Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Thesaurus

entirely

“I entirely agree with you,” put in Kaylee.

fully

The new manager said he was fully committed to the club and the team.

totally

Fire totally destroyed the pier buildings.

utterly

You could see by the expression on her face that Isha was utterly fed up.

complicated ADJECTIVE

Something that is complicated has so many parts or aspects that it is difficult to understand or deal with.

complex

It was a complex engine, which my brother struggled to understand.

elaborate

Blofeld had spent years on an elaborate plan for world domination.

intricate

Clock mechanisms are too intricate for you or me to tamper with.

ANTONYMS: simple or straightforward

computer NOUN

A computer is an electronic machine that can store and deal with large amounts of information.

Some types of computer:

desktop

iPad™

laptop

Mac™

notebook

PC (personal computer)

tablet

concentrate VERB

If you concentrate on something, you give it all your attention.

apply yourself to

Previously lazy, Watkins now applied himself to his work and did well in the exam.

be engrossed in

My sister was so engrossed in some telly programme, she failed to see me sneaking up.

focus on

“Today, we are going to focus on fractions,” Mrs Abrahams said, to a chorus of groans.

pay attention to

“Pay attention to what I’m saying, Jamie,” said Dani. “It’s important.”

condition NOUN

The condition of someone or something is the state they are in.

fitness

Army doctors examine the fitness of soldiers each year.

order

The television was in good working order when we sold it.

shape

My grandad is in pretty good shape for a man of 75 – he still goes for a run every morning.

state

“Just look at the state of your trousers!” my stepmum sighed.

confess VERB

If you confess to something, you admit that you did it.

admit

After questioning, the suspect admitted she had stolen the bag.

come clean INFORMAL

“Now come clean, David,” Auntie Julie said. “I know you’ve been at the chocolates.”

own up

The head teacher demanded that the person responsible for the damage should own up.

confused ADJECTIVE

If you are confused, you are uncertain about what is happening or what to do.

baffled

Lyra was baffled. What on earth was the significance of the dust?

bewildered

Bewildered by his sudden fame, Robbie went completely off the rails.

muddled

The useless new parking scheme was a prime example of muddled thinking.

perplexed

Frank stood at the crossroads, totally perplexed by the map he’d been given.

puzzled

“Then I’m puzzled,” Mum said. “How did the biscuit tin fly to your room?”

confusing ADJECTIVE

If something is confusing, it makes you uncertain about what is happening or what to do.

baffling

No body. No weapon. No witnesses. The whole thing was baffling.

bewildering

There was a bewildering choice of stereos.

perplexing

The mystery got more perplexing. Where on earth had the shoe gone?

puzzling

Sergeant Assad found it puzzling that everyone had volunteered for the job.

connect (1) VERB

If you connect two things, you join them together.

attach

When Mum receives nice postcards, she attaches them to the fridge with magnets.

couple

The man in the overalls dropped from the platform to couple the engine to the coaches.

fasten

Phil fastened the papers together with a clip.

join

The plumber joined the two pipes underneath the sink.

link

“This deal,” said the chairman, “will link two fine companies.”

unite

On their wedding day, the couple were united in marriage.

connect (2) VERB

If one thing or person is connected with another, there is a link between them.

associate

He claims that he no longer associates with any of those people.

relate

In good non-fiction writing, each sentence should relate to the one before.

connection NOUN

A connection is a link or relationship between two things.

association

Dad has always had a close association with the school. He attended as a pupil when he was a boy and is now a governor.

bond

There was a bond between the two brothers that could not be broken.

link

There are strong historical links between Britain and India.

relationship

Luis’ relationship with his stepfather was not always an easy one.

contact VERB

If you contact someone, you telephone them or write to them.

communicate with

Television reporters often communicate with the studio by satellite phone.

get in touch with

Message for Mr Sample: please urgently get in touch with your son.

make contact

Joe wants me to make contact when I arrive in New York.

Different ways to make contact:

card

e-mail

fax

letter

postcard

telegram

telephone

text message

contain VERB

The things that something contains are the things in it.

accommodate

The narrowboat could accommodate up to nine people.

comprise

Our cottage comprises six rooms: three upstairs and three down.

consist of

Pancake mix mainly consists of flour, eggs and milk.

hold

An average household bucket will hold ten litres of liquid.

include

The holiday package includes all flights, accommodation and meals.

container NOUN

A container is something that you keep things in, such as a box or a jar.

receptacle

“What we need,” said Mr Vanstone, “is some sort of receptacle for these tadpoles.”

vessel

A pitcher is a vessel for carrying liquids.

contest NOUN

A contest is a competition or game.

battle

The Cup Final was a battle between a giant club and one of the league’s minnows.

bout

The wrestling announcer began, “This is a bout of eight rounds of three minutes each.”

competition

Mum is a fanatic for entering competitions. She’s always thinking up catchy slogans.

head-to-head INFORMAL

The finish of the sack race was a close-run head-to-head between Mrs Robinson and Miss Penn.

match

The match against Holcombe was played in pouring rain.

tournament

The chess tournament featured players from all over the country.

continue VERB

If you continue to do something, you keep doing it.

carry on

“If you carry on prodding me, I’ll prod you back,” I said to Barry.

keep on

“If you keep on forgetting your homework, you’ll get detention,” I told Anita.

persevere

Although she was tired, Jamilah persevered with her drawing.

persist

Although I hate it, Dad persists in calling me by my nickname.

continuous ADJECTIVE

Something that is continuous goes on without stopping.

ceaseless

The ceaseless noise of drilling was driving me mad.

constant

Bill and Ben were constant companions. You never saw them apart.

incessant

After a few minutes, Mrs Snell’s incessant chatter became annoying.

nonstop

The disco played nonstop music throughout the evening.

uninterrupted

Good weather meant uninterrupted play at Wimbledon for the whole fortnight.

➔ See endless

control (1) VERB

To control something is to have power over it.

be in charge of

Our dad is in charge of our local Under-11s soccer team.

command

Captain Hardy commanded HMS Victory, the flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson.

direct