context clues

is not in our dictionary (yet). Here's what it could mean:

Confidence: high

Results generated using artificial intelligence.

noun

Hints found within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar words.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It abandoned the hokum that convinced educators that they could teach kids to read through pictures and context clues rather than decoding words.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2026

My Mandarin reading capabilities are subpar at best, relying mostly on muscle memory, context clues, and general vibe checks, so I can’t imagine how overwhelmed a nonspeaker would feel opening up the app.

From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025

Thesaurus

Possible Synonyms

textual evidence
linguistic cues
situational information
sentence helpers
word hints

Possible Antonyms

Words in our thesaurus

ambiguity

other words

a total mystery
direct definition
flying blind
decontextualization
dictionary-dependent