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SECTION GUIDE - WK

ASVAB Word Knowledge

What it tests, how it is scored, full lessons, and 10 practice questions with answers

What WK Tests

Word Knowledge (WK) is a vocabulary test. Each question gives a word, alone or in a short sentence, and asks which choice most nearly means the same thing.

Scored questions (CAT-ASVAB)15
Time limit9 minutes (about 36 seconds per question)
Part of the AFQT?Yes

WK combines with Paragraph Comprehension into your Verbal Expression (VE) score, which counts twice in the AFQT formula. WK carries more weight than PC inside VE. See ASVAB scores explained for how section scores become your AFQT and line scores.

How to Score Higher

Word Knowledge Lessons

Vocabulary and word meanings. Each lesson below is also in the interactive study guide, where you can take a quiz to check yourself.

Lesson 1 Prefixes

Prefixes are word parts added to the BEGINNING of words that change their meaning. Master these 10 prefixes and you can decode hundreds of unfamiliar words on test day.

Negative Prefixes: un-, dis-, in-, im-

These prefixes flip a word to its opposite. UN- (unhappy = not happy), DIS- (disagree = not agree), IN- (incomplete = not complete), IM- (impossible = not possible). Memory trick: IM- is used before words starting with M, P, or B.

Direction/Position Prefixes: re-, pre-, sub-, super-

RE- means again or back (redo, return). PRE- means before (preview, predict). SUB- means under or below (submarine, subway). SUPER- means above or beyond (superhuman, supervisor).

Other Key Prefixes: anti-, mis-

ANTI- means against or opposite (antiwar, antibody). MIS- means wrong or badly (mistake, misunderstand). These are powerful for decoding unfamiliar words!

Worked example

What does UNPRECEDENTED mean?

  1. Break it down: UN + PRECEDENT + ED
  2. UN- means not
  3. PRECEDENT means something that came before (a previous example)
  4. So UNPRECEDENTED = never having happened before, without previous example

Tip: When you see a long word, look for the prefix first. It often unlocks the meaning!

Worked example

What does SUBSTANDARD mean?

  1. Break it down: SUB + STANDARD
  2. SUB- means under or below
  3. STANDARD means the normal level of quality
  4. So SUBSTANDARD = below the normal quality level

Tip: Think of a submarine going UNDER water to remember SUB- means under.

Key takeaway: When you see an unfamiliar word, check for these prefixes: UN/DIS/IN/IM (not), RE (again), PRE (before), SUB (under), SUPER (above), ANTI (against), MIS (wrong). The prefix often reveals the word's core meaning.

Lesson 2 Roots

Word roots are the core meaning-carriers that appear in the middle of words. Learn these 10 roots and you'll recognize patterns in thousands of English words.

Good vs. Bad: BENE- and MAL-

BENE- means good or well (benefit, benevolent). MAL- means bad or evil (malice, malfunction). Memory trick: 'Bene' sounds like 'beneficial' and 'mal' sounds like 'malicious.'

Senses: AUD- and VIS-/SPEC-

AUD- relates to hearing (audio, audience, audible). VIS- relates to seeing (vision, visible). SPEC- also relates to seeing (spectator, inspect). Think: 'Audio' for ears, 'Visual' for eyes.

Communication: DICT- and SCRIB-

DICT- relates to speaking or saying (dictate, predict, dictionary). SCRIB-/SCRIPT- relates to writing (describe, script, prescription). A dictionary tells you what words say; a script is something written.

Movement: PORT-, RUPT-, TRACT-

PORT- means to carry (transport, portable). RUPT- means to break (interrupt, erupt, rupture). TRACT- means to pull or drag (tractor, attract, extract). Airports carry people; eruptions break through.

Worked example

What does MALEVOLENT mean?

  1. Break it down: MAL + EVOL + ENT
  2. MAL- means bad or evil
  3. The root relates to 'wishing' or 'willing' (like 'volition')
  4. So MALEVOLENT = wishing bad/evil on others = hostile, mean-spirited

Tip: MAL- words are almost always negative. Think 'malware' = bad software!

Worked example

What does SPECTATOR mean?

  1. Break it down: SPEC + TAT + OR
  2. SPEC- means to see or look
  3. -OR means one who does something
  4. So SPECTATOR = one who watches = viewer

Tip: Think of SPECtacles (glasses) - they help you SPEC (see)!

