | noun | The maximum amount that something can hold; the ability to do something. | The school lacks the capacity to absorb the growing number of students in the district. | |
| 272 | category | noun | A class or group of things with shared characteristics. | The data were sorted into three broad categories: economic, environmental, and social indicators. | |
| 273 | clarify | verb | To make a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible. | The author uses the second paragraph to clarify the distinction between the two approaches. | |
| 274 | classify | verb | To arrange according to shared qualities; to put into a category. | The biologist needed to classify the newly discovered organism within the existing taxonomic system. | |
| 275 | coherent | adjective | Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole. | The strongest essays present a coherent argument that builds systematically from evidence to conclusion. | |
| 276 | coincide | verb | To occur at the same time; to be in agreement. | The dates of peak migration coincide with the arrival of specific insect species on which the birds feed. | |
| 277 | communicate | verb | To share or exchange information; to convey a message effectively. | The scientist struggled to communicate her findings in terms accessible to a general audience. | |
| 278 | compare | verb | To examine the similarities and differences between two or more things. | The passage invites readers to compare the author's early work with her later, more politically engaged writing. | |
| 279 | complex | adjective/noun | Consisting of many different parts; not simple. | The question of whether language shapes thought is far more complex than it might initially appear. | |
| 280 | conclude | verb | To bring to an end; to reach a decision or judgment by reasoning. | The researchers concluded that the treatment was both safe and effective based on two years of data. | |
| 281 | confer | verb | To grant or bestow; to have a discussion; to consult. | The committee conferred at length before issuing its final recommendation. | |
| 282 | contrast | noun/verb | The state of being strikingly different; to show differences. | The passage contrasts the optimistic projections of the early research with the sobering reality that followed. | |
| 283 | convey | verb | To communicate or make known; to transport from one place to another. | The author uses a subdued, measured tone to convey her respect for the complexity of the issue. | |
| 284 | copious | adjective | Abundant; in large quantities. | She took copious notes throughout the lecture, filling three notebooks with observations and diagrams. | |
| 285 | cumulative | adjective | Increasing by successive additions; building up over time. | The cumulative effect of small decisions over decades can be as significant as any single major policy change. | |
| 286 | cynical | adjective | Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful. | The author's cynical reading of the politician's speech reframes every apparent concession as a tactical move. | |
| 287 | decisive | adjective | Settling an issue; having or showing decision and firmness. | The experiment produced decisive results that finally settled a debate that had persisted for two decades. | |
| 288 | deduce | verb | To draw a conclusion by reasoning from evidence. | From the pattern in the data, the scientist was able to deduce the underlying mechanism. | |
| 289 | deliberate | adjective/verb | Intentional; to think carefully before deciding. | The author made a deliberate choice to leave the ending ambiguous, refusing to resolve the central tension. | |
| 290 | demonstrate | verb | To clearly show or prove; to explain by example or experiment. | The study demonstrates that early music education is associated with stronger mathematical reasoning in children. | |
| 291 | deplete | verb | To use up; to reduce the supply of something. | Overfishing has depleted the cod population to a fraction of its historical level. | |
| 292 | derive | verb | To obtain something from a source; to trace the origin of. | Many English words derive from Latin roots, which is why Latin study aids vocabulary development. | |
| 293 | describe | verb | To give an account in words; to portray in detail. | The passage describes the landscape of the Great Plains before European settlement. | |
| 294 | diligent | adjective | Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work. | A diligent student reads each passage twice and annotates before answering the questions. | |
| 295 | discern | verb | To recognize or find out; to perceive a difference. | Skilled readers can discern the author's tone even when it is not explicitly stated. | |
| 296 | diverge | verb | To develop in different directions from a common point; to differ. | The two scientists' interpretations diverge at the question of whether the effect is causal or correlational. | |
| 297 | dynamic | adjective/noun | Characterized by constant change and progress; a force or system producing change. | The dynamic relationship between technology and employment is a central theme of the passage. | |
| 298 | elaborate | verb/adjective | To add more detail; involving many carefully arranged parts. | The author elaborates on this point in the third paragraph, providing three supporting examples. | |
| 299 | emphasize | verb | To give special importance or prominence to; to stress. | The passage emphasizes the importance of context in interpreting any single data point. | |
| 300 | empirical | adjective | Based on observation or experiment rather than theory or logic alone. | The strongest claims in the passage are supported by empirical evidence from controlled experiments. | |
