Collocates or context-based searches allow you to find the most frequent collocates (nearby words) for a given word, which often provide useful insight into word meaning and usage.
 
WORD(S)  1  
COLLOCATES  2       3       4

See an explanation of what happens if you don't enter anything in the [COLLOCATES] field
 

Finds [2] within [3] words to the left and [4] words to the right of [1]. Click on any of the links below to run the query.
 
 1    2  3  /  4 Explanation SORT BY
GROUP BY		 Examples
[thick] [nn*] 0/4 A form of thick followed by a noun Frequency
Collocates		 glasses, smoke
laugh.[n*] [j*] 5/5 Adjectives within five words of the noun laugh Frequency
Collocates		 good, little, big
laugh.[n*]   5/5 Any words within five words of the noun laugh (sorted by relevance) Relevance
Collocates		 hearty, scornful
look into [nn*] 0/6 Nouns after a form of look + into Frequency
Collocates		 eyes, future
eyes clos* 5/5 Words starting with clos* within five words of eyes Frequency
Collocates		 closed, close
work/job hard/tough/difficult 4/0 Work or job preceded by hard or tough or difficult Frequency
Both words		 hard//work,
tough//job
[feel] like [*vvg*] 0/4 A form of feel followed by a gerund Frequency
Collocates		 crying, taking
find time 0/4 Find followed by time Frequency
Collocates		 time
[=gorgeous] [n*] 0/4 Nouns after a synonym of gorgeous Frequency
Collocates		 woman, face
[=gorgeous] [n*] 0/4 Nouns after a synonym of gorgeous Frequency
Both words		 attractive woman,
beautiful day
[=expensive] [[mark_davies@byu.edu:clothes]] 0/5 Synonym of white followed by a form of a  word in the clothes list created by davies Frequency
Collocates		 shoes, short
[=expensive] [[mark_davies@byu.edu:clothes]] 0/5 Synonym of expensive followed by a form of a word in the clothes list created by davies Frequency
Both words		 expensive//shoes,
pricey shirt
[=beautiful] [=face].[n*] 5/5 Synonym of beautiful before synonym of the noun face Frequency
Collocates		 happy, delighted
[=beautiful] [=face].[n*] 5/5 Synonym of beautiful before synonym of the noun face Frequency
Both words		 happy//child,
delighted//boy

NOTES:

1. The [COLLOCATES] line of the search form must be visible in order to do a COLLOCATES search. Otherwise, it will simply look for the string in the WORD(S) field.

2. Nearly any search string that is possible for a simple, non-context search is possible for either the WORD(S) or COLLOCATES fields.

3. For queries that have two or more lemma that are possible for both the WORD(S) and COLLOCATES fields (e.g. those with synonyms, word alternates, or customized lists), you will probably want to set [GROUP BY] to [BOTH WORDS] or [BOTH LEMMAS] (more info...).