- 1). Read a wide variety of books and magazines. Reading regularly does wonders to increase your vocabulary, because the problem is often not that you don't know the word, but that you are unfamiliar with the context in which it can be used. Reading helps you see new words in all different contexts, and older books are great sources for words that may have fallen out of common usage, such as impertinent and impudent (both synonyms for rude).
- 2). Look up any words you don't understand. In everyday life, it is easy to gloss over words that you don't understand, but doing so stunts your vocabulary. Recognize that although you may know most words, there are still a lot that you don't know. Admit when you are confused as to the meaning of a word, and look it up. There are so many beautiful words that are lost on the majority of the population because they don't learn new words. For example, the word apricity, which means the warmth of the sun in winter, is barely ever used, but there is no other succinct term that covers its purpose.
- 3). Play vocabulary games. There are many different vocabulary games online, which are a great resource for some fun learning. Even things as simple as spotting the antonyms (words that mean the opposite of the stated word) of words can re-acquaint you with words that you don't ordinarily use. See Resources for some vocabulary games. Play board games like Scrabble in your spare time. Scrabble is great because it relies on your ability to form words out of random letters, so a good vocabulary generally equals a good score.
- 4). Practice using new words in different contexts. When you learn a new word, don't stop at simply looking up the definition. Think of sentences you could say that include the word, and learn words with similar meanings (synonyms) and opposite meanings. This helps put the word into some sort of context, and will help you understand how words are used in relation to each other.
- 5). Find out about unusual words. You can search for a list of advanced vocabulary or websites that frequently post uncommon words (see Resources). Finding out about the etymology (the origins) of the word can help you retain the information and be interesting learning. After you've found out a new word, try to use it when you next get the chance.
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