| 301 | evaluate | verb | To form an idea of the amount, worth, or quality of; to assess. | The committee was asked to evaluate the proposal against three criteria: feasibility, cost, and impact. |
Section 7: Character & Narrative (301–350)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | ambiguous | adjective | Open to more than one interpretation; not clear. | The story's ending is deliberately ambiguous, leaving the protagonist's fate open to interpretation. | |
| 303 | antagonist | noun | The character or force in conflict with the protagonist. | The antagonist is not simply evil but represents a worldview the author invites the reader to understand. | |
| 304 | cathartic | adjective | Providing psychological relief through the expression of strong emotion. | Readers described the novel's climax as cathartic — a release of tension accumulated over 400 pages. | |
| 305 | characterization | noun | The way an author presents and develops characters in a narrative. | The passage praised the novel's subtle characterization, noting that no character is purely good or evil. | |
| 306 | conflict | noun | A struggle between opposing forces; the central dramatic problem of a narrative. | The central conflict of the story is internal: the protagonist must choose between loyalty and justice. | |
| 307 | contemplate | verb | To think deeply about; to look thoughtfully at. | The narrator spends the novel's middle chapters contemplating whether her past choices were justified. | |
| 308 | detached | adjective | Emotionally aloof; not personally involved; objective. | The narrator adopts a detached tone that keeps the reader at arm's length from the most painful moments. | |
| 309 | empathetic | adjective | Showing the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. | An empathetic reader will recognize the fear beneath the character's apparent indifference. | |
| 310 | epiphany | noun | A sudden, powerful realization or insight. | In the final scene, the character's epiphany comes not from a dramatic event but from a quiet moment of observation. | |
| 311 | foil | noun | A character who contrasts with another to highlight particular qualities. | The pragmatic best friend serves as a foil to the idealistic protagonist, emphasizing her impracticality. | |
| 312 | formative | adjective | Having a strong influence on the development of someone's character or behavior. | The memoir traces the formative experiences that shaped the author's commitment to social justice. | |
| 313 | grievance | noun | A real or imagined wrong that causes resentment; a formal complaint. | The character's grievance against his former employer motivates every action he takes in the second act. | |
| 314 | introspective | adjective | Examining one's own thoughts and feelings; given to self-reflection. | The introspective narrator frequently pauses the action to analyze her own motivations. | |
| 315 | melancholy | noun/adjective | A feeling of pensive sadness; typically with no obvious cause. | A deep melancholy pervades the story, rooted in the narrator's sense that the best of life has already passed. | |
| 316 | motivation | noun | The reason behind a character's actions; the driving force of behavior. | Understanding the character's motivation requires reading the flashback scenes in the middle of the novel. | |
| 317 | naive | adjective | Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment; overly trusting. | The young protagonist is naive at the story's opening, but her worldview is fundamentally altered by the end. | |
| 318 | nostalgic | adjective | Feeling a sentimental longing for the past. | The passage's nostalgic tone romanticizes rural life in ways that obscure its real hardships. | |
| 319 | nuanced | adjective | Characterized by subtle differences; not simplistic. | The most nuanced reading of the story recognizes that both characters are right and both are wrong. | |
| 320 | omniscient | adjective | Having complete or unlimited knowledge; knowing everything (used of a narrator). | The omniscient narrator can access every character's thoughts, which creates an ironic distance from each of them. | |
| 321 | pathos | noun | A quality in literature that evokes pity, sorrow, or tender emotion. | The final scene derives its pathos from the gap between what the character hopes for and what she actually receives. | |
| 322 | perception | noun | The way something is understood; the ability to see or understand. | The novel explores how perception of the same events can differ dramatically between characters. | |
| 323 | protagonist | noun | The main character of a narrative; the hero. | The protagonist's journey from complacency to action mirrors the essay's broader argument about moral responsibility. | |
| 324 | reconciliation | noun | The restoration of friendly relations; the acceptance of incompatible ideas. | The story's resolution involves a painful reconciliation between the protagonist and her estranged father. | |
| 325 | redemption | noun | The act of being saved from error or evil; atonement. | The novel's arc follows the protagonist's long quest for personal redemption after a catastrophic mistake. | |
| 326 | reflective | adjective | Given to careful thought; looking back on past events. | The reflective tone of the final chapter suggests that the narrator has found peace with the events of her life. | |
| 327 | remorse | noun | Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed. | The character is consumed by remorse for the decision she made twenty years earlier. | |
| 328 | resilience | noun | The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; emotional toughness. | The central theme of the memoir is resilience: how one person rebuilds a life after devastating loss. | |
