1. Context and Exposure
See or hear the vocabulary used in context
Sample contexts: reading material, audio, video, conversation
Sometimes you can guess meaning from the situation.
What type of word is it (noun, verb, adjective)?
Look at the words around it.
Try to read or listen to as much English as possible
Choose from a variety of sources
2. Pictures and associations
Sometimes seeing groups of related words can help
See our picture dictionary.
3. Understand Word Parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots)
See our word parts lists here.
4. Recognize collocations (words that go together)
Some words are commonly used with other words
See our lists of collocations: with verbs, with prepositions.
5. Consider connotations and multiple meanings of words
Some words carry special or emotional meanings
Example: house vs. home
Some words can have many different meanings
Example: play, set, run