SAT Basic
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efficient

/ɪˈfɪʃnt/
English Definition
adj. productive without waste
中文释义
高效的
Example Sentence

An efficient public transit system can significantly reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in urban areas.

高效的公共交通系统可以显著减少城市地区的交通拥堵和空气污染。

Synonyms
productive streamlined economical
Antonyms
inefficient wasteful
Seen in practice — from the Digital SAT question bank

While battery capacity in electric scooters has roughly doubled over the past five years, the primary driver of their increased range has actually been improvements in regenerative braking systems, which recover energy during braking far more efficiently than capacity increases alone would predict.

From a Central Ideas and Details question · Information and Ideas

Data scientist Hanna Voss argues that predictive policing algorithms allow police departments to allocate patrol resources more efficiently by identifying areas with statistically higher crime likelihood.

From a Cross-Text Connections question · Craft and Structure

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Memory Aid / 记忆技巧
ef(come out)+fic(do)
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Practice — Definition Match

Which choice best defines “efficient”?

  1. A Not long ago
  2. B Productive without waste
  3. C Necessary according to rules or for a particular purpose
  4. D Not suitable or proper in the situation
Show answer

B — Productive without waste. “efficient” means productive without waste.

Practice — Which Word Fits?

Which word means “productive without waste”?

  1. A efficient
  2. B recent
  3. C required
  4. D inappropriate
Show answer

A — efficient. “efficient” means productive without waste.

Common questions about “efficient”

What does “efficient” mean?

efficient — productive without waste. In Chinese: 高效的.

How do you pronounce “efficient”?

efficient is pronounced /ɪˈfɪʃnt/.

How is “efficient” used in a sentence?

An efficient public transit system can significantly reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in urban areas. (高效的公共交通系统可以显著减少城市地区的交通拥堵和空气污染。)

What are synonyms for “efficient”?

productive, streamlined, economical — all close in meaning to efficient (productive without waste).

What is the opposite of “efficient”?

inefficient, wasteful — each the opposite of efficient (productive without waste).

Is “efficient” an SAT vocabulary word?

Yes. efficient is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.

How can I remember “efficient”?

ef(come out)+fic(do)

Progress / 学习进度
29%
through SAT Basic
This level: 0 mastered (0% of the level)
The Digital SAT tests vocabulary through Words in Context questions, never as a standalone definition. Learn the word, then use it against a real passage.