English
Vocabulary in context.
Definition
Vocabulary in context is the skill of determining a word's specific meaning based on how it is used in a particular passage, rather than relying solely on its dictionary definition. Many words have multiple meanings, and context determines which one applies.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 'The bank was steep and muddy' — here 'bank' means the side of a river, not a financial institution
- 2 'Her grave expression told us the news was bad' — 'grave' means serious, not a burial site
- 3 On the SAT, a question might ask what 'check' means in 'Congress can check the President's power' — here it means to restrain