Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Thesaurus

transport

Mrs Bartlett transported the table to her home by car.

carry on VERB

If you carry on with something, you continue doing it.

continue

“Please continue with what you were doing,” the head teacher said when she came in.

persevere

It pays off, in the end, to persevere with a job.

persist

“If you persist in talking, you’ll lose your playtime,” Mrs Rasheed warned.

proceed

Grandad took a sip of his tea and then proceeded with his story.

castle NOUN

A castle is a large building with walls or ditches round it to protect it from attack.

fort

The cavalry rode out from their fort, trumpets blaring and guns blazing.

fortress

On the very peak of the mountain stood the enemy fortress.

stronghold

King Edward I built strongholds in Wales.

Parts of a castle:

drawbridge

dungeon

keep

hall

moat

portcullis

tower

cat NOUN

A cat is a small animal covered with fur that people in some countries keep as a pet.

Some types of cat:

Abyssinian

Manx

Persian

Siamese

tabby

tortoiseshell

Some wild cats:

cheetah

jaguar

leopard

lion

panther

puma

tiger

catch (1) VERB

If you catch a person or animal, you capture them.

arrest

Navy police arrested the drunken sailor.

capture

By luck, the cowboys managed to capture the runaway horse.

ensnare

The unfortunate trespasser found herself ensnared in barbed wire.

trap

In the forests of Russia, hunters trap animals for their skins.

catch (2) NOUN

A catch is a hidden difficulty.

disadvantage

One of the disadvantages of having long hair is that it can get very tangled.

drawback

There is a drawback to eating too much chocolate. It can make you feel sick!

snag

When putting the shelves up we came across a snag – we didn’t have enough screws.

cause (1) VERB

If someone or something causes something, they make it happen.

bring about

The curse of the Baskervilles brought about the family’s doom.

create

Last night some lads created a disturbance in our street.

lead to

More policemen on the beat led to a drop in the crime rate.

produce

Who would have thought that a small baby would produce so much noise?

cause (2) NOUN

The cause of something is the thing that makes it happen.

origin

The origin of the tradition was a mystery.

source

Gambling was the source of all the earl’s troubles.

cautious ADJECTIVE

Someone who is cautious acts carefully to avoid possible danger or disappointment.

careful

Ashley was careful about handling the precious eggs.

wary

The sparrows were wary of the nearby cat.

ANTONYM: reckless

celebration NOUN

A celebration is an occasion to mark a happy day or event.

Types of celebration:

anniversary party

banquet

birthday party

carnival

feast

festival

fête

gala

jubilee

party

reunion

wedding

centre NOUN

The centre of an object or area is the middle of it.

core

The earth’s core consists of molten rock.

heart

In the heart of the city, a musician played on a street corner.

hub

At the hub of operations was my brother, with his walkie-talkie set.

middle

The bull’s-eye is in the middle of a dartboard.

certain (1) ADJECTIVE

If you are certain about something, you are sure it is true.

confident

Shula was confident that the rumour she had heard was true.

convinced

Al was convinced that he would pass his exam.

positive

“Are you positive that’s what you want for your birthday?” Mum asked.

sure

“I’m sure I put my homework in my bag, but I can’t find it,” I said.

ANTONYM: uncertain

certain (2) ADJECTIVE

If something is certain to happen, it is likely to happen.

inevitable

It was inevitable that the bully would meet his match before long.

likely

According to the weather forecast, it’s likely to be a sunny afternoon.

unavoidable

When its brakes failed, the lorry faced an unavoidable collision.

ANTONYM: unlikely

certainly ADVERB

Certainly can mean without any doubt.

definitely

“Put me down for a ticket,” Dad said. “I’m definitely going to the game.”

undoubtedly

The horse was undoubtedly the fastest that Jo had ridden.

without doubt

Without doubt, geography was John’s favourite subject.

chair NOUN

A chair is a seat for one person to sit on, with a back and legs.

Types of chair:

armchair

deckchair

dining chair

highchair

office chair

rocking chair

chance (1) NOUN

If there is a chance that something will happen, it might happen.

danger

At oil refineries, there is always a danger of fire breaking out.

likelihood

With those clouds, there was a likelihood of rain before long.

possibility

“Is there any possibility of a lift, please?” Hamal asked.

probability

It is a probability that humans will one day walk on Mars.

chance (2) NOUN

Something that happens by chance happens unexpectedly, without being planned.

accident

It was totally by accident that Mum bumped into her old friend.

coincidence

“What a coincidence!” Grandad gasped. “I went to that school too!”

fortune

By good fortune, a passer-by heard the calls of the stricken climber.

luck

The tennis player’s injury was just bad luck.

stroke of luck

By a stroke of luck, the massive doors were unguarded.

change (1) VERB

When something changes, or you change it, it becomes different.

alter

Gavin has really altered since he won the “Be a Pop Star” competition.

convert

Dad converted the old shed into a play hut.

mutate

Before Kirk’s eyes, the handsome crewman mutated into a fanged, drooling monster.

transform

Bond’s car transformed into a boat.

change (2) VERB

If you change something, you swap or replace it.

exchange

We had to take my new shoes back and exchange them for a larger size.

replace

Today Mr Woo replaced his old banger with a smooth sports car.

substitute

“What happens if you substitute milk for water?” the teacher asked.

swap

Dylan swapped his cards for Salman’s.

trade

Mum joked that she wanted to trade my dad for a newer model!

change (3) NOUN

A change is a difference or alteration in something.

difference

Mum and I noticed the difference in Gran after her illness.

metamorphosis

Caterpillars undergo an amazing metamorphosis into butterflies.

transformation

When Mum emerged from the hairdresser’s, what a transformation!

character NOUN

Someone’s character is all the qualities which combine to form their personality.

nature

It was not in Abigail’s nature to be rude.

personality

Gran had a bubbly personality, and was always making friends.

temperament

A dog’s temperament depends largely on how it is treated.

charge VERB

If something or someone charges, they rush forward.

attack

The infantry attacked the fortress at dawn.

rampage

Boadicea’s angry tribesmen rampaged through the streets, yelling and whooping.

run wild

Leaving their longships, the Viking marauders ran wild in the Saxon village.

rush

When the bell went, Boris rushed for the door, only to be hauled back.