venerate, undertake, circumvent, acknowledge, abstain: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 127. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. venerate · verb/ˈvɛn.ə.reɪt/

   to regard with great respect or reverence

   Many cultures venerate their ancestors, believing that they watch over the living and offer guidance.

   Synonyms: revere, idolize, respect

   Origin: from Latin 'venerari,' meaning 'to worship or to regard with awe.'

2. undertake · verb/ˌʌndərˈteɪk/

   to take on a responsibility or task

   Many volunteers undertake community service projects to help those in need.

   Synonyms: take on, assume, embark on

   Origin: from Old English 'under' (among, between) + 'tacan' (to take)

3. circumvent · verb/sɜr.kəmˈvɛnt/

   to find a way around an obstacle or limitation

   To avoid traffic, she decided to circumvent the main roads by taking the back streets.

   Synonyms: avoid, evade, bypass

   Origin: Late Latin 'circumventus', from 'circum' meaning 'around' and 'ventus' meaning 'to come' or 'to arrive'.

4. acknowledge · verb/əkˈnɑlɪdʒ/

   to accept or admit the existence or truth of something

   She refused to acknowledge her mistakes during the meeting.

   Synonyms: recognize, admit, accept

   Origin: from Middle English 'aknowlechen', from 'a-' (on, in) + 'knowlechen' (to make known)

5. abstain · verb/æbˈsteɪn/

   to refrain from doing something

   During the meeting, she chose to abstain from voting on the controversial issue to avoid taking sides.

   Synonyms: refrain, desist, withhold

   Origin: from Latin 'abstinere', which means 'to withhold'.