Collins Primary Thesaurus. Collins Dictionaries

not to confuse the verb affect with the noun effect.

      afraid ADJECTIVE

      If you are afraid, you are frightened.

      alarmed

      “Don’t be alarmed,” Mum said calmly. “It’s only the wind rattling the windows.”

      anxious

      As I had not revised my spellings, I was anxious about the test the next morning.

      fearful

      Faiza is fearful of the dark.

      frightened

      “Don’t be frightened,” said the giant. “I won’t hurt you.”

      nervous

      Alim was nervous before his driving test.

      petrified

      My brother is petrified of going to the dentist.

      scared

      I told my brother there was nothing to be scared of.

      terrified

      I used to be terrified of injections, but now that I’ve had one I’m not scared any more.

      timid

      I was quite timid on my first day at school.

      ANTONYM: unafraid

       To be afraid of something is to fear or dread it.

      after (1) ADVERB

      After can mean later than a particular time, date or event.

      afterwards

      We had our lunch and afterwards went out to the school field.

      following

      Following the professor’s talk on birds, we had the chance to ask her questions.

      later than

      It was later than six o’clock when we finally finished shopping.

      subsequently

      The injured driver was taken to hospital, but was allowed to go home subsequently.

      ANTONYM: before

      after (2) PREPOSITION

      If you come after someone or something, you are behind them and following them.

      behind

      Behind the royal procession came the jester, prancing about and waving some sort of wand.

      following

      Off went the removal van, with Dad following.

      again ADVERB

      Again can mean happening one more time.

      afresh

      The couple moved abroad to start life afresh.

      a second time

      The traveller waited before knocking at the door a second time.

      once more

      Once more Dad tried to put up the deckchair, and once more it collapsed.

      against PREPOSITION

      Something that is against something else is in opposition to it.

      anti INFORMAL

      Our entire family is anti hunting. We think it’s cruel.

      opposed to

      I was opposed to the idea of moving house.

      versus

      In our playground game, it was Rachel and me versus the rest of the class.

       If something is against the law, it is illegal.

      aim (1) VERB

      If you aim to do something, you are planning to do it.

      intend

      One day, I intend to own a chocolate factory.

      mean

      The player meant to hit the ball down the line, but it flew into the crowd.

      plan

      Dad had planned to work abroad, but then he was offered a job in Britain.

      propose

      Mr Potter proposes to put on a school play this year.

      set your sights on

      Louis had set his sights on becoming an artist, but became a photographer instead.

      aim (2) NOUN

      Your aim is what you intend to achieve.

      goal

      Cassandra’s goal is to make a million dollars before she is 25.

      object

      The object of the game is to throw the ball in your opponents’ basket.

      objective

      “Men,” barked the Major, “our objective is to cross that river before the enemy sees us.”

      purpose

      The purpose of the meeting was to decide what our class would do for the school concert.

      target

      The target for this year’s bring-and-buy sale is to raise a thousand pounds.

      aircraft NOUN

      An aircraft is any vehicle that can fly.

      Types of aircraft:

      aeroplane

      glider

      hang-glider

      helicopter

      hot-air balloon

      microlite

      alike ADJECTIVE

      Things that are alike are very similar in some way.

      comparable

      The two boys had had comparable experiences at primary school.

      identical

      The twins were identical except for the way they styled their hair.

      indistinguishable

      The forgery and the original painting were indistinguishable.

      similar

      Phoebe’s house is like ours, and Justin’s is similar too.

      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