How to learn English words and phrasal verbs in context
A word is easier to revisit when you keep the sentence that made you look it up. Here is how to take one expression from reading to your own words in Dictionary.
Find the expression in its sentence
Take this sentence:
She turned the offer down.
The expression is turn down, even though “the offer” sits between its two parts. Paste the sentence into Sentence, or choose a photo or screenshot and use the text recognized on your device. Select the matching expression before choosing its meaning.
Dictionary recognizes selected common phrasal verbs and their separated or inflected forms. A match identifies a possible expression; it does not decide what the writer meant.
Choose the meaning that fits
In the offer sentence, turn down means to refuse or decline. Compare it with another everyday use:
Please turn down the music.
Here it means to reduce the volume. Saving both sentences under one vague definition would lose that difference. Open the candidate meanings, read their definitions and examples, and choose the one that explains the original sentence.
Save the selected meaning with its sentence. The original context and dictionary example stay with the record; you can return to the other meanings in Dictionary.
Write a sentence you might actually use
Add a personal sentence for the same meaning:
I turned the late meeting down so I could have dinner with my family.
Keep the selected meaning and its usage guide nearby while writing. The person refuses the meeting, so this belongs with the “decline” meaning. If you meant to lower a sound, choose that different meaning instead.
You do not need a complicated example. A specific, natural sentence gives you a clear clue to return to. This is a way to organize your practice, not an automatic grammar or writing assessment.
Recall the expression before revealing it
Saved can hide just the expression in your own sentence:
I _____ the late meeting ____ so I could have dinner with my family.
Try to remember the expression, then choose Show answer. The complete sentence, selected meaning and example appear together. For separated phrasal verbs, the words between the expression’s parts stay visible.
Use the existing review schedule when you want to revisit a meaning later. Quick recall is also available without changing its scheduled date.
What works without a connection?
Dictionary lookup, included definitions and examples, usage guides, Sentence, on-device photo text recognition and your saved practice work offline. Audio uses bundled clips or voices already installed on the device. Purchases and optional iCloud sync need a connection.
Do I need Pro for this?
No. Dictionary and the learning tools are free, with room for 25 saved meanings and 3 collections. Pro adds unlimited new saved meanings and collections and removes ads. Compare Free and Pro.