50 Common Word Roots For the GRE

Question 1

a-

Answer 1

without
Examples: amoral, amorphous, asexual

Question 2

ambi-

Answer 2

both sides
Examples: ambidextrous, ambivalent

Question 3

ante-

Answer 3

Before or in front
Examples: antecedent, antedate

Question 4

Anti-

Answer 4

Against
Examples: Antihero, antipathy, antisocial

Question 5

Aqu/aqua-

Answer 5

Water
Examples: aquatic, aqueous, aquarium, aqueduct

Question 6

Bene-

Answer 6

Good
Examples: benefit, benediction, benevolent

Question 7

Bi-

Answer 7

Two
Examples: bifurcate, biannual, bisect, biracial

Question 8

Bio-

Answer 8

Life
Examples: biology, biography, biome

Question 9

Cede/Ceed

Answer 9

Go or yield
Examples: precede, exceed, recede

Question 10

Circum-

Answer 10

Around
Examples: circumscribe, circumnavigate, circumvent, circumcise

Question 11

Contra-

Answer 11

Against or opposite
Examples: contradiction, contraception, controversy

Question 12

Cycl-

Answer 12

Circle
Examples: Bicycle, Cyclical

Question 13

De-

Answer 13

Reduce or remove
Examples: deescalate, defenestrate, decelerate

Question 14

Di/dis-

Answer 14

Apart or away
Examples: digress, disappear, diverge

Question 15

-dict-

Answer 15

Speak or say
Examples: edict, dictation, dictator, prediction, contradiction

Question 16

-dox

Answer 16

Belief
Examples: orthodox, paradox, heterodox

Question 17

Du/duo-

Answer 17

Two
Examples: dual, duology, duochrome

Question 18

Em/en-

Answer 18

Into/In
Examples: embrace, enclose, encircle

Question 19

Esce-

Answer 19

Becoming
Examples: coalesce, adolescence, obsolescent, tumescent

Question 20

Ex-

Answer 20

Out or way
Examples: exit, exhale, extirpate, exile

Question 21

Extra/o-

Answer 21

Beyond or outside
Examples: extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extrovert

Question 22

-fid/e-

Answer 22

Faith
Examples: bonafide, fidelity, confide

Question 23

-fore-

Answer 23

Before, previously, earlier
Example: forestall, before, forebear, forebode, forecast

Question 24

-gram-

Answer 24

Writing, letters
Examples: diagram, grammar, epigram, telegram

Question 25

-graph-

Answer 25

Writing, records Examples: stenography, autograph, graphics

Question 26

Hetero-

Answer 26

Different Examples: heterosexual, heterozygous, heterogeneous, heterodox

Question 27

Homo-

Answer 27

Same Examples: homogenous, homosexual, homologous

Question 28

Hyper-

Answer 28

Excessive Examples: hyperactive, hyperbole

Question 29

Hypo-

Answer 29

Under, Below Examples: hypothermia, hypocrite, hypoglycemic

Question 30

Inter-

Answer 30

Between Examples: intercede, interlude

Question 31

Intra/o-

Answer 31

Inside, within Examples: introvert, intramural, intravenous

Question 32

Junct

Answer 32

Joining Examples: juncture, conjunction, disjunct

Question 33

-less

Answer 33

Without Examples: listless, aimless, heartless

Question 34

-logy

Answer 34

The study of Examples: Biology, psychology, geology

Question 35

mal,male

Answer 35

Bad, evil Examples: malediction, malice

Question 36

Mis-

Answer 36

Bad, incorrect Examples: misprint, misbehave, misstep

Question 37

-ness

Answer 37

State of being Examples: likeness, greatness

Question 38

Non-

Answer 38

Not, without Examples: nonfiction, nonresident

Question 39

Ob-

Answer 39

Against or before Examples: obdurate, obfuscate

Question 40

Omni-

Answer 40

All, everything Examples: omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous

Question 41

Pedi/e-

Answer 41

Foot Examples: pedestrian, pedicure

Question 42

Phil-

Answer 42

Love or affinity Examples: bibliophile, philanthropy

Question 43

Pre-

Answer 43

Before or earlier Examples: pretest, preamble

Question 44

Pro-

Answer 44

Before or forward Examples: proceed, prologue

Question 45

Re-

Answer 45

Again, backwards Examples: reaction, rebound, reuse

Question 46

Sub-

Answer 46

Under or lower Examples: submarine, subprime

Question 47

Temp-

Answer 47

Time Examples: temporal, contemporary, temporarily

Question 48

Tort-

Answer 48

Twist Examples: tortuous, contortion

Question 49

Trans-

Answer 49

Across or beyond Examples: transnational, transit

Question 50

Un-

Answer 50

Not or opposite Examples: unimpressive, unwanted, unwarranted