Dear John — Vocabulary
Nicholas Sparks
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	20	top 2000
approachapproach → approaching:getting nearer Winter is approaching.more Show sample from book The bedroom door was halfway closed, light spilled down the hallway, and I debated whether to approach or stay in the living room.20 more get near Show general definition for approach (as in: approached the city) to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
	1	top 500
approach#2method (way of doing something) Perhaps I just need to work harder, but I may need an entirely different approach to the problem.more Show sample from book Unsure, I opted for Dad's approach and said nothing.20 more technique (way of doing something) Show general definition for approach (as in: use the best approach) a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
	1	top 100
directstraightforward I left them with direct instructions.more Show sample from book I think I already knew what she was getting at, but for whatever reason, I wanted her to say it directly.11 more direct → directly:in a straightforward manner (clearly without any ambiguity) Show general definition for direct (as in: gave a direct answer) straightforward -- often clear, open, or blunt in speech or behavior
	11	top 100
direct#2instruct On the SAT test, some questions direct you to look at an underlined or numbered portion of a passage.more Show sample from book Passion is passion. It's the excitement between the tedious spaces, and it doesn't matter where it's directed.11 more direct → directed:focused Show general definition for direct (as in: direct a question; or direct a film) to guide, aim, or manage -- such as actions, attention, speech, a project or company
	11	top 100
evaluateevaluate → evaluating:thinking carefully and making a judgment about I'm evaluating colleges and deciding which I want to apply to.more Show sample from book She leaned back slightly, as if evaluating my expression.†10 more Show general definition to think carefully and make a judgment about something
	3	top 100
adaptadapt → adapted:changed (to fit this situation) Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material, do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board.more Show sample from book I can't tell you how many kids we have here who never adapt at all, no matter how long we work with them.†2 more change to fit a different situation; or make suitable Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
	3	top 100
passagea short part of a longer written work Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.more Show sample from book Gone were long passages in which she described the way she envisioned our life together, passages that in the past had always filled me with anticipation.2 more passage → passages:short parts of longer written works Show general definition for passage (as in: In lines 1-9 of the passage...) a short part of a longer written work Show editor's word notes This meaning of passage is commonly seen on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
	2	top 10
implyimply → implied:hinted or suggested She wouldn't make a direct statement, but she implied that she supported our position.more Show sample from book Even with all the implied uncertainty, I found the realization comforting.†1 more imply → implied:suggested (said indirectly) Show general definition to suggest or say indirectly -- possibly as a logical consequence
	3	top 200
optimisticexpecting the best I'm optimistic that I'll get into a good college.more Show sample from book I marveled that despite what happened, she had managed to hold on to her optimistic view of the world.†2 more expecting the best; OR focusing on the good part of things Show general definition expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
	4	top 1000
consoleconsole → consoled:comforted She consoled him after his mother died.more Show sample from book We just ended up consoling each other.3 more console → consoling:comforting (emotionally) Show general definition for console (as in: console her grief) to comfort (emotionally)
	4	top 1000
nonethelessin spite of that (used to connect contrasting ideas) Sometimes she gets angry and loses her temper, but I love her nonetheless.more Show sample from book Not loud, but a laugh nonetheless.†3 more Show general definition in spite of that (Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nevertheless, all the same, still, and however.)
	16	top 100
howeverdespite that (a transition word use to connect contrasting ideas) Most college application deadlines are in January and February. However, early admission deadlines are around November and some scholarships require even earlier deadlines.more Show sample from book The blonde proved me right. She took one glimpse at my surfboard and the beer in my hand and ignored me with a roll of her eyes. The brunette, however, surprised me.18 more though (used to connect contrasting ideas) Show general definition for however (as in: However, complications may...) though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas) Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
	1	top 2000
however#2no matter how (how much/how hard/how long…) However hard she tried, she couldn't do it.more Show sample from book Tim's on a leave of absence, and whenever he's in the hospital, they let me take however much time I need.18 more whatever amount of Show general definition for however (as in: However much she tried...) to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
	1	top 10
demonstratedemonstrate → demonstrated:showed The salesperson demonstrated features of both phones so I could compare them.more Show sample from book "All you have to do is grab near the hoof and tug while you tap the back of his leg here," she said, demonstrating.1 more demonstrate → demonstrating:showing (how something is done) Show general definition for demonstrate (as in: It demonstrates my point.) to show The exact meaning of this sense of demonstrate can depend upon its context. For example: "I will demonstrate how to throw a Frisbee." -- show how to do something "I will demonstrate how much quicker the new computer is than the old one." -- show how something works "Her questioned demonstrated that she was listening and thinking deeply about what was said." -- showed to be true or proved
	1	top 1000
demonstrate#2demonstrate → demonstrated:joined with others in a public protest The students demonstrated against hate speech.more Show sample from book Things were tense in the capitals of our NATO allies; on the news, there were demonstrations from the citizens and forceful proclamations from their leaders that the United States was about to make a terrible mistake.1 more demonstrate → demonstrations:public protests Show general definition for demonstrate (as in: demonstrate to protest) a public display supporting a cause -- usually joining with others in a political protest
	3
insurgentinsurgent → insurgents:irregular armed forces that fight a stronger force by sabotage and harassment Hundreds of European Muslims journeyed to join the insurgents in Iraq.David Frum's Diary on National Review Online — <span class="__nowrap">http://frum.nationalreview.com/print/</span> <span class="__nowrap">(retrieved Thu Jun 29 2006 00:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)</span>)more Show sample from book We were there to keep some semblance of order—which basically meant killing insurgents who were trying to kill us or other civilians—2 more insurgent → insurgents:members of an irregular armed force that fight a stronger force by sabotage and harassment Show general definition a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
	1	top 100
omitomit → omitted:left out She recounted the whole story except that she omitted names.more Show sample from book The fact that I was in peril frightened him, so I started omitting the scary stuff.† omit → omitting:to exclude or neglect something Show general definition to exclude or neglect something
	2
accentuateaccentuate → accentuates:emphasizes It's a difficult situation, but she accentuates the positive and does not get overwhelmed.more Show sample from book She was wearing one of those scrappy tank tops that accentuated her tan, and all I could think was that she was the sexiest woman I'd ever seen.1 more accentuate → accentuated:emphasized or drew attention to Show general definition to emphasize or draw attention to -- possibly to emphasize by increasing
	2
intersperseintersperse → interspersed:inserted at irregular intervals She interspersed the lecture with jokes and stories to keep the audience engaged.more Show sample from book Game shows, soap operas, infomercials, and talk shows were interspersed with commercials from ambulance-chasing lawyers.†1 more intersperse → interspersed:to place something at irregular intervals in something else… Show general definition to place something at irregular intervals in something else; or to mix two things irregularly
	1	top 500
altercationfight She got in a physical altercation and was expelled.more Show sample from book Because of the altercation, I knew I was no longer welcome at the beach house; I also didn't want to see Randy or Susan or any of the others, which made it impossible to contact Savannah. argument, confrontation, or fight Show general definition a noisy argument, confrontation, or fight