Want to increase your vocabulary? Here are five tried-and-true methods.



1.Pay attention to context.



When you come across an unfamiliar word, try to figure out its meaning by using hints from other words or visuals. For example, when an ad for a food processor promises that it will help you prepare "a sumptuous family breakfast, including eggs, fruit, pastries, and more, you can infer that sumptuous means"lavish" or "magnificent". The words, along with the photo that may accompany the ad, can help you guess the meaning.



2. Learn a new word daily.



Each day, pick a word from the dictionary and try to use it as often as possible. Realize you've forgotten your best friend's birthday? Just exclaim , " How gauche of me!" You'll make much more of an impression than if you just say "thoughtless".



3.Associate new words with people or places.



One way to learn something new is to associate something you don't know with something you do. Let's say you learn that urbane means "elegant" or "refined".Associate that new word with someone who is like that - perhaps your English teacher. Then, whenever you read "urbane"again, your teacher's face will pop into your head, and you'll remember the word's meaning.



4. Listen to good vocabulary sources.



Hearing words used correctly will help you learn their denotations (dictionary definitions) and connotations (implied meanings). Keep your ears open - especially to respectable sources. Listen to National Public Radio occasionally instead of articulate people discussing current events or comedies that use clever wordplay. Learn new words as you enjoy leisure activities.



5. Become an active reader.



Well-written magazines such as Time or The Smithsonian can provide painless vocabulary lessons as you wait in the dentist's office.



Outstanding fiction and nonfiction are as close as your local library. As you read, notice the words that authors use: When you come upon one you don't know and can't figure out from context, look it up.



It's fun to make note of an author's "favorite" words. For example, you'll come across furtive at least a dozen times in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Do you know what it means?



To monitor your progress, keep a notebook of new words you acquire. By the end of the year, you'll be surprised at how many words you've learned. Review the list regularly to refresh your memory, put a star by favorite words, and use them often!