antonym
gb/ˈæntənim/ us/ˈæntənim/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
B2
relation
1
word with opposite meaning
A word that means the opposite of another word.
Usage pattern:
the antonym of [word]; an antonym for [word]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse antonym with synonym, or say 'antonym to' instead of the more common 'antonym of/for.'
Synonyms
opposite (Less technical; can refer to words or things.)
|
contrary (Broader; often describes ideas or actions rather than word meanings.)
Antonyms
synonym (A word with the same or nearly the same meaning.)
Collocations
the antonym of
|an antonym for
|find an antonym
|give an antonym
|exact antonym
|direct antonym
|near antonym
|list of antonyms
|antonym pairs
|synonyms and antonyms
Themes
language
|education
|writing
Examples
- The antonym of "hot" is "cold."
- If you don’t know the word, try looking up an antonym for it.
- The worksheet asks students to match each word with its antonym.
Learner examples
- “Big” is an antonym of “small.”
- Can you tell me an antonym for “happy”?
Noun
C1
entity
2
complete opposite person or thing
A person or thing that is very different from another.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is the antonym of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
This figurative use is less common than the word-meaning sense and may sound formal or playful in everyday speech.
Synonyms
opposite (More common and natural for people/things.)
|
polar opposite (Stronger; emphasizes extreme difference.)
Antonyms
match (Something similar or well-suited rather than opposite.)
|
equivalent (Something of equal meaning, value, or effect rather than opposite.)
Collocations
the antonym of success
|the antonym of luxury
|the antonym of chaos
|the antonym of confidence
|the antonym of a hero
Themes
people
|daily_life
Examples
- With his calm, careful style, he was the antonym of his impulsive brother.
- The tiny apartment felt like the antonym of the spacious house they used to live in.
Learner examples
- She is the antonym of me—very outgoing.
- This place is the antonym of crowded.
Grammar
Dictionary form
antonym
IPA
GB/ˈæntənim/
US/ˈæntənim/
Syllables & stress
ant - onym (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ant)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: antonym
- Plural: antonyms
Word family
Expressions
an antonym for [word]
1/ən ˈæntənim fɚ wˈɚd/
fixed phrase
technical
opposite-meaning word to use
A word that means the opposite of another word.
Examples
- Can you suggest an antonym for "increase"?
- She asked the class to write an antonym for each adjective.
antonym pair
1/ˈæntənim pˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
two words opposite in meaning
Two words that mean the opposite of each other.
Examples
- "Buy" and "sell" form an antonym pair in many contexts.
- Students highlighted each antonym pair in the paragraph.
synonyms and antonyms
1/sˈɪnənˌɪms ˈænd ˈæntənimz/
fixed phrase
words with same or opposite meaning
Words that mean the same, and words that mean the opposite.
Examples
- The app provides synonyms and antonyms for thousands of words.
- We practiced synonyms and antonyms to build vocabulary.
the antonym of [word]
1/ðə ˈæntənim əv wˈɚd/
fixed phrase
technical
opposite-meaning word of another
The word that means the opposite of another word.
Examples
- The antonym of "arrive" is "leave."
- What’s the antonym of "generous"?