Chapter 3: Vocabulary

Central Arizona College

Chapter 3: Vocabulary

Vocabulary Development

Why should you develop your vocabulary? Firstly, it enhances your reading comprehension. If you read a paragraph that has words you don’t know, the odds of understanding that paragraph diminish. Secondly, a strong vocabulary can help you be a better communicator. When you have more precise language you can use, you can get your point across more clearly. Another outcome of vocabulary development is greater academic and professional success. Having a strong vocabulary can enhance your credibility as a student and as a professional in the workplace. The last reason you should develop your vocabulary is to grow your confidence. Consistently encountering words you don’t know can be draining and discouraging. Growing your vocabulary can make you feel more prepared when you take on a difficult reading.

How can you expand your vocabulary?

Read more.
Look up words you encounter.
Keep a record of words you look up.
Use these vocabulary words in writing and conversation.

Let’s face it: some of us encounter words we don’t know in a reading, and we either don’t take the time or don’t have the time to look up that word. Sometimes there are too many words to look up. If we skip over an unknown word altogether, it might affect our understanding of the reading. It is important to spend a little extra time when reading a sentence containing words we don’t know. So what do we do if we encounter a word we don’t know and we don’t look it up? We use context clues.

What Are Context Clues?

Context clues are hints or pieces of information in a text that help you figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words or ideas. Authors include these clues in the sentences or paragraphs surrounding a difficult word to make it easier for readers to understand the text without needing to look up every new term.

Why Are Context Clues Important?

They improve your reading comprehension.
They allow you to make educated guesses about unfamiliar words.
They help you become a more independent reader.

Types of Context Clues

Definition or Explanation Clue: The word is directly defined in the sentence or nearby.
- Example: The biologist studied the habitat, or the natural environment, of the species.
Synonym or Restatement Clue: A word or phrase with a similar meaning is used to explain the unfamiliar word.
- Example: The movie was a melancholy story, full of sadness and regret.
Antonym or Contrast Clue: The word’s meaning is clarified by showing how it is different from something else.
- Example: Unlike her gregarious brother, Maria preferred solitude, spending much of her time alone.
Example Clue: Examples are given to help explain the word.
- Example: The jewelry was tarnished—the once-shiny silver had turned dull and gray.
Inference Clue: The meaning is implied by the overall context of the sentence or paragraph.
- Example: The desert air was so arid that not a single drop of rain fell for months.

How to Use Context Clues

Read the Surrounding Text Carefully
- Look at the sentence with the unfamiliar word and the sentences around it.
Look for Signal Words
- Pay attention to words like or, unlike, because, such as, for example, and although. These often point to clues.
Make an Educated Guess
- Use the clues to form an idea of what the word might mean.
Test Your Guess
- Replace the unfamiliar word with your guess. Does the sentence still make sense?

Practice 3.1

Use the context clues in the sentence to determine the meaning of the italicized word.

Definition Clue
- The scientist noticed the phenomenon, or event, of lights flashing in the sky during the storm.
- What does phenomenon mean?
Synonym Clue
- Despite the chaos around her, Maria remained serene and calm, as if nothing could disturb her peace.
- What does serene mean?
Antonym Clue
- The desert was scorching during the day, but the nights were surprisingly cold.
- What does scorching mean?
Example Clue
- The omnivorous animal ate berries, insects, and even small mammals to survive.
- What does omnivorous mean?
Inference Clue
- Jason felt apprehensive about the test because he hadn’t studied much and wasn’t sure he would pass.
- What does apprehensive mean?

Practice 3.2

Use the context clues in the sentence to determine the meaning of the boldword.

Practice 3.3

Use context clues in the sentence to figure out the meaning of each new word.

The deal seemed perfect, but there was one important caveat: the warranty covered only the first six months.

- What does caveat mean?
- Look it up to clarify your understanding.

2. The sycophant constantly praised his boss to stay on her good side.

- What does sycophant mean?
- Look it up to clarify your understanding.

3. The lawyer tried to obfuscate the facts in order to sway the jury.

- What does obfuscate mean?
- Look it up to clarify your understanding.

4. The student was ebullient after receiving the good news of being accepted into college.

- What does ebullient mean?
- Look it up to clarify your understanding.

Attributions

Strengthening Reading and Comprehension by Audrey Cross and Katherine Sorenson is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Media Attributions

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License