RAVE! Robust Academic Vocabulary Encounters!

GLOSSARY (sample)Grade 6

academicSomething is academic if it has to do with studying and school subjects like reading, math, science, and social studies.

accessIf you have access to something, you are able to get it or use it.

acknowledgeIf you acknowledge something, you accept that it is true or that it exists.

acquireIf you acquire something, you get it and it becomes yours.

adaptIf you adapt, you change your ideas or behavior in order to deal with a new situation successfully.

ambiguousIf something is ambiguous, its meaning is not clear because it can be understood in more than one way.

anticipateIf you anticipate something, you think about it ahead of time to get ready for it or to look forward to it.

assumeIf you assume something, you form an opinion without really knowing the facts.

benefitWhen you benefit from something, you get something good from it, and it is helpful to you.

biasA bias is a strong feeling for or against a type of person or thing that can lead to unfair treatment.

compatibleWhen people or things are compatible, they work well together and get along with each other.

compensateWhen you compensate for something that is needed or missing, you make up for it by providing something to take the place of it.

confineIf you confine a person or thing, you limit what they can do and where they can go.

conformIf you conform, you do what everyone in that situation is expected to do.

consentIf you consent to something, you agree to it or give permission for it to happen.

consequencesConsequences are the effects of peoples actions or decisions.

consultIf you consult with someone, you ask for their advice, information, or opinion about something.

contradictIf you contradict someone or something, you show that you disagree by saying or doing theopposite.

controversyA controversy is a strong disagreement about something that often involves a lot of discussion and angry feelings.

criteriaCriteria are the list of requirements you use to make a decision or a judgment about something.

deriveWhen a thing, idea, or feeling is derived, it comes from or is developed from something else.

diminishWhen something is diminished, there is less of it.

dominantWhen someone or something is dominant, it is the strongest, most powerful, and most important.

empiricalIf something is empirical, it is based on what can be observed and measured, not just your thoughts about it.

exceedSomething that exceeds goes beyond what is allowed or expected.

extractWhen you extract something, you take it out or pull it out of something else.

foundationA foundation provides support on which something else can be built.

functionThe function of something or someone is what they are supposed to do, their purpose.

implementIf you implement something, like a plan, idea, or program, you put it into action.

incentiveAn incentive is something that someone offers you to convince you to act a certain way or do a certain thing.

inherentAn inherent part of something is a natural, built-in part of it.

initiativeWhen someone takes the initiative or starts an initiative, they take action to solve a problem, to help someone, or to achieve a goal.

innovativeSomeone or something is innovative when they do things in a new and creative way.

integralIf something is integral to something else, it is a necessary part of it.

interactWhen people interact, they talk with each other or do things with each other.

manipulateIf you manipulate someone or something, you work on them to get what you want, often in a tricky way.

mutualSomething is mutual if people have the same thoughts or feelings about it.

obtainIf you want something and you obtain it, it means you were able to get it.

outcomeThe outcome of something is how it turns out at the end.

perceiveIf you perceive something, you sense it or become aware of it and begin to think about it in a certain way.

perspectiveA perspective is a particular way of thinking about or viewing something.

potentialIf someone or something has potential, it has the possibility of developing or happening in the future.

priorityA priority is something so important that it comes first before anything else.

rationalWhen people are being rational, they are thinking clearly, not emotionally, in an organized way that is based on facts.

restrictIf you restrict something, you limit it to control it from becoming too big or too difficult.

retainIf you retain something, you hold onto it and continue to use it or remember it.

rigidIf someone or something is rigid, they do not change or bend easily.

significantSomething significant is large enough or important enough to make a real difference.

suspendIf you suspend something, you stop it for a while or leave it hanging until a decision is made about it.

sustainIf you sustain something, you help to keep it going.

symbolicWhen something is symbolic, it stands for or represents something else, even if it does not look like that other thing.

transferIf something is transferred, it is moved or passed along from one place to another.

undertakeWhen you undertake a task or a challenge, you decide to take it on and do it.

unifyIf people or things unify, they come together as one thing or one group.

uniqueSomething that is unique is the only one of its kind.

virtualSomething virtual is so close to being real or being true that it seems real or true.

1RAVE! Glossary 2011 University of Pittsburgh