| 329 | resolution | noun | The end of a story; the settling of a conflict. | The resolution is deliberately ambiguous — the conflict is acknowledged but not cleanly resolved. | |
| 330 | sentimental | adjective | Having or arousing feelings of tenderness or nostalgia; excessively emotional. | The critic found the story's ending too sentimental, arguing it undercut the novel's otherwise unflinching honesty. | |
| 331 | stoic | adjective/noun | Enduring pain and hardship without complaint; one who does so. | The protagonist's stoic exterior conceals a grief so intense that it shapes every interaction she has. | |
| 332 | transformation | noun | A thorough or dramatic change in form or character. | The story traces the protagonist's transformation from a passive observer to an active participant in the struggle for justice. | |
| 333 | trauma | noun | A deeply distressing experience; psychological damage caused by a shocking event. | The novel's structure mimics the non-linear nature of trauma — scenes arrive out of order and out of breath. | |
| 334 | unreliable | adjective | Not able to be trusted; inconsistent or inaccurate. | The narrator is unreliable not because she lies, but because she withholds crucial information from the reader. | |
| 335 | vulnerable | adjective | Open to attack or harm; emotionally exposed. | At his most vulnerable, the character reveals a longing for connection that he otherwise conceals behind cynicism. | |
| 336 | wistful | adjective | Characterized by a feeling of vague longing or regret. | The final image in the story — a child watching a departing train — has a wistful quality that lingers in the memory. | |
| 337 | agency | noun | The capacity of an individual to act independently; free will in action. | A key theme of the novel is whether the protagonist truly has agency or is constrained by forces beyond her control. | |
| 338 | alienation | noun | The state of being isolated or estranged from others or from oneself. | The narrator's alienation from her family is the wound at the center of every scene in the novel. | |
| 339 | authentic | adjective | Genuine; not fake or imitation; representing true feelings. | Readers praised the novel's authentic portrayal of immigrant experience, rooted in the author's own history. | |
| 340 | compassion | noun | Sympathetic concern for the suffering of others. | The novel argues that compassion, not justice, is the foundation of a moral community. | |
| 341 | complexity | noun | The state of having many interconnected parts; not simple. | The moral complexity of the choice the protagonist faces is what makes the novel intellectually compelling. | |
| 342 | dignity | noun | The state of being worthy of honor or respect. | The author's central concern is the preservation of dignity in the face of systematic dehumanization. | |
| 343 | disillusionment | noun | The loss of ideals or illusions; disappointment after discovering reality. | The narrator's disillusionment with her mentor is the emotional turning point of the memoir. | |
| 344 | empowerment | noun | The process of becoming stronger and more confident in one's life. | The climax of the novel is the protagonist's act of empowerment — speaking publicly about what was done to her. | |
| 345 | ethical | adjective | Relating to moral principles; morally correct. | The story poses a difficult ethical question: is it ever right to break the law in service of justice? | |
| 346 | idealism | noun | The belief that ideals can and should be pursued, even in the face of obstacles. | The protagonist's idealism is both her greatest strength and the source of her most painful disappointments. | |
| 347 | identity | noun | The qualities and beliefs that make a particular person or group. | The memoir is fundamentally a story about identity — how we construct the narrative of who we are. |
Section 8: Argumentation & Logic (351–400)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 348 | analogy | noun | A comparison between two things for the purpose of clarification or argument. | The author uses an analogy between the immune system and national defense to make the argument more accessible. | |
| 349 | assertion | noun | A confident and forceful statement of a fact or belief. | The central assertion of the passage is that current technology is insufficient to meet the challenge. | |
| 350 | assumption | noun | A thing taken for granted; a belief accepted without proof. | The argument rests on the unexamined assumption that economic growth always improves well-being. | |
| 351 | burden of proof | noun | The obligation to prove one's assertions; in logic, who must provide evidence. | The passage argues that the burden of proof lies with those who claim the intervention is safe, not with critics. | |
| 352 | caveat | noun | A warning or qualification; a proviso. | The author endorses the proposal but offers an important caveat: it must be accompanied by adequate oversight. | |
| 353 | claim | noun/verb | A statement that something is true; to assert as fact. | The author's central claim — that inequality undermines democracy — is supported by data from 40 countries. | |
| 354 | coherence | noun | The quality of being logical and consistent; the quality of forming a unified whole. | The essay's coherence depends on a clear through-line connecting each paragraph to the central argument. | |
| 355 | concession | noun | The act of acknowledging something as true or valid while maintaining the overall argument. | The author makes a concession to critics by acknowledging that the policy has produced some unintended consequences. | |
| 356 | contention | noun | Heated disagreement; a point made in an argument. | The author's main contention is that the welfare system discourages workforce participation. | |
