Unlike most online dictionaries, we want you to find your word’s meaning quickly. We don’t care how many ads you see or how many pages you view. In fact, most of the time you’ll find the word you are looking for after typing only one or two letters.
Whenever you look up a word, you can add it to your learning queue. We'll prioritize that word, so you can start learning it right away. That way the next time you see it, you won't have to look it up.
Each vocabulary word includes a short blurb that is easy to understand and fun to read. We provide usage examples from real life, so you can see how words are used in context.
Find a word you’re interested in? Just click to add it to your list of favorite words, or any other vocabulary list. Vocabulary lists are a powerful way to keep track of words you’d like to learn or to share your favorite words with others.
An epitaph is written on a tombstone. An epithet is a nickname or a description of someone. Halloween graves often combine them: “Here lies Fearsome Frank, who bet that he could rob a bank. Continue reading...
Let's look at three homophones: peak, peek, and pique. Peak is a topmost point, such as a mountain peak, or to reach that point. Continue reading...
How has the United States affected this word pair, precedent and president? Let's find out. Continue reading...
Get our your lucky rabbit’s foot! Fortunate is lucky, but fortuitous means by chance or accident. Silly rabbit, these words aren’t the same. Continue reading...
On a whim, he sold everything and left the city for the beautiful wilderness of Alaska, but his act of caprice felt a lot less whimsical when he realized how freezing cold Alaska is.
The word caprice has its roots in the French for "whim," which comes from the Italian word capriccio for "fright" or "sudden start." A caprice can be just a fun impulsive act, but it also can be something done on a quick whim, without thinking it through or preparing for the change in direction. Having a sudden liking, or caprice, for someone or something can be short-lived too.
