Antonym: meaning, definitions and examples

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antonym

 

[ ˈæntənɪm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

language terminology

An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word. For example, the antonym of 'hot' is 'cold'. Antonyms are important in linguistics and semantics as they help to convey contrasting ideas.

Synonyms

counterpart, inverse, opposite

Examples of usage

  • Hot is an antonym of cold.
  • Fast is an antonym of slow.
  • Happy is an antonym of sad.
  • Light is an antonym of dark.

Translations

Translations of the word "antonym" in other languages:

🇵🇹 antônimo

🇮🇳 विपरीतार्थक

🇩🇪 Gegenteil

🇮🇩 antonim

🇺🇦 антонім

🇵🇱 antonim

🇯🇵 対義語

🇫🇷 antonyme

🇪🇸 antónimo

🇹🇷 zıt anlam

🇰🇷 반의어

🇸🇦 مضاد

🇨🇿 antonyn

🇸🇰 antoným

🇨🇳 反义词

🇸🇮 antonim

🇮🇸 andstæðingur

🇰🇿 антоним

🇬🇪 ანტონიმი

🇦🇿 antonim

🇲🇽 antónimo

Etymology

The word 'antonym' is derived from the Greek word 'antōnymon', where 'anti' means 'against' and 'onym' means 'name'. The term began to be used in English in the late 19th century to describe words that express opposing meanings. The concept of antonyms has existed in language for centuries, playing a crucial role in the development of vocabulary and communication. As languages evolved, so did the importance of understanding antonyms in order to convey clear and contrasting ideas in speech and writing. Today, antonyms are not only essential in daily conversation but also in various fields such as literature, education, and linguistics, aiding in the exploration of language nuances.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,378 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.