context

The situation around an event or idea that helps you understand it.

• You need to understand the context.
• The film explores the social context of the war.
• Without that context, her decision seems strange.

How to use it: in the context of something (The decision makes sense in the context of the crisis.); put something in context (This information puts the debate in context.)

Similar words: background, circumstances, setting

Common phrases: in context, historical context, context of something, social context

The words around a word or passage that help you understand its meaning.

• Guess the word from context.
• They quoted my words out of context.
• Read the whole paragraph to see the context.

How to use it: out of context (The sentence sounds rude when taken out of context.)

Common phrases: from context, out of context, context clues