All the Bright Places — Vocabulary
Jennifer Niven
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	16	top 2000
monka male member of a religious order typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience The Tibetan monk wore an orange robe.more Show sample from book She's a girl who dates guys like Ryan Cross, baseball star, and sits with Amanda Monk and the other queen bees at lunch.†p.6.615 more a male member of a religious order typically living under vows of poverty, chast…
	14	top 1000
expelexpel → expulsion:the act of forcing out (in this case, kicking someone out of school) Her records show expulsion from two schools.more Show sample from book When I get to U.S. Geography, Finch isn't there, of course, because he's been expelled, and I can't concentrate on anything Mr. Black is saying.†p.310.713 more expel → expelled:forced out Show general definition force out especially in 2 primary senses: kicking someone out of an organization -- such as a school or country squeezing something to eliminate a liquid or gas
	4	top 1000
melancholyvery sad She's been in a melancholy mood since her dog died.more Show sample from book The writer Natalia Ginzburg remembered him after his death: "It seemed to us that his sadness was that of a boy, the voluptuous heedless melancholy of a boy who has still not come down to earth, and moves in the arid, solitary world of dreams."†p.378.23 more a sad feeling or manner Show general definition a sad feeling or manner -- sometimes thoughtfully sad
	2	top 100
phenomenonsomething that is of special interest It is a growing social phenomenon on high school campuses.more Show sample from book Patrick Moore told viewers that they could experience the phenomenon by jumping in the air at the exact moment the alignment occurred.†p.233.51 more something that exists or happened -- often of special interest Show general definition something that exists or happened -- especially something of special interest -- sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary Show editor's word notes "Phenomenons" and "phenomena" are both appropriate plural forms of this noun. "Phenomena" is generally used in scientific or philosophical contexts.
	3	top 1000
impendingabout to happen She plans to spend more time on that after her impending retirement.more Show sample from book I love the thrill of impending, weightless doom, so I built something to give me those feelings all the time.†p.197.12 more Show general definition about to happen -- especially of something unpleasant or feared
	4
apocalypseworld-ending disaster She packed emergency supplies, joking that she wanted to be ready in case of an apocalypse.more Show sample from book Is it still the apocalypse?†p.94.33 more an event involving terrible destruction Show general definition an event involving terrible destruction that ends the world as we know it; or (especially when capitalized) the end of the world as prophesized in the Christian book of Revelation
	2	top 500
congregationpeople who worship together in the same building It's a casual congregation where many people wander into services late.more Show sample from book My arms are outstretched as if I'm conducting a sermon and this entire not-very-big, dull, dull town is my congregation.†p.4.81 more Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
	3	top 2000
invincibleimpossible to defeat They believe their army is invincible.more Show sample from book Inside the classroom, I take my seat, feeling infamous and invincible and twitchy and strangely exhilarated, as if I just escaped, well, death.†p.27.22 more impossible to defeat or overcome Show general definition impossible to defeat or overcome
	3
monasterymonastery → monasteries:residences of religious communities Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries was the largest legally enforced transfer of property in English history since the Norman Conquest.more Show sample from book The friar tells me how the church and the tributes and the grounds we are walking on were designed and built by former chaplains from the Polish army, who came to the States after World War II and fulfilled their dream of creating a monastery in Indiana.†p.365.92 more the residence of a religious community Show general definition the residence of a religious community
	3	top 2000
probationperiod of being watched closely After breaking school rules, she was put on disciplinary probation for the rest of the semester.more Show sample from book Technically, I'm on probation this year.†p.12.52 more a period of testing Show general definition a period of time when a person is being tested or watched to see if they meet certain expectations or follow rules
	3	top 2000
interstatefreeway, or highway that runs between states There was an accident on the interstate.more Show context notes When a word begins with the prefix, "inter-", the prefix often means between. In this case, interstate means between different states. Interstate is often used as an abbreviation for interstate highway, a highway that runs between states. It has also come to mean freeway in a place like Hawaii where no major highway connects to another state. Show sample from book I, Theodore Finch, being of unsound mind, hereby swear not to drive faster than thirty miles per hour through town, fifty on the interstate.†p.125.42 more freeway, or highway that runs between states… Show context notes When a word begins with the prefix, "inter-", the prefix often means between. In this case, interstate means between different states. Interstate is often used as an abbreviation for interstate highway, a highway that runs between states. It has also come to mean freeway in a place like Hawaii where no major highway connects to another state. Show general definition for interstate (as in: interstate commerce) freeway, or highway that runs between states or: relating to the mutual relations between states -- especially of the United States Show editor's word notes Note that interstate is often contrasted with intrastate. An intrastate highway is used to move from one location in a state to another, rather than to move between states. Similarly, interstate commerce is business between states; whereas intrastate commerce affects a state without affecting other states. Under the U.S. Constitution, the interstate/intrastate distinction is important when determining when the federal government has authority to override state government.
