Collins Primary Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries

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.

      storm

      On D-Day 1944, Allied troops stormed the beaches and cliffs of Normandy.

      chase VERB

      If you chase someone, you run after them or follow them in order to catch them.

      follow

      Fans followed the pop idol wherever he went.

      hound

      Reporters hounded the star until she gave them an interview.

      hunt

      Lions hunt antelope as their prey.

      pursue

      Detectives pursued the gangster to South America.

      track

      Sniffer dogs tracked the thief to a disused dockside warehouse.

      cheap ADJECTIVE

      Something that is cheap costs very little money.

      bargain

      My bargain laptop computer cost half of what most people pay.

      economical

      My old car is very economical on fuel, but costs more in repairs.

      inexpensive

      The jacket was inexpensive but looked very smart.

      reasonable

      Mum thought that it was a reasonable price for a second-hand mountain bike.

      cheat (1) VERB

      If someone cheats, they lie or do unfair things to win or get what they want.

      con INFORMAL

      The thief conned his way into the old woman’s house by asking if he could use her phone for an emergency.

      deceive

      “It’s no good trying to deceive me,” Mum said. “I know you’re up to something!”

      double-cross INFORMAL

      The thief double-crossed his accomplice and took all the cash.

      dupe

      The stamp collectors were duped into buying some very convincing fakes.

      rip off INFORMAL

      “We were ripped off there!” snorted my brother disgustedly, as we left the burger bar.

      swindle

      The cashier had systematically swindled the bank for years before she was caught.

      trick

      Trying to trick his pursuers, the getaway driver doubled back.

      cheat (2) NOUN

      A cheat is a person who lies or does unfair things to win or get what they want.

      con man INFORMAL

      The con man pretended to be from the electricity company.

      double-crosser

      The gangster snarled “You dirty double-crosser!” and pulled the trigger.

      swindler

      The swindler sold villas to his clients which did not really exist.

      check (1) VERB

      If you check something, you examine it to make sure that everything is all right.

      assess

      Miss Connolly assessed our term’s work before writing her report.

      examine

      Sherlock Holmes picked up the knife and examined it.

      inspect

      The council team inspected the food cupboards carefully.

      test

      To test our multiplication tables, Mr Murphy fires questions at us.

      check (2) NOUN

      A check is an inspection to make sure that everything is all right.

      assessment

      Every soldier has to do his PFA, or Physical Fitness Assessment.

      check-up