The Best 4 GRE Prep Books:
・The Official Guide to the GRE General Test
・Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep, 2021
・500 Essential Words: GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
・500 Essential Vocabulary Words to Help Boost Your GRE Score
Essential Vocabulary for the GRE【Part 16】1501. plasticity ～ 1600. prudent
1501. plasticity [noun]
the quality of being soft enough to be changed into a new shape:
The neurosurgeon explained that blain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and grow over time.
1502. platitude [noun]
a remark or statement that may be true but is boring and has no meaning because it has been said so many times before:
The politician ended his speech with a platitude about every man’s right to vote.
1503. plaudit [noun]
praise:
The quality of his photography earned him plaudits from the experts.
1504. plausible [adjective]
seeming likely to be true, or able to be believed:
When Jason forgot to do his homework, he tried to come up with a plausible excuse his teacher would believe.
1505. plea [noun]
an urgent and emotional request:
He made a plea for help.
1506. plebeian [noun]
one of the common people:
The millionaire called the hotel a plebeian accommodation because it did not offer room service.
1507. plethora [noun]
a very large amount of something, especially a larger amount than you need, want, or can deal with:
The plethora of regulations is both contradictory and confusing.
1508. pliant [adjective]
being able and willing to accept change or new ideas:
These toys are made of pliant rubber, so they won't break.
1509. plod [verb]
to walk taking slow steps, as if your feet are heavy:
We plodded through the mud.
1510. plucky [adjective]
brave:
The plucky preschooler stood up to the bully who was taking his friend’s lunch.
1511. plumb [verb]
to measure how deep something is, especially water:
Researchers plumb oceans for biological insights.
1512. plummet [verb]
to fall very quickly and suddenly:
When the housing bubble burst, many people saw their property values plummet.
1513. plunder [verb]
to steal or remove something precious from something, in a way that does not consider moral laws or is more severe than it need be:
During the protest riots, angry citizens began to plunder goods from closed stores.
1514. plutocracy [noun]
a system of government in which the richest people in a country rule or have power:
Ancient Greece was once a plutocracy, but its wealthiest residents no longer regulate the country.
1515. poignant [adjective]
causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness:
Because the poignant movie reminded me of my painful childhood, it made me cry.
1516. polarity [noun]
the quality of being opposite:
The film is based on the polarity of the two main characters.
1517. polemic [noun]
a piece of writing or a speech in which a person argues forcefully for or against someone or something:
The political candidate posted a polemic on his blog that mocked his rival’s lack of community service.
1518. politic [adjective]
wise and showing the ability to make the right decisions:
When the fight began, he thought it politic to leave.
1519. polyglot [noun]
speaking or using several different languages:
Because my sister is a polyglot, she was hired as a language translator for the United Nations.
1520. populace [noun]
the ordinary people who live in a particular country or place:
The populace became angry when the government failed to lower taxes.
1521. populism [noun]
political ideas and activities that are intended to get the support of ordinary people by giving them what they want:
The basis of populism is the belief that giving power to the people will protect individuals from exploitation.
1522. porous [adjective]
allowing liquid or air to pass through:
Porous polymer membranes have a thin layer of semi-permeable material that is used for solute separation as transmembrane pressure is applied across the membrane.
1523. poseur [noun]
someone who pretends to be something they are not, or to have qualities that they do not have:
Security was shocked that a poseur was able to sneak into the VIP room.
1524. posit [verb]
to suggest something as a basic fact or principle from which a further idea is formed or developed:
Since no other venue is available, I will posit my condominium as a place for the company holiday party.
1525. posthumous [adjective]
happening after a person's death:
He received a posthumous award for bravery.
1526. postulate [verb]
to suggest or accept that a theory or idea is true as a starting point for reasoning or discussion:
It was the Greek astronomer who postulated that the earth was at the center of the universe.
1527. pounce [verb]
to jump or move quickly in order to catch or take hold of something:
The cat sat in the tree ready to pounce on the ducks below.
1528. practitioner [noun]
someone involved in a skilled job or activity:
She was a medical practitioner before she entered politics.
1529. pragmatic [adjective]
based on practical judgments rather than principles:
The scientist had a pragmatic approach to dealing with the water crisis.
1530. prate [verb]
to talk stupidly, or about things that are not important, for a long time:
Even when the intoxicated woman was placed in the police car, she continued to prate until one of the officers yelled for her to be silent.
1531. prattle [verb]
to talk in a silly way or like a child for a long time about things that are not important or without saying anything important:
At every party, there is always one lady who has to prattle on about her cute kids.
1532. preamble [noun]
something that happens before or leads to something else:
At the start, the article’s preamble informs readers about the topics the author will discuss during his interview.
