How to Be a Lyricist Pt. 3 – Dictionary Days, Lyric Nights (Theme: Use of the Dictionary)

I use to have a physical copy of webster’s dictionary to look up new words and to review the definition of words I used ordinarily to make sure I was using them correctly. Having a higher than basic knowledge of words is a next area that is really important. Today it’s a simple download away on your phone, but the payoff will be tremendous. By payoff I mean investing some time once a week to learn 3 to 5 new words out of whatever version of the dictionary you feel most comfortale using. I can easily remember having the issue of not knowing what words meant and nobody else knew what the words meant either.

The dictionary isn’t just for definitions — it’s a goldmine for lyricists. Every word you know expands your range. The broader your vocabulary, the deeper your expression. You’re not just writing bars — you’re crafting meaning.

Think of language like paint. If you only know ten colors, your canvas stays basic. But with a thousand shades? You create worlds.

Crack open a dictionary (yes, even the app counts). Choose a random word. Explore:

• Definition – Know what it really means.

• Origin – Greek, Latin, street, or slang?

• Synonyms – Find the mood, the tone, the flavor.

• Rhymes – Does it flip easy into a bar?

This isn’t about sounding complicated. It’s about precision. There’s a difference between “sad,” “hollow,” “melancholy,” and “devastated.” Use the one that hits the feeling. Want to level up faster? Build your own personal lexicon — words you love, phrases you use, ones that feel like you. Revisit them. Remix them. Reintroduce them in new ways. And don’t forget the slang dictionary. Regional dialects, generational codes, cultural phrases — that’s living language. That’s flavor no textbook can teach.

If you want to rhyme like a pro, you’ve got to read like one. Dictionaries, thesauruses, rhyme databases — those are instruments in your toolkit. Don’t just freestyle… free-educate. Because when your vocabulary grows, so does your versatility. Big words don’t make a big artist — but the right word, at the right time, makes a timeless lyric.

And as always……r u using ur mind?