SAT Vocabulary: Character

Words for lasting traits, each in a short sentence.

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Desk calendar

Ms. Okonkwo keeps a desk calendar of small tasks and finishes each one before the lunch bell. Students describe that diligent routine as the way she has always taught.

  1. 1.As used in the text, what does the word "diligent" most nearly mean?

Chess in the park

At the park chess table, Mr. Alvarez turns down every suggested move and plays his own line to the last pawn. His stubborn streak is a neighborhood legend.

  1. 2.As used in the text, what does the word "stubborn" most nearly mean?

Extra lunch boxes

On Sunday mornings Lena fills extra lunch boxes for cousins who drop by the kitchen. Giving food away is her generous custom, not a one-day mood.

  1. 3.As used in the text, what does the word "generous" most nearly mean?

The fine box

When the library fine box is short, Jonah reports the missing coins even if no one watched the desk. People trust that honest habit.

  1. 4.As used in the text, what does the word "honest" most nearly mean?

Dawn bus stop

Every weekday before dawn, Priya is the driver who waits if a regular rider is half a block away. That reliable practice has held for years.

  1. 5.As used in the text, what does the word "reliable" most nearly mean?

Window scraps

In the corner shop, Amir builds each month's window from scraps and leftover paper. His creative bent shows in every display.

  1. 6.As used in the text, what does the word "creative" most nearly mean?

The same warm-up

Coach Rivera runs the same warm-up, drill, and cool-down, and she never skips a step for herself. The team follows her disciplined example.

  1. 7.As used in the text, what does the word "disciplined" most nearly mean?

A split hose

When the garden hose split, Nora sealed the leak with a sleeve cut from an old glove. Neighbors count on her practical fixes.

  1. 8.As used in the text, what does the word "practical" most nearly mean?

First apartment

After moving into a small apartment, Theo cooks, budgets, and mends his clothes without calling home. He has been independent since his first week there.

  1. 9.As used in the text, what does the word "independent" most nearly mean?

A broken latch

When the farm gate latch broke, Sam wired a spare hinge from the shed and had the cows in before dark. Folks still tell that resourceful story.

  1. 10.As used in the text, what does the word "resourceful" most nearly mean?

Printer down

The office printer died an hour before a client packet was due, so Jules moved the pages to a shared screen and finished. Colleagues count on her flexible habits.

  1. 11.As used in the text, what does the word "flexible" most nearly mean?

Marked scripts

During theater rehearsals, Helen marks her script, keeps her opinions to herself, and speaks only when the director asks. Castmates know her reserved manner.

  1. 12.As used in the text, what does the word "reserved" most nearly mean?

Names on the dock

On the dock after work, Luis greets every fisher by name and stays while the boats are tied. His sociable ways fill the evening.

  1. 13.As used in the text, what does the word "sociable" most nearly mean?

Before he thinks

In class, Diego blurts an answer, joins a club, or trades his snack before he has thought it through. Teachers treat that impulsive pattern as part of him.

  1. 14.As used in the text, what does the word "impulsive" most nearly mean?

Measuring twice

Before she bakes, Aunt Rosa measures twice, labels every jar, and wipes the counter as she goes. The family plans around her careful kitchen habits.

  1. 15.As used in the text, what does the word "careful" most nearly mean?

The steep ramp

At the skate park, Malik takes the steep ramp without pads and laughs when friends warn him. His reckless style has looked the same for years.

  1. 16.As used in the text, what does the word "reckless" most nearly mean?

Unit prices

Maya compares unit prices, carries the same canvas bag, and skips anything not on her list. Clerks recognize her frugal shopping.

  1. 17.As used in the text, what does the word "frugal" most nearly mean?

A joke on the bus

On the late bus, Kenji turns a dull delay into a quick joke that makes the row smile. Riders expect those witty lines.

  1. 18.As used in the text, what does the word "witty" most nearly mean?

Exact thanks

When Nia thanks a librarian, she names the exact help and stands by each word. That sincere manner is how she always speaks.

  1. 19.As used in the text, what does the word "sincere" most nearly mean?

Holding the door

Even when a meeting runs long, Andre holds the door, waits his turn, and thanks the note-taker. Coworkers remark on his polite conduct.

  1. 20.As used in the text, what does the word "polite" most nearly mean?

One more sprint

At every practice, Sofia checks her time against yesterday and asks for one more sprint. Teammates know that competitive drive.

  1. 21.As used in the text, what does the word "competitive" most nearly mean?

