How to Improve Your Vocabulary: 10 Practical Strategies

A rich vocabulary helps you express ideas precisely, write more engagingly, and communicate more effectively. Here are ten strategies that actually work.

1. Read Widely and Actively

Read across genres and topics. When you encounter unfamiliar words, look them up immediately and note them.

2. Use a Word Journal

Keep a notebook or digital doc where you record new words, their definitions, and example sentences.

3. Learn Word Roots

Understanding Latin and Greek roots unlocks thousands of words. "Bene" (good), "mal" (bad), "scrib" (write) help you decode words you've never seen.

4. Practice Using New Words

Use newly learned words in conversation and writing within 24 hours. Active use cements retention.

5. Study Synonyms and Antonyms

Don't just learn a word—learn its relatives. Understanding the nuances between "happy," "elated," "content," and "ecstatic" enriches your writing.

6. Play Word Games

Crosswords, Scrabble, Wordle, and vocabulary apps make learning fun and build word associations.

7-10. More Strategies

• Subscribe to word-of-the-day services for daily exposure


• Teach words to others—explaining reinforces learning


• Set reading goals—aim for 30+ minutes daily


• Review regularly—spaced repetition cements long-term memory

Use our paraphrasing tool to explore different ways to express the same ideas with varied vocabulary.