| 357 | contradict | verb | To deny the truth of; to be in conflict with. | The new research directly contradicts the findings that formed the basis of the existing guidelines. | |
| 358 | counterargument | noun | An argument made against the main argument; a rebuttal. | The author anticipates the most obvious counterargument and dismantles it in the penultimate paragraph. | |
| 359 | credence | noun | Belief in or acceptance of something as true. | The discovery lent credence to the theory that had been dismissed for decades. | |
| 360 | deductive | adjective | Of or relating to reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions. | The argument is deductive in structure: starting from accepted premises and arriving at an inevitable conclusion. | |
| 361 | empiricism | noun | The theory that knowledge comes from experience and observation rather than pure reason. | The passage defends empiricism as the foundation of scientific knowledge. | |
| 362 | evidence | noun | Information indicating whether a belief is true or valid; facts used to support a claim. | The most persuasive section of the passage is where the author marshals quantitative evidence for her claims. | |
| 363 | fallacy | noun | A mistaken belief; a flawed or erroneous argument. | The passage identifies the ad hominem attack as the most common fallacy in political discourse. | |
| 364 | hypothesis | noun | A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence; a starting point for further investigation. | The study was designed to test the hypothesis that social media use is correlated with declining attention spans. | |
| 365 | implication | noun | What is suggested or hinted at without being stated directly; a conclusion that follows from a premise. | The implication of the study's findings is that current dietary guidelines need to be revised. | |
| 366 | inductive | adjective | Of or relating to reasoning from specific observations to general conclusions. | The scientist used inductive reasoning, building toward a theory from hundreds of individual observations. | |
| 367 | inference | noun | A conclusion reached by reasoning from evidence; a deduction. | The inference that the policy failed is supported by both quantitative and qualitative data. | |
| 368 | logical | adjective | Characterized by clear, sound reasoning; following the rules of logic. | The passage presents a logical progression from problem identification to proposed solution. | |
| 369 | nuance | noun | A subtle difference in meaning, tone, or expression. | The best ACT Reading responses acknowledge the nuance in the passage rather than oversimplifying the author's position. | |
| 370 | objective | adjective/noun | Not influenced by personal feelings; the goal or purpose of an action. | The study's objective was to determine the effect of sleep deprivation on decision-making quality. | |
| 371 | opposition | noun | Resistance or conflict; those who hold the opposite view. | The passage acknowledges the opposition's strongest argument before explaining why it fails. | |
| 372 | persuade | verb | To cause someone to believe or do something through reasoning or appeal. | The author uses a combination of emotional appeal and statistical evidence to persuade readers. | |
| 373 | plausible | adjective | Seeming reasonable or probable; apparently valid. | The most plausible explanation for the discrepancy is a systematic error in the measurement instrument. | |
| 374 | premise | noun | A statement from which a conclusion is drawn; an assumption underlying an argument. | The argument fails because one of its premises — that all behavior is rational — is empirically false. | |
| 375 | qualify | verb | To make less absolute; to add conditions or limitations to a statement. | The author qualifies her claim, noting that the relationship holds only under specific conditions. | |
| 376 | rational | adjective | Based on reason; able to think clearly and make sound judgments. | The passage argues that rational decision-making requires not only data but also values. | |
| 377 | reasoning | noun | The action of thinking in a logical, sensible way; the conclusions reached. | The passage commends the committee's reasoning but questions whether the evidence is strong enough to support the conclusion. | |
| 378 | refute | verb | To prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false. | The author attempts to refute the most common objections to her proposal before presenting it in full. | |
| 379 | rhetorical | adjective | Relating to the art of effective speaking or writing; used for persuasive effect. | The rhetorical question that opens the passage is a deliberate technique to draw the reader into the argument. | |
| 380 | stance | noun | An attitude, a position, or a point of view taken toward an issue. | The author's stance on immigration reform becomes clearer as the passage progresses. | |
| 381 | thesis | noun | A proposition maintained or advanced as a premise; the central argument of an essay. | The thesis of the passage is stated explicitly in the opening paragraph and reinforced throughout. | |
| 382 | validity | noun | The quality of being logically sound; the degree to which a conclusion follows from its premises. | The validity of the study was called into question when the conflict of interest was disclosed. | |
| 383 | warrant | noun/verb | Justification for a belief or action; to justify or authorize. | The evidence does not warrant the sweeping conclusion the author draws from it. | |
| 384 | analytic | adjective | Using analysis; skilled at breaking down complex problems. | The passage rewards an analytic reading — every sentence contributes to the central argument. | |