Labeled bins

Leah labels bins, keeps a shared calendar, and returns tools before she sits down. Visitors notice how organized she keeps every shelf.

  1. 22.As used in the text, what does the word "organized" most nearly mean?

Night after night

After a low quiz score, Omar reworks each missed item night after night until he can teach it. Tutors point to his persistent effort.

  1. 23.As used in the text, what does the word "persistent" most nearly mean?

The unmarked trail

On weekend hikes that start at the park gate, Chris picks the unmarked trail and packs for weather he has not checked. Friends treat that adventurous habit as typical.

  1. 24.As used in the text, what does the word "adventurous" most nearly mean?

The porch

By midmorning the stalls still need mucking, yet Ben stays on the porch until someone else starts. The hired hands talk about his lazy ways.

  1. 25.As used in the text, what does the word "lazy" most nearly mean?

The first bowl

When the stew is ready, Grant fills his bowl first and leaves the small pot for everyone else. Roommates call that selfish pattern old news.

  1. 26.As used in the text, what does the word "selfish" most nearly mean?

A short drawer

Tomas shorted the register twice and told the owner the drawer had balanced. The shop let him go over that dishonest conduct.

  1. 27.As used in the text, what does the word "dishonest" most nearly mean?

The bus door

Three mornings this month, Caleb promised to hold the bus door and then walked off. Riders now plan around his unreliable promises.

  1. 28.As used in the text, what does the word "unreliable" most nearly mean?

The same update

In staff meetings, Paula reads the same update in the same flat voice and adds no story. Colleagues have long found her boring.

  1. 29.As used in the text, what does the word "boring" most nearly mean?

One warm-up order

Coach Bennett allows one warm-up order and will not change it for weather, injuries, or new players. Players live with his rigid rules.

  1. 30.As used in the text, what does the word "rigid" most nearly mean?

A phone call home

Even for a burned-out bulb or a simple soup, Riley phones a parent before trying it alone. Friends say his dependent habits never faded.

  1. 31.As used in the text, what does the word "dependent" most nearly mean?

Marble stairs

For every school play, the designer proposes marble stairs and a live fountain the stage cannot hold. The director has long called him impractical.

  1. 32.As used in the text, what does the word "impractical" most nearly mean?

Waiting for a plan

When study group work stalls at the library, Wendy waits for someone else to assign tasks and never offers a plan. Classmates know her passive role.

  1. 33.As used in the text, what does the word "passive" most nearly mean?

The running tap

Hugo runs the tap while he searches for a glass and throws out leftovers that are still good. His sister points out that wasteful pattern again.

  1. 34.As used in the text, what does the word "wasteful" most nearly mean?

Dropped crates

Loading crates on the dock, Pete drops a coil, bumps the rail, and trips on the same hose each week. The crew plans for his clumsy hands.

  1. 35.As used in the text, what does the word "clumsy" most nearly mean?

Cutting the line

At the counter, Vince cuts in line, snaps at the clerk, and leaves without a thanks. Regulars avoid his rude manner.

  1. 36.As used in the text, what does the word "rude" most nearly mean?

The far barn

During storms, Amina checks the far barn even when the path is dark and the wind is high. Neighbors speak of her brave character.

  1. 37.As used in the text, what does the word "brave" most nearly mean?

A barking dog

If a dog barks near the path, Elliot turns back and will not pass, even with friends beside him. They have always seen him as cowardly.

  1. 38.As used in the text, what does the word "cowardly" most nearly mean?

After the bell

Mr. Shah stays after the bell to reteach a lesson and never makes a student feel small. The class counts on his kind nature.

  1. 39.As used in the text, what does the word "kind" most nearly mean?

Mocking a miss

When a teammate misses a shot, Derek mocks the error in front of the bench and keeps at it. Coaches have warned him about that cruel habit.

  1. 40.As used in the text, what does the word "cruel" most nearly mean?

The same checklist

In reviews, Dana scores each person by the same checklist and writes the reason beside every mark. Staff trust her fair judgments.

  1. 41.As used in the text, what does the word "fair" most nearly mean?

Extra credit

Ms. Pell gives extra credit only to students she likes and marks the same answer wrong for others. Parents say her unfair grading is a pattern.

  1. 42.As used in the text, what does the word "unfair" most nearly mean?

Seedlings

With new seedlings, Eli cups the soil and never yanks a weed by the roots. Garden club members rely on his gentle hands.

  1. 43.As used in the text, what does the word "gentle" most nearly mean?

