Common Core Grades 7–8, List 8

Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grades 7 and 8. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments.


Here are links to our lists in the collection: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6, List 7, List 8
14 words 17 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. alternative
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
    The alternative to acting normal was jumping up and down and screaming, I want my mommy back!The Strangers
  2. analyze
    consider in detail in order to discover essential features
    I studied him just long enough to analyze the situation.A Very Large Expanse of Sea
  3. approximate
    not quite exact or correct
    I listed a few artist’s supplies that I thought she couldn’t do without, and included approximate costs.Nine Stories
  4. complicate
    make less simple
    “To complicate matters, Aurora has a torn wing that must soon be mended if we are to continue,” Ares added.Gregor the Overlander
  5. define
    determine the essential quality of
    I couldn’t explain it or define it, but there were things I needed to understand.The Rock and the River
  6. emphasize
    stress or single out as important
    He emphasizes how much her letters mean to him.The Night Circus
  7. exaggerate
    enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
    I don’t exaggerate when I say she shoves me out the door.Catching Fire
  8. expand
    add details, as to an account or idea
    In an interview a few hours later she expanded on those comments.New York Times (Dec 24, 2021)
  9. impact
    a forceful consequence; a strong effect
    “I am always thinking of my daughter and the line of generations that will follow her. Humans have a great impact on the ocean. There is still time to reverse what we’ve done.”The Line Tender
  10. initial
    occurring at the beginning
    Your initial opinion on just about anything may change over time.The Bad Beginning
  11. modify
    make less severe or harsh or extreme
    They were either omitted or modified in the published version, but the previously unknown texts may shed valuable new light on the book's real meaning.Seattle Times (May 3, 2012)
  12. negative
    characterized by denial or opposition or resistance
    I tell her honestly that when I start to feel negative, anxious, or overwhelmed, I focus on how much I like just being with my friends.Finding Junie Kim
  13. restrict
    place limitations on
    There were laws restricting her ability to apply for a credit card in her own name, because she was a woman.Hidden Figures
  14. transmit
    send from one person or place to another
    The hidden messages had begun to transmit directly into their minds—no more need for television, radios, or anything else.The Mysterious Benedict Society
Created on August 30, 2022 (updated September 1, 2022)

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