Someone Like You — Vocabulary
Sarah Dessen
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
7 top 500
adoptadopt → adopted:took on as its own
The country adopted the metric system.more
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She acted like she was firm on adoption until about Month Seven, early March, when I walked in on her in the nursery.†6 more
adopt → adoption:the act of taking something on as one's own
Show general definition to take on as one's own
The exact meaning of adopt depends upon its context. For example:
  • "adopt a child" -- to legally take on parental responsibilities for another person's child
  • "adopt a plan" -- to accept or begin to use something
  • "adopt a pet" -- to take in a pet -- especially one from an animal shelter
  • "Congress adopted the resolution." -- had a formal vote and passed
  • "adopted a confident attitude" -- took on or displayed
4 top 200
indignantindignant → indignantly:with anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
"I am not a fool," she said indignantly.more
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I was trying to be indignant but he was so cute.3 more
angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Show general definition angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
3 top 100
precedeprecede → preceded:were before in time
Stone tools preceded bronze tools.more
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As a Boy with a Reputation, his neighborhood legend preceded him.2 more
precede → preceded:came before
Show general definition to go or do before
6 top 2000
medievalthe Middle Ages (roughly 500–1500 AD)
The story takes place during medieval times.more
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It's like a history club, where they study the medieval period together, on weekends.†5 more
relating to or belonging to the Middle Ages
Show general definition relating to or belonging to the Middle Ages

(the period of European history between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance -- roughly 500–1500 AD)
Show editor's word notes Often thought of as a time of instability, superstition, plagues, feudal lords, and knighthood.
5 top 2000
sulkto overly indulge in being unhappy and unsociable
She was disappointed and retreated to her room to sulk.more
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Noah was still sulking, for sure, and Clara was probably already curled up asleep on my bed, to be carried to the car later.†4 more
sulk → sulking:overly unhappy and unsociable
Show general definition to be overly unhappy and unsociable -- often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
3 top 500
crucialvery important
Doing well on the ACT is crucial to getting into the college I want to attend.more
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This was crucial.†2 more
Show general definition very important or necessary -- often because it determines how something else will turn out
2 top 100
dominatecontrol
Democrats dominate the committee.more
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The way my mother held her tongue when I knew she was dying to offer an opinion, to dominate a conversation-to be my mother.1 more
to control; or to be most influential
Show general definition to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
3 top 1000
solemnvery serious
He took a solemn oath.more
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His face was stony, solemn, as he stared at me, holding a Coke in his hand.2 more
serious
Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
4 top 2000
hysteriastate of excessive, uncontrolled emotion
We need to get past the hysteria and decide what to do.more
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My father thought this was hysterical, even better than A Neighborhood of Fiends, and my mother accused him of always taking the long way home just to look at it.†3 more
hysteria → hysterical:exceedingly funny (resulting in uncontrollable laughter); or exhibiting excessive, uncontrollable emotion
Show general definition a state of excessive, uncontrollable emotion
Show editor's word notes In addition to being the adjective form of hysteria, the form hysterical can also indicate that something is exceedingly funny (leading to uncontrollable laughter)
3 top 2000
aspireaspire → aspiring:hoping to be successful
The aspiring scientist set her sights on curing cancer, a goal that would require years of hard work and dedication.more
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We pulled out onto Main Street in Scarlett's Ford Aspire.†2 more
hope to be successful
Show general definition to hope to be successful -- especially in a career
3 top 1000
glowerglower → glowering:staring angrily
Shake hands and stop glowering at each other.more
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He sulked around, glowered at me, and still came over every Friday with his little sister and his parents, sitting stony-faced on the couch as I slipped out the door, yelling good-bye.2 more
glower → glowered:stared angrily
Show general definition to stare angrily
2 top 500
waverwaver → wavered:faltered (stopped being strong)
Through good times and bad her love for him has never wavered.more
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She choked on this last part, her voice wavering.†1 more
waver → wavering:moving back and forth; or being unsure or weak
Show general definition to move back and forth (shake or quiver)

or:

to change, be unsure, or weak
2 top 1000
protrudestick out
Metal spikes protrude from the dog's collar.more
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With her stomach protruding and her face always flushed, even the drab green Milton's Market apron couldn't keep her secret.†1 more
protrude → protruding:sticking out
Show general definition to stick out from
2 top 1000
principalmost important
The principal idea is that decisions should be made by the people who are most knowledgeable about specific circumstances that impact the decision.more
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I pushed past girls in their princess outfits, past clouds of cologne and perfume, past Mrs. Oakley, the vice principal, who was eyeballing everyone on the lookout for drugs and drunks.†1 more
most important; or person that is most important
Show general definition most important; or person who is most important
The exact meaning of principal can depend upon its context. For example:
  • "the principal idea" or "the principal performer" -- the most important
  • "the principal of the school" -- the person in charge
  • "a principal of a company" -- an owner or person with controlling authority
  • "the principal in a transaction" (as contrasted to the agent) -- the person on whose behalf an agent acts
4
jousta contest in which mounted knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted lances
In the medieval festival, the highlight was the joust, where knights on horseback charged at each other with lances.more
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"They don't joust," Marion grumbled,3 more
a contest in which knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted lances
Show general definition a contest in which knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted lances

or:

any kind of contest
3 top 2000
aversiondislike that leads to avoidance
Of the two, she has a greater aversion to risk.more
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It's probably just my well-documented aversion to school.2 more
Show general definition dislike that leads to avoidance
2
sprainsprain → sprained:joint injury from twisting
She couldn’t play in the soccer game because of a sprained ankle from practice.more
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I sat up straighter, watching the shadow slip past the row of trees my mother was trying to nudge into growing against the fence, stepping smoothly over the hole where my father had sprained his ankle mowing the lawn the summer before.†1 more
sprain → sprained:injured the ligaments of a joint by stretching them too far (ligaments are the tough, fibrous bands that connect bones across joints)
Show general definition injury to the ligaments of a joint caused by stretching them too far -- most commonly injuring the ankle

(ligaments are the tough, fibrous bands that connect bones across joints)
Show editor's word notes Note that a strain is a similar injury caused by stretching the muscle until it rips.
1 top 500
momentousof very great significance
This is a momentous period in our nation's history.more
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I thought of Macon, of that clock in the gym, of the momentous day I'd had, and held back everything.†
Show general definition of very great significance
1 top 500
reminiscerecall fond memories
My parents like to reminisce about their college days.more
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By that Sunday I was packed and riding three hours into the mountains with my mother, who spend the entire ride reminiscing about her own golden camp years and promising me I'd thank her when it was over.†
reminisce → reminiscing:to talk or think fondly about past experiences
Show general definition to talk or think fondly about past experiences
1 top 500
annihilatecompletely defeat and destroy
She reported that "ISIS needs to understand the Joint Force is on orders to annihilate them."more
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I didn't hear what he said as Macon passed us again, the mower annihilating the grass and leaving a smooth, green trail behind him.†
annihilate → annihilating:to completely destroy or defeat
Show general definition to completely destroy or defeat