Memorizing Vocabulary Words

Memorizing vocabulary words and their definitions can be tough. But as explained on the Keyword Method page, substitute words and association are the secrets to making it easy. In fact, if you make the effort, you can memorize scads of terms in a short time.

Not only is improving your vocabulary a great way to advance your career (it can make you seem smarter), but it is essential if you plan to take college entrance exams like the SAT. And nothing is more embarrassing when someone uses a word in conversation that you don't understand.

Examples

Below are examples that show how to memorize vocabulary words using substitute words and association.

Example 1 - Exorbitant. This word means "exceeding the bounds of reason; excessive". For example, paying $10 for a gallon of gas would seem to most people an exorbitant price. To remember the definition for this word, first break it down into smaller substitute words, then associate these words with the meaning of exorbitant.

One way is breaking the word down into "ex" + "orbit" + "ant". Now, "ex" is a commonly used prefix that simply means "out" (for example, someone's ex-husband is their husband who is out!); "orbit" could refer to a spaceship in orbit around the Earth; and an "ant" is simply that little insect out in the yard that bites you if you mess with him.

So form this mental picture: a big astronaut ant is in orbit around the Earth in his spaceship, but he's out cold (asleep). Since he's asleep and not driving, his spaceship drifts out of bounds away from Earth and excessively far away, into the Sun (ouch!).

Try to picture this image vividly. Now, when you hear the word "exorbitant" (ex-orbit-ant), you'll think of your image of the ant floating from orbit to excessively far away.

Example 2 - Lobbyist. This word describes someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills the lobbyist favors.

Let's try breaking the sound of this word down: "lob" + "bee" + "ist". You could remember the definition of lobbyist by imagining a man or woman in a suit lobbing (throwing) a big, angry bee East (ist) through the air and into a ballot box held in the arms of the President. The bee has a duck bill instead of a nose. Try to visualize this as clearly and in as much detail as you can.

As before, the sound of the word reminds you of a mental picture you created in advance that gives away the definition of the word.

Example 3 - Fission. This word has a couple of definitions, but for example purposes we'll consider just one. The word fission means a nuclear reaction where a big atom is broken down into smaller parts with a release of energy.

Fission sounds a lot like "fishing". So imagine a man named Adam (Atom) quietly fishing in a lake, but a "new cold ear" (nuclear) falls out of the sky and smashes his boat into a million pieces, causes a big mushroom cloud (release of energy).

Imagine that one, if you will!

When someone says "fission" (or you read the word), you'll think of Adam (atom) fishing and his boat being hit by a New Cold Ear (nuclear) reaction and causing a release of energy.

Memorizing Vocabulary Requires Practice, Too

These examples of memorizing vocabulary have in common the requirement that you need to really focus on the image you are imagining and see it vividly. In addition, it is very helpful if you review the mental image periodically, perhaps once a day for several days.

A good way to review vocabulary is by making and using flashcards. Obtain a stack of 3"X5" cards. On the front, write the vocabulary word. On the back, write the dictionary definition, plus a short description of your Keyword Method image.

After you've made a bunch of these cards, flip through them one by one with the vocabulary words facing up. You should be able to quickly picture the image you associated with each and remember the definition. With some practice, memorizing vocabulary of any kind will be a snap!

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