Key takeaway: Key roots: BENE (good), MAL (bad), AUD (hear), VIS/SPEC (see), DICT (say), SCRIB (write), PORT (carry), RUPT (break), TRACT (pull). When you spot these in a word, you've found the meaning's core.

Lesson 3 Suffixes

Suffixes are word parts added to the END of words. They often tell you what PART OF SPEECH a word is (noun, verb, adjective, adverb). This helps you eliminate wrong answers on the ASVAB!

Noun Suffixes: -tion, -ness, -ment

-TION turns verbs into nouns (educate → education). -NESS turns adjectives into nouns (happy → happiness). -MENT also turns verbs into nouns (develop → development). These words are things or concepts.

Adjective Suffixes: -able, -ible, -ous, -ful, -less

-ABLE/-IBLE means 'can be' (readable = can be read, visible = can be seen). -OUS means 'full of' (dangerous = full of danger). -FUL means 'having' (careful = having care). -LESS means 'without' (careless = without care).

How Suffixes Help on Tests

If a question asks for a word meaning 'full of courage,' look for answers ending in -OUS or -FUL. If it asks for 'unable to be seen,' look for something with IN-/IM- (not) and -IBLE (can be) = invisible.

Worked example

What does JOYFUL mean?

  1. Break it down: JOY + FUL
  2. -FUL means 'full of' or 'having'
  3. JOY is the base word meaning happiness
  4. So JOYFUL = full of joy = very happy

Tip: -FUL and -LESS are opposites! Joyful = happy, joyless = sad.

Worked example

What does COMPREHENSIBLE mean?

  1. Break it down: COMPREHENS + IBLE
  2. -IBLE means 'able to be'
  3. COMPREHEND means to understand
  4. So COMPREHENSIBLE = able to be understood = understandable

Tip: Remember: -ABLE and -IBLE sound similar and mean the same thing!

Key takeaway: Noun endings: -tion, -ness, -ment. Adjective endings: -able/-ible (can be), -ous (full of), -ful (having), -less (without). Knowing the part of speech helps you pick the right synonym!

Lesson 4 Test Strategy & High-Frequency Words

Beyond word parts, smart test strategy can boost your score. This chapter teaches you to identify word tone, use elimination, and master 15 high-frequency ASVAB words.

Positive vs. Negative Tone

Every word has a 'feeling.' POSITIVE: beneficial, exemplary, diligent, prudent. NEGATIVE: detrimental, negligent, malicious, obsolete. If you know the tone, you can eliminate half the wrong answers immediately!

Process of Elimination

Don't know the answer? Eliminate what you DO know is wrong. If the test word is positive, cross out negative choices. If it's about seeing (VIS-), eliminate hearing words (AUD-). Even guessing from 2 options is better than 4!

Context and Word Families

Think of related words you know. Don't know 'benevolent'? Think 'benefit': both have BENE- (good). Don't know 'verbose'? Think 'verb' (words): verbose means using too many words.

High-Frequency Words

Some words appear repeatedly on the ASVAB: DILIGENT (hardworking), PRUDENT (careful/wise), AMPLE (plenty), CONCISE (brief), OBSOLETE (outdated), FEASIBLE (possible), VERIFY (confirm), AMBIGUOUS (unclear).

Worked example

DETRIMENTAL most nearly means:

  1. First, determine the tone: DETRIMENTAL sounds negative (like 'detriment' = harm)
  2. Eliminate positive-sounding answers
  3. The answer must be negative like: harmful, damaging
  4. DETRIMENTAL = causing harm

Tip: Words with DE- often have negative meanings (destroy, decline, defeat).

Worked example

You don't know what METICULOUS means. The choices are: A) sloppy B) careful C) angry D) fast

  1. Think of related words: 'meticulous' sounds like it might relate to 'meter' or measurement
  2. Someone who measures carefully is precise, detailed
  3. Eliminate: sloppy (opposite vibe), angry (unrelated), fast (unrelated to precision)
  4. Best guess: careful (B)

Tip: Even if you're not sure, eliminating obviously wrong answers improves your odds!

