- Check you have the correct word entry: English has a lot of homonyms (words with the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings) so the first definition you read might not be the one you are looking for.
- Learn the abbreviations: dictionaries show you the part of speech or word class of each word using abbreviations such as det., adv., and pl., so make sure you know what these mean.
- Look at the pronunciation: dictionaries usually give a word’s pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) or a respelling to mimic pronunciation.
- Look for word stress: they usually show stressed syllables, often using bold, with an underline, or an apostrophe (‘).
- Look for word families: some dictionaries show words in the same word family, for example if you look up the adjective fresh you might also find the adverb freshly and the noun freshness.
- Read the word origin: many dictionaries display how a word has changed (etymology). Knowing the origin of a word could help you remember it more easily, or show links to your own language.
- Look beyond the words: almost every English dictionary has a small section with useful information about British culture to help your language learning, such as interesting people, scales of measurement, symbols, and collective nouns.
- Always keep one handy: a pocket-size dictionary might not give you the same depth and detail, but it is great for quick reference and understanding when you’re on the go.
