precocious
/pɹəˈkəʊʃəs/
Group 30Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than usual GRE
Example in Context
The precocious child, already reading at a high school level by age seven, posed a challenge for educators accustomed to more conventional progression.
Synonyms
advancedgiftedearly-blooming
Etymology
Cooking up skills before the usual time.
- prae- (Latin) — before
- coquere (Latin) — to cook
Memory Aid
👶Sounds like “pre-cook us”
Imagine a baby CHEF who can PRE-COOK meals before they're even born!
Visual Association
👩🎓A toddler in a graduation cap giving a TED talk about quantum physics.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “precocious” mean on the GRE?
precocious (adjective) means “Having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than usual”. The precocious child, already reading at a high school level by age seven, posed a challenge for educators accustomed to more conventional progression.
How to remember “precocious” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “precocious” sounds like “pre-cook us”. Imagine a baby CHEF who can PRE-COOK meals before they're even born!
What are synonyms for “precocious”?
Common synonyms: advanced, gifted, early-blooming.