Read often. Becoming well read is one of the first steps toward bettering your vocabulary. By reading, you will see words you do not recognize, but you will be able to see how they fit into conversations and what they mean by the words surrounding them. This is something your brain will do naturally, and by reading often you will pick up several words you never knew of before. To turn reading into a fun vocabulary game, challenge one of your friend's to some friendly competition. Have a third party assemble vocabulary questions based on a selected reading. After reading, whoever gets the most questions correct wins the game.
Create a flash card memory game. Flash cards are one of the greatest techniques for memorization, because you can use them over and over again until you know all of the words. On one side of each card write a number. On the other side write a definition for a new word you would like to learn. On another card write its definition. Continue this for as many words as you'd like and write down what numbers pair together. Put that sheet away and turn the cards upside down with the numbers facing up. Challenge a friend to see who can match the correct word by flipping over two cards at a time and trying to remember what cards match. Check the sheet you wrote out before for correct answers.
Use imagery to help you memorize new words. Select words you want to know, write down the definitions and then find pictures to go along with them. This is particularly helpful for people who are visual learners. Seeing the image will trigger something in your brain that will help you remember the word associated with it. Then remove the definitions so you just have the images. With a friend, look at each image displayed and write down the word and definition associated with it. Whoever gets the most correct wins the game.
Play online games to help you learn new words. There are many websites that offer free games designed to increase vocabulary. Playing these games provides a fun and interactive experience that will work in a similar way to the imagery techniques. By seeing the images and visuals in the games, you will learn to associate words with different games and images.