5Th grade vocab list: 5th Grade Vocabulary Words

5th Grade Vocabulary Words and Definitions

By

Jennifer Betts, B.A.
, Staff Writer

Updated November 19, 2020

• DESCRIPTION

  5th grade vocabulary word erosion

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  arch: jose1983 / iStock / Getty Images Plus, background: nigelcarse / E+ / Getty Images

It’s important to focus on spelling skills. Whether you’re homeschooling or supplementing education, 5th grade vocabulary word lists are great for boosting their vocabulary skills. Use these spelling lists for science, math, and social studies learning.

Science Vocabulary Words for 5th Grade

Vocabulary words are important to language arts, but they also come in handy in science. Understanding the different terms like characteristics and heredity is important to gaining mastery of the concepts.

• air pressure (n.) – the pressure exerted by the air onto a surface
• boiling (adj. ) – heated to or past the boiling point
• characteristic (n.) – distinguishing features
• chromosome (n.) – DNA strand coded with genes
• continental drift (n.) – the gradual movement of large landmasses (continents) over time
• earthquake (n.) – sudden, violent shaking of the ground
• effort (n.) – physical or mental exertion
• erosion (n.) – the process where elements like water and wind breakdown rock and earth
• fossil (n.) – remains of a prehistoric organism in rock
• glaciers (n.) – large thick ice masses that move slowly
• heredity (n.) – the passing on of genetic traits
• investigation (n.) – formal systematic research, inspection, or examination
• melting (adj.) – liquefying or dissolving
• prehistoric (adj. ) – before written records
• repulsion (n.) – force where objects move away from one another
• resistance (n.) – opposition
• subjectivity (n.) – state of being influenced by personal opinions or tastes
• sublimation (n.) – chemical process in which a solid turns into a gas
• topography (n.) – the physical appearance of features on the surface of the earth
• water cycle (n.) – the cycle of water on earth that includes evaporation and transpiration

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Math Vocabulary Words for 5th Graders

Math is starting to take on a life of its own in 5th grade. Gone are the easy concepts of multiplication and division. Now, students are learning the beginning concepts of algebra and geometry. Knowing the 5th grade vocabulary words in math can supplement their equation learning.

• acute (adj.) – less than 90 degrees
• associative (adj. ) – characterized by an independent grouping of elements
• capacity (n.) – the maximum amount something can contain
• data (n.) – facts; statistics; figures
• decagon (n.) – shape with 10 sides and angles
• equivalent (adj.) – having equal value or meaning
• estimation (n.) – the act of making a well thought out guess
• geometry (n.) – branch of math concerned with points, lines, surfaces, shapes, and dimensions
• interpreting (v.) – present participle of interpret; explaining meaning or clarifying
• irregular (adj.) – arranged oddly; not even
• median (adj.) – denoting the value at the midpoint
• numerator (n.) – the number above the dividing line in division
• perpendicular (adj.) – at right angles; lines, surfaces or planes at or meeting at 90 degrees
• probability (n. ) – likelihood something will occur
• rhombus (n.) – geometric shape with four sides with 2 opposite obtuse and 2 opposite acute angles
• simplifying (v.) – making an equation or problem as simple as possible
• vertex (n.) – the top; highest point; peak
• vertical (adj.) – something that rises up from a vertical plane; points from bottom to top
• weight (n.) – measure of how heavy something is

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Looking to help your students explore the world? The first thing they need to do is understand social studies vocabulary. Dive into social studies with these fun vocabulary words for 5th grade.

• Arab (n.) – a person of Semitic descent or inhabiting the Middle East
• Chinese (n.) – a native of China or Chinese descent
• climate (n.) – weather conditions in an area
• coast (n. ) – edge of land near sea or ocean
• continent (n.) – major 7 landmasses surrounded by oceans
• desert (v.) – to leave the cause, people, or organization
• equator (n.) – imaginary geographical line equal distance between the poles
• expanded (adj.) – has increased in size or gotten bigger
• gulf (n.) – sea inlet surrounded mostly by land; estuary; inlet
• isthmus (n.) – a narrow strip of land with the ocean on both sides
• level – (adj.) – having a flat surface; being at the same height
• migrant (n.) – an individual that moves from one place to another
• naturalization (n.) – what an individual goes through to become a citizen of a new country
• plain (n.) – large area of flat land with few trees
• plateau (n.) – high, flat ground
• prejudice (n. ) – adverse judgment without factual basis
• region (n.) – area or division of a country
• responsibility (n.) – duty or obligation to deal with something
• separate (adj.) – viewed as unconnected, distinct, or unit apart
• trade (n.) – the action of buying and selling

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Building 5th Grade Vocabulary

When it comes to 5th grade vocabulary, there are a lot of different areas that are important for a well-rounded education. Once you have the vocabulary down, you might expand your 5th graders learning through fun memory games and adjective games.

