This blog post shows you how to learn GRE words faster and more effectively by focusing on context, roots, and smart daily habits instead of rote memorization.
The GRE verbal section can feel like an insurmountable mountain of obscure vocabulary words. Many students fall into the trap of mindlessly memorizing word lists, only to forget them days later.
But what if I told you there’s a better way? A method that not only helps you learn GRE vocabulary faster but also ensures these words become a permanent part of your mental arsenal?
With this method, I myself was able to memorise almost 3500 words in a span of just 3 months. I used to learn nearly 40-50 new words almost daily and the magical part was that I didn’t forget those words, even after years.
And before I share what really worked, let me be upfront about what I don’t recommend, especially if you’re just starting out. I don’t recommend cramming endless word lists or relying on rote memorization. I also don’t recommend leaning too heavily on mnemonics.
The GRE is never going to ask you to simply match words with definitions or recall synonyms. What it actually tests is how words behave inside sentences (through Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence) and how their shades of meaning shift in Reading Comprehension passages.
Also read: 27 Verbal Ability Questions for GRE with Explanations
This is why I tell my students: flashcards and vocabulary lists can be useful, but only as a tool for self-testing or for flagging words you don’t know. They aren’t the right starting point if your goal is to learn vocabulary in a lasting way.
If you’re a beginner, leaning only on those methods is like trying to understand music by memorizing note names without ever listening to a song.
Now that we have gotten over that, let’s understand how you can learn GRE words faster and hopefully, forever.
Learn words in context
Here’s the truth that changed everything for me: words aren’t just definitions to memorize—they’re living, breathing entities with their own life stories. Every word has a birth, a prime time when it’s actively used, and sometimes even a slow fade into obscurity.
Words don’t live in isolation. Often times, there meaning changes depending on the context. Take for example the word sanction.
Example 1: The government decided to sanction (=approve, permit) the new trade agreement.
Example 2: The UN imposed strict sanctions (=penalty, punishment) on the country after repeated violations.
As you can see, the word sanction changed its meaning based on the context it was used in.
This realization led me to the most powerful technique: learning words in their natural habitat—context.
Context is what transforms a word from an abstract label into a vivid memory, and that’s why you rarely forget it once you’ve learned it in a sentence.
Think about how you remember stories: not by memorizing every line, but because the events, characters, and emotions anchor themselves in your mind. Words work the same way.
Here’s my step-by-step process to learn words in context:
Step 1: Choose Your Reading Material Pick challenging content just above your comfort level. I recommend non-fiction from varied fields:
- The Economist or Financial Times for current affairs
- Scientific American for science topics
- The Atlantic or The New Yorker for culture and politics
- Academic/non-fiction books in subjects that interest you
Step 2: The Active Reading Method When you encounter a difficult word, don’t immediately rush to the dictionary. Instead:
- Read the entire sentence carefully
- Try to guess the word’s meaning from context clues
- Write your guess in pencil right next to the word
- Continue reading the passage
Step 3: The Sense-Check After finishing the passage, ask yourself: “Does my overall understanding still make sense with the meanings I guessed?” If yes, you’ve likely cracked the code correctly.
Why This Works So Well: When you learn “mendacious” from reading “The politician’s mendacious claims about the economy were easily disproven by official statistics,” you don’t just learn that it means “dishonest.” You automatically absorb:
- How it’s used in sentences (describing statements or people)
- Its formal, sophisticated tone
- Its negative connotation
- That it often appears in contexts involving deception or lies
This is exactly what the GRE tests! The exam doesn’t ask you to match words with definitions. Instead, it presents text completion and sentence equivalence questions that require you to understand how words actually function in sentences.
Start with Word Roots and Etymology
Before diving into individual words, invest time in learning common Greek and Latin roots. This strategy is like learning to fish instead of being given a fish—it multiplies your vocabulary exponentially.
Key roots to master first:
- Bene/Ben (good): benevolent, benefactor, benediction
- Mal/Male (bad): malevolent, malicious, malefactor
- Circum (around): circumscribe, circumvent, circumspect
- Sub (under): subjugate, sublime, subtle
When you encounter “circumlocution” on the test, you’ll instantly recognize “circum” (around) and connect it to speaking around a topic rather than directly.
The best and most popular book I’ve come across for learning vocabulary through roots is Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. First published in 1937, it remains incredibly relevant, and its popularity continues to grow even today.
Write down the words you learn every day
One of the simplest yet most powerful habits you can build is keeping track of the words you encounter. Don’t just let new words pass by—catch them. Write them down in a notebook, a Google Doc, or even a notes app on your phone. The act of recording them makes the word more “real” and signals to your brain that it matters.
But writing them down isn’t enough. To truly learn a word, you need to use it. That’s why I recommend crafting your own sentences with every new word. Don’t just copy dictionary examples—make the word work in your context.
If you’ve just learned morose, don’t write “He was morose after the failure.” Instead, write something that feels personal: “I felt morose when my weekend plans got cancelled at the last minute.” The more the word connects with your life, the faster it sticks.
Now, I know it’s not always practical to write sentences for every word—some days you’ll be short on time. In that case, try slipping the new words into casual conversation. If you’ve learned banal, and your friend tells you a bad joke, you could laugh and say, “That was kind of banal, but I appreciate the effort.”
These little moments turn vocabulary from an abstract list into part of your living language.
Over time, you’ll build a personal “word diary”—not just a list of definitions, but a record of words you’ve played with, shaped, and made your own. And trust me, when GRE day comes, those words will feel far more natural than anything you crammed from a flashcard deck.
Use apps/extensions that makes you learn 1 word at a time
Another trick that worked wonders for me was using apps and browser extensions that serve you a single word at a time. The idea is simple: instead of overwhelming yourself with massive word lists, you meet words in small, digestible doses.
One word appears on your lock screen, your new tab page, or even as a notification—and that single word stays with you all day.
Why does this work so well? Because our brains are wired to handle focus, not floods. When you’re introduced to twenty new words at once, you barely retain any of them. But when one word pops up repeatedly, it has the chance to sink in.
You see it, think about it, maybe even try to use it once in a sentence—and suddenly it’s yours.
If you spend time browsing, install one of these handy one-word-a-day browser extensions:
- Magoosh Vocabulary (Chrome extension) delivers a new GRE-relevant word every time you open a new tab, complete with definitions and context.
- Wordsmith (Chrome extension) shows a new word on each new tab, using words from GRE/SAT/GRE word lists in an elegant, distraction-free design.
If you prefer learning on your phone, try these daily word apps:
- Word of the Day · Vocabulary (iOS) offers beautifully illustrated, linguistically curated words every day, with pronunciation, definitions, and example sentences. (paid)
- Word of the Day – Vocabulary Builder (Android) delivers GRE-style words, with quizzes, synonyms, antonyms, and contextual enrichments.
And if you’re active on social media, follow @merriamwebster on Instagram and Twitter (X). They post a visually engaging #WordOfTheDay regularly, bringing vocabulary to life in a modern, digestible format.
Brush up with flash cards and vocabulary lists
Once you feel confident that you’ve built a strong enough GRE vocabulary, flashcards are a great way to test and reinforce what you’ve learned. Use them to see where your memory is strong and where you might be slipping. They help you catch the words you might forget and give you a chance to quickly revisit them.
The same goes for vocabulary lists. Don’t rely on them for initial learning or cramming. Instead, use them as a safety net—to review what you already know and to check that no unfamiliar words are hiding in the background. This way, flashcards and word lists become tools for polishing, not crutches for learning from scratch.
How to learn GRE words?
Learning GRE vocabulary doesn’t have to feel like drowning in endless word lists. The real secret is to focus on quality over quantity and learn words in the environments where they naturally live. When you see words in context, notice their roots, write them down, and practice using them, they stop being “test words” and start becoming part of your own language.
Remember, you don’t need shortcuts or memory tricks that fade in a week. What you need is a system that keeps words fresh in your mind—reading actively, keeping a word diary, using one-word-a-day tools, and reviewing with flashcards only when you’re ready.
This way, you’re not just preparing for the GRE; you’re building a vocabulary that will stay with you long after test day, in your studies, your career, and your everyday conversations.
If you start today and stay consistent, you’ll be amazed at how quickly words that once felt intimidating become second nature. And when that happens, the GRE verbal section won’t feel like a mountain anymore—it will feel like familiar ground you’ve already walked many times.
Discover more from verbalhq.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.