innovate, harass, nurture, shorten, exemplify: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 301. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. innovate · verb/ˈɪnəˌveɪt/

   to introduce new ideas, products, or methods

   To stay competitive, the company must constantly innovate its product line to meet changing consumer demands.

   Synonyms: create, invent, revolutionize

   Origin: from Latin 'innovare', meaning 'to renew or change'

2. harass · verb/həˈræs/

   to subject someone to aggressive pressure or intimidation

   The employee felt uncomfortable after being continually harassed by his coworker with unwanted comments and jokes.

   Synonyms: bully, intimidate, torment

   Origin: from the French 'harasser', meaning to exhaust or wear out, which is derived from 'haras', meaning to harass, torment, or worry.

3. nurture · verb/ˈnɝːtʃər/

   to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something

   Parents should nurture their children's talents by providing them with opportunities to explore their interests.

   Synonyms: cultivate, foster, nourish

   Origin: from Middle English 'nurturen', from Old French 'nurturer', from Latin 'nutrire' meaning 'to nourish'.

4. shorten · verb/ˈʃɔrtən/

   to make something shorter in length, duration, or extent

   To make the project more efficient, we decided to shorten the timeline for completion.

   Synonyms: reduce, curtail, truncate

   Origin: Middle English, from Old English 'sciortian', from 'sceort', meaning short.

5. exemplify · verb/ɪɡˈzɛmplɪˌfaɪ/

   to serve as a typical example of something

   The artist's latest work exemplifies the vivid colors and dynamic forms that define her unique style.

   Synonyms: illustrate, demonstrate, represent

   Origin: from Latin 'exemplificare', which means 'to illustrate by example', from 'exemplum' meaning 'example'