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Fifth Grade Vocabulary Builders FULL YEAR Bundle

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Grade Level: 5th Grade

More about this resource

This unit includes everything that you need to teach, practice, and assess vocabulary in your fifth grade classroom for the ENTIRE YEAR!

It includes 4 units. Buying each unit separately would cost $40. Buying the bundle will save you 20%!

**Would you like to learn how I use these vocabulary units? Click HERE to view a free video on how to implement these vocabulary units.**

What’s Included:

• weekly plan for teaching vocabulary that includes detailed directions for each day of the week
• 5 Tier 2 vocabulary words for each week of the year
• a weekly teacher guide that has the 5 weekly words, definitions, synonyms, antonyms, sentences, and parts of speech
• a student vocabulary list for each week that includes the student friendly definitions of the 5 weekly words
• a weekly wow word that focuses on prefixes, suffixes, roots, and their meanings
• vocabulary word cards for each week that can be used as a flashcard, in a pocket chart, or for vocabulary socials (directions included) and games
• every other week assessment that covers 10 words
• assessment answer keys
• students data tracking forms to keep a record of student growth and intervention needs
• a special week 9 lesson plan to help students review the 40 words they have had during the previous 8 weeks
• summative assessments to be given at the end of each 9 weeks
• game board with directions
• 8 vocabulary task cards that can be used for extra practice in centers or as a fast finisher activity
• directions for assembling the vocabulary journal
• cover, dividers, and graphic organizers to be used in the student journals

Direct vocabulary instruction helps students to become better readers, writers, and thinkers. I carefully chose tier 2 words that students are likely to see in text and on standardized testing.

This resource was written for 5th graders.

Commonly Asked Questions:

Q: Where do you find the words?

A: The words are high frequency words from grade level texts and tests.

Q: What are tier 2 words?

A: Tier 2 words are words that students will see often, but need to be taught. They are not content specific such a math and science vocabulary. Instead they are words that students will see over and over in their books and on standardized tests.

Q: What do you do with the words from the reading curriculum?

A: Honestly, I used those words for practice with context clues rather than memorization. I found that they were not words that students were regularly seeing in their books anyway. If you do need to add in your basal words, they could easily be added to the vocabulary journal. They just would not appear in the premade assessments.

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The following units are included in this bundle:

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Also available for:

Second Grade Bundle

Third Grade Bundle

Fourth Grade Bundle

If you are looking for more information about how I teach vocabulary in my classroom, check out this post:

Teaching Meaningful Vocabulary Lessons

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You May Also Enjoy These Resources

VLOOKUP in history for grade 5 (3rd task)

As part of the VLOOKUP in history for grade 5 there is an assignment:

Read the list of words and write a word related to the selected topic. Explain the meaning of this word.

Here are the terms with definitions for each of the topics listed below, encountered in the course of the history of the Ancient World. We hope they will help in preparing for the VPR in history in the 5th grade.

Babylonian Kingdom

Ziggurat – a temple in the form of a high stepped tower in Mesopotamia.
Ishtar – goddess of fertility and love in Ancient Mesopotamia.
Cuneiform is an ancient script common in Mesopotamia. The signs of this writing were squeezed out with a stick on wet clay and looked like wedges.

Ancient Egypt

Anubis – the deity of Ancient Egypt, the guide of the souls of the dead to the afterlife. He was usually depicted with the head of a jackal and the body of a man.
Memphis – the first capital of the united Upper and Lower Egypt.
Osiris – god, ruler of the underworld in ancient Egyptian mythology.
Pharaoh – the ruler of Ancient Egypt.
Thebes is one of the capitals of Ancient Egypt.

Phenicia

Purple is a purplish-red color obtained from shellfish. It was first discovered by the Phoenicians.
Tire is an ancient Phoenician city that played a leading role in Mediterranean trade. The merchants of Tyre were the founders of most of the Mediterranean colonies of Phoenicia.

Ancient Palestine

Tablets – stone tablets with 10 commandments handed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
Philistines – the people who inhabited the coastal plains of Palestine in ancient times, which, according to biblical legends, was the main enemy of the Israelites.

