Vocabulary in Context

Definition

When you are able to determine the meaning of an unknown word by reading the words or sentences around it, you are using vocabulary in context. Developing vocabulary in context skills is important because it allows you to continue reading without stopping to use a dictionary. You will study four types of context clues that help in defining unknown words: Example, Synonym, Antonym, and General Sense.

Example: Sometimes the author will include an example/s of the word that you are trying to define. Read the following sentence to define the word "lanky" using the example.

Most basketball players are lanky, well over 6'5" tall.

What is the example of the word lanky? If you said 6'5" tall, you are right. The word lanky means tall. You used the example to define the word.

In addition to looking for examples in context, look for phrases like "such as", "for example", "for instance". These phrases often signal that an example or a list of examples will follow.

Synonym: Another type of context clue is the use of synonyms to help define an unknown word. A synonym is a word that means the same thing as a word you are trying to define. Read the following sentence to define the word dissipated. Look for the synonym/s to help you.

This morning's rainstorm dissipated when the clouds separated and disappeared to the north and south.

The synonyms are separated and disappeared. Dissipated means to separate and disappear.

Sometimes synonyms are signaled by punctuation. Look for brackets [], parenthesis ( ), double commas , , or quotation marks " ". Sometimes a synonym is found within these punctuation marks.

To practice synonym use, click here. This exercise practices matching synonyms but is not presented in context.

More synonym practice, click here. This exercise practices matching synonyms but is not presented in context.

Even more synonym practice. Click here. This exercise practices matching synonyms but is not presented in context.

Antonym: Sometimes it is easier to understand what a word means when you see a word that means the opposite. That is when antonyms can be used as context clues to define unknown words. Read the following example and look for the antonym to the word loathed.

She thought her husband would like her new haircut, but he loathed it.

The antonym in the example is like. Like and loathe/d are opposites. So, the definition of the word loathe/d is dislike.

Other clues that may signal antonyms are conjunctions like but or however. Sometimes these conjunctions indicate a change is coming in the sentence or sentences. Read carefully when you see these conjunctions.

To practice antonym use, click here. This exercise practices matching antonyms but is not presented in context.

More antonym practice, click here. This exercise practices defining antonyms and does come with an explanation of the words.

General Sense: Many times, you have to understand what the situation of the sentence or passage is in order to define an unknown word. This is when you are using general sense as a context clue.

Click here to read more about general sense and other types of context clues.

Click here to gain more information about using general sense and other types of vocabulary in context clues. Scroll to the Overview and study the examples. Ignore the instructions to the teacher.

Practice Vocabulary in Context

Click here, Practice 1.

Click here, Practice 2.

Click here, Practice 3.

Click here, Practice 4

Click here to practice more vocabulary in context skills. This site will lead you to an index of news stories. Click on anything of interest. Read the article. Follow the prompts that lead you to the vocabulary sections.

Test yourself!

Self-Test 1, Click here!

Self-Test 2, Click here!