1533. precarious [adjective]
in a dangerous state because of not being safe or not being held in place firmly:
Many borrowers now find themselves caught in a precarious financial position.
1534. precept [noun]
a rule for action or behavior, especially obtained from moral thought:
Lawyers are supposed to follow a strict precept of ethics.
1535. precipitate [verb]
to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expected:
Fear of losing her job precipitated her into action.
1536. precis [noun]
a short form of a text that gives only the important parts:
The newspaper printed a subjective precis of the damning report.
1537. precocious [adjective]
showing mental development or achievement much earlier than usual:
I was a precocious child who at the age of four was already discussing the daily news with my parents.
1538. precursor [noun]
something that comes before another and may lead to it or influence its development:
Biological research has often been a precursor to medical breakthroughs.
1539. predicament [noun]
an unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of:
Because I do not want to end up in a financial predicament, I pay my bills regularly.
1540. predilection [noun]
a strong liking or preference:
Although she loves all types of music, she has a predilection for country tunes.
1541. predisposition [noun]
the state of being likely to behave in a particular way or to suffer from a particular disease:
She has an annoying predisposition to find fault.
1542. preferential [adjective]
better than that given to others:
Bank employees usually get preferential rates of interest.
1543. prehensile [adjective]
able to hold on to things, especially by curling around them:
A large opossum used its prehensile tail to gather and carry nesting materials.
1544. premeditate [verb]
to think about and revolve in the mind beforehand:
The assault was premeditated and particularly brutal.
1545. premonition [noun]
a feeling that something, especially something unpleasant, is going to happen:
Before the accident, he had a premonition something bad was going to happen.
1546. preordain [verb]
to decide or fix what will happen in a way that cannot be changed or controlled:
Some people believe that fate has been preordained whether they will be happy or not.
1547. preposterous [adjective]
completely unreasonable and ridiculous:
The new laws are preposterous and will not solve the real crime issue.
1548. presage [verb]
to show or suggest that something, often something unpleasant, will happen:
Higher fuel prices will presage an increase in airfares.
1549. prescience [noun]
the ability to know or correctly suggest what will happen in the future:
Because Janet was amazed by the psychic’s prescience, she visited him on a regular basis.
1550. prescient [adjective]
knowing or suggesting correctly what will happen in the future:
The psychic's predictions were uncannily prescient and ended up proving true a few weeks later.
1551. presumptuous [adjective]
rude because of doing something although you know you do not have a right to do it:
It would be presumptuous of me to comment on the matter.
1552. pretension [noun]
a claim or belief that you can succeed or that you are important or have serious value:
The Chronicle has pretensions to being a serious newspaper.
1553. pretentious [adjective]
trying to appear or sound more important or clever than you are, especially in matters of art and literature:
Even though Jake was a millionaire, he avoided hanging out with pretentious people who liked to flaunt their wealth.
1554. preternatural [adjective]
more than is usual or natural:
Anger gave me preternatural strength, and I managed to force the door open.
1555. prevalence [noun]
the fact that something is very common or happens often:
The prevalence of diabetes and obesity in adults continues to rise as junk food portion sizes get bigger and bigger.
1556. prevaricate [verb]
to avoid telling the truth or saying exactly what you think:
Even after she had been sworn in for her testimony, the witness continued to prevaricate about her relationship with the defendant.
1557. priggish [adjective]
marked by excessive concern for propriety and good form:
After working for a priggish boss who was never satisfied with my work, I decided to quit the job and work somewhere else.
1558. prim [adjective]
very formal and correct in behavior and easily shocked by anything rude:
The prudish princess has a reputation for being overly prim and proper.
1559. primacy [noun]
the state of being the most important thing:
The primacy of our mealtimes is that everyone eats together as a family.
1560. primal [adjective]
basic and relating to an early stage of development:
The dog’s primal instincts allow it to hunt out prey easily.
1561. primordial [adjective]
existing at or since the beginning of the world or the universe:
The planet Jupiter contains large amounts of the primordial gas and dust out of which the solar system was formed.
1562. pristine [adjective]
new or almost new, and in very good condition:
Because there were few tourists on the island, the beaches were still pristine and beautiful.
1563. probation [noun]
a period of time when a criminal must behave well and not commit any more crimes in order to avoid being sent to prison:
The prisoner was put on probation.
1564. probity [noun]
complete honesty:
Banks only hire people with reputations of probity.
1565. proclivity [noun]
the fact that someone likes something or likes to do something, especially something considered morally wrong:
It is the proclivity of the gas companies to raise prices when demand is high.