Assyrian state

Library of clay books – the library of King Ashurbanipal, consisting of clay tablets with cuneiform texts.
Nineveh – the capital of the Assyrian state.
Tiger is one of the two main rivers of Mesopotamia. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was located on the banks of the Tigris.

Ancient Persia

The royal road is a wide paved road connecting the largest cities of Ancient Persia.

Persian state

Satrap – the head of the satrapy (province) in Ancient Persia. Appointed by the king and usually belonged to his relatives or the highest nobility.
Persepolis – the capital of the Persian state.
King of Kings is the title of the monarchs of Ancient Persia.
“Kingdom of countries” – figurative name of Ancient Persia, as it absorbed almost all the states of Western Asia.

Ancient India

Buddhists are followers of one of the three world religions that originated on the territory of Ancient India.
Brahmins – the highest varna in Ancient India, priests.
Varnas – special categories into which society was divided in Ancient India.
Ramayana is an ancient Indian poem, one of the most important sacred texts of Hinduism.
Chess is a board game that originated in ancient India.

Ancient China

Paper is a writing material invented in ancient China.
Huns – nomadic people from Inner Asia, raided Ancient China.
Compass – a device used to orientate relative to the sides of the horizon, was invented in ancient China.
Confucianism – the teachings of the ancient Chinese sage Confucius, the main thing in which are the rules of human behavior.
“Son of Heaven” is one of the titles of the rulers of Ancient China (Celestial Empire).
Yellow River is one of the largest rivers in China, in the valley of which the first states of Ancient China arose.

Ancient Greece

Acropolis – translated from Greek as “upper city”, a place where temples were erected in honor of the gods.
Laconic speech – the ability to speak briefly and accurately, especially valued in Ancient Sparta (in the region of Laconica).
The Odyssey is an ancient poem attributed to Homer. Dedicated to the return of the Greek king Odysseus to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
Piraeus – the port of the Athens polis, connected to the city by long walls.
Polises – small independent states of Ancient Greece.
Phalanx – infantry battle formation in ancient Greece and ancient Macedonia.
Cyclops is a one-eyed giant in ancient Greek mythology.

Dictation class 5 in Russian

Category “Russian language”

Control and final dictations in Russian for grade 5 – divided into topics, with grammar tasks for Russian schools – tests with a repetition of the studied material. Volume of dictation for grade 5: 90 – 100 words.

• Inlet
• 1 quarter
• 2 quarter
• 3 quarter
• 4 quarter
• Final dictation

• Repetition
• Syntax and punctuation
• Phonetics
• Vocabulary
• Morphemics 9 0206
• Morphology
• Noun
• Adjective
• Verb

Category “Dictations”

Entrance dictation “In the forest”

We are walking along a narrow path by the shore of a large lake. The sun rises over the nearby forest. A blue lake sparkles under the bright rays of the sun. Behind him lay a swamp. It’s dangerous to walk here. We are entering the green space. Tall pines stand in even rows. A rare ray of sun pours through the dense greenery. It’s cold under the trees. Silence and silence in the forest. Fluffy squirrels live in this area. Here the animal jumped from branch to branch, dropped a pine cone. We stood at the edge and went to the village. A steep climb leads uphill. There is the end of our journey. Words: 89

Dictation grade 5 / Entrance dictation grade 5

Reference

• 130 603

Category “Dictations”

Entrance dictation “Thunderstorm”

I was driving home from hunting in the evening. The storm was coming. Ahead, a huge purple cloud slowly rose from behind the forest. Long gray clouds rushed over me and towards me. The road wound before me between thick hazel bushes. I moved forward with difficulty. A strong wind suddenly roared from above, the trees raged, large drops of rain pounded sharply, splashed on the leaves. Lightning flashed and a storm broke out. The rain poured down in streams. I rode at a pace and was soon forced to stop and take refuge in a wide bush. I patiently waited for the end of the storm. Suddenly I saw a tall figure on the road. The unknown seemed to have grown out of the ground. Word size: 86

Dictation grade 5 / Entrance dictation grade 5

Reference

• 64 550

Category “Dictations”

Entrance dictation “At the edge of the forest”

There is a pond at the edge of a young forest. From it beats an underground key. It is in swamps and viscous bogs that the Volga is born. From here she goes on a long journey. Poets and artists glorify the beauty of our native river in amazing fairy tales, songs, paintings. The low bank is covered with a green carpet of meadows and bushes. Flowers bloom in the meadow. Their sweet smell spreads in the soft air. You inhale the aroma of the meadows with full breasts. The slope on the banks of the Volga is very beautiful. Locals like to spend their weekends here. They admire the surroundings, fish, swim. Word size: 88

