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125 Words Every 6th Grader Should Know: List 8

Learn these essential words that you'll encounter in literature, textbooks, class discussions, and more.
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Full list of words from this list:

  1. circumstance
    a condition that accompanies some event or activity
    He wondered how things might have turned out differently for him if he’d had more faith, a different name, or been born to different circumstances. The Serpent King
  2. commence
    begin or get started
    We passed a few sad hours until eleven o’clock, when the trial was to commence. Frankenstein
  3. current
    occurring in or belonging to the present time
    Former Emperor Akihito, the father of the current emperor, was the first member of the imperial family to marry a commoner. Seattle Times (Nov 13, 2021)
  4. desperate
    showing extreme urgency or intensity because of great need
    Was I so desperate to survive that I would steal bread from a sick boy? Prisoner B-3087
  5. extensive
    broad in scope or content
    My vocabulary is just not as extensive, and sometimes I get stuck. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
  6. glum
    moody and sorrowful
    She looked glum after that, and I felt sorry that I’d crushed her hopes. Made You Up
  7. grimace
    a contorted facial expression
    He stilled, then slowly curled into a ball, his face set in a fierce grimace of pain. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)
  8. inferior
    of or characteristic of low rank or importance
    The author, Mary Wollstonecraft, argued that women weren’t naturally inferior to men but lacked educational opportunities that allowed them to achieve equality. Votes for Women!
  9. parched
    dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
    “Pa, try to take some water,” she’d say, lifting his head and holding a glass to his cracked, parched lips. Cold Sassy Tree
  10. plummet
    drop sharply
    Then the rotten old floor collapsed, and the boys plummeted into the basement. October Sky
  11. priority
    status established in order of importance or urgency
    “Our highest priority is the health and safety of our fans, staff, and local community,” the Rapids said in a statement. The Guardian (Aug 2, 2019)
  12. recount
    narrate or give a detailed account of
    As we rode, he recounted tale after tale of their bravery and cleverness. Ella Enchanted
  13. recurring
    coming back
    His studies were also interrupted by recurring illness, which was to plague him all his life. The Scientists
  14. rummage
    search haphazardly
    She bends down and rummages in one of the cupboards behind her desk until she pulls out a bag of pretzels. The Benefits of Being an Octopus
  15. stable
    showing little if any change
    It’s surprisingly stable; it doesn’t really change over time. Scientific American (Oct 27, 2021)
  16. terrain
    a piece of ground having specific characteristics
    The path is still pretty wide, wide enough for horses, but the terrain around us is getting rockier, the path twistier. The Knife of Never Letting Go
  17. transmit
    serve as the medium for sending something
    Art, for Denes, is a way of ordering the world, of transmitting ideas, of offering other people new ways of looking and thinking. Washington Post (Oct 24, 2019)
  18. viewpoint
    a mental position from which things are considered
    “And this time I want you to come ready to speak up. I think your viewpoint is going to be particularly valuable.” The Benefits of Being an Octopus
  19. visibility
    capability of providing a clear unobstructed view
    Snow begins, thick and wet, making visibility even more difficult. Catching Fire
  20. wither
    shrink, as with a loss of moisture
    Flowers withered, insects shriveled, and fish died in their tanks. Artemis Fowl
Created on Thu Dec 02 08:46:18 EST 2021 (updated Thu Dec 16 12:48:54 EST 2021)

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