10 English Vocabulary Building Web Tools For Students

It would not be an overstatement to say that English is the language of the world. Although Mandarin tops the list of most commonly spoken languages in the world, it’s a known fact that English links people around the globe. Thus, it won’t hurt to get a deeper understanding of this ever-present language and work towards bettering your grammar and vocabulary. Below is a list of some excellent web tools that can help in building a strong vocabulary and learning a new language:

VocabSushi

VocabSushi is a young resource that will let you build your vocabulary by playing games that take into account real-world usage and which adjusts to your skill and capability as you precede. It is ideal for students studying for standardized tests like the SAT or GRE. Features include endless sentence completion questions, word list management, article reader, downloadable MP3 audio, printable quizzes and more.

WordSpy

WordSpy is a website that tracks new words and phrases as they enter the English Language.

Wordnik

Wordnik offers a blend of results aimed at users getting more than just a stale definition of a word. It has that, of course, but it also has examples of phrases containing the word, drawn from a range of sources, and put in context. An interesting feature is the Twitter integration as the dictionary does a real-time search for the word on the social networking website and brings up tweets using it. It also pulls images related to the search term from Flickr and has a helpful ‘related words’ section, which contains the usual synonyms and antonyms but also, interestingly, words related to the subject that would be used in the same context. Users will be able to add their own words on top of the 1.7 million already available and the site creators hope that this, along with the social media elements, will make the site appealing to word enthusiasts as well as regular users.

Webopedia

Webopedia is the no-nonsense, low-jargon online dictionary and search engine you need for computer and internet technology definitions.

Phrases.net

Phrases.net is a community-driven resource that accumulates common phrases, casual expressions and idioms. These can be browsed through and rated as well as heard and translated to many of the most representative languages in the world today.

WordAhead

WordAhead allows you to choose from hundreds of words to review in video format. Each video uses graphics, text, and audio to describe the word, give its definition, and present the word in various contextual situations to provide a deeper understanding of the word. You can also view the videos in fullscreen which is great for displaying on the SMARTBoard. The site also has a Word List section which lists words alphabetically and provides a short definition. Students can click on the word to watch the video. It also has a Study Room where students can choose a word to watch the video review, go through a series of flash cards, or even create their own word list.

Wordia

Wordia is a first of a kind online video dictionary where you can search word definitions submitted by users as videos.

Thsrs

Thsrs is a simple online synonym finder that takes any word and find its shorter synonyms. Works simple, just type the words you need to find synonyms for into the provided field and click “Look up”. Thsrs will then come up with all available shorter synonym terms.

OneWord

OneWord is a website which allows the user to play a common writer’s prompt exercise, giving the user sixty seconds to write about one word. Its primary function being to assist in releasing one’s “internal editor.”

Vocabulary Is Fun

This website allows you to build your vocabulary with amusing crosswords and match games. It is the perfect place for anyone looking to expand their vocabulary skills or learn new words.