50 Common Word Roots prefixes and suffixes for the GRE
some words are made up of different parts, for example, unemployment.
unemployment has a beginning (prefix), a middle (root word) and an ending (suffix)
un-employ-ment
un —–>; prefix
employ—->; root
ment—->; suffix
| A root word is a real word and you can make new words from it by adding prefixes and suffixes. Root words are helpful for learning both the meaning and the spelling of a word. |
here are sone more examples of root words and their woerd families:
use: useless, useable, used, using, user, misuse
friend: friendly, friendship, unfriendly, friendless
faith: faithful, faithfully, unfaithful, unfaithfully
Below find, a list of 50 common word roots, prefixes, and suffixes that may help you on the GRE, as well as some words that use each of those roots. This list was drawn up by looking at what roots appeared repeatedly on official GRE prep materials.
| /////////////////////Root, Prefix, or suffix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| a | without | amoral, amorphous, asexual |
| ambi- | on both sides | ambidextrous, ambivalent |
| ante- | before or in front | antecedent, antedate |
| anti- | against | antipathy, antisocial |
| aqu/aqua | water | aquatic, aqueous, aquarium, aqueduct |
| bene- | good | benefit, benediction, benevolent |
| bi- | two | bifurcate, biannual, bisect |
| bio- | life | biology, biography, biome |
| cede/ceed | go or yield | precede, exceed, recede |
| circum- | around | circumscribe, circumnavigate, circumvent |
| contra- | against or opposite | contradiction, contraception, controversy |
| cycl | circle | bicycle, cyclical |
| de- | reduce or remove | deescalate, defenestrate, decelerate |
| di-, dis- | apart or away | digress, disappear, diverge |
| dict | speak or say | edict, dictation, dictator, prediction, contradiction |
| dox | belief | orthodox, paradox, heterodox |
| du-, duo- | two | dual, duology, duochrome |
| em-, en- | into, in | embrace, enclose, encircle |
| esce | becoming | coalesce, adolescence, obsolescent, tumescent |
| ex- | out or way | exit, exhale, extirpate, exile |
| extra-, extro- | beyond or outside | extraordinary, extraterrestrial |
| fid/e | faith | bonafide, fidelity, confide |
| fore | before, previously, earlier | forestall, before, forebear, forebode, forecast |
| Eve ex-gram | writing, letters | diagram, grammar, epigram, telegram |
| graph | writing, recording | stenography, autograph, graphics |
| ex-hetero- | different | heterosexual, heterozygous, heterogeneous, heterodox |
| homo- | same | homogenous, homosexual, homologous |
| hyper- | excessive | hyperactive, hyperbole |
| hypo- | under, below | hypothermia, hypocrite, hypoglycemic |
| inter- | between | intercede, interlude |
| intra-/intro- | inside, within | introvert, intramural, intravenous |
| junct | joining | juncture, conjunction, disjunct |
| -less | without | listless, aimless, heartless |
| -logy | the study of | biology, geology, psychology |
| mal, male | bad, evil | malediction, malice |
| mis- | bad or incorrect | misprint, misbehave, misstep |
| -ness | state of being | likeness, greatness |
| non- | not, without | nonfiction, nonresident |
| ob- | or before | obdurate, obfuscate |
| omni- | all, everything | omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous |
| pedi, pede | Jackson foot | pedestrian, pedicure |
| phil | love or affinity | bibliophile, philanthropy |
| pre- | before or earlier | pretest, preamble |
| pro- | before or forward | proceed, prologue |
| re- | again, backwards | reaction, rebound, reuse |
| sub- | under or lower | submarine, subprime |
| temp | time | temporal, contemporary, temporarily |
| tort | twist | tortuous, contortion |
| trans- | across or beyond | transnational, transit |
| un- | not or opposite | unimpressive, unwanted, unwarranted |
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