English Vocabulary: Meaning, Types, Tips to Improve

English Vocabulary: A good vocabulary can get you a job, provide a better score in competitive examinations and help you to impress people around you. Regardless of whether you are a college/school student or a working professional, English vocabulary plays an unavoidable role in our daily life. If you plan to improve your English vocabulary, there is nothing that can stop you. In fact, the global presence of the English language is fairly easy to do. Let us familiarize you with some of the tips and tricks of doing the same from the blog article below!

What is English Vocabulary?

Vocabulary refers to the collection of words and phrases that a person understands, uses, and is familiar with in a particular language. It encompasses all the words and terms an individual can comprehend, recognize, and employ when speaking, listening, reading, or writing in a language.

Types of English Vocabulary

Vocabulary can be categorized into different types, including:

1. Active Vocabulary: The words and phrases that a person can readily use in their own speech and writing.
2. Passive Vocabulary: The words and phrases that a person can understand when they read or hear them but may not use actively in their own communication.
3. Specialized Vocabulary: Vocabulary related to specific fields or subjects, such as medical terminology, legal jargon, or technical terms.
4. General Vocabulary: Common words and phrases that are used in everyday conversation and writing.

Tips to Improve English Vocabulary

Follow these tips on a regular basis and see how you master English vocabulary in no time:

Read, Read and Read More

Reading is the fastest way of improving your English vocabulary. It also provides you with varied options, you can find a suitable novel that fits your interests or you can read the newspaper on a daily basis to improve your knowledge of current affairs and GK along with hoarding some new words.

Find the Origin of the Word 

For those who like to go a little too much into the details, this is going to be an excellent tip! Find the root of the word by doing a little digging. As a matter of fact, most of the English vocabulary words are derived from Greek or Latin. Once you get a hold of the root, you will be able to understand more words originating from the same root. For example -duc- is a Latin root word for words like Produce or Deduce. 

Maintain your Own Dictionary

We cannot do away with the fact that dictionaries are the real helping source to know the meaning of a word. It is strongly recommended that you maintain a personal dictionary where you add newly discovered words and keep going through it once in a while for a quick English vocabulary revision.

Play English Vocabulary Games

With the advent of internet technology, there are a plethora of options that will pave the way for English vocabulary. You can learn all the new words while having a fun time. Some of the topmost vocabulary learning applications are Duolingo, Memrise or QuizUp. There are crossword puzzle games like Scrabble and Crosswords which can take your English vocabulary to the next level. 

Vocabulary Tests

This would be a great help if you are up to improving your vocabulary skills. There are resourceful online mock tests available on the internet that will pave your way to explore unique words. You will come to know your strengths and weaknesses, apart from getting practice with words you have memorised.

Start Using Online Platforms

In order to brush up on your writing skills and improve your English vocabulary, switch to online platforms. There are plenty of online courses that can excellently sharpen your English language skills through activities and practice tests.

Practise Writing

Writing is something that helps in improving your thinking skills. Once you start thinking in English, your vocabulary will automatically become better. You could start with the smallest of things such as diary entries, journals, or even a few sentences each day. 

Watching

Watching programs in English will assist you in improving your vocabulary. You could watch shows and movies as the conversations held there will allow your mind to process new words faster. People-watching is another way of making your English vocabulary stronger!

Find out How to Improve Spoken English!

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Synonyms of Importance	Synonyms of Brave
Adjectives Starting With The Letter I	Adjectives Starting With The Letter B
Idioms for Learning	Idioms for Experience

List of Difficult Words

Let’s have a look at some of the difficult English vocabulary words with meanings:

Vocabulary	Meaning	Sentence
Contrive	Make or work out a plan for	In order to pursue overseas education, it is important to make a contrive strategy.
Maraud	Go about in search of things to steal or people to attack.	Naxalites in Chattisgarh crossed the river to maraud.
Coddle	To treat somebody with too much care	My mom is coddling my brother more than me.
Relegate	To give somebody a lower or less important position, rank etc.	My friend was then relegated to the role of assistant.
Atavistic	Relating to or characterised by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.	Ape shares an atavistic relationship with humans.
Unscathed	Without suffering any injury	Even though the bus skidded off, he came out unscathed.
Upheaval	A violent or sudden change or disruption to something	The COVID-19 lockdown has brought massive upheaval in my life
Ambrosia	The food and drink of the gods	A fungal product used as food by ambrosia beetles.
Tenets	One of the principles or beliefs that a theory set of beliefs is based on	He reminds them of the basic tenets of biblical teaching.
Peripatetic	Travelling from one place to place	Amid COVID 19 outbreak, migrant labours stuck in Delhi peripatetic to their homes
Herald	To say in public that somebody something is good or important	Bringing the baby some herald that start of a very different lifestyle.

To know words of English vocabulary, you can read our blog on 50 Difficult Words with Meanings

Related Blogs to Read

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wicked antonyms	Adjectives Starting With The Letter I
Idioms for Experience	Antonyms of Consonance
antonyms of busy	Synonyms of Importance

FAQs

Hope this blog has helped you in improving your English vocabulary skills. If you are preparing for English proficiency exams and need expert guidance to get high scores, let Leverage Edu be your helping hand. Register and get in touch with us through our exclusive E-meeting feature!