| 385 | bias | noun | Prejudice in favor of or against a thing, person, or group; systematic error in a study. | The study was criticized for selection bias — its participants were not representative of the general population. | |
| 386 | categorical | adjective | Relating to or including categories; absolute; unconditional. | The author makes a categorical distinction between correlation and causation. | |
| 387 | circuitous | adjective | Longer than the most direct route; indirect in approach. | The author takes a circuitous path to her conclusion, exploring three alternative interpretations before arriving at her own. | |
| 388 | cogent | adjective | Clear, logical, and convincing. | The most cogent argument in the passage is the one supported by both experimental and observational data. | |
| 389 | coherent | adjective | Logical and consistent; making sense as a whole. | A coherent essay states its thesis clearly and supports it with organized, connected evidence. | |
| 390 | compel | verb | To force or drive; to produce a strong urge or obligation. | The weight of evidence compels the reader to accept the author's conclusion, even if it is uncomfortable. | |
| 391 | contention | noun | A point asserted in an argument; a cause of disagreement. | The main contention — that automation will create more jobs than it destroys — is contested by several economists. | |
| 392 | corroborate | verb | To confirm or give support to a statement or idea. | Independent researchers were able to corroborate the original study's findings using a different methodology. | |
| 393 | dichotomy | noun | A division into two mutually exclusive and exhaustive groups or ideas. | The passage rejects the false dichotomy between economic growth and environmental protection. |
Section 9: Arts & Culture (401–450)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 394 | aesthetic | adjective/noun | Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty; a set of principles underlying artistic works. | The critic described the building's aesthetic as a successful fusion of modernist function and classical ornament. | |
| 395 | avant-garde | adjective/noun | New and experimental; the experimental part of a cultural movement. | The composer's avant-garde approach to harmony alienated traditional audiences but inspired a generation of younger musicians. | |
| 396 | baroque | adjective | Relating to a highly ornate style of art, architecture, and music from the 17th–18th centuries; highly elaborate. | The palace's baroque interior overwhelmed visitors with its gilded ceilings and intricate frescoes. | |
| 397 | cadence | noun | The rhythmic flow of sounds; a falling inflection of the voice; a progression in music toward a close. | The poet's cadence shifts from measured and deliberate to urgent and staccato as the poem reaches its climax. | |
| 398 | canon | noun | A collection of texts or works accepted as authoritative; the standard works of a given field. | The passage questions whether the literary canon should be expanded to include more voices from outside Western Europe. | |
| 399 | curator | noun | A keeper or custodian of a museum or gallery; one who organizes and oversees an exhibition. | The curator described her goal as not merely displaying objects, but telling the human stories behind them. | |
| 400 | depict | verb | To show or represent in a picture or story; to describe. | The murals depict scenes from the daily life of the community that occupied the site for centuries. | |
| 401 | evoke | verb | To bring to mind; to draw out a feeling or memory. | The composer's use of folk melodies evokes a sense of rural solitude and deep historical memory. | |
| 402 | genre | noun | A category of artistic or literary composition characterized by shared style or subject. | The passage traces how the crime fiction genre evolved from the drawing-room mysteries of Agatha Christie to modern psychological thrillers. | |
| 403 | iconography | noun | Visual images and symbols used in a work of art; the imagery associated with a subject. | The painting's iconography drew heavily on Christian symbolism to convey themes of sacrifice and renewal. | |
| 404 | improvisation | noun | The activity of creating without preparation; spontaneous composition. | Jazz musicians celebrate improvisation as the highest form of musical expression — a conversation conducted in real time. | |
| 405 | indigenous | adjective | Originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native. | The exhibition focused on the revival of indigenous artistic traditions that had been suppressed during the colonial period. | |
| 406 | innovation | noun | The introduction of something new; a new method, idea, or product. | The passage credits the Renaissance with the innovation of linear perspective, which transformed how painters represented space. | |
| 407 | interpretation | noun | The action of explaining or understanding in a particular way. | The critic offered a political interpretation of the painting that its admirers found reductive. | |
| 408 | medium | noun | A means of communication or expression; the material used by an artist. | The artist chose photography as her medium because of its capacity to document the present with unforgiving clarity. | |
| 409 | motif | noun | A recurring element in a work of art that has symbolic significance. | The motif of imprisonment recurs throughout the novel, appearing in literal and metaphorical forms. | |
| 410 | narrative | noun/adjective | A spoken or written account of connected events; relating to the telling of a story. | The passage examines how the film's narrative structure mirrors the psychological disorientation of its protagonist. | |
