proportion

Pronunciation: /prəˈpɔːʃən/

noun

Definition of proportion

proportion (noun): A part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole

Example: A significant proportion of the population lives below the poverty line.

Best for: learners who already know "ratio" or "percentage"; GRE Verbal (Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence); SAT Reading & Writing (Words in Context).

Synonyms for proportion

proportion in a Sentence

  1. A significant proportion of the population lives below the poverty line.

Why proportion Matters for GRE & SAT

"proportion" is a noun that means "A part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole" closely related to words like "ratio", "percentage", "share". As a word starting with P, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "proportion" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "proportion" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (noun). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "proportion" into long-term memory.

How to Remember proportion

One effective way to remember "proportion" (noun) is to group it with similar words you already know: "ratio" and "percentage" and "share". When you encounter "proportion" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "A part, share, or number considered in comparative relation ...".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "proportion" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • painstaking — Done with or employing great care and thoroughness
  • palpable — So intense as to seem almost tangible
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial

More Vocabulary Words Starting with P

  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • painstaking — Done with or employing great care and thoroughness
  • painstaking — done with careful attention to detail
  • painstaking — done with careful attention to detail
  • palpable — So intense as to seem almost tangible
  • palpable — tangible, perceptible, or clearly noticeable
  • palpable — tangible, perceptible, or clearly noticeable
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial