{"id":4829,"date":"2013-06-30T05:25:11","date_gmt":"2013-06-30T05:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=4829"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:51:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:51:44","slug":"determining-word-meanings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/determining-word-meanings\/","title":{"rendered":"Determining Word Meanings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_GRA0S37AU1I\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_GRA0S37AU1I\" data-source-videoID=\"GRA0S37AU1I\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Determining Word Meanings Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Determining Word Meanings\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_GRA0S37AU1I:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_GRA0S37AU1I {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/760-determining-word-meanings-2.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_GRA0S37AU1I\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_GRA0S37AU1I\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Determining Word Meanings\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_GRA0S37AU1I\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_GRA0S37AU1I\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_GRA0S37AU1I\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction Knx_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"Knx\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"Knx_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"Knx\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Context\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Context<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Structural_Analysis\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Structural Analysis<\/a>\n<ul><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Prefixes\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Prefixes<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Suffixes\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Suffixes<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Root_Words\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Root Words<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Hi, and welcome to this video about determining word meanings!<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of our level of schooling, whether you are a student or working in a corporate environment, we all come across words that we don\u2019t know. Thankfully, figuring out the meaning of words can be done without Google or a dictionary. Here are a few tips on how to find the meaning of an unknown word.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Context\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Context<\/h2>\n<p>\nContext is the \u201csetting\u201d or scene in which an idea or event takes place. In writing, <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/context\/\">context<\/a> can help us understand the situation in how a word is being used. In other words, the sentence the unknown word is in can help you figure out its definition. Read the sentences before and after the unknown word to help you determine what the word could mean. The actual definition of a word can be changed depending on the context around it. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at an example.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">It\u2019s a match!<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nHere, the word <em>match<\/em> has little context to it. Are we referring to a match that makes fire, or did someone find an identical pair of shoes? We don\u2019t really know in this case what match means because there is no context.<\/p>\n<p>So, let\u2019s add some:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">She pulled a 3 of clubs from the deck of cards and placed it next to the 3 of diamonds and yelled, \u201cIt\u2019s a match!\u201d<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nHere, because of context we know we are not reading about a match that makes fire, but a matching pair of cards. As you can see, context can make quite the difference.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Structural_Analysis\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Structural Analysis<\/h2>\n<p>\nLet\u2019s look at using structural analysis, or looking at the different parts of the word.<\/p>\n<p>Many words, even some of the shortest ones you can think of, are made up of some combination of <strong>prefixes<\/strong>, <strong>suffixes<\/strong>, and <strong>roots<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Prefixes\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Prefixes<\/h3>\n<p>\nPrefixes are the parts of words that come at the beginning. Examples of prefixes are <em>re-<\/em>, <em>pre-<\/em>, <em>de-<\/em>, and many more. Each of these word segments has a meaning. <\/p>\n<p>Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">The prefix <em><strong>re-<\/strong><\/em> means \u201cto do again,\u201d like in the word <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">re<\/span>use<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The prefix <em><strong>pre-<\/strong><\/em> means \u201cbefore,\u201d like in the word <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">pre<\/span>pare<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0em;\">The prefix <em><strong>de-<\/strong><\/em> means \u201cto undo,\u201d like in the word <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">de<\/span>tach<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nPrefixes can also change the original meaning of a word. For example, the word <em>do<\/em> means &#8220;to perform an action.&#8221; But what if we add the prefix <em>un-<\/em> to it? It now becomes <em>undo<\/em>, which means the opposite of <em>do<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing what prefixes mean can help you determine a word\u2019s meaning.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Suffixes\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Suffixes<\/h3>\n<p>\nSuffixes serve the same role as prefixes, but suffixes come at the end of a word. For example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">The suffix <em><strong>-ment<\/em><\/strong> means \u201ca result,\u201d like in the word <em>govern<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ment<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The suffix <em><strong>-ion<\/em><\/strong> refers to a process, like in the word <em>invent<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ion<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0em;\">The suffix <em><strong>-ful<\/em><\/strong> means \u201cfull of,\u201d like in the word <em>use<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ful<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nAgain, just like prefixes, suffixes can change the original meaning of a word. For example, <em>govern<\/em> means to rule over something; it\u2019s an action or verb. When we add the suffix <em>-ment<\/em> to the word it now becomes <em>government<\/em> which is a system that rules over something (the word <em>government<\/em> is a thing or noun).<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Root_Words\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Root Words<\/h3>\n<p>\nThough Latin is no longer used in the common world, many English words have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/prefixes-suffixes-and-root-words\/\"><strong>Latin roots<\/strong><\/a>. Knowing and recognizing these <strong>root words<\/strong> in common English can help you determine a word\u2019s meaning. Here are a few examples of words with similar Latin roots.<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">The Latin root <em><strong>rhino<\/strong><\/em> means \u201cnose.\u201d You can see this in the words <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">rhino<\/span>plasty<\/em>, <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">rhino<\/span>ceros<\/em>, and <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">rhino<\/span>virus<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The Latin root <em><strong>reg<\/strong><\/em> means \u201cto control.\u201d You can see this in the words <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">reg<\/span>ulate<\/em>, <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">reg<\/span>ime<\/em>, and <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">reg<\/span>al<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0em;\">The Latin root <em><strong>tox<\/strong><\/em> means \u201cpoison.\u201d You can see this in the words <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">tox<\/span>ic<\/em>, <em>de<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">tox<\/span><\/em>, and <em>in<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">tox<\/span>icated<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThis doesn\u2019t mean you need to learn a dead language to learn the definition of more English words. However, the more English vocabulary you learn, the more connections you\u2019ll be able to make to new words you didn\u2019t know before.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you don\u2019t know the meaning of a word, look at the root word and see if you can think of other words that you do know that have similar roots. For example, if you don\u2019t know the definition of <em>animate<\/em> but can identify the root <em>anim<\/em>, you can think of words with the same root that you do know, like <em>animal<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>From there, you can determine what the root word <em>anim<\/em> means (&#8220;alive\/life), along with context, if there is any, and figure out how it relates to the unfamiliar word. In this example, we know <em>anim<\/em> means \u201clife,\u201d just like animals are alive and move freely. Therefore, we can figure out that <em>animate<\/em>, the act of moving objects, is aptly named because it\u2019s bringing still or motionless objects to \u201clife.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What if we took this example a step further and add a prefix to the word <em>animate<\/em>? The prefix <em>in-<\/em> means \u201cnot.\u201d Therefore, if we add <em>in-<\/em> and <em>animate<\/em> together, we get the word <em>inanimate<\/em>, which means, you guessed it, &#8220;to not move.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prefixes, suffixes, and roots make up countless words, and the context of the sentence these mystery words are found in can also bring its true meaning to light. When put together, these tools can be used to solve the meaning of unknown words and make reading and writing easier. <\/p>\n<p>Thanks for watching, and happy studying!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"citelist\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/examples.yourdictionary.com\/examples-of-homonyms.html\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cExamples of Homonyms.\u201d YourDictionary. July 22, 2009.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/examples.yourdictionary.com\/examples-of-root-words.html\"target=\"_blank\">Kit Kittelstad Staff. n.d. \u201cExamples of Root Words: 45 Common Roots with Meanings.\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99877,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4829","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4829"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":260767,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4829\/revisions\/260767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}