Opposites 1

A lot of verbs and adjectives can be made into opposites by adding a prefix (e.g., agree -
disagree, correct - incorrect). However, in other cases, it is necessary to change some letters
or use a completely different word in order to make an opposite.
For example:

cry = laugh

import = export

generous = mean

thick = thin

Some verbs and adjectives can have more than one meaning, and so can have more than one
opposite.
For example: light
The room is very light - - - The room is very dark
This book is very light - - - This book is very heavy.

VERBS

Complete these sentences by using the opposite of the word in bold. You will need to change
the forms of some of the words. These are the answers.

forbid / ban • receive • fail • hit • empty • forget
defend • deny • destroy • succeed • retreat • laugh • spend • win •
depart / leave • lend • reject • fall • punish • loosen

1. She fell off the ladder and everyone ________. (cry)
2. Why do we ________ so much money on food? (save)
3. His business has ________ more than he expected. (fail)
4. A lot of private property was ________ in the war. (create)
5. What time does our coach ________? (arrive)
6. He ________ the bottle into the sink. (filled)
7. The car ________ the tree. (miss)
8. The simplest way to ________ them will be to make them pay for the damage they caused. (reward)
9. Don't ________ we're having lunch together tomorrow. (remember)
10. The exam was very difficult. Most of the students ________ . (pass)
11. We only ________ our tickets the day before we were due to leave. (sent)
12. I expect our team will ________ tomorrow. (lose)
13. He asked me if I would ________ him £5 till Monday. (borrow)
14. She flatly ________ his proposal of marriage. (accept)
15. She couldn't ________ herself against the attack. (attack)
16. The pound has ________ against the dollar. (rise)
17. He flatly ________ stealing the car. (admit)
18. Smoking has been ________ on trains. (permit / allow)
19. He ________ his shoelaces and relaxed. (tighten)
20. Napoleon ________ from Moscow in 1812. (attack / advance)

ADJECTIVES
Replace the adjectives in bold with an opposite from the box. Some of the following words  can be
used more than once.

tame • shallow • public • odd • artificial • mean • compulsory • lazy
tight • amateur • thick • live • strong • guilty • smooth • easy
sharp • dim • approximate • tough • present • permanent • stale
light • high • minor • cool • soft • hollow

1. real pearls
2. a thin slice of bread
3. an energetic student
4. a bland taste
5. a professional photographer
6. a wild animal
7. an innocent man
8. a generous person
9. a serious book
10. a solid log of wood
11. an alcoholic drink
12. an intelligent student
13. a normal person
14. an easy exam
15. absent students
16. a weak cup of coffee
17. a heavy meal
18. a temporary job
19. a small income
20. a low building
21. fresh air
22. dead animals
23. a dim light
24. a deep pool
25. a rough sea
26. voluntary military service
27. exact figures
28. a private affair
29. a tender steak
30. a rough wine
31. a hard chair
32. a loud voice
33. a loose pair of trousers
34. a blunt knife
35. recorded music
36. a clever manager
37. a difficult test
38. a dark blue shirt
39. a fresh loaf of bread
40. a major injury
41. a frantic nurse
42. a warm cellar