Sharp notes

The director corrects every missed line in a sharp voice and allows no second try. Actors brace for his harsh notes.

  1. 44.As used in the text, what does the word "harsh" most nearly mean?

Names on the route

Greta learns riders' names, saves a seat for a new student, and chats at each stop. The route knows her friendly style.

  1. 45.As used in the text, what does the word "friendly" most nearly mean?

The end of the table

At office lunches, Victor sits at the end of the table, answers in short phrases, and leaves before dessert. Coworkers describe that aloof distance as his usual way.

  1. 46.As used in the text, what does the word "aloof" most nearly mean?

Whispers nearby

Even beside a hush sign, Sasha whispers a long story to anyone who sits nearby. Librarians know her talkative habit.

  1. 47.As used in the text, what does the word "talkative" most nearly mean?

After dinner

After dinner, Noor washes dishes, reads, and rarely starts a conversation. Her roommates live with that quiet presence.

  1. 48.As used in the text, what does the word "quiet" most nearly mean?

High pace

From the first whistle to the last lap, Jade keeps a high pace and invites others along. Park regulars match her energetic tempo.

  1. 49.As used in the text, what does the word "energetic" most nearly mean?

A heavy day

Chores that take an hour for others take Owen all afternoon, and he moves as if the day were heavy. The family works around his sluggish pace.

  1. 50.As used in the text, what does the word "sluggish" most nearly mean?

Cake by noon

When a customer wants a custom cake by noon, Bea states the real time and the real cost before she accepts. Clients hire her for that realistic outlook.

  1. 51.As used in the text, what does the word "realistic" most nearly mean?

A perfect code

In student council, Marco pushes for a perfect honor code and free supplies for every club, cost aside. Advisors know his idealistic aims.

  1. 52.As used in the text, what does the word "idealistic" most nearly mean?

The chore list

When the siblings argue, Tessa splits the chore list and listens to both sides without slamming a door. Relatives rely on her mature judgment.

  1. 53.As used in the text, what does the word "mature" most nearly mean?

After the loss

After a loss, Kyle blames the referee, pouts on the bench, and will not shake hands. Coaches treat that immature reaction as his usual one.

  1. 54.As used in the text, what does the word "immature" most nearly mean?

Locked shed

Before leaving the dock, Hannah locks the bait shed, logs the fuel, and texts that the boats are secure. The owner hired her for being responsible.

  1. 55.As used in the text, what does the word "responsible" most nearly mean?

The stove left on

Jamal leaves the stove on, forgets the rent, and lets guests in when he is away. The landlord cites his irresponsible record.

  1. 56.As used in the text, what does the word "irresponsible" most nearly mean?

Back row

At auditions, Mei waits in the back row and speaks only when her name is called. Directors note her shy presence.

  1. 57.As used in the text, what does the word "shy" most nearly mean?

Behind the counter

Behind the counter, Camila greets strangers first and remembers small details from their last visit. Customers enjoy her outgoing chatter.

  1. 58.As used in the text, what does the word "outgoing" most nearly mean?

Closing alone

The library lets Imani close alone because she logs every fine and never pockets a coin. Staff rest easy with her trustworthy habits.

  1. 59.As used in the text, what does the word "trustworthy" most nearly mean?

Copied slides

For years, Colin copied coworkers' slides and told the manager the work was his. The office finally named that deceitful pattern.

  1. 60.As used in the text, what does the word "deceitful" most nearly mean?

Coiled hose

By evening, June coils the hose, sweeps the path, and stacks pots by size. Neighbors praise her tidy garden routine.

  1. 61.As used in the text, what does the word "tidy" most nearly mean?

Clothes on the chair

Drew leaves clothes on the chair, dishes in the sink, and mail on the floor week after week. Roommates complain about his messy habits.

  1. 62.As used in the text, what does the word "messy" most nearly mean?

The 7:10

The 7:10 bus with Driver Chen reaches the school stop at 7:10, not a minute later. Students count on his punctual arrivals.

  1. 63.As used in the text, what does the word "punctual" most nearly mean?

After the pledge

Homeroom begins at 8:00, and Noah walks in after the pledge several days each week. Teachers describe him as tardy.

  1. 64.As used in the text, what does the word "tardy" most nearly mean?

Patched boots

Grandpa patches old boots, packs leftovers for lunch, and waits for the grocery sale. The family smiles at his thrifty habits.

  1. 65.As used in the text, what does the word "thrifty" most nearly mean?

Flowers for every seat

For a birthday, Simone rents the theater lobby, orders flowers for every seat, and pays a live quartet. She gives every party this way, so friends call the habit extravagant.

  1. 66.As used in the text, what does the word "extravagant" most nearly mean?

Until the lights dim

Between classes, Hana outlines chapters, rewrites notes, and stays until the library lights dim. Professors mention her studious evenings.

  1. 67.As used in the text, what does the word "studious" most nearly mean?

Park courts

On the park courts, Devin plays daily, sprints the hill, and shows younger players how to move. Everyone there talks about his athletic life.

  1. 68.As used in the text, what does the word "athletic" most nearly mean?

A wrong pitch

In the band room, Lila hears a wrong pitch at once and can play a tune after one listen. Teachers praise her musical ear.

  1. 69.As used in the text, what does the word "musical" most nearly mean?

Colors by eye

The window painter, Yara, mixes colors by eye and turns a blank board into a scene people stop to see. Shop owners seek her artistic hand.

  1. 70.As used in the text, what does the word "artistic" most nearly mean?

A stuck winch

When a winch sticks, Felix takes it apart, names each part, and fits it so it runs. The dock crew trusts his mechanical skill.

  1. 71.As used in the text, what does the word "mechanical" most nearly mean?

Plain sentences

In client calls, Nina explains a dense contract in plain sentences and never loses the thread. Managers value her verbal gift.

  1. 72.As used in the text, what does the word "verbal" most nearly mean?

Lined-up reasons

On the debate team, Keisha lines up reasons, checks each claim, and drops any point she cannot support. Judges praise her logical cases.

  1. 73.As used in the text, what does the word "logical" most nearly mean?

Notes after rehearsal

When a scene turns sad, Mateo carries the feeling into the notes he writes that night and into the next rehearsal. Directors know his emotional nature.

  1. 74.As used in the text, what does the word "emotional" most nearly mean?

Cost lines

Before a budget meeting, Soren splits costs into parts, compares each line, and writes what the figures imply. The director leans on his analytical mind.

  1. 75.As used in the text, what does the word "analytical" most nearly mean?

Which bed needs water

Without a chart, Mina knows which bed needs water and which plant is failing. Other gardeners admire her intuitive sense.

  1. 76.As used in the text, what does the word "intuitive" most nearly mean?

Canning order

To can tomatoes, Ruth washes, sorts, packs, and seals in the same order every August. Her family follows that methodical sequence.

  1. 77.As used in the text, what does the word "methodical" most nearly mean?

A kite afternoon

On clear afternoons, Nico grabs a kite and heads to the park with no plan and no text ahead. Friends laugh at his spontaneous outings.

  1. 78.As used in the text, what does the word "spontaneous" most nearly mean?

Harvest supper

Each harvest supper, Mr. Okada serves the same stew, sings the same song, and starts at the same hour. Neighbors know his traditional table.

  1. 79.As used in the text, what does the word "traditional" most nearly mean?

Shared screens

Aisha redesigned the office with shared screens, short stand-up meetings, and tools the firm had never used. Partners talk about her modern methods.

  1. 80.As used in the text, what does the word "modern" most nearly mean?

A challenged lesson

When a student challenges a lesson, Mr. Brooks hears the point, reads the source, and revises the notes if the evidence holds. The class values his open-minded teaching.

  1. 81.As used in the text, what does the word "open-minded" most nearly mean?

The usual shelf

If a book is not from her usual shelf, Pat will not open it and tells others not to bother. Librarians remark on her narrow-minded reading.

  1. 82.As used in the text, what does the word "narrow-minded" most nearly mean?

After the free throw

After a missed free throw, Coach Ibarra nods, repeats the cue, and keeps the player in the game. The team feels her supportive presence.

  1. 83.As used in the text, what does the word "supportive" most nearly mean?

Clean turns

The choreographer requires clean turns, extra rehearsals, and no missed counts, season after season. Dancers prepare for her demanding standards.

  1. 84.As used in the text, what does the word "demanding" most nearly mean?

Saturday jam

With a warm hello and a short story about the jam, Elise sells out the Saturday table before noon. Market regulars credit her charming manner.

  1. 85.As used in the text, what does the word "charming" most nearly mean?

A crowded ride

On the crowded bus, Harvey steps on a foot, forgets a greeting, and stares at the floor until his stop. Classmates know his awkward rides.

  1. 86.As used in the text, what does the word "awkward" most nearly mean?

Across the stage

Across the stage, Lin moves through the dance with easy balance and never clips a prop. Reviewers note her graceful lines.

