alacrity
Cheerful readiness or eagerness.
ExampleShe accepted the difficult assignment with surprising alacrity.
ExampleThe assistant responded with alacrity, eager to prove his competence.
Usage Scenarios
Describing response
Use alacrity when someone accepts a task eagerly.
ExampleThe volunteer took on the difficult project with alacrity.
Reading character attitude
Use it when quick action shows enthusiasm.
ExampleHer alacrity surprised colleagues who had expected reluctance.
Usage Guide
Use alacrity when a GRE sentence emphasizes willing speed or cheerful eagerness. It often appears after with: with alacrity.
The strongest pattern is with alacrity. You can also write accept with alacrity, respond with alacrity, or undertake a task with alacrity.
Do not use alacrity for speed alone. It includes willingness or eagerness, not just quick movement.
Word Forms & Word Building
Alacrity is a noun. It commonly appears in the phrase with alacrity.
There is no common everyday adjective from alacrity that GRE learners need.
The word belongs to formal vocabulary, so learn it as a fixed phrase.
Meaning Boundaries
Alacrity vs speed
Speed is simply quickness. Alacrity adds eagerness or cheerful readiness, so the attitude matters as much as the pace.
Alacrity vs reluctance
Reluctance means unwillingness or hesitation. Alacrity is the opposite: eager willingness shown through quick acceptance or response.
Register
Alacrity is formal and literary, making it a classic GRE vocabulary word.
Memory Tricks
Think eager speed: quick plus willing, so the word includes both readiness and a positive attitude.
Memorize with alacrity as one unit because the noun most often appears in that formal phrase.
Contrast it with reluctance. If the clue says no hesitation, alacrity may fit.
Common Traps
Do not say an alacrity in most contexts. Use with alacrity.
Do not confuse alacrity with accuracy; alacrity is about eager readiness, not correctness.
Do not use alacrity for unwilling speed, such as rushing because of fear.