Test Your GRE Vocabulary Online (with Downloadable Pdf)

This article contains a GRE Vocabulary test of 25 questions to give you a rough idea of where you stand in your GRE preparation.

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If you’re preparing for the GRE, having a strong vocabulary is a must.

Whether you’re just starting or checking where you stand, this free GRE vocabulary test will show you how much you already know, what you still need to work on, and how close you are to being vocabulary-ready for your exam.

The practicd set in this article contains 25 GRE-style vocabulary questions. Each question presents a word in bold, followed by five possible meanings. Choose the option that best matches the meaning of the given word.

Keep in mind that the GRE doesn’t test vocabulary by simply asking you to define words. Instead, it hides them inside Verbal Reasoning questions like Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence. That’s why building vocabulary in context matters more than rote memorisation.

If you’d rather try out a full GRE-style practice set instead of just vocabulary, you can head over to the linked article.

Now, let’s test your GRE vocabulary.

Note: These words have been taken from my list of 99 High Frequency GRE words.

You can also download this free GRE vocabulary test by clicking the link below.

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GRE Vocabulary Test

1. Ambiguous
A. Open to more than one interpretation
B. Clear and precise
C. Firmly established
D. Easily understood
E. Obvious and straightforward

2. Substantiate
A. To weaken a claim
B. To hide or conceal
C. To prove or support with evidence
D. To dismiss as unimportant
E. To question or doubt

3. Pragmatic
A. Idealistic and dreamy
B. Practical and focused on results
C. Theoretical without application
D. Imaginative and fanciful
E. Abstract and speculative

4. Erudite
A. Lacking in knowledge
B. Careless about learning
C. Practical but unlearned
D. Superficial in understanding
E. Highly educated and scholarly

5. Contentious
A. Peaceful and harmonious
B. Easily accepted by all
C. Universally admired
D. Causing disagreement or conflict
E. Free from debate

6. Disparate
A. Entirely different or distinct
B. Closely related
C. Similar in nature
D. Identical in form
E. Easily comparable

7. Tenuous
A. Strong and well supported
B. Weak or lacking a solid basis
C. Firm and convincing
D. Deeply rooted
E. Substantial and clear

8. Ubiquitous
A. Rare and unusual
B. Limited to one place
C. Hard to find
D. Restricted in scope
E. Present everywhere

9. Venerate
A. To despise or scorn
B. To ignore without care
C. To treat casually
D. To speak against
E. To respect or honor deeply

10. Admonish
A. To praise highly
B. To warn or scold gently
C. To ignore faults
D. To encourage strongly
E. To reward openly

11. Precarious
A. Secure and steady
B. Dangerous or unstable
C. Safe from harm
D. Firmly grounded
E. Protected and strong

12. Ameliorate
A. To improve or make better
B. To worsen a situation
C. To leave unchanged
D. To cause harm
E. To intensify problems

13. Enumerate
A. To confuse with details
B. To hide information
C. To count or list one by one
D. To summarise vaguely
E. To overlook deliberately

14. Capricious
A. Predictable and steady
B. Firmly consistent
C. Cautious and deliberate
D. Given to sudden changes in mood or behavior
E. Stable and reliable

15. Proliferate
A. To decrease gradually
B. To disappear completely
C. To reduce in number
D. To multiply or increase rapidly
E. To wither slowly

16. Eschew
A. To embrace eagerly
B. To accept without question
C. To support openly
D. To follow closely
E. To deliberately avoid or shun

17. Corroborate
A. To contradict directly
B. To doubt or question
C. To confirm or support with evidence
D. To conceal deliberately
E. To weaken or undermine

18. Equivocal
A. Clear and definite
B. Open to multiple interpretations
C. Straightforward and simple
D. Certain and unquestionable
E. Precise and exact

19. Candor
A. Evasiveness in speech
B. Honest and open expression
C. Careful concealment of facts
D. Subtle manipulation
E. Indirect communication

20. Catalyst
A. Something that speeds up change or reaction
B. Something that delays progress
C. An obstacle preventing action
D. A stabiliser that maintains balance
E. A neutral element with no effect

21. Mitigate
A. To worsen a situation
B. To lessen the severity of something
C. To ignore deliberately
D. To intensify further
E. To provoke unnecessarily

22. Dichotomy
A. A union of similar ideas
B. A harmony of differences
C. A blend of different elements
D. A division into two contrasting parts
E. A gradual transition

23. Arduous
A. Very easy to accomplish
B. Requiring great effort or difficulty
C. Done with little thought
D. Simple and straightforward
E. Pleasant and relaxing

24. Prevalent
A. Rare and hardly seen
B. Widely existing or common
C. Limited to one area
D. Short-lived and temporary
E. Restricted in influence

25. Archaic
A. Modern and up-to-date
B. Current and practical
C. Ancient or outdated
D. Recent and innovative
E. Contemporary and relevant

Check your answers

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. E
5. D
6. A
7. B
8. E
9. E
10. B
11. B
12. A
13. C
14. D
15. D
16. E
17. C
18. B
19. B
20. A
21. B
22. D
23. B
24. B
25. C

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Scoring & Remarks

Now that you are done with the test, lets see how you fair on it.

22–25 marks: Excellent
Your vocabulary is top-tier, you’re test-ready. Keep revising 10–15 words daily using flash cards just to stay sharp, and focus more on practice questions than rote learning.

18–21 marks: Very Good
You have a strong grasp with minor gaps. Revise 15–20 words a day through flash cards, or from mock tests or reading passages, and track tricky words in a personal notebook.

14–17 marks: Fair
You know a decent amount, but consistency will help. Spend 30–40 minutes daily, learning 20 new words and revising old ones; also read editorials or essays to see words in context.

10–13 marks: Weak
The basics are there, but you need discipline. Start with 15 words daily, focus on roots and read widely, especially non-fiction material, and revise frequently instead of cramming.

Below 10 marks: Poor
You’re at the foundation stage. Begin with 10 words a day and steadily build up; read simple articles to build your vocabulary in context so meanings stick naturally.