Collins Dictionaries - Collins Primary Thesaurus

ANTONYMS: different or unlike

all right (1) ADJECTIVE

If something is all right, it is satisfactory, but not especially good.

acceptable

Your work is acceptable, Watts, but by no means outstanding.

adequate

The nurse thought her temporary bandage would be adequate to stop the bleeding.

average

“My exam marks were average, but I’m sure I can do better,” said Ron.

fair

Leo made a fair attempt at the test, considering he had felt so ill earlier.

satisfactory

The car was in a satisfactory condition to pass the safety test.

all right (2) ADJECTIVE

If someone is all right, they are safe and not harmed.

safe

“You’ll be quite safe provided that you wait here,” the police officer said.

unharmed

After getting lost in the hills, the boys were returned unharmed to their parents.

unhurt

The stunt rider escaped unhurt after his bike cartwheeled into the air.

uninjured

I was shaken but uninjured after falling during the race.

almost ADVERB

Almost can mean very nearly.

just about

We were just about ready to go, when Mum’s phone bleeped.

nearly

It was nearly five years since Hanif had seen his aunt and uncle.

not quite

I had not quite finished the test when Mr Halliday said the time was up.

practically

Practically all the sandwiches had been eaten.

virtually

Despite having virtually no time to practise, Darius played the piano piece perfectly.

alone (1) ADJECTIVE

Someone or something that is alone is not with other people or things.

detached

The elephant was detached from the herd.

isolated

The old man lived in a cottage on the cliff top. He felt quite isolated.

solitary

Robinson Crusoe was solitary on his desert island home.

alone (2) ADVERB

Something that happens alone, happens without other people or things.

independently

Sian did her homework independently.

separately

The teachers came with us on the bus, except for the head who came later, separately.

solo INFORMAL

The pilot now flew solo for the first time.

also ADVERB

Also can mean in addition to something that has just been mentioned.

as well

Mum had just bought the lettuce when she remembered to get some tomatoes as well.

besides

The competition winner received a sports bag, and a signed bat to go in it besides.

furthermore FORMAL

“You’ve worked well,” the teacher said, “and furthermore you’ve worked quietly.”

in addition

My prize was free tickets to the show. In addition, it included a meal afterwards.

moreover FORMAL

It was cold, and moreover it was getting dark.

too

William is nine, and Rina is too.

although CONJUNCTION

Although can mean in spite of the fact that.

even though

Jessica managed to win the marathon, even though she’d had flu earlier that week.

while

While the work on an oil rig is tough, the pay is good.

altogether ADVERB

Altogether can mean in total and is used when talking about amounts.

all told

There were over two thousand people at the show, all told.

everything included

Everything included, the fête raised enough money for the new equipment.

in total

In total, the auction raised well over five thousand pounds.

always (1) ADVERB

Always can mean all the time.

consistently

Andy is consistently the best player on our hockey team.

constantly

We are constantly receiving junk e-mails.

continually

My mum is continually nagging me to keep my room tidy.

continuously

The generator chugged away continuously throughout the night.

invariably

Aissa is invariably late for school.

regularly

Stars are regularly asked for their autographs.

repeatedly

“I’m repeatedly telling you not to speak with your mouth full!” Dad said crossly.

time after time

Time after time, my little brother asked me to play with him.

ANTONYM: never

always (2) ADVERB

Always can mean forever.

endlessly

I shall be endlessly grateful to the woman who saved my life.

forever

“Madam, I am forever in your debt,” the musketeer said as he swept from the room.

perpetually

The Olympic flame burns perpetually.

ANTONYM: never

amazing ADJECTIVE

If something is amazing, it is very surprising.

astonishing

It is astonishing that we breathe, on average, 500 million times in our lives.

astounding

The marathon runner kept up an astounding pace for the whole 26 miles.

breathtaking

Seeing Niagara Falls was a breathtaking experience.

sensational

The show was sensational, with superb music and dancing.

staggering

It is staggering to realize that 60 per cent of our body is water.

among or amongst PREPOSITION

Among or amongst can mean surrounded by.

amid

Workers searched amid the wreckage for any sign of survivors.

amidst

Amidst all the weeds, a single rose bloomed.

in the middle of

In the middle of the herd of cows was a newborn calf.

surrounded by

Mum and I found ourselves surrounded by inquisitive sheep.

If there are more than two things, you should use among(st). If there are only two things, you should use between.

amount NOUN

An amount is how much there is of something.

mass

There was a great mass of tadpoles in our garden pond.

quantity

“For sale: a quantity of unused garden tools,” read the advert.

sum

The house was sold for an undisclosed sum of money.

total

Our little sideshow raised quite a total at our school fête.

volume

A huge volume of water cascades over the waterfall every minute.

amphibian NOUN

An amphibian is one of a group of animals that live both on land and in water.

Some amphibians:

frog

newt

salamander

toad

anger NOUN

Anger is the strong feeling you get about something unfair or cruel.

annoyance

You could see the annoyance on the little boy’s face when he couldn’t have any sweets.

fury

Her face purple with fury, the duchess stormed from the room.

indignation

Our dog, Jim, stared in indignation as I ate the last biscuit.

irritation

Sissy stormed out in irritation.

rage

The wizard flew into a rage and instantly turned the king and queen into toads.

temper

In a fit of temper, I flung my sister’s hairbrush into the garden.

wrath Said “roth”

The player incurred the wrath of the referee for committing a foul.

angry ADJECTIVE

Someone who is angry is very annoyed.

annoyed

Mr Danesh was annoyed that Anna hadn’t handed in her homework.

apoplectic

The team manager was apoplectic, dancing with rage when the referee disallowed the goal.

beside yourself with anger

The head teacher was beside herself with anger when the money was stolen.

cross

You could tell Mum was cross. Her forehead had turned red and wrinkly.

displeased

“Smithers, I’m displeased with the poor spelling in this report,” Sir Hector boomed.

enraged

The bull, enraged, came charging, head down, towards the matador.

fuming

Mrs Stevenson was fuming when she realized Peter was absent yet again.

furious

Furious at such a messy piece of work, Mr Ross flung my book back on my desk.

hot under the collar INFORMAL

Many motorists were getting hot under the collar as the traffic jam built up.