Parents' Guide to

Vocabulary.com

By Stephanie Trautman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Clever site emphasizes word comprehension over memorization.

Website https://www.vocabulary.com/
Vocabulary.com Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this website.

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age 12+

Based on 8 parent reviews

nonononononononononono
nonononononononononono Adult
December 2, 2020
age 18+

awful learning technique

this is awful and it is way too long. they have horrible "definitions" they are literally just synonyms when they say its definitions. and if you click on an answer too fast its annoying because it says "slow down there partner" like, im not your partner and dont tell me to slow down. because once the timer is done (which can go on for like 10 slow seconds) then the answer i clicked on "too fast" was correct anyways. the "too fast timer" needs to stop. and they need to enunciate the words better when they say it and you have to type it. its just an awful way to teach. (also for the "i think its for kids...." selection, i dont think anyone should be on that awful website) but i still have to do this because im still in school. this gives you a headache. teachers listen to this, dont put your kids through this awful mess.
Levileee
Levileee Adult
July 31, 2020
age 10+
It’s great.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 8 parent reviews

What’s It About?

VOCABULARY.COM is much more than a standard dictionary website. Sure, word definitions can be looked up, but the app also offers a significant number of word games for users to test their comprehension. As you get started, a word appears on the screen. From four definitions, choose the one you think is correct. The site then tailors future questions based on strengths and weaknesses. Many terms are commonly used in academic and business environments, but the site also works to identify terms you may not be familiar with. If kids answer a question incorrectly, Vocabulary.com schedules extra exercises to help them learn it. Users get points for each correct answer and earn badges as they reach different goals; charts track their progress on the site.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8):
Kids say (16):

This word-focused website provides a uniquely customized experience centered on words and word definitions. According to the site, which landed a spot on Time magazine's 2012 list of best websites, the more you play, the more the site can adapt its questions (currently, the site has more than 100,000). It's well designed, easy to figure out, and fun. The 10-word quizzes are just long enough to remain interesting, and users earn points and badges for completing tasks, which encourages them to continue. Your progress -- learning individual words or earning activity points -- is carefully documented in charts, and the system goes above and beyond to ensure words are committed to memory. If you miss a word, it'll appear again; ones you've mastered also are occasionally cycled back into the mix. Vocabulary.com's SAT word lists and social-networking component make it a particularly good fit for high school-age students. Still, theoretically, the site challenges could work for nearly any age level.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the new terms your kid learns on the site. Are there other school subjects your child would be interested in researching online? (Check out our School Performance Tips to see how technology can help your kids succeed academically.)

  • Teens can post comments on other users' lists. How can you write a helpful, constructive post? Are there any things you should never say?

  • Kids under age 13 get limited access to some of the site features such as commenting. Why would that be safer than having full rein? Discuss Internet privacy and safety and provide examples of issues that might arise when other users can see your real name or contact you through a website.

Website Details

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