Vocabulary from Context

Core Idea

When you come across a word you do not know, the words and sentences around it -- the context -- can help you figure out what it means. If a sentence says "The famished wolf ate everything in sight," you can guess that "famished" means very hungry because of what the wolf does. Using context clues to figure out new words is one of the most powerful ways to build your vocabulary as a reader.

How It's Best Learned

When you find an unfamiliar word, read the whole sentence and the sentences around it. Ask: What clues do the surrounding words give me? Make a guess, then check a dictionary to see how close you were. Keep a list of new words you have figured out from context and review them regularly.

Common Misconceptions

• Thinking you should stop and look up every unfamiliar word immediately; trying to figure it out from context first builds a stronger skill.
• Believing context always gives you the exact meaning; sometimes you get a general idea, and that is often enough to keep reading.
• Assuming good readers never encounter unfamiliar words; even the best readers regularly meet new words and use context to understand them.

Explainer

When you are reading and come across a word you do not know, you do not always need a dictionary. You can be a detective and look for clues in the words around it. These clues are called context clues, and they help you figure out what the word means.

Context clues work in many ways. Sometimes the author gives you a definition nearby. For example: "The arid desert, with almost no water, stretched for miles." The phrase "with almost no water" tells you that arid means dry. Sometimes the author shows you what the word means through actions. If a book says "The boy was irate and threw his toy across the room," you can guess that irate means very angry because of what he did. Sometimes examples help. "Reptiles like snakes, lizards, and turtles all have scales" tells you that reptiles are cold-blooded animals with scales.

You can also use what you already know about words. If you know that "un-" means not, and you see "unhappy," you can figure out it means not happy. If you know "re-" means again, and you see "reread," you know it means read again. These word parts (called prefixes and suffixes) are tools you carry with you as a reader.

Using context is faster and more natural than stopping to look up every word. It keeps you in the flow of the story, and it builds your independence as a reader. Of course, if you try all these strategies and still have no idea what a word means, then check a dictionary. But most of the time, the context around the word gives you enough of a clue to keep reading and enjoying the story. The more you practice looking for context clues, the stronger your vocabulary becomes without even trying.