Synonyms and Antonyms for ESL Definition and Examples

Learning synonyms and antonyms helps build vocabulary. English learners can use the charts below to begin learning how to use this technique. Teachers can print out the charts as examples for students to follow. To begin with, here are definitions: Synonym A word or phrase that means that same, or nearly the same as another word or phrase. big - largeheavy - weightythin - slim Antonym A word or phrase that means the opposite or nearly the opposite of another word or phrase. tall - shortthick - thindifficult - easy One excellent technique for improving your vocabulary is to learn synonyms and antonyms together. You can create a chart listing both synonyms and antonyms including example sentences to help you memorize new vocabulary. Synonyms and antonyms can be learned in categories such as adjectives, adverbs, and adverbs. Its good to begin building vocabulary by learning categories of English synonyms and antonyms. To get you started, here are a number of synonyms and antonyms arranged into categories for beginning to advanced level English learners. Example Synonym and Antonym Charts Adjectives: Beginning Level Nouns: Beginning to Intermediate Levels Word Synonym Antonym Example Sentences big large small He has a big house in California.She has a small apartment in Manhattan. difficult hard easy The test was very difficult.I think riding a bike is easy. new recent used I bought a recent book.She drives a used car. clean tidy dirty He keeps his house tidy.The car is dirty and needs to be washed. safe secure dangerous The money is secure in the bank.Walking through downtown at midnight is dangerous. friendly outgoing unfriendly Tom is outgoing with everyone.There are many unfriendly people in this town. good great bad Thats a great idea!Hes a bad tennis player. cheap inexpensive expensive Homes are inexpensive at the moment.That car is very expensive. interesting fascinating boring Thats a fascinating story.That TV show is boring. quiet still noisy Its nice and still in this room.The children are very noisy today. Word Synonym Antonym Example Sentences student pupil teacher The pupils are in their seats.The teacher began the class. owner director employee The director hired three new people.The employees are very happy with their jobs. earth ground water The ground here is very rich.You need water to live. day daylight night Its daylight out. Get up!I usually go to bed early at night. answer response question What is your response?She asked him a number of questions. beginning start end The start is at 8 am.The end of the book is very good. man male woman Tim is a male.Jane is a woman. dog puppy cat Id like to get a puppy.The cat meowed so I let her in the house. food cuisine drink Lets eat some French cuisine tonight.She had a drink after work. boy lad girl The lad is waiting for you in the other room.There are four girls in the class. Adverbs: Intermediate Word Synonym Antonym Example Sentences fast quickly slowly He drives very quickly.I slowly walked through the park. carefully cautiously carelessly Tim walked cautiously through the room checking everything.Those who drive carelessly will probably have an accident. always all the time never She eats lunch at her desk all the time.She never goes to the dentist. seriously thoughtfully thoughtlessly He thoughtfully answered the question.She speaks about her private life thoughtlessly. colorfully plainly brightly She painted the picture plainly.He brightly spoke about his adventures. Here are some other ideas for learning synonyms and antonyms: Use vocabulary trees to help you organize synonyms and antonyms into categories such as things and places in the home, business-related vocabulary for work, etc.Build word form charts based on the synonyms and antonyms you are learning.Make synonym and antonym flash cards to quickly check your knowledge.