accompany
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
accompany on the journey
He returned a minute later accompanied by a blond guy in his early twenties.
accompanied = escorted (in the company of)
Definition
Generally this sense of accompany means:to travel along with
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
agile
5 uses
Like you're two seconds faster in the agility drill.
agility = ability to move well quickly and easily
Definition
Generally agile means:able to move well quickly and easily
or:
able to think well quickly and easily
or:
able to think well quickly and easily
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
annex
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
annex of the main building
Monday morning, I was called out of English class to the library annex.
annex = an addition that extends a main building
Definition
Generally this sense of annex means:an addition that extends a main building
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
approach (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
use the best approach
That week I took a different approach. I did everything I could to conserve my energy, to save every ounce of strength for the game.
approach = technique (way of doing something)
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
2 —1 use as in:
approached her with the proposal
Kaylee wasn't the only person who approached me that day.†
approached = began talking with
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to begin communication with someone about something — often a proposal or a delicate topic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
compensate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she compensates with extra effort
"You're going to be taking two hundred milligrams each time," he said, "so go to about two twenty-five milligrams to compensate for any air bubbles."
compensate = make up for; or adjust for
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
congregate
1 use
When he finished, the guys turned and started to congregate at the mouth of the tunnel, their voices alive with excitement.
congregate = come together
Definition
Generally congregate means:come together as a group
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
convention
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
conventional behavior
If we stayed back in a conventional defense, their running backs nickel-and-dimed us to death.
conventional = normal or typical
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:something regarded as normal or typical
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
Woodinville won the toss, but they deferred, which meant we'd have the ball first.
deferred = postponed (in this case, postponed receiving the kickoff)
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:delay or postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
direct (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 6 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
He strode across the tile floor, walked directly up to me, and stuck out his hand.†
directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
2 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
I could feel the rage coming—only this time it wasn't directed at Russ Diver or anybody else.†
directed = aimed
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed the jury to...
Next came another whistle, and within seconds they had broken up into different subgroups, and each subgroup had a coach directing it.†
directing = instructing
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
4 —2 uses as in:
directed the movie
Maybe he burned out, or someone got sick in his family, or he hated the athletic director.†
director = supervisor (person in charge)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
focus (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
The linebackers were so focused on me that they had all come up, leaving our tight end wide open over the middle.†
focused = concentrating (on one thing and not paying attention to other things)
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:verb: to concentrate, look at, or pay attention to
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 75 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
2 —2 uses as in:
The focus of our study is...
With my focus narrowed, most of the panic was gone.†
focus = where attention is concentrated
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:where attention is concentrated or directed
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
humiliate
4 uses
Before every game, you worry that some guy on the other team is going to manhandle you, humiliate you, show you up.
humiliate = extremely embarrass (decrease dignity, self-respect, or pride)
Definition
Generally humiliate means:extremely embarrass (decrease dignity, self-respect, or pride — especially in front of others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
mediocre
2 uses
It was supposed to be a game between the two best teams in the state, but Rogers seemed mediocre.
mediocre = average or a bit below average in quality
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
passage
1 use
"Sometimes when I'm feeling lost," she said as she handed it to me, "I'll open the book and read and before long I'll find a passage that will comfort me."†
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Epil. |
positive
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
had a positive effect
Everything he'd said after the Inglemoor game was positive, but I knew what was happening. Dave Kane was playing better and better every week. His star was shining brighter and mine was fading.†
positive = good
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:good or beneficial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
sustain
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sustained through the ages
I'd pop free for a first down now and again, but we couldn't sustain anything.
sustain = continue through time (in this case, keep making good plays one-after-the-other)
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:to continue through time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |