Using Context Clues

Rachel Winchel

18 Using Context Clues

Rachel Winchel

Context Clues

Often when students are reading and they encounter a word they do not know, they stop reading entirely. There is a better way. By using the context clues, or the words and sentences before and after the word you do not know, you can figure out the meaning of the word and have a better understanding of the sentence. Sure, you could use a dictionary, but that takes time and often when you return to the reading, you have forgotten where you left off. By using context clues, you gain a better understanding of the reading.

There are 4 types of context clues:

Definition

Example

Synonym and Antonym

Inference

Definition

In the definition type of context clue, the writer will give a definition of the word. Sometimes a text directly states the definition or a restatement of the unknown word. The brief definition or restatement is signaled by a word or a punctuation mark. Consider the following example:

If you visit Alaska, you will likely see many glaciers, or slow moving masses of ice.

In this sentence, the word glaciers is defined by the phrase that follows the signal word or, which is slow moving masses of ice.

In other instances, the text may restate the meaning of the word in a different way, by using punctuation as a signal. Look at the following example:

Marina was indignant—fuming mad—when she discovered her brother had left for the party without her.

Although fuming mad is not a formal definition of the word indignant, it does serve to define it. These two examples use signals—the word or and the punctuation dashes—to indicate the meaning of the unfamiliar word. Other signals to look for are the words is, as, means, known as, and refers to.

Example

Writers often provide examples of words as a way of making sure people understand exactly what they mean; this is the easiest way to use context clues.

Example:

People generally use coniferous trees, such as pine, fir, and blue spruce, as Christmas trees.

You see here that “fir” and “blue spruce” are two examples of “coniferous trees.” If you don’t know anything about coniferous trees – which are trees that do not lose their color and leaves – you can safely assume that they share the same characteristics as pines, firs, and blue spruces.

Synonym and Antonym

Synonyms are words that share a similar meaning. For example, in a sentence, you could use the words “decrease,” “reduce,” “cut,” or “lessen” and still make the same point.

Antonyms, on the other hand, are words that have opposite meanings. “Competent” and “inept” are examples of antonyms.

Writers use both synonyms and antonyms in their writing, so if you find an unfamiliar word in the sentence, look for a synonym or antonym that you recognize, and allow it to lead you to the definition.

Example:

I was so infuriated by the pointless, ineffectual instruction manual that my typical good humor had escaped me all day long.

Here, you see that the word “ineffectual” has the word “pointless” right before it and both are used to describe the instruction manual. It is safe to assume that “pointless” is a synonym for “ineffectual.”

You can also see that “infuriated” is presented as the opposite of “good humor,” which tells that the two are antonyms. You may not know the exact meaning of “infuriated,” but you know that a general definition would be “bad humor.”

Video:

Guided Practice:

The underlined words in the following paragraph are defined by using the four-step process for context clues.

Having fulfilled all of his aspirations, including the goal of winning the Super Bowl twice in a row, John Elway retired from football at the pinnacle of his career. His outstanding, stellar performance in Super Bowl XXXIII became emblematic, a symbol of his future in the business world. In particular, the adroitness he displayed on the field transformed into a skillfulness in running numerous successful enterprises, which included car dealerships, restaurants, and the arena football league. Even though this astonished many observers, his fans were not surprised at all. They believed that his diligent, hardworking attitude would make him successful at whatever he did. Eventually, he was able to acquire the position of executive vice president of football operations with the Denver Broncos, bringing him home to the team that made his career.

Aspirations
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? Yes. Since the “goal of winning the Super Bowl” is one of his aspirations, “aspirations” means “goals.”

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? No.

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. Not applicable (N/A)

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? Not sure. “Aspiration” sounds like “inspiration,” but that doesn’t seem to make sense in this context.

Pinnacle
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? No.

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? No.

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. Possible substitutions include “top,” “peak,” “highest point.” So “pinnacle” means “top,” “peak,” “highest point.”

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? John Elway retired when he was still on top, right after he won his second Super Bowl. So “pinnacle” seems to mean “on top.”

Stellar
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? No.

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? Yes. “Outstanding” comes right before it and both are used to describe his performance, so “stellar” means “outstanding.”

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. N/A

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? No.

Emblematic
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? No.

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? Yes. “Symbol.”

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. Possible substitutions include “typical,” “characteristic,” “representative,” so “emblematic” means “representative.”

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? No.

Adroitness
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? No.

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? Yes. Since the “adroitness he displayed on the field” became “skillfulness in running successful enterprises”, “adroitness” means “skillfulness.”

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. N/A

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? No.

Enterprises
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? Yes. Since enterprises included “car dealerships,” “restaurants,” and the “arena football league,” “enterprises” means “businesses.”

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? No.

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. N/A

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? My town has a number of companies with “enterprise” in the name, such as Baker Enterprise, Franklin Enterprise, Inc. Wholesale, and NNG Enterprises, so it seems to be related to business in some way.

Astonished
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? No.

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? Yes. Since observers were astonished while his fans were “not surprised,” “astonished” means “surprised.”

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. N/A

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? No.

Diligent
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? No.

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? Yes. Since “diligent” and “hardworking” both describe his attitude, “diligent” means “hardworking.”

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. N/A

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? My teacher told me that I needed to work diligently if I wanted to succeed in college. “Diligent” seems to mean to “keep at it” and “persevere.”

Acquire
Step 1: Is there an example of the word? No.

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms? No.

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word. Possible substitutions include “earn,” “obtain,” “get,” so “acquire” means “get.”

Step 4: Can you use your own knowledge and experience to define the word? No.

Individual Practice:

Define the underlined words in the following passage by using the four-step process for context clues.

The summer hiatus gave the Martin family time to relax before returning to school in the fall. During the break, the younger children just played, either being casual at the shabby skateboard park or dressing up to mingle in the new, pristine shopping mall downtown. The oldest son took on an internship at the museum, studying a supernova through the giant telescope. The vibrant colors from the exploding star reminded him of the tulips blooming in the botanic gardens, where his older sister had been married. She and her husband had the nuptials there even though it was an early spring wedding and an outdoor wedding was risky.

Hiatus
Step 1: Is there an example of the word?

Step 2: Are there antonyms or synonyms?

Step 3: Try substituting a familiar word for the unknown word.