Vocabulary · Basics
Opposites in English
A1
Opposites in English: pairs of adjectives for size, temperature, age, feelings, speed and more, so you learn the two words together. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Size and shape
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| big / small(adj.)“A big house, a small car.” | large or little in size | /bɪɡ/ /smɔːl/ |
| tall / short(adj.) | high or not high (people, buildings) | /tɔːl/ /ʃɔːt/ |
| long / short(adj.) | for length: hair, roads, films | /lɒŋ/ /ʃɔːt/ |
| wide / narrow(adj.) | measuring a lot or little across | /waɪd/ /ˈnærəʊ/ |
| thick / thin(adj.) | a lot or little between two sides | /θɪk/ /θɪn/ |
| huge / tiny(adj.) | very big or very small | /hjuːdʒ/ /ˈtaɪni/ |
Temperature and weather
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| hot / cold(adj.) | very high or very low temperature | /hɒt/ /kəʊld/ |
| warm / cool(adj.) | a little hot or a little cold | /wɔːm/ /kuːl/ |
| sunny / cloudy(adj.) | with a bright sky or a grey sky | /ˈsʌni/ /ˈklaʊdi/ |
| wet / dry(adj.) | covered in water or without water | /wet/ /draɪ/ |
Age and condition
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| young / old(adj.) | for people: few years or many years | /jʌŋ/ /əʊld/ |
| new / old(adj.)“A new phone vs an old phone.” | for things: just made or used for years | /njuː/ /əʊld/ |
| clean / dirty(adj.) | washed and nice, or not washed | /kliːn/ /ˈdɜːti/ |
| empty / full(adj.) | with nothing inside or no space left | /ˈempti/ /fʊl/ |
| open / closed(adj.) | you can or cannot go in | /ˈəʊpən/ /kləʊzd/ |
Feelings and character
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| happy / sad(adj.) | feeling good or feeling bad | /ˈhæpi/ /sæd/ |
| kind / mean(adj.) | friendly and caring, or cruel | /kaɪnd/ /miːn/ |
| nice / nasty(adj.) | pleasant or very unpleasant | /naɪs/ /ˈnɑːsti/ |
| brave / scared(adj.) | without fear or full of fear | /breɪv/ /skeəd/ |
| rich / poor(adj.) | with a lot of money or very little | /rɪtʃ/ /pɔː/ |
Speed and difficulty
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| fast / slow(adj.)“A fast car, a slow train.” | moving at high or low speed | /fɑːst/ /sləʊ/ |
| quick / slow(adj.) | taking little time or a lot of time | /kwɪk/ /sləʊ/ |
| easy / difficult(adj.) | no problem to do, or hard to do | /ˈiːzi/ /ˈdɪfɪkəlt/ |
| simple / complicated(adj.) | with few parts, or with many parts | /ˈsɪmpl/ /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/ |
| right / wrong(adj.) | correct or not correct | /raɪt/ /rɒŋ/ |
Other opposites
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| good / bad(adj.) | of high or low quality | /ɡʊd/ /bæd/ |
| cheap / expensive(adj.) | costing little or costing a lot | /tʃiːp/ /ɪkˈspensɪv/ |
| strong / weak(adj.) | with a lot or little power | /strɒŋ/ /wiːk/ |
| loud / quiet(adj.) | making a lot or little noise | /laʊd/ /ˈkwaɪət/ |
| light / dark(adj.) | bright, or like the night | /laɪt/ /dɑːk/ |
| high / low(adj.) | far above or near the ground | /haɪ/ /ləʊ/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
He's big ❌ when you mean He's tall
For a person's height, use tall/short, not big/small. He's tall means his body is high. He's big means he is large and strong: it is a different meaning.
A young phone ❌: things are new
Old can be the opposite of young (for people) or of new (for things). The context tells you which one: an old man (not young), an old car (not new).
Hot, warm, cool, cold: four steps
Some opposites have steps in the middle. Hot/cold are the extremes. Warm/cool are in between: warm is a little hot and cool is a little cold. Choose the most precise word.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Opposites
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
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Frequently asked questions
How can I learn opposites in English?+
The best method is to learn them in pairs: big/small, hot/cold, happy/sad. Learn the two words together. Then write two opposite example sentences to remember them: My bag is heavy. Your bag is light.
What is the difference between tall and big?+
Tall/short is about height (people, buildings): a tall person. Big/small is about general size (things, places): a big house. If you say a big person, it usually means the person is large and strong, not tall.
What is the opposite of hot?+
There are two answers: cold (very low temperature) and cool (a little cold, often pleasant). Hot/cold is the most common pair. Warm/cool are in the middle. For the weather or a drink, choose the word that matches how strong the temperature is.
What is the opposite of old?+
It depends. For a person, the opposite is young: old ↔ young. For a thing, it is new: old ↔ new. An old man is not young, and an old phone is not new. The context decides.
How do you make an opposite with a prefix?+
Some adjectives take a prefix (a short part at the start of the word): un- (unhappy, unsafe), in- (incorrect), im- (impossible), dis- (dishonest). There is no simple rule, so learn them one by one.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/opposites
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.