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Reading:

Using Context Clues to Determine Word Meaning

Matthew PiechDefense Language InstituteEnglish Language Center

When you are reading and encounter an unfamiliar word, what do you usually do?Here are some common solutions:

However, using any of these resources takes time. Additionally, what will you do if none of them are available?

Today, we are going to look at using context clues to determine word meaning.

Context clues are pieces of information you combine in order to make an intelligent guess as to what a word means.It is somewhat like being a detective who is trying to solve a mystery.

We will be looking at four types of context clues:1. embedded definitions2. synonyms 3. antonyms4. examples

Embedded DefinitionsSometimes, a new word may be defined in the text you are reading. We call this an embedded definition.Embedded definitions may appear before or after an unfamiliar word.

For example, read the following sentence:He hung his suit in the armoire, a large piece of furniture with two doors.

In this sentence, the word armoire may be new to you.He hung his suit in the armoire, a large piece of furniture with two doors.

However, by simply continuing to read, you find the text defines the word immediately after it is introduced.He hung his suit in the armoire, a large piece of furniture with two doors.

Now, let us examine another example where an imbedded definition is provided. This time, the meaning of the new word appears before the word itself. A large area of ice flowing over a land mass is known as a glacier.

If you read the word glacier in isolation, you may not have known its meaning. A large area of ice flowing over a land mass is known as a glacier.

But since the embedded definition was provided first, you already knew the meaning by the time you reached the word. A large area of ice flowing over a land mass is known as a glacier.

PracticeDirections: Read the following text. Determine the meaning of the word gregarious using the embedded definition provided.Personalities vary from individual to individual. Some people are shy and reserved while others are gregarious, which means sociable. What type of personality do you possess?

PracticeIf you concluded that the definition for gregarious is sociable, you are correct.Personalities vary from individual to individual. Some people are shy and reserved while others are gregarious, which means sociable. What type of personality do you possess?

SynonymsA synonym is a word that has the same, or nearly the same, meaning as another word in a language.For instance, look at these common synonyms:

biglargesmalltinyfastrapiddifficultchallengingWhen provided, a synonym follows the less common word to help the reader understand it. For instance, look at the following sentence:David felt remorse, or regret, for insulting his younger brother.

In this sentence, the less common word remorse is followed by the synonym regret. David felt remorse, or regret, for insulting his younger brother.

Sometimes, a synonym may appear in a neighboring sentence as in the following example:Sheila received serendipitous news this morning. This favorable information indicated she would receive a promotion soon.

Here, the synonym for the word serendipitous appears in the second sentence.Sheila received serendipitous news this morning. This favorable information indicated she would receive a promotion soon.

PracticeDirections: Read the following text. Identify the synonym for the uncommon word.Let us juxtapose, or compare, the two issues facing the committee.

PracticeIf you identified compare as the synonym for the word juxtapose, you are correct!Let us juxtapose, or compare, the two issues facing the committee.

AntonymsAn antonym is a word that has the opposite, or nearly the opposite, meaning as another word in a language.To illustrate, look at these common antonyms:opencloseupdownbeginfinish

rightwrongWhen given, an antonym follows the less common word to help the reader understand it. For instance, look at the following sentence:Ali did not condone his sons behavior; he punished him.

Notice the negative expression did not preceding the word condone. It tells us that if another word is provided as a context clue in the affirmative (without did not), the second term must be an antonym.Ali did not condone his sons behavior; he punished him.Therefore, if punish is the antonym of condone, condone must mean to excuse.

Like synonyms, antonyms can appear in a nearby sentence.Read the following sentences. See if you can identify the antonym phrase for the word sultry.The sultry day came as a complete surprise to residents. Just yesterday, the weather was cool and dry.

If you identified the antonym phrase cool and dry you are right! Sultry means hot and humid, the opposite of cool and dry.The sultry day came as a complete surprise to residents. Just yesterday, the weather was cool and dry.

