relax, uphold, categorize, cooperate, penetrate: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 173. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. relax · verb/rɪˈlæks/

   to become less tense or anxious or to make someone or something less tense or anxious

   After a long day at work, I like to relax by taking a warm bath.

   Synonyms: calm, unwind, ease

   Origin: The word 'relax' originates from the Latin 'relaxare', which means 'to loosen' or 'to make less rigid'.

2. uphold · verb/əpˈhoʊld/

   to support or maintain something in existence or validity

   The government must uphold the rule of law to ensure justice for all citizens.

   Synonyms: maintain, sustain, support

   Origin: Middle English 'uphalden', from 'up' + 'halden' (to hold); akin to Old Norse 'halda' (to hold)

3. categorize · verb/ˈkæt.ɪ.ɡəˌraɪz/

   to arrange or classify into groups or categories

   We need to categorize the data based on the different age groups of the participants.

   Synonyms: classify, sort, arrange

   Origin: The word 'categorize' originates from the Greek word 'katēgoria', meaning 'to declare, accuse', which evolved through Latin 'categorizar' and Middle French 'catégoriser'.

4. cooperate · verb/koʊˈɑː.pə.reɪt/

   to work together with others for a common purpose

   The two organizations decided to **cooperate** on the community project to ensure its success.

   Synonyms: collaborate, join forces, work together

   Origin: The word 'cooperate' comes from the Latin 'cooperari', which means 'to work together', stemming from 'com-' meaning 'together' and 'operari' meaning 'to work'.

5. penetrate · verb/ˈpɛn.ə.treɪt/

   to succeed in forcing a way into or through something

   The sharp blade was able to easily penetrate the thick layer of wood.

   Synonyms: pierce, infiltrate, puncture

   Origin: From Latin 'penetratus', the past participle of 'penetrare', meaning to enter or to pierce.