Noun
A person, a place, a thing, or an idea.
Example: book
Primary stress (ˈ)
The next syllable is the loud one.
Example: meaning /ˈminɪŋ/
How to read worduse
This page explains the labels you see on a worduse entry.
Spelling, meanings, and pronunciation on worduse are American English.
Parts of speech
The Type line under the word names the part of speech. A word can have more than one.
Verb
An action, or a state.
Example: walk
Adjective
A word that describes a noun.
Example: quiet
Adverb
A word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Example: quickly
Phrasal verb
A verb plus a small word, with a meaning of its own.
Example: give up (to stop trying)
Kinds of expressions
The Type line can also name a fixed expression.
Idiom
A fixed expression. The meaning is not the meaning of each word alone.
Example: under the weather (feeling a little sick)
Proverb
A well-known saying that gives advice.
Example: The early bird gets the worm.
Collocation
Words that are often used together. Each word still has its own meaning.
Example: heavy rain
Compound
Two words that name one thing.
Example: ice cream
In an entry
An entry is the full page for one word. These are the parts you may see.
Meaning
What the word means, in plain language. Extra meanings are numbered.
Example: 1. To move on foot.
Example
A sentence that shows the word in use. It sits under the meaning.
Example: I took a walk after dinner.
How it's used
A short grammar note, or the sentence shapes the word can take. Two orders can mean the same thing.
Example: look the word up
Collocations
Words that often go with this word.
Example: heavy rain
Idioms
Fixed expressions that use this word.
Example: under the weather
Slang
Very casual expressions that use this word. The same word is also a tag near Type when the word itself is casual.
Example: nuts (not sensible)
Synonyms
Words with a similar meaning.
Example: large, for big
Antonyms
Words with an opposite meaning.
Example: small, for big
Readings
Buttons under the word. Tap one to switch to another part of speech of the same word.
Example: well: adverb, adjective, noun, verb
Also
The line under the pronunciation. It names the other parts of speech.
Example: Also a noun
Pronunciation
The symbols between / / show how to say the word in American English. A mark before a syllable shows which part is louder.
Vowels
i
the vowel in see
/si/
ɪ
the vowel in sit
/sɪt/
ɛ
the vowel in pen
/pɛn/
æ
the vowel in cat
/kæt/
ɑ
the vowel in rock
/rɑk/
ɔ
the vowel in call
/kɔl/
ʊ
the vowel in book
/bʊk/
u
the vowel in food
/fud/
ʌ
the vowel in cup
/kʌp/
ə
the first vowel in about
/əˈbaʊt/
ɝ
the vowel in bird
/bɝd/
ɚ
the last vowel in teacher
/ˈtitʃɚ/
Diphthongs
eɪ
the vowel in day
/deɪ/
aɪ
the vowel in my
/maɪ/
aʊ
the vowel in now
/naʊ/
oʊ
the vowel in go
/ɡoʊ/
ɔɪ
the vowel in toy
/tɔɪ/
Consonants
p
as in pen
/pɛn/
b
as in book
/bʊk/
t
as in top
/tɑp/
d
as in day
/deɪ/
k
as in cat
/kæt/
ɡ
as in go
/ɡoʊ/
tʃ
as in match
/mætʃ/
dʒ
as in job
/dʒɑb/
f
as in food
/fud/
v
as in very
/ˈvɛri/
θ
as in thing
/θɪŋ/
ð
as in this
/ðɪs/
s
as in see
/si/
z
as in zoo
/zu/
ʃ
as in ship
/ʃɪp/
ʒ
as in measure
/ˈmɛʒɚ/
h
as in house
/haʊs/
m
as in map
/mæp/
n
as in no
/noʊ/
ŋ
as in sing
/sɪŋ/
l
as in light
/laɪt/
r
as in run
/rʌn/
j
as in yes
/jɛs/
w
as in we
/wi/
Stress
The mark sits just before the syllable it changes.
Secondary stress (ˌ)
A quieter stress. It often comes before the main stress.
Example: time off /ˌtaɪm ˈɔf/
Syllable dot
A dot splits the pronunciation into beats. Most entries do not use a dot. Listen for the stress mark.
Example: meaning /ˈminɪŋ/ has no dot
More than one sound
Some spellings have two pronunciations. The buttons under the word switch the sound and the meaning.
Example: bow /baʊ/ means to bend. bow /boʊ/ means a knot.
Audio
Normal
Plays the recording at a natural speed.
Example: the Normal button
Slow
Plays the same recording more slowly, so each sound is easier to hear.
Example: the Slow button
Grammar
A grammar note sits under How it's used. A register tag sits near Type. Everyday words have no tag.
Uncountable
In ordinary speech you do not count it with numbers.
Example: some water
Formal
Careful or official language. The tag Formal appears on the entry.
Example: purchase, a formal word for buy
Informal
Relaxed language, the kind you use with friends. The tag Informal appears.
Example: yeah
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American English. Entries are written with AI assistance and reviewed before they are indexed.
worduse · American English for advanced learners