Collins Primary Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries

      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

      The fire chief directed operations from a mobile control centre.

      manage

      Mum’s sister manages a supermarket down the road.

      control (2) NOUN

      Control is the power over something.

      authority

      The mayor had authority over the city’s transport system.

      command

      The conductor was in complete command of the orchestra.

      direction

      The team is playing well under the direction of the new manager.

      power

      “The Wizard of Oz has the power to give you courage, Lion,” said Dorothy.

      convenient (1) ADJECTIVE

      If a time to do a particular thing is convenient, it is suitable for those concerned.

      agreeable

      “Is three o’clock agreeable to you, Mrs Williams?” the receptionist enquired.

      appropriate

      Max felt it was an appropriate moment to ask the question.

      suitable

      “Eight o’clock would be a suitable time for me to pick you up,” my stepdad said.

      ANTONYM: inconvenient

      convenient (2) ADJECTIVE

      If something is convenient, it is easy to use, do or go to.

      handy

      The store is really handy for Grandma to pop down to.

      helpful

      Mrs Hakim handed out a helpful fact sheet at the end of the lesson.

      useful

      Tin-openers are a useful invention which we couldn’t do without!

      ANTONYM: inconvenient

      conversation NOUN

      When people have a conversation, they talk to each other.

      chat

      Auntie Doris often pops in for a chat on her way home from work.

      dialogue

      The opening scene of Macbeth consists of a dialogue between three witches.

      discussion

      Our discussion centred on whether to play indoors or outdoors.

      cook VERB

      When you cook food, you prepare it for eating by boiling, baking or frying it.

      Some ways to cook food:

      bake

      barbecue

      blanch

      boil

      braise

      fry

      grill

      microwave

      poach

      roast

      simmer

      steam

      stew

      stir-fry

      toast

      cool (1) ADJECTIVE

      Something cool has a low temperature but is not cold.

      chilly

      It was chilly outside, so we stayed by the fire.

      fresh

      A fresh breeze blew off the estuary, flapping the flag on the church tower.

      nippy

      “It’s rather nippy,” Mum said. “I’d take a pullover if I were you.”

      refreshing

      In summer there’s nothing to beat refreshing orange juice.

      ANTONYM: warm

      ➔ See cold

      cool (2) ADJECTIVE

      If you are cool in a difficult situation, you stay calm.

      calm

      “Now everybody keep calm,” the captain said. “There is no need for panic.”

      laid back INFORMAL

      My friend Chris was totally laid back about the exam. “If I fail, I fail,” he said.

      relaxed

      Despite the tension in those around him, the sub’s commander looked relaxed.

      ANTONYM: nervous

      cope VERB

      If you cope with a task or problem, you deal with it successfully.

      carry on

      Despite the rain, the team carried on and eventually won the game.

      get by

      Although money was tight, Mum got by doing all sorts of odd jobs for people.

      manage

      “That piano’s heavy. Can you manage?” a kind passer-by enquired.

      survive

      During the exams, Liam survived by drinking cups of coffee and going to bed early.

cope with VERB

      If you have to cope with a difficult situation, you have to deal with it.

      contend with

      Apart from blizzards, Captain Scott had to contend with a growing shortage of food.

      deal with

      I don’t know how teachers deal with 30 kids like my little brother.

      copy (1) NOUN

      A copy is something made to look like something else.

      duplicate

      As the new car came with only one key, Dad had a duplicate made.

      forgery

      The banknotes were such good forgeries that only an expert could tell they weren’t the real thing.

      imitation

      “If that diamond is an imitation, it’s very like the real thing,” I thought.

      replica

      The miniature locomotive was an exact replica of the real train.

      reproduction