Key takeaway: Strategy tips: (1) Identify positive/negative tone first, (2) Eliminate answers with wrong tone, (3) Look for familiar word parts, (4) Think of word families. High-frequency words: diligent, prudent, ample, concise, obsolete, feasible, verify, ambiguous, enhance, diminish.

WK Practice Questions

Try each question before opening the answer. On the real CAT-ASVAB the questions adapt to you, so a timed, adaptive practice test is the best way to check your level.

Question 1

The word 'obsolete' most nearly means:

  1. Damaged
  2. Outdated
  3. Expensive
  4. Complicated
Show answer

Answer: B. Outdated

Obsolete means no longer in use because something newer has replaced it, so it most nearly means outdated. Think of an obsolete flip phone that smartphones made outdated. It doesn't mean broken or costly, just past its useful era.

Question 2

Formidable most nearly means:

  1. Powerful
  2. Fortunate
  3. Flexible
  4. Formal
Show answer

Answer: A. Powerful

Formidable means powerful and inspiring fear or respect, as in a formidable enemy. Formal is the most tempting because both start with form, but formal means following rules of dress or ceremony.

Question 3

Alleviate most nearly means:

  1. Announce
  2. Allow
  3. Elevate
  4. Relieve
Show answer

Answer: D. Relieve

Alleviate means to relieve or lessen pain or trouble, as medicine alleviates a headache. Hook: it shares a root with light, making a burden lighter. Elevate is tempting because it sounds alike, but elevate means to raise up.

Question 4

The fetid liquid soaked through my shoes. Fetid most nearly means:

  1. Putrid
  2. Oily
  3. Mysterious
  4. Flammable
Show answer

Answer: A. Putrid

Fetid means having a foul, rotten smell, so it most nearly means putrid. The fetid liquid stank of decay. Both words describe stench, so putrid is the match, not 'oily' or 'flammable.'

Question 5

Infiltrate most nearly means:

  1. Penetrate
  2. Inflate
  3. Surround
  4. Investigate
Show answer

Answer: A. Penetrate

Infiltrate means to secretly penetrate or enter an area or group, as spies infiltrate enemy lines. Surround is tempting because both are military moves against an enemy, but surrounding means encircling from outside, not getting in.

Question 6

Nimble most nearly means:

  1. Humble
  2. Gentle
  3. Sturdy
  4. Agile
Show answer

Answer: D. Agile

Nimble means agile, quick and light in movement. Hook: Jack be nimble jumped the candlestick. Gentle is tempting because nimble fingers can be delicate, but nimble is about quickness, not softness.

Question 7

Gaunt most nearly means:

  1. Scarred
  2. Tall
  3. Thin
  4. Pale
Show answer

Answer: C. Thin

Gaunt means very thin and bony, often from hunger or illness, like a gaunt face. Hook: gaunt cheeks look hollow. Pale is tempting because a sick person may be both, but gaunt describes thinness, not skin color.

Question 8

Yield most nearly means:

  1. Surrender
  2. Shout
  3. Shield
  4. Weld
Show answer

Answer: A. Surrender

Yield means to surrender or give way, as in yield to the enemy or yield at a traffic sign. Hook: a yield sign means give way. Shout is the trap because yield sounds like yell, but yield means give in.

Question 9

Obscure most nearly means:

  1. Unfair
  2. Unsafe
  3. Unkind
  4. Unclear
Show answer

Answer: D. Unclear

Obscure means unclear or not well known, like an obscure reference. Hook: obscure things are hidden in shadow. Unsafe is tempting because dark places can be risky, but obscure is about being hard to see or understand.

Question 10

Hypothesis most nearly means:

  1. Experiment
  2. Measurement
  3. Conclusion
  4. Educated guess
Show answer

Answer: D. Educated guess

A hypothesis is an educated guess, a proposed explanation that you then test. Hook: form a hypothesis, then test it. Experiment is tempting because both are steps in the scientific method, but the experiment is how the hypothesis gets tested.

Test Yourself Under Real Conditions

Take a timed, adaptive Word Knowledge section, the 20-question AFQT Predictor, or a full AFQT practice test. Free, no account needed.

Take a Practice Test

Other section guides: Arithmetic Reasoning · Paragraph Comprehension · Mathematics Knowledge · General Science · Electronics Information · Auto & Shop Information · Mechanical Comprehension