| 411 | neoclassical | adjective | Relating to the revival of classical style or treatment in art, architecture, or literature. | The neoclassical movement in literature sought to revive the clarity and order of ancient Greek and Roman writing. | |
| 412 | nuanced | adjective | Characterized by subtle variation; not simple or one-dimensional. | The most nuanced reading of the painting recognizes that it simultaneously celebrates and mourns its subject. | |
| 413 | palette | noun | The range of colors used by an artist; a range of available qualities. | The artist's limited palette — blacks, grays, and a single red — gives the work its sense of controlled menace. | |
| 414 | patronage | noun | The support given by a patron to an artist; customers of a business. | Without the patronage of wealthy merchants, the Renaissance artists of Florence would not have had the resources to work. | |
| 415 | perspective | noun | A particular way of considering something; a technique for creating the illusion of depth in art. | The passage traces the development of linear perspective from Brunelleschi's experiments to its full flowering in High Renaissance painting. | |
| 416 | prolific | adjective | Producing many works; abundant; highly productive. | The prolific author published more than forty novels over a fifty-year career. | |
| 417 | prose | noun | Written or spoken language in ordinary form, as opposed to poetry. | The critic praised the passage's prose for its elegant simplicity, free of ornament or affectation. | |
| 418 | realism | noun | The artistic attempt to represent subject matter truthfully, without idealization. | The shift toward realism in the 19th century novel reflected a broader cultural interest in social documentation. | |
| 419 | renaissance | noun | A revival of interest in and study of art, literature, and learning; a period of cultural renewal. | The Harlem Renaissance produced a generation of writers, musicians, and visual artists who transformed American culture. | |
| 420 | repertoire | noun | The full range of works available to a performer; the range of skills possessed by a person. | The orchestra's repertoire spans three centuries and includes both standard works and rarely performed compositions. | |
| 421 | romanticism | noun | An artistic and intellectual movement emphasizing emotion, imagination, and individuality. | Romanticism was in part a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment and the dehumanizing effects of industrialization. | |
| 422 | surrealism | noun | An artistic movement concerned with the unconscious mind, dreams, and illogical combinations. | The film's surrealism — its dreamlike imagery and non-linear structure — reflects the director's debt to Dalí and Buñuel. | |
| 423 | vernacular | noun/adjective | The language or dialect of a particular group; relating to everyday speech. | The novel's vernacular dialogue captures the rhythms and idioms of working-class communities in early 20th-century America. | |
| 424 | virtuosity | noun | Great skill or technical ability in the arts. | The pianist's virtuosity was undeniable, but some critics found the performance technically brilliant but emotionally cold. | |
| 425 | whimsical | adjective | Playfully quaint; tending to act or change without reason; fanciful. | The illustrator's whimsical style — full of unexpected details and gentle humor — delights readers of all ages. | |
| 426 | zeitgeist | noun | The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history. | The passage argues that the novel captured the zeitgeist of the 1960s more accurately than any documentary of the era. | |
| 427 | archival | adjective | Relating to historical records and documents. | The documentary was praised for its use of archival photographs to bring the past to life. | |
| 428 | contemporary | adjective | Living or occurring at the same time; belonging to the present. | The museum's collection spans both classical and contemporary works. | |
| 429 | critique | noun/verb | A detailed analysis and evaluation; to analyze critically. | The passage offers a thoughtful critique of the way architecture influences social behavior. | |
| 430 | depiction | noun | The act of representing something in a picture or story. | The film's depiction of urban poverty prompted widespread debate about housing policy. | |
| 431 | diverse | adjective | Showing a great deal of variety; very different. | The festival brought together a diverse array of musicians from six continents. | |
| 432 | dramatic | adjective | Relating to drama; sudden, striking, or exciting. | The dramatic climax of the opera builds over twenty minutes before resolving in a final, devastating silence. | |
| 433 | eclectic | adjective | Drawing from a broad and diverse range of sources. | The architect's eclectic style drew on Japanese minimalism, North African vernacular building, and European modernism. | |
| 434 | expressive | adjective | Effectively conveying emotion or meaning. | The dancer's expressive movements communicated grief and defiance with minimal use of gesture. | |
| 435 | heritage | noun | Property that is or may be inherited; the traditions and culture of a community. | The city's architectural heritage was threatened by rapid commercial development. | |
| 436 | homage | noun | Special honor or respect; a public show of respect or dedication. | The film is widely read as a homage to the director's mentor and to the Italian neorealist tradition. | |
| 437 | iconic | adjective | Widely recognized and well-established; relating to an icon. | The photograph became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, reproduced on covers and murals worldwide. | |
| 438 | imagery | noun | Visually descriptive or figurative language; visual symbols. | The poet's imagery is rooted in the natural world, drawing on seasons, rivers, and the migration of birds. | |
