WordLab pushes the frontier of vocabulary-building methodology.
WordLab is the first app to systematically ensure your words leap to mind in the right contexts when you think, speak, and write.
It offers true vocabulary expansion: words that once felt foreign truly become second nature. This is beyond rote memorization.
To achieve this, WordLab combines 6 essential technical ingredients no app has combined before:
1. Active Recall. Without this you may learn to recognize a word when you read it, but you can't necessarily conjure it in mind even if you see the definition. You don't own it.
2. Spaced Repetition. This automates reviews, making it possible to learn and maintain memory of more and more words without increasing daily time spent.
3. Recall-Speed-Aware Scheduler. By informing the smart scheduler of every recall's speed, fast recall is unlocked sooner and failed recalls & wasted time are reduced.
4. Variable-Context cues. Only when the learned cues for recall mirror the real world do your words leap to mind reliably in real contexts while you think, speak, and write.
5. Contrastive Learning. Without this, clusters of words blend together in your mind so you can't tell them apart (e.g. amiable vs genial, dale vs glen vs dell, prudent vs judicious). Subtle flavors are pointless without a refined palate to appreciate them.
6. Words ordered by rarity. By learning words in order of rarity, you maximize utility gained per unit time spent in terms of recognizing words you'll actually see and that people will understand when you use. It is also natural that the more common a word is, the more useful it is likely to be, as a trend.
Beyond these 6 essentials, WordLab includes extra ingredients that further optimize learning and encourage flow-state and habit-formation:
1. Each word has an image encoding its meaning. These evocative images get exposed upon each recall to be reinforced, leveraging the superiority of visual-spatial memory and acting as so-called "neural hooks" to improve retention and understanding in accordance with dual-coding theory.
2. With over 15,000 procured words, the app offers a comprehensive set of words so you have lots of room to grow.
3. Astral Trophy Room. Watch your vocabulary grow! Every learned word becomes a star in your explorable sky. Practiced contrasts form constellations.
4. Streaks encourage daily use
5. Achievements and Leaderboards encourage aspirations
6. Unlocking animal profile pictures described by your words allows you to personalize your profile further as you progress.
7. Save Word Collections to keep track of your favorite kinds of words
8. Play multiplayer with friends
9. Make separate profiles connected to your iCloud account so the whole family can play on all your devices.
10. Crosswords package up repetitions into palatable gamified bite-sized pieces
11. No ads! Don't get bothered by annoying ads!
MAKE IT YOURS
Explore a bank of about 20,000 English words. Save word collections, play multiplayer with friends, and use separate profiles on iPhone and iPad through your iCloud account. Choose reminders that fit your routine.
Made for readers, writers, advanced English learners, and anyone who wants their word-game time to build a richer vocabulary using a cutting edge methodology.
Privacy Policy: https://lexivocab.app/privacy/
Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
I’ve been looking for an app to help me grow my active vocabulary and this seems perfect! I already have a broad vocabulary when it comes to understanding what I read, but when I write my brain struggles to come up with the same words in the moment I want to use them. Being able to use words in context while solving puzzles is exactly the kind of game-ified applied practice I was hoping to find! I also love how easy it is to switch between difficulties, which is something the previous vocabulary app I was using lacked. With this one, I started on normal mode but switched to hard mode after a few games, which feels like the perfect level for pushing the edge of my comfort zone. I haven’t tried multiplayer yet, but the solo mode is excellent! I definitely recommend checking this one out! 😁The only small issue/suggestion I have as of now is that when I tap on a word to bring up its details panel, such as on the word of the day, I don’t see the button to save it to my favorite words. My phone is on the older side and has a shorter screen than most new ones, so it could be that the button exists and just isn’t visible on my device; I’ve had that kind of interface compatibility issue before. Still, if there’s a way to make it adapt to a shorter phone screen that would be great.
Developer Response
Thanks so much for this very nice review! I noticed you going ham on the leaderboard haha so I released the next update early for you before even preparing the app store image and videos for it. I hope you like it! You're totally right about the button for favoriting words in the details panel. I've already made the change on my local version, which will be included in the next update shortly (you'll also be able to add the word to any collections there). If you have any more suggestions for the app, you can go to Settings -> Suggest a Feature (or -> Report a Bug). Additionally, I will enable the ability to provide feedback on the contrastive images and nuance information shortly. Thanks for playing!
Builds Vocabulary and Fun
Crosswordish
Gets better and better with each update. Not your average crossword puzzle, but rather a puzzle that builds vocabulary with intermittent repetition of missed words. It’s different, and I really like it.
Great game
ButteredCupid
Very helpful for learning and fun
Crossword aficionados
Nance630
Challenging!
Rebranded to WordLab; Smarter Scheduler; Improved Word Card Aesthetics; Bug Fixes; Speech-to-Text
Version 1.166
The developer, Peter Barnett, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Linked to You
The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
Purchases
Contact Info
User Content
Search History
Identifiers
Usage Data
Diagnostics
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Peter Barnett
Size
160.4 MB
Category
Education
Compatibility
Requires iOS 17.4 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 17.4 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 17.4 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 14.4 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
