Basic Word List

Vocabulary forms an essential part of every competitive exam. Here is a compilation of first 1000 words that must be prepared by SSC, MBA entrance, and government exam aspirants. Spread over 25 lists of 40 words, these lists offer you a chance to learn the most common English words.

Each word in each list is accompanied with its meaning and followed by a usage example. The words are categorized on three levels: Level 1 (beginner), Level 2 (intermediate) and Level 3 (advanced). Go through the word lists and enhance your vocabulary skills.

Suggested Action:

FREE Live Master Classes by our Star Faculty with 20+ years of experience.
Register Now

Level-1: Let’s get warmed up

Depression: A falling of the spirits

He went into depression on failing to get into a good B-school.

Disregard: Neglect

In complete disregard of official norms, the CM’s cousin was appointed even though he did not have the qualifications or the experience for the job.

Eliminate: To separate and cast aside

If you think you may be allergic to a food or drink, eliminate it from your diet.

Generate: To produce or cause to be

In a debate, healthy discussion generates interest among audience.

Moderate: Make less extreme

His previously critical stand against privatization has moderated with positive results being produced by the privatization of some government undertakings.

Obstacle: Blockade, hindrance

History stands testimony to the fact that every social reformer has come across hindrances in his path from his own people.

Sedate: To calm

I had expected a noisy, boisterous atmosphere at the party; this kind of sedate atmosphere is hardly found at parties.

Trait: characteristic

I inherited these artistic traits from my mother, who was an artist of no small repute.

Basic Word Lists

Level-2: Let’s take it up a notch

Attest: To certify

His honesty is such a well-known fact that even a child of this area can attest to it.

Concur: Agree

I concur with you on this issue in the broad details, but I am certainly not in favour of the extreme steps you propose.

Diligence: Constant effort

Both intelligence and diligence are needed to accomplish any task, howsoever unimportant or small it maybe.

Fallacious: False, misleading

If the theory is based on fallacious assumptions, its outcome is bound to be equally wrong.

Frantic: Emotional

Her frantic calls for help, made in a very distressed mood, failed to elicit any help from her stone-hearted friends.

Infamous: Publicly branded or notorious, as for vice, or crime.

His social adventures became somewhat infamous and scandal followed scandal.

Myth: A fictitious narrative presented as historical, but without any basis of fact.

I read a myth about the constellations today

Naught: Nothing

All his big plans of becoming a millionaire came to naught when the government banned the business he was planning to start.

Seduce: To lure

Helen, the stereotypical vamp on the silver screen, has been mostly portrayed as a charming, scheming woman who tries to seduce the hero with her provocative manners.

Somber: Serious

Akbar was in a very sombre mood that evening and even Birbal's jokes could not light up his face for a while.

Subordinate: Belonging to an inferior order in a classification

All members of the committee are subordinate to the chairman.

Verbalize: To speak

His not speaking against the proposal does not imply that he does not feel anything about it, in reality, he is not able to verbalize his strong feelings.

Level-3: Time to be a master

Apathy: Lack of emotion or feeling, indifference

By choosing to retain the CEO, the management has shown its apathy towards the worker’s demand for his removal.

Discernible: Recognizable

I could see a dim figure in the dark, but it was not discernible.

Eloquent: Persuasive

Her eloquent speech at the content left the audience impressed with her depth of ideas.

Ephemeral: Lasting for a brief time, short-lived

Always remember Aristotle's golden rule " Do not be unduly worried or delighted in misery or prosperity, for neither is going to last, both are ephemeral in nature."

Exude: To give forth, ooze out

Her face did exude confidence and poise when she faced the camera for the first time, but there was an iota of fear in her mind over her debut performance.

Fortitude: Courage

I have seen so many people with a great sense of courage, but Bidhi Chand – possibly God has not created a better model of fortitude.

Indefatigable: Tireless

An indefatigable campaigner as he was, he was able to address up to 30-35 political rallies in the course of a single day.

Infantile: Babyish

Her infantile response to my mature question made me wonder if she was really grown up as she claimed.

Infirmity: Weakness

He was not in a position to walk a few yards due to the infirmity caused by prolonged illness.

Intimidate: To cause to become frightened.

Attempts to intimidate people into voting for them failed.

Intrepid: Characterized by fearlessness and endurance

An intrepid fighter as she was, she fought against all odds in her way to the achievement of her goal.

Merciless: cruel

Hitler was a merciless ruler.

Probity: Adherence to highest principles, uprightness

In the wake of the recent recruitment scandal, the government must ensure that only people with proven probity and integrity of character are appointed to selection panels.

Protean: Readily taking on different shapes or forms

Ah! The protean ways of a typical Indian politician, who speaks in so many different voices at different times, it appears that he is having multiple personalities.

Scribble: Hasty, careless writing

Children usually scribble on the walls when they want to play with colors and pencils.

Seminal: Seedlike

His research on nano-electronics was seminal and eventually resulted in what is widely known today as ‘solid-state’ technology.

Sobriety: Seriousness

His sobriety in this matter is obvious from the fact that he has left everything else and is concentrating on just this affair.

Strut: Pompous walk

Ah! The strutting gait of a newly-rich, foreign-returned Indian, with imported gadgets in hand and dollars in bulging pockets.

Tractable: Docile , easily managed

As compared to a 6-month old baby who is quite easily controlled, a 1-year old is much less tractable, for it can move and has much more physical strength and independence.

Troupe: A group of theatrical performers, company

He, being the director of the City Drama troupe, used to visit different cities in connection with stage performances.

Suggested Action:

Kick start Your Preparations with FREE access to 25+ Mocks, 75+ Videos & 100+ Chapterwise Tests.
Sign Up Now