Practice
How to improve your English vocabulary
A long word list is hard to remember because the words have no job to do. Keep a smaller list of words and phrases that you meet in reading, listening, work, or daily life. Then return to them and use them in your own sentences.
Build a repeatable vocabulary habit: choose useful words, record a phrase and example, review it after a gap, and use it in a short message or conversation.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Could you explain that word? /kʊd juː ɪkˈspleɪn ðæt wɜːrd/
The short answer
Choose useful words from real English, learn each word with a phrase and example, review it on different days, and use it yourself. A word becomes easier to recall when you connect it to a situation instead of keeping it alone on a list.
I wrote down make an appointment after I heard it in a phone conversation.
Why it works: The phrase records the word with the action it commonly describes.
5 more examples
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I need to make an appointment with the dentist this week.
Learn the phrase as a unit. Make is the usual verb with appointment in this meaning.
Not this:I need to
do an appointmentwith the dentist this week. What changes: Do is not the usual verb for arranging a meeting with a dentist. -
The instructions were clear, so I finished the form quickly.
A whole sentence shows that clear describes instructions that are easy to understand.
Not this:The instructions were
clearly, so I finished the form quickly. What changes: Clear is an adjective after were. Clearly is an adverb and does not fit this position. -
Could you explain the problem in a different way?
This polite phrase can help when you understand some of an explanation but need another version.
Not this:Could you explain the problem
in another way? What changes: This is also correct. Another often means one more possible way. Different emphasizes a changed approach. -
I was surprised by how much time the journey took.
The phrase gives a natural way to describe an unexpected reaction.
Not this:I
was surpriseby how much time the journey took. What changes: After was, use the adjective surprised to describe the speaker's feeling. -
My colleague suggested a useful website for checking pronunciation.
Suggested is followed by the thing that the colleague recommended.
Not this:My colleague
suggested mea useful website for checking pronunciation. What changes: Suggest does not usually take a person directly in this pattern. Name the idea or thing that was suggested.
Read the full guide
Start with English you already want to understand. A message from work, a recipe, a video, or a short article can provide useful vocabulary. When you find a word or phrase, ask two questions: What does it mean here? When might I need it? If you cannot imagine using it soon, leave it for another time and choose a more useful item.
Choose words you can use
Pick vocabulary from a situation that matters to you. If you often speak to customers, look for phrases used in requests and replies. If you are preparing for travel, collect words for directions, bookings, and food. A useful word has a place where you expect to meet it again.
Could I book a table for four people at seven o'clock?
This sentence gives a complete phrase for a restaurant call. Book a table is easier to use than table by itself.
Think about one situation you may have this week. Which phrase would help you there?
Choose a phrase that names a real action, such as ask for directions, pay a bill, or reschedule a meeting. Write the whole phrase and one sentence that uses it.
Record phrases with enough context
A single translated word can be difficult to use because it does not show grammar or common partners. Record a short phrase, a plain meaning, and one complete example. You can add a note about the situation, such as work email or pharmacy. Keep the note short enough that you will read it again.
run out of: have no more of something. We ran out of milk this morning.
The phrase run out of needs the word of before the thing that is finished. The example shows the pattern in a daily situation.
Write a vocabulary note for the phrase look forward to. What should you include after the phrase?
Add a noun or an -ing form after to, such as I look forward to meeting you. Include the complete sentence so the grammar stays visible.
Meet the word again after a gap
Reviewing after a gap asks your memory to find the word again. Look at the English side of a card and try to remember the meaning or phrase before turning it over. Review a few older cards before you add new ones. If you remember a card easily, leave a longer gap before the next review.
On Thursday, I tried to recall the phrase from Monday before checking my note.
Reading the same list many times can feel familiar, but recalling the answer gives you a clearer check of what you remember.
You learned take part in on Monday. What can you do on Thursday before you open the answer?
Try to say or write the phrase from memory, then check it. If you missed part of the phrase, read the full example and test yourself again later.
Use new vocabulary in a small task
Give a new phrase a small job. Write a message, answer a question aloud, or describe a plan using it. Keep the task short so you can notice whether the word fits. If you are unsure, check a learner dictionary example before you reuse it.
I would like to reschedule our meeting because I have an appointment that morning.
The sentence uses reschedule for changing the time of a planned meeting. It also gives a reason that makes the message clear.
Use the phrase keep in touch in one sentence about a person you know.
You could write, I would like to keep in touch after the course ends. The phrase means to continue communicating with someone.
Notice word families and common partners
One new word can lead to related words. When you learn decide, notice decision and decisive. Also notice the words that often appear together. You can make a decision, reach a decision, or change a decision. These combinations help your English sound more natural and give you more than one way to express an idea.
After we discussed the cost, we made a decision together.
Make a decision is a common combination. Learn the verb and noun together so you do not have to choose a verb from memory every time.
You know the word success. Which related verb could you look for in a dictionary?
Look for succeed. Read a complete example because the verb form and the words around it may differ from the noun success.
Before you go
Remember this
Improve vocabulary through useful context and regular return visits. Save a phrase with the word. Read or hear it again, then use it in a sentence of your own. This routine gives each word a place in your memory and a reason to come back when you need it.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "How to improve your English vocabulary"
How many new English words should I learn each day?
Choose a number that leaves time to review and use the words. Five useful items can be enough if each note includes a phrase and a sentence. Add fewer words on a busy day rather than filling a list you will not open again. The aim is to remember and use the vocabulary, not to collect the largest number of entries.
I need to make an appointment with the dentist this week.
Should I learn English words alone or in phrases?
Learn a word with a phrase or complete example whenever you can. The surrounding words show grammar, usual partners, and meaning. For example, make an appointment tells you which verb commonly goes with appointment. A short example also gives you a model to change for your own situation.
I need to do an appointment with the dentist this week.
How can I remember vocabulary for longer?
Return to a small set of words after a gap and try to recall them before you check your notes. Then use one item in a message, a spoken answer, or a short description. Seeing a word once may help you recognize it, but recalling and using it gives you another chance to build the connection.
The instructions were clear, so I finished the form quickly.
What should I write in a vocabulary notebook?
Write the word or phrase, a plain meaning, and a complete sentence that shows its use. Add a note about the situation when it helps, such as a work call or travel plan. You can also record a related word or a common partner. Keep entries short enough that you can review several of them in one session.
The instructions were clearly, so I finished the form quickly.
How can I use new vocabulary when I am shy about mistakes?
Begin with a private task such as a note to yourself or a short recording. Choose one phrase and make one sentence about your own day. Check a dictionary example if you are uncertain, then try the phrase in a low-pressure conversation or message. A small, repeated use is a practical way to test what you remember.
Could you explain the problem in a different way?