Understanding Opposites
Kindergarten · English · Study Guide
Learn what opposites are and practice matching words that mean the complete opposite of each other.
Opposites are words that mean something completely different from each other. They are as far apart in meaning as they can be!
For example, hot and cold are opposites. Hot means very warm, and cold means not warm at all. Big and small are opposites too — big means large in size, and small means little in size.
Opposites help us describe the world around us. When you say 'the elephant is big and the mouse is small,' you are using opposites to compare two things.
Some common opposites include: up and down, fast and slow, day and night, happy and sad, open and closed, over and under, in and out, wet and dry, clean and dirty, loud and quiet, full and empty, hard and soft.
You can find opposites everywhere! Think about things at home — the lights can be on or off. A door can be open or shut. You can be awake or asleep. Learning opposites grows your vocabulary and helps you understand and describe everything around you.
Key terms
- opposite
- A word that means the complete reverse of another word
- vocabulary
- All the words you know and can use
- compare
- To look at two things and notice how they are the same or different
- adjective
- A word that describes something, like big, hot, or happy
- antonym
- Another word for opposite — two words that mean the reverse of each other
Flashcards
- Hot — Cold
- Hot means very warm. Cold means not warm at all.
- Big — Small
- Big means large in size. Small means little in size.
- Up — Down
- Up is toward the sky. Down is toward the ground.
- Fast — Slow
- Fast means moving quickly. Slow means moving at a low speed.
- Happy — Sad
- Happy means feeling good. Sad means feeling upset or unhappy.
- Day — Night
- Day is when the sun is up and it is light. Night is when it is dark.
- Open — Closed
- Open means there is a space you can pass through. Closed means it is shut.
- Wet — Dry
- Wet means covered in water. Dry means no water on it.
Questions
What is the opposite of 'hot'?
- warm
- cold
- fire
- sun
Show answer
Answer: cold
Cold is the opposite of hot — they are on opposite ends of the temperature scale.
'Big' and 'large' are opposites.
Show answer
Answer: False
'Big' and 'large' actually mean the same thing — they are synonyms, not opposites.
The opposite of 'day' is ___.
Show answer
Answer: night
Day and night are opposites — day is when it is light, night is when it is dark.
Which word is the opposite of 'happy'?
- glad
- joyful
- sad
- excited
Show answer
Answer: sad
Sad is the opposite of happy — sad means feeling unhappy.
'Up' and 'down' are opposites.
Show answer
Answer: True
Up and down are opposites — up is toward the sky, down is toward the ground.
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