| 439 | influence | noun/verb | The capacity to affect others; to have an effect on the development of something. | The passage traces the influence of African musical traditions on the development of blues and jazz. | |
| 440 | lyrical | adjective | Expressing the writer's emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way; having the form of a song. | The lyrical quality of the prose elevates what might otherwise be a conventional travel memoir into something close to poetry. | |
| 441 | melancholic | adjective | Having a feeling of pensive sadness; gloomy. | The film's melancholic ending refuses easy consolation, leaving the viewer to sit with unresolved grief. |
Section 10: General Academic Vocabulary (451–500)
| # | Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | ACT-Style Example | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 442 | aberration | noun | A departure from what is normal; an unusual event or thing. | Scientists were unsure whether the unusually warm winter was an aberration or a sign of a lasting climate shift. | |
| 443 | abundance | noun | A very large quantity; more than enough; plentifulness. | The region's ecological abundance supported a population far larger than its neighbors. | |
| 444 | acquisition | noun | The act of gaining; something acquired; the process of learning a skill. | Language acquisition in early childhood is rapid and appears to require little formal instruction. | |
| 445 | alleviate | verb | To make suffering or a problem less severe. | New therapies have been developed to alleviate the symptoms of chronic inflammatory conditions. | |
| 446 | ambiguity | noun | The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; lack of clarity. | The passage's ambiguity is deliberate — the author refuses to provide a definitive moral verdict. | |
| 447 | anomalous | adjective | Deviating from what is expected or normal. | The anomalous reading at Station 4 prompted researchers to recalibrate their instruments. | |
| 448 | anticipate | verb | To regard as probable; to act in advance to deal with a coming situation. | A skilled writer anticipates the reader's questions and addresses them before they arise. | |
| 449 | assess | verb | To evaluate or estimate the nature, value, or quality of something. | Students were asked to assess the author's use of evidence in the passage. | |
| 450 | assumption | noun | Something accepted as true without proof; a premise taken for granted. | The study's conclusions rely on an assumption that may not hold in all cultural contexts. | |
| 451 | bolster | verb | To support or strengthen; to increase the force or value of. | Additional data from a five-year follow-up study bolstered the researchers' original findings. | |
| 452 | broaden | verb | To make or become wider; to expand in scope or extent. | The author urges readers to broaden their conception of success beyond purely economic measures. | |
| 453 | calculate | verb | To determine mathematically; to reckon or judge. | Students were asked to calculate the rate of reaction based on the graph provided. | |
| 454 | causal | adjective | Relating to or acting as a cause; implying a cause-and-effect relationship. | Establishing a causal link between the two variables required more than observational data. | |
| 455 | challenge | verb/noun | To dispute or question; a difficult task or undertaking. | The passage challenges the assumption that all students learn best in traditional classroom settings. | |
| 456 | circumstantial | adjective | Based on indirect evidence; pointing to but not proving a conclusion. | The evidence is circumstantial — suggestive but not sufficient to establish a direct causal relationship. | |
| 457 | complement | verb/noun | To go well with; something that completes or enhances another thing. | The qualitative interviews complement the quantitative data by providing the human context behind the numbers. | |
| 458 | complex | adjective | Having many interconnected parts; not simple. | The interactions between species in an ecosystem are far more complex than early ecologists recognized. | |
| 459 | component | noun | A part or element of a larger whole. | Critical thinking is a key component of academic success at every level. | |
| 460 | comprehensive | adjective | Including all or nearly all elements; thorough. | The most comprehensive survey of the field to date was published in 2022. | |
| 461 | conform | verb | To comply with rules or standards; to behave in accordance with expectations. | The data conformed to the predicted model in all but two of the twenty trials. | |
| 462 | consequential | adjective | Important; significant; following as a result. | The policy change was consequential — it affected the daily lives of millions of people. | |
| 463 | consistent | adjective | Acting or done in the same way over time; compatible. | The results were consistent across all three experimental groups, supporting the validity of the hypothesis. | |
| 464 | construct | verb/noun | To build or create; a concept or idea formed by combining simpler concepts. | Gender, the passage argues, is a social construct rather than a purely biological category. | |
| 465 | context | noun | The circumstances surrounding an event or statement; the parts of a text that surround a particular word. | Understanding the historical context of the speech is essential to interpreting its political significance. | |
| 466 | contradict | verb | To deny the truth of; to be at odds with. | The second passage directly contradicts the first on the question of whether the intervention was effective. | |
