How to improve your vocabulary

Start with words you will actually meet

Choose a small set from a book, lesson, conversation, or subject you care about. A useful word solves a real problem: it helps you understand a passage or express an idea more precisely. You do not need to begin with the longest words you can find.

Keep the sentence that introduced the word alongside your note. It shows which meaning mattered at that moment. If a word has several meanings, learn the relevant one before adding another.

• Record the word and its part of speech.
• Write a short meaning in familiar language.
• Save the context, including where you found it.

Give each word a job

Use the word in a sentence about something you know. For example, to practise concise, revise a long message into a shorter one and describe the change: I made the instructions more concise by removing repeated steps.

Compare your sentence with a reliable dictionary example or ask a teacher for feedback. A sentence can be grammatically correct while still sounding unusual. Notice the words that commonly appear beside your new word.

Return to the words

At your next study session, cover your notes and try to explain each word. Then check your answer. Mark what was difficult: the meaning, spelling, pronunciation, or use. These are different tasks and may need different practice.

Mix familiar words with recent additions. If a word feels easy on a flashcard, try using it in a new paragraph or explaining it without repeating the original definition.

Review usefulness, not just totals

Once a week, look for a word you now notice in reading and one you have used naturally. Keep words that still need attention in your practice set. Put comfortable words aside for a later check.

A growing list is helpful only if you can do something with it. Reading, listening, conversation, and writing give your collection different kinds of context. Adjust the size of the list to the time you can realistically spend.

• Can I explain the meaning without looking?
• Can I recognise it in a different sentence?
• Can I use it where a reader would expect it?