High Frequency GRE Words – Power Verbs (words)

Dear Students, this week we will memorize some ‘Power Verbs’. The name itself suggests that these are very powerful words and their appearance in GRE is almost inevitable. So, let us now fold our sleeves up and sit alertly to look at and into these words and understand how they function. Let us also use them in context wherever possible in order to commit them to our memory permanently.

 

• Flaunt: Have you ever seen a child showing off his newly acquired toy- remote- car? Or a woman in a gathering showing off the diamond ring her husband gifted her to one and all? Most of us have come across such situations. To flaunt is to show off, exhibit. To flaunt is to parade, that means to display.

• Flout: Some employees are not very happy with the rules framed by the Human Resources Department of their company. They always make negative, derisive remarks on the company’s policies. They do not uphold the company’s integrity. Such employees are said to flout the rules of their company.

To flout is to show contempt, scoff at or to mock at something.

• Flay: The word flay has many connotations. It is a very powerful word/verb indeed. To flay is to pare, i.e. to remove the outer skin of something. Now, is that not extremely painful? Well, if it is so, it also means to make excoriating comments against someone.

To flay is to strip a person of his/her money/wealth or property. A formidable and powerful word indeed! Hope you never forget this!

• Flail: How does a politician/celebrity initially address a huge gathering? He/she raises up his/her hands and waves at the enchanted public. Got the picture in mind? Yes, to flail is to wave vigorously. It also means to whirl or to thrash. This word also has multiple definitions. Hence, you have to put some extra effort to memorize this.

• Prate: Do you get mad at people who keep on talking foolishly. Who blabber unendingly without making any point? Could you think of such people around you?

To prate is to talk foolishly, to such an extent that the person hearing this feels like pulling his hair and screaming. Funny! Isn’t it? I am sure you will memorize this word faster than most others. (( smiles))

• Rail: Rail is simpler word to commit to memory. To Rail is to make an acerbic (harsh) complaint. It is like cursing one’s own fate for a series of unfortunate events that might have taken place. To rail at one’s fate/destiny is the contextual usage of the Power Verb.
• Reek: Reek is once again a powerful word/verb which means to emit something (usually of a foul odor). It means to expose to something or treat with smoke.

• Rake: To rake is not only a power verb it is also a visual verb. How do the police search for the missing documents in a notorious criminal’s residence? Can you almost imagine the police going to the wardrobe and scattering around all the clothes, tearing the mattress, opening the cupboards and throwing away the miscellaneous household equipment helter-skelter? What are they doing? Yes, they are raking.

The police raked the apartment for the missing files. That is the word in its contextual usage.

• Cloy: Have you ever heard the saying ‘Too much of anything is good for nothing’? What happens if you keep eating sweets just because they are available around you in overabundance? You grow weary of eating them, don’t you?

To cloy is to become uninteresting.

• Foist: To foist is to impose fraudulently or pass off something as genuine.

The contractor foisted unfair agreements in the document.

I suggest you all to spend a little more time than usual with these words. Work harder on these words as we do not use them frequently in our regular conversation. On the other side whether we like it or not these are the words that keep appearing in GRE’s (Graduate Record Examination) Verbal Ability Section.

Some important advice:

Do not just read but work on these words. Use a notebook to jot them down and a dictionary to understand the meaning and the context better. As I always tell: Utter the words aloud- each word five times!!

Things you should never forget:

1. Work with the word.

2. Expand its meaning into a suitable context.

3. Relate it to the person or situation you know.

4. Share the word with your friends, colleagues

5. Try to pronounce the word aloud at least five times

Read this blog on Power Verbs more than once to comprehend its essence thoroughly. Do get back to us with pertinent queries in case you have any.

Wishing you all, success!!

Regards,

Anu Veluri

Manager- learnwordlist.com

9 Responses to “High Frequency GRE Words – Power Verbs (words)”

1. Anushree on October 9th, 2009 4:40 pm

   hi..how do i know when will post new words to this power verbs section.wil it be a separate blog itself..or u wil make additions here only.
   Thank you
   -Anushree

2. TOEFL iBT Online on October 11th, 2009 6:00 am

   Thank you a lot for that list. It is very useful. If it only contained more of those power verbs.

3. AnuVeluri on October 11th, 2009 7:40 am

   Yes sure, we shall certainly come up with more number of Power Verbs. But these are oft appearing ones in GRE. As students you all can participate and add to the lists..:-)

   Regards,

4. Sweta Pokharel on November 4th, 2009 9:31 am

   Hello anu,
   All these blogs are great for begineers like us. After i got your help from your last post, i have become focussed and have started learning with much interest. Thanks alot. Looking forward for more realistic blogs, those which make us relate n remember words by heart.
   Thank you.

5. AnuVeluri on November 4th, 2009 11:59 am

   Thanks Sweta so much, it makes me happy to know that these blogs help you. In fact we are coming up with more number of blogs. Pls stay tuned.

6. vishnu on December 21st, 2009 2:44 pm

   thnks for these words.but can u just help me

   how should i learn the gre words ?
   i mean should i learn it randomly like flash carrds or
   in in order alphabetically?pls help me…till now i have learned it like flash cards..but i was not able to answerr the test questions

7. AnuVeluri on December 29th, 2009 12:06 pm

   Vishnu, u shud first know ur own pace of learning…are u a fast learner?? If yes u can learn quickly and retain too..if not u have to start an early preparation..there are many blogs that deal with GRE learning strategies..read them all..

   http://www.learnwordlist.com/blog..

   pls follow the suggested link..

8. sriram on May 27th, 2010 7:41 am

   i have an years time for gre….is it possible to learn all d wordlists and remember them in d course of d year???

9. shipra on May 27th, 2010 11:39 am

   hii sriram

   Why not?? if you learn them regularly and with technique(root,temp,pre/suffix),i am sure you will be able to retain all the words in a year.
   wishing you good luck !!!

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