# Use Synonyms to Expand Queries

Answer Server can communicate with a Query Manipulation Server (QMS) and use synonyms to expand queries. This increases the likelihood that Answer Server can find an answer to a question. You can manage your synonyms through IDOL Data Admin.

Synonyms can be used with all Answer Server systems.

To configure a synonym store

1. Open the Answer Server configuration file.
2. In the `[Server]` section, set the parameter `SynonymStore`. This specifies the name of another section in the configuration file that contains information about the synonym store.

3. Add a new section to the configuration file, using the name you specified in the previous step. In the new section, set the following parameters:

   `Host` | The host name or IP address of the Query Manipulation Server (QMS) that provides access to your synonym rules.
   `ACIPort` | The ACI port of the QMS that provides access to your synonym rules.

   For example:

       [Server]
       SynonymStore=SynonymQMS

       [SynonymQMS]
       Host=localhost
       ACIPort=16000

4. Save and close the configuration file.

NOTE: When you configure a Passage Extractor system, you normally set the `IDOLHost` and `IDOLACIPort` parameters to the host and port of the Content component that contains your documents. To enable synonyms, you must set these parameters to the host and port of the QMS that provides access to your synonyms. Set the host and port of the Content component in the QMS configuration file instead. For more information about configuring a passage extractor system, see Configure the Passage Extractor System.

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