	2	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 Show sample from book Instead of aspiring to immortality, they aspired to living a healthy, full life....†p.194.91 more Show general definition to hope to be successful -- especially in a career
	2	top 2000
infamousfamous (for something bad) He is one of Chicago's most infamous mobsters.more Show sample from book Inside the classroom, I take my seat, feeling infamous and invincible and twitchy and strangely exhilarated, as if I just escaped, well, death.†p.27.21 more having an exceedingly bad reputation Show general definition having an exceedingly bad reputation
	2	top 1000
frauddeception to get something illegally She was arrested for committing credit card fraud after using someone else’s account to buy expensive electronics.more Show sample from book I am a fraud.†p.278.11 more the act of deceiving someone for personal gain… Show general definition the act of deceiving someone for personal gain; or a person or thing that is not what it pretends or appears to be
	6	top 500
acclaimacclaim → acclaimed:popularly and enthusiastically praised It's a critically acclaimed movie.more Show sample from book "It means 'the urge to be, to count for something, and, if death must come, to die valiantly, with acclamation—in short, to remain a memory" She goes quiet, as if she's thinking this over.†p.139.15 more acclaim → acclamation:choosing without opposition or formal vote Show general definition to praise enthusiastically and publicly -- sometimes choosing without opposition or a formal vote
	6
manifestoa public declaration of principles or policies The environmental group published a manifesto outlining their vision for a sustainable future and demanding immediate action on climate change.more Show sample from book The only thing that matters is the forward thrust and the way I feel as I hurtle toward the Great Manifesto.†p.57.85 more Show general definition a public declaration of principles or policies -- typically of a political nature
	3
obligatoryrequired Attendance is obligatory.more Show sample from book On Sunday evening, Kate and Decca and I drive to my dad's new house in the more expensive part of town for Weekly Obligatory Family Dinner.†p.67.22 more Show general definition required (by rule, law, or expectation)
	3
bipolar disordera mental disorder characterized by alternating episodes of major depression and abnormally elevated mood She is researching bipolar disorder amongst identical and non-identical twins.more Show sample from book Bipolar disorder, my mind says, labeling itself.p.278.22 more Show general definition a mental disorder characterized by alternating episodes of major depression and abnormally elevated mood (mania) Show editor's word notes Bipolar disorder is also referred to as manic-depression, bipolar depression, or manic depressive psychosis.
	2
euthanasiathe act of intentionally killing someone painlessly Assisted suicide has more political support than euthanasia because patient request is a check against some kinds of abuse.more Show sample from book Julijonas Urbonas, the man who thought up the Euthanasia Coaster, claims it's engineered to "humanely—with elegance and euphoria—take the life of a human being."†p.202.61 more the act of intentionally killing a person or animal without causing pain Show general definition the act of intentionally killing a person or animal without causing pain -- typically due to an incurable illness
	2
obeliskstone pillar with a pyramidal top The Washington Monument, a towering obelisk in the National Mall, is a tribute to the first President of the United States.more Show sample from book But instead I say, "Obelisk?"†p.91.91 more a stone pillar with a pyramidal top erected as a monument to remember a person o… Show general definition a stone pillar with a pyramidal top erected as a monument to remember a person or event