1566. procure [verb]
to get something, especially after an effort:
It remained very difficult to procure food, fuel and other daily necessities.
1567. prodigal [adjective]
spending or using large amounts of money, time, energy, etc., especially in a way that is not very wise:
The prodigal landlord spends the money as fast as he receives it.
1568. prodigious [adjective]
extremely great in ability, amount, or strength:
She wrote a truly prodigious number of novels.
1569. prodigy [noun]
someone with a very great ability that usually shows itself when that person is a young child:
The high school boy was considered a prodigy when he won the national chess championship.
1570. profligate [adjective]
spending money or using something in a way that wastes it and is not wise:
She is well-known for her profligate spending habits.
1571. profound [adjective]
showing a clear and deep understanding of serious matters:
The speaker’s profound words made me think about my future.
1572. profundity [noun]
the quality of showing a clear and deep understanding of serious matters:
He lacked profundity and analytical precision.
1573. profuse [adjective]
produced or given in large amounts:
Last year, my garden was so profuse with vegetation that I had to give away food.
1574. progeny [noun]
the young or offspring of a person, animal, or plant:
His numerous progeny are scattered all over the country.
1575. prognostic [adjective]
foretelling or predicting:
The arterial-alveolar oxygen tension ratio is a useful prognostic indicator.
1576. prohibitive [adjective]
too expensive to pay:
Hotel prices in the major cities are high but not prohibitive.
1577. proliferate [verb]
to increase a lot and suddenly in number:
As cell phones become more and more multi-functional, their use continues to proliferate and you see them and hear them just about everywhere you go.
1578. prolific [adjective]
producing a great number or amount of something:
Because the huge storm is expected to produce a prolific amount of snow, government offices and schools are being closed.
1579. prolix [adjective]
using too many words and therefore boring or difficult to read or listen to:
The prolix professor had a habit of using complex words that most people could not comprehend.
1580. prominent [adjective]
very well known and important:
If you are a prominent member of society, you will surely get an invitation to the mayor’s fundraising gala.
1581. prompt [verb]
to make something happen:
Recent worries over the president's health have prompted speculation over his political future.
1582. promulgate [verb]
to spread beliefs or ideas among a lot of people:
The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.
1583. propagate [verb]
to produce a new plant using a parent plant:
Most house plants can be propagated from stem cuttings.
1584. propensity [noun]
the fact that someone is likely to behave in a particular way, especially a bad way:
My mother has a propensity to drink when she gets anxious.
1585. prophecy [noun]
a statement that tells what will happen in the future:
The minister suggested that the dire prophecies of certain leading environmentalists were somewhat exaggerated.
1586. propitiate [verb]
to please and make calm a god or person who is annoyed with you:
In those days people might sacrifice a goat or sheep to propitiate an angry god.
1587. propitious [adjective]
likely to result in success, or showing signs of success:
When the butterfly landed on her shoulder, Alicia took it as a propitious sign she would have a fantastic day.
1588. proponent [noun]
a person who supports an idea, plan, or cause:
Because Monica loves animals, she is a fierce proponent of the animal rights movement.
1589. propriety [noun]
correct moral behavior or actions:
She was always careful to behave with propriety.
1590. prosaic [adjective]
without interest, imagination, and excitement:
Even though the film director described the movie as exciting, the film was actually prosaic and put most of the audience to sleep.
1591. proscribe [verb]
to forbid an action or practice officially:
In our country, there are laws which proscribe discrimination based on race and gender.
1592. protean [adjective]
easily and continuously changing:
George is a protean actor who is capable of playing numerous characters.
1593. protract [verb]
to make something last for a long time or last longer than necessary:
They tried to protract the discussion.
1594. provident [adjective]
making arrangements for future needs, especially by saving money:
The provident couple attended a seminar on how to budget their income.
1595. providential [adjective]
happening exactly when needed but without being planned:
Winning the lottery was a providential step towards paying off my mounting debt.
1596. provincial [adjective]
in or from the parts of the country that are not the capital city:
The majority of young professionals in the capital have moved there from provincial towns.
1597. provocative [adjective]
intended to cause a reaction, especially anger or annoyance, or to force you to think more carefully about something:
The minister's provocative remarks were widely reported in the press.
1598. prowess [noun]
great ability or skill:
Christina used her hunting prowess to survive in the woods for a week.
1599. proxy [noun]
the agency, function, or office of a deputy who acts as a substitute for another:
When my husband and I are out of the country, my sister is the proxy who signs legal documents for our children.
1600. prudent [adjective]
careful and avoiding risks:
It is not prudent to go swimming during a hurricane.
REFERENCE
: Essential Vocabulary for the GRE
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