Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Thesaurus

When the heavy rain turned to snow, the referee decided that the match should be abandoned.

cancel

Owing to lack of support, the dance had to be cancelled.

postpone

Because of building repairs, we had to postpone our bowling until Tuesday.

calm (1) ADJECTIVE

Someone who is calm is quiet and does not show any worry or excitement.

composed

Mrs Yamamoto is a very composed, businesslike woman.

level-headed

Sanjay is a level-headed individual who would never panic in a crisis.

relaxed

Cameron was so relaxed about his exam, he fell asleep on the first page.

unflappable INFORMAL

The lifeboat crew were selected for being unflappable as well as skilled sailors.

ANTONYM: excitable

calm (2) ADJECTIVE

If the sea is calm, the water is not moving very much.

peaceful

The sea was peaceful as we walked along the beach in the early morning.

quiet

After the storm the sea became quiet again.

still

The lake was absolutely still, reflecting the mountains behind.

tranquil

It was a hot, sunny day and the children enjoyed swimming in the tranquil bay.

ANTONYM: rough

calm down VERB

If you calm someone down, you help make them less upset or excited.

quieten

A lollipop helped to quieten the squealing toddler.

soothe

Some farmers turn on the radio to soothe pigs in their pens.

cancel VERB

If you cancel something that has been arranged, you stop it from happening.

abandon

The match was abandoned at half-time when the floodlights failed.

abort

Mission Control decided to abort the mission and bring the shuttle back.

call off

When I caught chickenpox, Mum and Dad called off the party.

scrap INFORMAL

“Let’s scrap the idea of Paris, and go to Rome instead,” Dad suggested.

capable ADJECTIVE

Someone who is capable is able to do something well.

able

My dad is an able businessman.

accomplished

Rajesh is an accomplished violinist.

competent

Sir Winston Churchill was a surprisingly competent artist.

efficient

Mrs Kemp was very efficient; everything was done to a tight schedule.

skilful

My sister is a skilful horsewoman, with several medals to her name.

ANTONYM: incompetent

captain NOUN

A captain is the officer in charge of a ship or aeroplane.

commander

Uncertain what to do, Lieutenant Zarg called the spacecraft commander to the bridge.

master

The master of the oil tanker reluctantly gave the order to abandon ship.

pilot

“It looks as if we’re in for some turbulence,” the pilot announced.

skipper

Trawler skippers and their crews have to endure awful weather conditions.

capture VERB

If someone captures someone or something, they take them prisoner.

arrest

Police arrested the woman on suspicion of blackmail.

kidnap

The villains kidnapped the wealthy businessman’s son and held him hostage.

nab INFORMAL

Sergeant Philpot nabbed the burglar as he tried to make his escape.

take captive

After being taken captive, the explorer was imprisoned in a hut.

ANTONYM: release

car NOUN

A car is a four-wheeled road vehicle with an engine and room to carry a few passengers.

automobile

“This motorcar,” boasted Mr Toad, “is the finest automobile ever built.”

banger INFORMAL

Our new teacher drives a real old banger.

motorcar

The sign read, “This road is unsuitable for motorcars”.

The word vehicle can be used for a car, but also for other forms of transport, especially those with wheels.

Some kinds of car:

4×4 (four by four or four-wheel drive)

convertible

coupé

estate car

hatchback

Jeep™

Land Rover™

limousine

Mini™

off-road vehicle

people carrier

racing car

saloon

sedan

soft top

sports car

vintage car

care (1) VERB

If you care about something or someone, you are concerned about them and interested in them.

be concerned

Yolanda didn’t seem to be concerned about next week’s test.

bother

“If you don’t care about the state of your room, why should I bother?” my mother snapped.

mind

Graham didn’t mind if Sanjiv borrowed some of his pens.

care (2) NOUN

A care is a worry or trouble.

anxiety

The twins hadn’t returned, and Dad was showing signs of anxiety.

concern

Our concern is that Midori will miss too much school while she’s off with mumps.

trouble

I don’t like to burden other people with my troubles.

worry

One worry for the head teacher was what to do if several teachers were ill at once.

care (3) NOUN

If you do something with care, you concentrate very hard on it so that you don’t make any mistakes.

attention

Attention to detail is an important aspect of an architect’s work.

caution

You must always exercise caution when you cross a road.

ANTONYM: carelessness

care for VERB

If you care for a person or animal, you look after them.

look after

Connor and I looked after Mum when she was ill.

nurse

Mrs Nelson nursed her sick husband for some months before he recovered.

tend

We take it in turns to tend the three class guinea pigs.

ANTONYM: neglect

careful (1) ADJECTIVE

If someone is careful, they act sensibly and with care.

alert

“Be alert at all times,” the major warned. “You don’t know who’s out there!”

attentive

The nurse was very attentive when she stitched up Paul’s cut forehead.

cautious

I have learnt always to be cautious about so-called “free” offers.

sensible

My gran is very sensible and always takes a coat if the weather looks doubtful.

wary

The barons were right to be wary of King John’s cunning schemes.

careful (2) ADJECTIVE

Something that is careful shows a concern for detail.

accurate

If you work in a shop, it’s important to be accurate in giving change.

meticulous

Alyssa produces meticulous work. She gets very upset if the slightest detail is criticized.

painstaking

I admired Nicholas for his painstaking work. His painting took weeks to finish.

precise

“Be very precise in your workings,” said Mr Matthews, our maths teacher.

thorough

Mrs Chan is very thorough; she always cleans behind her furniture.

ANTONYM: careless

careful (3) ADJECTIVE

If you are careful in what you say, you think before you speak.

discreet

Jamila was discreet in not mentioning the party, in case Tanya hadn’t been invited.

tactful

Shopkeepers have to be tactful, for some customers are easily offended.

ANTONYM: careless

careless ADJECTIVE

If you are careless, you do not pay enough attention to what you are doing.

inaccurate

The clerk’s inaccurate adding up cost the company thousands of pounds.

slapdash

“This is slapdash work, Rachel,” snapped Miss Greer. “Do it again slowly!”

slipshod

Slipshod tiling by the builders caused our roof to leak.

sloppy INFORMAL

Mr Ismail told me off for my sloppy handwriting.

ANTONYM: careful

carry VERB

When you carry something, you hold it and take it somewhere.

convey

The robot arm conveyed the large nut to the bolt, and screwed them together.

lug

It was hard work lugging the case upstairs.