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GG.2 Identify the antonym

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What are antonyms?

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. When one word means one thing, its antonym means the opposite.

Examples:
  • hot ↔ cold
  • big ↔ small
  • happy ↔ sad
Note

Antonyms help us understand words by comparing them to their opposites.

Why are antonyms important?

Learning antonyms helps you expand your vocabulary and improves both reading and writing. Antonyms also make your sentences more descriptive and precise.

Examples:
  • Instead of only saying β€œThe test was hard,” you can compare: β€œThe first test was hard, but the second one was easy.”
  • β€œThe movie made me feel happy, not sad.”
Note

Antonyms give balance in writing by showing contrast.

Common antonym pairs

Here are some antonym pairs you should know and practice using:

Antonym List:
  • up ↔ down
  • day ↔ night
  • fast ↔ slow
  • young ↔ old
  • near ↔ far
  • light ↔ dark
Note

Some antonyms are exact opposites (like up and down), while others depend on context (like hot and cool).

Using antonyms in sentences

Practice using antonyms in full sentences to show differences in meaning and make your ideas clear.

Examples:
  • β€œThe water was cold, but the sand was hot.”
  • β€œHer dog is very big, while her cat is small.”
  • β€œWe arrived during the day and left at night.”
Note

When writing, try pairing antonyms in the same sentence to highlight contrast and add detail.

Tips for remembering antonyms

To learn antonyms, think of them in pairs, use them in daily conversations, and look for them while reading stories or articles.

Examples:
  • Practice flashcards with one word on one side and its antonym on the other.
  • When you read β€œtall,” think of its opposite, β€œshort.”
  • Try making a sentence with both words: β€œThe tall building is next to the short house.”
Note

Antonyms are easier to remember when you connect them to real-life examples.