  1. 87.As used in the text, what does the word "graceful" most nearly mean?

Hard words

In meetings, Gus names the flaw in a plan in a few hard words and does not soften them. Staff expect his blunt comments.

  1. 88.As used in the text, what does the word "blunt" most nearly mean?

A shorter close

When a speech runs long, Ms. Adeyemi thanks the speaker and suggests a shorter close without embarrassing anyone. Students remember her tactful wording.

  1. 89.As used in the text, what does the word "tactful" most nearly mean?

Packages in the hall

In the hallway, Brenda reads names on packages and asks neighbors where they went last night. They whisper about her nosy questions.

  1. 90.As used in the text, what does the word "nosy" most nearly mean?

The side gate

Although she hosts the garden club, Marisol never discusses her family and keeps the side gate shut. Members respect her private life.

  1. 91.As used in the text, what does the word "private" most nearly mean?

Dawn feedings

For twenty years, Hector has fed the neighbor's horses whenever that family travels, and he has never skipped a dawn. They speak of his faithful care.

  1. 92.As used in the text, what does the word "faithful" most nearly mean?

Midseason exit

When a rival school offered a starting spot, Wade quit midseason and shared the old playbook, which is how he has left every team. Teammates still call him disloyal.

  1. 93.As used in the text, what does the word "disloyal" most nearly mean?

Counted crackers

Even when the pantry is full, Kurt will not share a snack and counts each cracker he gives away. Roommates joke about his stingy shelf.

  1. 94.As used in the text, what does the word "stingy" most nearly mean?

Coffee-counter talk

After any closed-door talk, Faye repeats the details at the coffee counter before lunch. Coworkers guard their words around her gossipy habit.

  1. 95.As used in the text, what does the word "gossipy" most nearly mean?

Stories at the desk

Students tell the librarian, Mr. Solano, personal worries, and those stories never leave his desk. They rely on his discreet silence.

  1. 96.As used in the text, what does the word "discreet" most nearly mean?

Wire and bulbs

From bent wire and spare bulbs, Nadia builds lamps the hardware shop has never stocked. Buyers seek her inventive work.

  1. 97.As used in the text, what does the word "inventive" most nearly mean?

The sample drawing

In art class, Joel copies the sample drawing line for line and rarely starts from his own idea. The teacher notes his imitative sketches.

  1. 98.As used in the text, what does the word "imitative" most nearly mean?

A snapped line

When a line snaps in rough water, Rae climbs onto the wet pier to retie it. The crew counts on her daring work.

  1. 99.As used in the text, what does the word "daring" most nearly mean?

The reading table

At the reading table, Paolo speaks in a low voice, skips jokes, and treats every assignment as important. Friends know his serious focus.

  1. 100.As used in the text, what does the word "serious" most nearly mean?

Picnic games

During park picnics, Joy starts a game of tag and invents rules for stones that keep the children laughing. Parents welcome her playful energy.

  1. 101.As used in the text, what does the word "playful" most nearly mean?

Pressed jacket

At the box office, Mr. Lang wears a pressed jacket, uses full titles, and bows slightly to patrons. Ushers copy his formal greeting.

  1. 102.As used in the text, what does the word "formal" most nearly mean?

Sneakers at the meeting

For building meetings, Tess wears sneakers, speaks in easy phrases, and sits on the floor if chairs run out. Neighbors like her casual tone.

  1. 103.As used in the text, what does the word "casual" most nearly mean?

Bell and hallway

Principal Ward enforces the dress code, the bell schedule, and the hallway rules with no exceptions. Students know her strict standards.

  1. 104.As used in the text, what does the word "strict" most nearly mean?

Late notes

Coach Ruiz lets players miss a warm-up, accepts late notes, and rarely benches anyone. The athletes count on his lenient style.

  1. 105.As used in the text, what does the word "lenient" most nearly mean?

A stalled tractor

When a neighbor's tractor stalls, Ines walks over with tools and stays until the field is finished. Folks depend on her helpful visits.

  1. 106.As used in the text, what does the word "helpful" most nearly mean?

Arguments on the ride

On the ride home, Ned argues about seats, stops, and a score no one else raised. Riders dread his quarrelsome talk.

  1. 107.As used in the text, what does the word "quarrelsome" most nearly mean?

Plant disputes

In the shared garden, Amira settles plant disputes calmly and never raises her voice. Plot neighbors trust her peaceful ways.

  1. 108.As used in the text, what does the word "peaceful" most nearly mean?