Embryonic
mediumNeutral toneem-bree-ON-ik
adjective
Definition
In an early stage of development; rudimentary
Memory hook
EMBRYO-NIC: still an EMBRYO — in the earliest stage of development, not yet fully formed.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The technology is still in its embryonic stage.”
“Their embryonic plans had not yet taken concrete form.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The technology is still in its ______ stage.”
Show answer
embryonic
Categories
GRE Tip
Embryonic is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "nascent" or "incipient" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "mature".
Related GRE Words
inchoate
Just begun; not fully formed or developed
emergent
In the process of coming into being or becoming prominent
incipient
In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop
nascent
Just beginning to develop; emerging
greenhorn
An inexperienced or naive person
fledgling
A young bird just fledged; a person or organization that is new and inexperienced
Master embryonic and 1,000+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.