Dictation grade 5 / Entrance dictation grade 5

Reference

• 51 122

Category “Dictations”

Entrance dictation “The coming of spring”

Spring comes every day. Alive, the sky is blue. A warm wind drives airships along it. High above the ground, larks bathe in the rays of the sun. Joyful trill pour their songs of height. It’s nice to take a walk in the spring forest on a fine day. A winding path winds through the trees. Smells like spring buds. How good and easy to breathe! Here is a small bird spinning on a maple branch. The prickly hedgehog hurries about its business. A nimble squirrel quickly descends the spruce trunk. A woodpecker marks the arrival of spring with a ringing shot. The wonderful song of the vociferous thrush resounds far away. The chattering stream echoes the chirping of birds. The forest path leads us to it. Willow branches lean towards the water and look into the transparent surface. Number of words: 102

Dictation grade 5 / Entrance dictation grade 5

Reference

• 43 120

Category “Dictations”

Entrance dictation “Book of Heaven”

Can you read the heavenly book? Words in an ordinary book are made up of letters, and the stars in the sky form different constellations. Sailors find their way in the vast sea according to the star book. We know the weather from the clouds. White filaments stretched across the blue sky. They promise rainy weather. On a hot summer day, white cloudy mountains suddenly appear in the sky. These are the messengers of the storm. And birds can tell a lot. Swallows fly in the clear sky and portend good weather. The arrival of the rooks means the onset of spring. We read the heavenly book and amazing things are revealed to us. Word size: 87

Dictation grade 5 / Entrance dictation grade 5

Reference

• 39 570

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “Squirrels”

Agile squirrels bustle about in the dark spruce forest from morning until late at night. Squirrels will climb to the top of a tall spruce, jump from branch to branch, and then descend to the ground for nuts. In the fork of a spruce knot, the squirrel hung out a boletus and small mushrooms to dry. I hid selected nuts in the forest pantries. In late autumn, the squirrel will change its red dress for a gray winter coat. At the top of a thick spruce, a squirrel made a warm nest. There she brings up baby squirrels, in winter she escapes from severe frosts and cold winds. The most cheerful animal in our forests is a nimble squirrel. Word size: 86

Dictation grade 5 / Dictation grade 5 1st quarter / Syntax and punctuation

Reference

• 54 926

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “Squirrels”

Walking along a forest path, admiring the trees. Suddenly you will see a light and agile animal with a magnificent tail or you will hear a sharp clattering sound. These frisky squirrels fearlessly jump from branch to branch. These animals live in the forests. There is food for them here: cones, nuts, acorns, berries. In winter, squirrels do not sleep, lead a mobile lifestyle. In the summer they store food for the winter. The squirrel menu even has dried mushrooms. Dry their proteins themselves. Hats are strung on sharp dry knots or hung on twigs. Choose ripe nuts. All this squirrels hide in moss or in hollows, and in winter they are unmistakably found. A squirrel warehouse can contain several kilograms of delicious food. If you find it, then do not rush to use it. After all, squirrels will remain in the winter cold without food. Word size: 120

Dictation Grade 5 / Dictation Grade 5 4th quarter / Verb

Reference

• 42 086

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “In a thunderstorm”

It was a hot July day. With slanting hot rays, the sun burned the dry earth. Thick dust rose along the road and filled the air. The clouds coalesced into a large cloud. There was a distant thunder. And now the clouds have covered the sun. It looked out for the last time and disappeared. Everything in nature has changed dramatically. A whirlwind swooped in, the aspen grove trembled. From gusts of strong wind, young aspens bend to the ground. Bunches of dry grass fly across the road. By the river, thick reeds rustle dully. Lightning flashed, and there was a deafening clap of thunder. The first big drop of rain fell. The downpour poured down. Word size: 85

Dictation grade 5 / Dictation grade 5 2 quarter / Phonetics

Reference

• 38 024

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “In the winter forest”

Winter struggled for a long time with rainy autumn. In November, the snow dressed the forest in a fluffy outfit, and winter came. A blizzard is walking. In the forest, everything is drowning under a white cover. You will go into the wilderness and you will not recognize familiar places. The branches of fir trees are densely covered with fluffy flakes of snow. Long braids of birches whisper in the wind. Hedgehogs hide in a mink, squirrels hide from frost in winter nests. It’s bad for birds in winter. They often die of cold and hunger. How to help them? Stock up on bird food in the fall. Make feeders for them. Birds are our friends. Help them! Word size: 86

Dictation grade 5 / Dictation grade 5 3 quarter / Vocabulary

Reference

• 37 242

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “Spring Snowfall”

Spring came with March thunderstorms. But suddenly, in the fourth week of March, a mighty snowfall began. Everything in nature has changed. The snow covered the ground and food like a dull blanket. The birds got hungry. For a long time birds did not fly to the winter feeder, and a handful of seeds swollen from dampness did not even attract sparrows. But on this day, the birds remembered the winter dining room. Even the starlings perched on the edge and carefully pecked at the old crumbs. Other birds seek safety in a stampede. Finches, song thrushes, and larks flew south. Countless lapwings overtake them, easily overcome the headwind over the Don. Even at noon, when the sun began to warm, the flow of birds did not stop. Word size: 100

Dictation grade 5 / Dictation grade 5 4th quarter / Adjective

Reference

• 30 584

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “Evening”

Evening was falling. Through the dense coastal thickets, reflections of the sunset fell on the water, stretched in living streams into the depths. Vasyutka looked into the water and froze: fish swarmed about the grass, moving their gills and tails. There were so many fish that Vasyutka had doubts, he thought: “Algae, probably?” The sky had already darkened, dusk was descending into the forest. The middle of the lake now resembled a red-hot stove. Dawn burned out. In the darkened blue of the sky, sparse motionless clouds froze. The stars began to erupt. A small, fingernail-like moon appeared. Vasyutka was tired during the day, but sleep did not come. He threw wood on the fire and lay down on his back again. The clouds have disappeared. Drowsiness set in. Word size: 94

Dictation grade 5 / Dictation grade 5 3rd quarter / Noun

Reference

• 50 751

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “Evening”

The shore quickly darkened, became blue, blue, purple. It was already evening on land. The sea was still light. The glossy swell reflected the clear sky. But still, the evening was felt here. The convex glass of the imperceptibly lit signal lanterns on the wings of the steamer was so dark and thick that during the day it was impossible to guess their color. They now began to shine through green and red and glowed brightly. The blue city with the domed roof of the city theater and the colonnade of the Vorontsov Palace arose somehow immediately and obscured the horizon. The watery stars of the port lights were reflected in a liquid reflection in the bright and still lake of the harbor. Words: 89

Dictation grade 5 / Dictation grade 5 4th quarter / Adjective

Reference

• 27 963

Category “Dictations”

Gallery Dictation

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was a famous Russian manufacturer, a wealthy merchant, and a true friend of artists. He used his fortune to purchase paintings by Russian painters. Tretyakov bought them from famous and young masters if he saw talent and devotion to art in them. Quietly, without further ado, Tretyakov did a great job. And when he collected a large collection, created a gallery, he donated it to Moscow. When P.M. Tretyakov died, his house turned into a museum, and the facade of the gallery needed to be rebuilt. The project was proposed to be developed by Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov. V.M. Vasnetsov created a wonderful tower. Red, white, with carved stone decorations, with gold lace under the roof. High above the entrance, in a figured kokoshnik, there is a black bas-relief – the ancient coat of arms of Moscow: George the Victorious defeating a snake. Number of words: 113

Dictation grade 5 / Dictation grade 5 3 quarter / Vocabulary

Reference

• 16 945

Category “Dictations”

Hedgehog Dictation

Give up urgent business, go out late in the evening to the sandy bank of the river. If you listen for a long time, you will hear incomprehensible rustles, incessant sounds in the reed thickets. One night I was sitting at my desk. The night was quiet, windless, only some distant sounds were heard from the river. Suddenly, low voices were heard from under the floor. They were like the whispers of chicks that have awakened in the nest. I was seized by a desire to understand who was talking under the floor. Then I guessed that I heard the fuss of hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are useful little animals. They do not harm anyone, they are not afraid of anyone, they destroy harmful insects, they fight mice. For the winter, hedgehogs fall asleep. Their small lairs are covered with snowdrifts, and they calmly sleep in them all winter. Word size: 108

Dictation Grade 5 / Dictation Grade 5 4th quarter / Verb

Reference

• 19 901

Category “Dictations”

Dictation “Hot Day”

Hot day. The rays of the sun break through the dense green foliage. My throat is dry, I want to drink. But there is no water nearby. The traveler paves the way among the impenetrable forest thickets. Difficult road. What can be seen there among the branches of the tree? A curved branch or a huge boa constrictor dangling its flexible body? A field ahead. You can take a break. But even here you have to be careful.