Unless you have an eidetic memory (eidetic: able to recall and visualize information with great accuracy – also called photographic memory) you’ll have to spend some time practicing your new vocabulary words. There are many different ways to study vocabulary, and some may work better than others for you. Keep experimenting until you find the study techniques that suit you best. Here are some suggestions:

1. Set aside some time to study every day. Instead of reading the morning newspaper over your cup of coffee or tea, review the vocabulary words you learned the day before, or pick a few new words to focus on that day. At night, do another vocabulary review, and think about the words you’ve learned right before you fall asleep.
2. Everyone has a different learning style: some people learn more quickly if they hear something spoken aloud, while others learn best if they actively write out information they’re trying to learn. Make sure you know what your strong point is, but don’t forget the other areas. The more ways you learn something, the easier it will be to remember it. Write down new words and definitions, say them out loud, and read them over again.
3. Instead of just memorizing a word and its definition, use imagery to create a context for the meaning of the word. For example, if you’re trying to learn the word cantankerous (cranky, stubborn, difficult to get along with), can you think of a person you’ve met who might be described by that word? If not, build a visual image in your mind of a cantankerous person, and attach that image to the word.
4. Spend time on learning basic root words, suffixes, and prefixes – you’ll be surprised how quickly they will multiply the number of words you know. For example, if you know that the Greek root proto means “first,” you’ll understand the basic meaning of words like prototype (the original, something that serves as an example) and protocol (a set of rules to be followed).

What study methods work best for you? Share your tips in the comments.