| 467 | contribute | verb | To give or supply in common with others; to play a part in producing something. | Each section of the essay contributes to a cumulative argument about the limits of quantitative analysis. | |
| 468 | controversial | adjective | Causing public disagreement; disputed. | The study's findings were controversial, prompting strong rebuttals from researchers with opposing views. | |
| 469 | conventional | adjective | Based on what is generally accepted or traditionally done. | The essay departs from conventional argumentation, using narrative instead of logic as its primary mode. | |
| 470 | correlate | verb/noun | To show a mutual relationship; a variable that is correlated with another. | High levels of income inequality correlate with poor health outcomes across a wide range of countries. | |
| 471 | counterproductive | adjective | Producing the opposite of the desired result. | The passage argues that excessive standardization in education is counterproductive to genuine learning. | |
| 472 | criteria | noun | Standards by which something is judged or decided (plural of criterion). | The reviewers evaluated each proposal against the same three criteria: originality, feasibility, and impact. | |
| 473 | critical | adjective | Expressing adverse judgment; crucial; relating to analysis. | A critical reading of the passage reveals contradictions that a more superficial reading would miss. | |
| 474 | crucial | adjective | Decisively important; critical. | Access to clean water is crucial to breaking cycles of disease and poverty in developing regions. | |
| 475 | cumulative | adjective | Increasing by successive additions. | The cumulative toll of chronic stress on the body is comparable to that of a single acute event. | |
| 476 | decisive | adjective | Settling an issue; having clear outcomes. | The experiment produced a decisive answer to a question that had divided researchers for a generation. | |
| 477 | decline | verb/noun | To become smaller or fewer; a gradual reduction. | The passage traces the decline of manufacturing employment over the past four decades. | |
| 478 | define | verb | To state or describe exactly; to give meaning to. | The first paragraph defines the key term in a way that distinguishes it from related concepts. | |
| 479 | demonstrate | verb | To clearly show or prove. | The experiment demonstrates that bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics within a single generation. | |
| 480 | dependent | adjective | Relying on; determined by another variable. | The dependent variable in the experiment was the rate of oxygen production by the plant. | |
| 481 | derive | verb | To obtain from a source; to develop through reasoning. | The formula was derived from observations of thousands of individual data points. | |
| 482 | determine | verb | To cause or be the decisive factor in; to discover the facts. | Further testing is needed to determine whether the drug is effective at lower doses. | |
| 483 | disproportionate | adjective | Too large or too small in comparison to something else. | The burden of the policy falls disproportionately on low-income households. | |
| 484 | distinct | adjective | Recognizably different; clear and definite. | The author draws a distinct line between evidence-based policy and policy based on ideology. | |
| 485 | dominant | adjective | Most important, powerful, or influential. | English is now the dominant language of international scientific publication. | |
| 486 | duration | noun | The length of time that something lasts. | The study measured the duration of each sleep cycle across three consecutive nights. | |
| 487 | effective | adjective | Successful in producing a desired or intended result. | The most effective intervention was the one that combined medical treatment with social support. | |
| 488 | eliminate | verb | To completely remove or get rid of; to exclude. | The revised methodology eliminates the confounding variables that undermined the earlier study. | |
| 489 | enhance | verb | To intensify, increase, or further improve. | The addition of contextual footnotes enhances the reader's understanding of the historical references. | |
| 490 | explicit | adjective | Stated clearly and in detail; leaving nothing to implication. | The passage is explicit in its endorsement of the policy, citing five supporting reasons. | |
| 491 | factor | noun | A circumstance or influence that contributes to a result. | Diet, exercise, and sleep are all factors that influence long-term cognitive health. | |
| 492 | fluctuate | verb | To rise and fall irregularly; to vary. | Global average temperatures fluctuated within a narrow range for millennia before rising sharply in the industrial era. |
ACT vocabulary study strategies
Master transition words first
ACT English tests your ability to choose the right transition word for a given context. Learn the logical relationships each transition expresses, not just its definition.
Drill commonly confused pairs
The ACT English section frequently tests affect/effect, who/whom, fewer/less, and similar pairs. Knowing these cold will earn you points with minimal effort.
Read scientific passages strategically
ACT Science passages use a core vocabulary of roughly 200 technical terms. The words in Section 4 cover the most common ones — learn them in context, not in isolation.
Learn literary terms for prose fiction
The ACT Reading section always includes a prose fiction passage. Understanding terms like 'tone,' 'irony,' 'point of view,' and 'foreshadowing' helps you answer interpretation questions.
Ready for more? Continue with Top 1000
The Top 1000 list adds 500 more words, including complete literary term coverage and advanced ACT Science vocabulary.
Section 5: Social Studies & History Vocabulary (201–250)