Creating a mental picture helps increase word retention by more than 600%
Most people can remember a word better if they use imagery, or create a mental picture of it, rather than just reading the definition from a dictionary or vocabulary builder software. Usually, this approach is best used for concrete words, or words that represent physical objects. Even new words will stick to your mind if you can imagine what they look like. Some examples are "okapi" (an animal related to the giraffe), "buskin" (a kind of high shoe or half-boot) and "rapier" (a long, two-edged sword).
It is more difficult to visualize abstract words, or words that symbolize intangible things like "descant"(a kind of melody or song) or "perdition" (eternal damnation). Of course, if you are a visual person, it could be easy for you to create a mental picture of abstract words as well. But for the typical person, it would probably be better to use other vocabulary builder strategies for abstract words, such as repetition or elaboration.
In cases where imagery does not work very well, you can try saying the word aloud, pronouncing it clearly. This may not work as well as creating a visual image, but it does make the word more real, and will also help you in learning it.
Practicing how to pronounce a word correctly is not only an effective vocabulary builder, but it will also prepare you for situations where you want to use the word in conversation.
Ultimate Vocabulary, our choice in vocabulary builder software, can help you learn the right pronunciation of the words you are trying to learn. It has a reliable audio feature that will clearly enunciate words for you.