English
Context clues.
Definition
Words, phrases, or sentences surrounding an unfamiliar word that help a reader determine its meaning without using a dictionary. Using context clues is one of the most important reading strategies for building vocabulary and comprehension.
How it works · 5 phases
Step by step.
- Stop when you encounter an unknown word and reread the sentence.
- Look at the words and sentences immediately before and after the unknown word.
- Identify signal words like 'such as,' 'unlike,' 'meaning,' or 'for example.'
- Use the clues to make an educated guess about the word's meaning.
- Substitute your guess into the sentence to see if it makes sense.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 'The dog was so lethargic that it barely lifted its head' — context suggests lethargic means very tired or sluggish
- 2 'She was jubilant, laughing and jumping for joy' — the description reveals jubilant means extremely happy