GMAT Vocab & Idioms Flashcards
abate (v.)
Reduce or diminish.
Her stress over spending so much money on a house abated when the real estate broker told her about the property’s 15-year tax abatement.
abberation (n.) / anomaly (adv.)
Something that stands out or is abnormal. Outlier is similar.
The election of a liberal condidate in the conservative county was an abberation or anomaly, made possible only by the sudden death of the conservative candidate two days before the election.
acclaim (n.)
Great praise or approval.
Her performance in the ballet earned her critical acclaim.
accord (n.)
Agreement
Our management is in accord with regulatory agencies about tightening standards.
discord (n.)
Disagreement
acquisitiveness (n.)
Desire to acquire more, especially an excessive desire.
The firm did well in buying up its competitors as a means of growth, but its acquisitiveness ultimately resulted in problems related to growing too quickly.
acreage (n.)
Land measured in acres.
Our property is large, but much of the acreage is swampland not suitable for building.
adhere (v.)
To stick to
literally such as with glue or metaphorically such as to a plan/belief
Employees who do not adhere to the policy will be subject to disciplinary action.
adherent (n.)
a person who sticks to a belief or a cause
The adherents of the plan won’t admit that, in the long term, such a policy would bankrupt our state.
ad-lib (v.)
Make something up on the spot, give an uprepared speech; freely, as needed, according to desire
lWe have ended our policy or rationing office supplies - pens may now be given to employees ad-lib.
adopt (n.)
take and make one’s own
You can adopt a child, of course, or a new policy.
To adopt a plan implies that you didn’t come up with it yourself.
advent (n.)
arrival
Before the advent of the internet, people often called reference librarians to look up information for them in the library’s reference section.
adverse (adj.)
Unfavorable, opposed
A noisy environment is adverse to studying, and lack of sleep can have further adverse effects.
agency (n.)
The ability to use power or influence.
Some climate change deniers acknowledge that the planet is heating up, but they argue that human agency does not affect the climate.
aggravate (v.)
Make worse
Allowing your band to practice in our garage has greatly aggravated my headache.
altogether (adv.)
Completely, overall
It was an altogether stunning new design.
ambivalent (adj.)
Uncertain, unable to decide; wanting to do two contradictory things at once
The health care plan has been met with ambivalence from lawmakers who would like to pass the bill but find supporting it to be politically impossible.
amortize (v.)
Gradually pay off a debt or gradually write off an asset
A mortgage is a common form of amortized debt - spreading the payments out over as long as 30 years is not uncommon.
analogous (adj.)
Corresponding in a particular way; making a good analogy
Our situation is analogous to one in a case study I read in business school. Maybe what worked for that company will work for us.
annex (v.)
To add on something that has been added on.
An annex to a building is a part built later and added on or a new building that allows an organization to expand.
annihilate (v.)
Completely destroy
annul (v.)
Make void or null, cancel, abolish
Usually of laws or other established rules
Can we appreciate the art of a murderer? For many, the value of these paintings is annulled by the artist’s crimes.
anoint (v.)
to power or praise being given to someone who is thought of very highly
After Principle Smitters raised test scores over 60% at her school, it was only a matter of time before she was anointed superintendent by a fawning school board.
antithetical (adj.)
totally opposed to; opposite
The crimes of our chairman are totally antithetical to what the Society for Ethical Leadership stands for.
application (n.)
Act or result of applying
Company morales is at an all-time low, so the application of a severe cost-cutting policy may drive even more employees to look for a new job.
apprentice (n.)
A person who works for someone else in order to learn a trade from that person
arbiter (n.)
Judge, umpire, person empowered to decide matters at hand
The principal said, “As the final arbiter of what is and is not appropriate in the classroom, I demand that you take down that poster of Miley Cyrus.”
arbitration (n.)
A process of settling an argument or disagreement in which the people or groups on both sides present their opinions and ideas to a third person or group
Both parties have agreed to arbitration.
archaic (adj.)
Characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive.
The school’s archaic computer system predated even floppy disks - it stored record on tape drives!
aristocracy (n.)
A hereditary ruling class, nobility
Or a form of gvt. ruled by these people
accorded to
Given or granted to
Sometimes accorded is used without ‘to’
I was surprised by the adulation accorded the elderly author at the high school assembly.
account for
Take into consideration or make adjustments based on; cause
I accounted for the fact that Joe is always late by telling him to meet us at 1:30 when the event is really at 2. (made adjustments to compensate for.)
I did get us the meeting, but Ellen’s hard work accounted for the rest of our success (caused).
a given
something taken for granted, something assumed or something that does not require proof
When I was planning my wedding, it was a given that my parents would invite anyone they wanted, since they were paying for everything.
albatross / albatross around the neck of (a person or group)
A constant burden or worry; an obstacle
The city has done a admirable job rebuilding its infrastructure and marketing itself, but the crime rate continues to be an albatross around the city’s neck in trying to attract tourists
all but
almost definitely
Your objections have arrived too late; the proposal is all but approved.
and yet
A stronger way of saying yet.
Used for emphasis. Indicates a surprising twist, an ironic realization
THe company was lauded for its commitment to the environment. And yet its employees regularly fly in private jets, creating carbon footprints that would embarass any true environmentalist.
arms race
Competition between two countries to build up the best and largest supply of weapons
Analysts carefully watched stock prices as the two internet giants competed in an arms race, expanding rapidly by buying up smaller companies with little due diligence.
aside from
In addition to, not even counting
Aside from the obvious financial benefits of investing in a socially responsible fund, you can rest assured that your money is used to maximize social good.
(adjective) as it is, …
Pattern is used to contrast the part after the comma with the part before
Charming as she is, I just don’t want to be friends with her anymore.
As pleased as we are to see more minorities on the board than ever before, discrimiation in hiring and promotion is still a serious problem.
as well as
‘And’
used to mention 1 thing as a way to contrast with or emphasize another
at best
at the most, interpreted in the most favorable way
The seminar drew 20 people at best. (20 or fewere people attended).
