www.thefreedictionary.com

This is the website, but there is the app as well. Definitions, thesaurus, idioms and more...

Novels tend to use fairly colourful vocab. I'd recommend reading fiction books in english in your spare time.

Thesaurus this helps

Vocabulary.com was great the last time I’ve used it. Sometimes I use Anki for a DIY approach.

Though, as stated by another comment, it can’t be emphasised enough that it is important to see words used in the wild. If there’s a word you fancy, try to find a way to use it in whatever communication form available to you.

I grew tired of using bloated, ad-riddled and slow English dictionary apps on my devices and so, I decided to build the lightweight, ad-free and fast (and of course, free) WordDefiner English Dictionary. Learn the phonetic transcription, pronunciation, and meanings, including synonyms and antonyms, based on the part of speech for words that you look up with WordDefiner! Not just that, but you will also be shown strongly associated, similarly spelled, and similar sounding words as your query - even if the definition of your query can't be found!

• WordDefiner — App Preview
• Download for iOS and Android

Anki

Have you tried Word Up?

I’m not sure how on topic this is, but thought r/VocabWordOfTheDay was at least worth mentioning

I’ve used the Magoosh vocab app and it’s excellent. Give it a try

Would you consider adding other languages...specifically Korean and Thai? Adding other languages could broaden your user base immensely.

The app looks cool! Could you share the code? :D

I would like to try it out.

I would absolutely love to try this! Looks fun

Can you share cord

You might want to try an app I recently found on iPhone called WordStock AI. It suggests new vocabulary using AI and also gives you memory exercises to help remember the words. I’ve been using it for a while and it’s been pretty helpful

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I made an app called Spell Spark to help with learning spellings and extend vocab. Its got different modes, learn and challenge and a daily word which can be quite tricky. No penalties for multiple guesses and at the end it gives the dictionary definition and will pronounce the word. Its free on Play store if you want to check it out. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kidsfunapps.spell_spark&pcampaignid=web_share

I’m always up for learning new words. Thanks

Proven Vocabulary Builders

• Vocabulary.com is not just a dictionary—it uses adaptive quizzes and word lists so you're reviewing strategically, not just memorizing randomly. It’s fun, game-like, and backed by science.
• WordUp (AI Vocabulary Builder) uses AI to pick words that matter for YOUR level, plus engaging progress tracking—one of the top picks in 2024–25.
• Memrise focuses on spaced repetition and mnemonic-driven flashcards, with loads of user-created courses to choose from.

More Free-Friendly Tools

• Duolingo gives you daily vocabulary through short, gamified lessons—great for building a habit .
• For bilingual reading practice, Beelinguapp shows texts and audio in two languages side-by-side—excellent for learning words in context.

My personal learning tip

Whenever I learn a new word, I quickly jot it into a context-rich sentence of my own—this encourages me to actually use the word rather than just recognize it. And reviewing those sentences a few days later helps cement both meaning and usage.

If you're starting out, I’d begin with Memrise or WordUp for structured vocab practice, and supplement with Duolingo or Beelinguapp to see the vocabulary in context.

If you want to learn vocabulary through context, you should try out my free website! If you'd like to check it out, the link is in my bio.

Magoosh

I really understand how you feel. When I first started learning English, I also wanted to build my vocabulary but didn’t know where to begin. I remember feeling frustrated because I could understand some words in conversations, but then I’d get lost when people used new ones. It sometimes made me feel like I’d never catch up, and that was discouraging. So I want to say first — you are not alone in this. A lot of learners go through the same thing.

What helped me most was finding simple resources that I could use every day without feeling overwhelmed. I learned that reading short texts with questions afterwards really improved my vocabulary. At first I thought “this is for school kids,” but honestly it worked. I started with this site: practice reading. It has short passages with questions, and I noticed that I was slowly picking up new words. I would write them down in a small notebook and try to use them later in the day, even if just in a sentence to myself. Over time, I could actually see my progress.

I also used some free apps like Duolingo and Memrise for quick practice, but what really helped me was reading and listening at the same time. For example, I’d watch a short YouTube video with subtitles in English and repeat the words out loud. Combining listening and reading made the new vocabulary “stick” better in my memory.

Another thing I did was not to push myself to learn too many words at once. In the beginning I tried to memorise long lists, but it never worked. Instead, I focused on 5–10 new words each week, making sure I really understood how to use them in sentences. Small steps every day added up to big results over a few months.

I know it feels hard right now, but I promise it does get easier. The important thing is to practice a little every day, even if it’s just reading one short passage or learning one new word. Don’t compare yourself to others — focus on your own progress, because every word you learn brings you closer to your goal.

Can I ask — do you enjoy learning by reading stories/articles, or do you prefer short exercises and practice tests? For me, stories made it fun, but the practice questions gave me structure. Maybe combining both could work for you too.

You’re already taking the first step by asking this question, and that shows you’re serious about improving. Keep going — you will get there.

Just go on your app store and search "language flashcards" and try out the free apps until you find one you like. There's so many good options out there, no reason to cling to Anki.

Have you tried using ankiweb on your phone's web browser?

We made a game that sounds similar to what you're looking for, albeit just for Japanese and it's in VR. Should be out fairly shortly if you're interested: KanaPop

I use knowji vocab 7-10

I used books. I mean novels. My first was "Cujo" by Stephen King. When I started to read it I checked the words in an old, paper dictionary :) It was tedious. As I kept reading I had to use the dictionary less and less often. I finished the page, then checked some words from it. Somewhere in the middle I stopped to use dictionary at all. I learned many words from the context. That created a weird situation: I understand the sentences, I could use newly learned words myself in correct sentences, but I couldn't translate many of them, because I didn't know the equivalent words in my language. Then I learned that in some cases - there are no equivalent. Or the equivalent sound awkward and it's better to construct a completely different sentence, but with the same meaning.

Today, in modern times it's way easier. Use a reader device or app (like Kindle), it has a dictionary built in.

The greatest advantage of my method is it is a kind of effortless. Reading books is fun. So I was "learning without learning".

Another way I still use very often is https://www.deepl.com . I translate whole sentences to have the word translations from the correct context. Without a context it's mostly impossible for me to find the correct word in the dictionary. It's because on some level you just know most common words and most common context. You need more like special context words. Like technical uses.

You can see many vocabulary apps or websites but until you don't bind them with something, you might not remember that word. To effectively remember those words you need some practice like this website. Here you might discover new words while you are practicing.

Anglo Prep

Simply use Anki. Just grab some decks off the internet that fit your level