Sample Word Meaning Questions

   
 

These questions are designed to measure your vocabulary, specifically your understanding of word meanings. To achieve this, the questions focus on the relationships between words and the questions are phrased such that you need to know the precise meaning of the words given, in order to select the correct answer. These types of question appear in all levels of verbal ability tests.

Download Sample Word Meaning Questions

These questions often use synonyms and antonyms (words which have either the same or opposite meanings), dictionary definitions and word pairs. Another type of word meaning question uses words which sound similar but have different meanings. These are called homophones and an example would be the words 'allude’ and ‘elude’. ‘Allude’ means ‘referred’ and ‘elude’ means ‘escaped from’. Once again, the test designer needs to choose common homophones which are in regular use and this leaves a relatively restricted list to choose from.

Sample Word Meaning Questions

1)

Which word does not have a similar meaning to - outcome

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

affect

result

upshot

effect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)

Which word does not have a similar meaning to - comprise

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

Compose

cover

contain

encompass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)

Which word does not have a similar meaning to - energize

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

rejuvenate

strengthen

enervate

uplift

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)

Which word does not have a similar meaning to - populated

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

crowded

packed

populous

populace

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)

Which word does not have a similar meaning to - condemn

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

critique

disparage

criticize

censure

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)

Which word means - tuneful; compatible; marked by agreement

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

inclusive

harmonious

saturated

lucid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7)

Which word means - with passionate or intense feelings

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

temperamental

transitory

disconsolate

ardent

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8)

Which word means - to accumulate; to gather

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

abjure

assess

amass

deliberate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9)

Which word means - unjustifiably malicious; immoral; unmanageable 

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

wanton

diffident

barren

trite

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10)

Which word means - continuous; eternal; never ceasing 

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

indistinct

perpetual

vigilant

imperturbable

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11)

Choose the word most similar in meaning to - perplex  

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

dither

affiliate

discomfit 

reiterate 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12)

Choose the word most similar in meaning to - contradict

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

gainsay

oppose

disparage

tarnish

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13)

Choose the word most similar in meaning to - argumentative  

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

strident 

confrontational

irreverent

vociferous

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14)

Choose the word most similar in meaning to - expedite

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

beckon

exterminate  

disrespect

facilitate

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15)

Choose the word most similar in meaning to - condescend

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

criticize

usurp

patronize

contribute  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16)

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to - fecund

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

productive

abundant

barren

unfriendly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17)

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to - tawdry

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

prosperous

clean

privileged

tasteful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18)

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to - pragmatic

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

irrational

impractical

exuberant

realistic

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19)

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to - absolve

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

condemn

pardon

free

exonerate

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20)

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to - exigent

 

 

 

A

B

C

D

 

 

 

strenuous

light

easy

difficult

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to sample word meaning questions.

Improving your performance on these word meaning questions is straightforward. The sample word meaning tests on this website contains the most commonly used words for this type of test. If you work through these test papers then you will have a list of words that you need to learn the precise meaning of.

Download sample word meaning practice questions.

 
 

 
   
   
 
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