PracticeDirections: Read the following text. Identify the antonym for the uncommon word.The teacher believed Maria would feel auspicious to give her presentation first. However, in reality, Maria considered herself unfortunate.

PracticeIf you identified unfortunate as the antonym for auspicious, you are correct!The teacher believed Maria would feel auspicious to give her presentation first. However, in reality, Maria considered herself unfortunate.

Thus, if unfortunate is the antonym for auspicious, the word auspicious must mean fortunate.ExamplesThe fourth type of context clues we will look at are examples. Examples enable us to make an informed guess as to what a word means.Read the following sentence:His benign approach to be a doctor involved smiling when greeting his patients, listening closely to their needs, answering all of their questions completely, and calling them the next day to check on their condition.

In this case, the text provides us with four examples of what benign means:His benign approach to be a doctor involved smiling when greeting his patients, listening closely to their needs, answering all of their questions completely, and calling them the next day to check on their condition.

In this case, the text provides us with four examples of what benign means:His benign approach to be a doctor involved smiling when greeting his patients, listening closely to their needs, answering all of their questions completely, and calling them the next day to check on their condition.

In this case, the text provides us with four examples of what benign means:His benign approach to be a doctor involved smiling when greeting his patients, listening closely to their needs, answering all of their questions completely, and calling them the next day to check on their condition.

In this case, the text provides us with four examples of what benign means:His benign approach to be a doctor involved smiling when greeting his patients, listening closely to their needs, answering all of their questions completely, and calling them the next day to check on their condition.

In this case, the text provides us with four examples of what benign means:His benign approach to be a doctor involved smiling when greeting his patients, listening closely to their needs, answering all of their questions completely, and calling them the next day to check on their condition.If you had a doctor who possessed these characteristics, how would you describe him or her?If you answered with any of the following words (or a similar word), you would have defined benign correctly:kindcaringcompassionate

Let us look at another instance where examples are provided to help give meaning to an unfamiliar word.The room had an insipid appearance with its bare white walls, highly glossed floor tiles, and fluorescent lighting.

This time, the text gives us three examples to help us define the word insipid.The room had an insipid appearance with its bare white walls, highly glossed floor tiles, and fluorescent lighting.

This time, the text gives us three examples to help us define the word insipid.The room had an insipid appearance with its bare white walls, highly glossed floor tiles, and fluorescent lighting.

This time, the text gives us three examples to help us define the word insipid.The room had an insipid appearance with its bare white walls, highly glossed floor tiles, and fluorescent lighting.

This time, the text gives us three examples to help us define the word insipid.The room had an insipid appearance with its bare white walls, highly glossed floor tiles, and fluorescent lighting.

If you walked into a room that looked like this, what words would you use to describe it?If you answered with any of the following words (or a similar word), you would have defined insipid correctly:blandfeaturelessdullcolorless

PracticeDirections: Use the examples in the following sentence to define the unfamiliar word.For all practical purposes, he appeared disjointed: his eyes were partially closed, his speech was unclear, and nothing he said could be understood.

PracticeIf you used any of the following words (or a similar word) to define disjointed, you would be right!

confusedillogicalincoherentramblingReviewToday, we have looked at four types of context clues. They are:1. embedded definitions2. synonyms3. antonyms4. examples

Final PracticeDirections: Read the following paragraph. Use the four context clues we examined to define the circled words:

Final Practice

The actor began the play with a soliloquy, talking to oneself aloud without regard to those around him. After he finished, he sprinted, or ran, off stage. At the beginning of the next scene, several new actors attempted to captivate the audience with a song, but most people appeared bored. A critic attending the play later wrote that the performance was mediocre: the costumes were poorly designed, the acting was unimpressive, and the singing was off-key.Final PracticeLet us see how you did. Define each of the following words:1. soliloquy:Talking to oneself without regard for those around him or her.2. sprint:to run3. captivate:to interest4. mediocre:average, ordinary, unexceptional

Congratulations!Throughout the course of this lesson, you have defined 16 new words without using a dictionary, translator, or other outside resource!

One Final Note

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