Collins Primary Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries

      previously

      Previously, Mr Cruickshank had always let us off homework, but not today.

      sooner

      If I had got the invitation sooner, I would have come to the party.

       Something that goes before something else precedes it.

      begin VERB

      If you begin something, you start it.

      commence

      The king shouted “Let battle commence!” and the two knights thundered towards each other.

      embark on

      As soon as we’d embarked on our journey to the park, it started to rain.

      set about

      We set about digging the vegetable garden.

      start

      Dad told me to start my homework soon.

      ANTONYM: end

      beginner NOUN

      A beginner is someone who has just started to learn something.

      learner

      Swimmers use the big pool, while learners use the shallower pool.

      novice

      Although a complete novice, Britney showed a flair for ski jumping.

      ANTONYM: veteran

      beginning NOUN

      The beginning of something is when or where it starts.

      introduction

      In the introduction, the author explains how she came to write the book.

      opening

      The band played at the opening of the fête.

      origin

      The origin of the universe is still a mystery.

      ANTONYM: end

      behave VERB

      If you behave in a particular way, you act that way.

      act

      Emir is acting like a spoilt child.

      function

      “The girls are finally functioning as a team!” exclaimed the coach.

      operate

      Sally operates in a certain way to get what she wants.

      work

      Anoup worked methodically in order to get the work done.

      believe (1) VERB

      If you believe someone, you accept that they are telling the truth.

      accept

      It took some people a long time to accept that the world was round.

      be certain of

      “We have to be certain of your story before we can take action,” warned the sergeant.

      have faith in

      It is important to have faith in your own ability, Grandad says.

      trust

      I trust my sister, even if she is rotten to me sometimes.

      ANTONYMS: disbelieve or doubt

       Something that you cannot believe is unbelievable or incredible.

      believe (2) VERB

      If you believe that something is true, you think that it is true.

      feel

      “How do you feel the match will go?” asked the interviewer.

      presume

      Mr Jackson said, “I presume you will all be handing in your homework tomorrow.”

      suppose

      I suppose that the school sports day will be in July as usual.

      bell NOUN

      A bell is a cup-shaped metal object with a piece inside it called a clapper that hits the side and makes a ringing sound.

      Verbs that express the sound of bells:

      chime

      clang

      jingle

      peal

      ring

      sound

      strike

      tinkle

      toll

      belongings NOUN

      Your belongings are all the things that you own.

      possessions

      Almost all their possessions were destroyed in the fire.

      property

      “Make sure your property is labelled,” insisted Miss Carter.

      stuff

      The firefighters grabbed their stuff and jumped in the cab.

      below PREPOSITION OR ADVERB

      If something is below something else, it is in a lower position.

      beneath

      Beneath the trees, bluebells were waving in the breeze.

      under

      With the help of a torch, I could read secretly under my duvet.

      underneath

      Underneath the streets are hundreds of miles of sewers.

      ANTONYM: above

      bend (1) VERB

      When something bends, it becomes curved or crooked.

      buckle

      The car buckled when the elephant sat on it.

      curve

      After the village, the road curves to the left.

      twist

      The ornament was made of glass twisted into patterns.

      warp

      My DVD warped when I left it in the sun.

      ANTONYM: straighten

      bend (2) VERB

      When you bend, you move your head and shoulders forwards and downwards.

      crouch

      Lyra crouched behind the bushes, waiting for the policeman to turn away.

      duck

      Duck, or you’ll hit your head on the beam!

      stoop

      Farouk stooped to pick up a coin from the path.

      beside PREPOSITION

      If one thing is beside another, it is next to it.

      adjacent to

      Adjacent to the station was an old signal box.

      alongside

      The lifeboat rowed up alongside the stricken yacht, and the crew jumped across.

      next to

      The boy sitting next to me kept prodding me with a ruler.

      besides PREPOSITION

      Besides can mean in addition to.

      apart from

      Apart from some shorts and a T-shirt, I’m taking very