11+ antonyms: how the questions work
An antonym question asks which word means the opposite of another. Here is how the question works, three worked examples and how to practise.
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What is an antonym question in the 11+?
An antonym question gives your child a word and asks them to choose the word that means the opposite. An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning: abundant and scarce are antonyms, because one means there is plenty and the other means there is very little. The question tests whether your child knows exactly what a word means.
Opposites are not always made by adding a prefix. Hot and cold look nothing alike, and neither do abundant and scarce. So a child has to know the meanings, and cannot rely on spotting a pattern such as un- or dis-.
How do antonym questions work, with examples?
Your child reads the word, decides what it means, and picks the option that means the opposite. A slip to watch for is choosing a synonym by mistake, because it feels close to the word. Here are three worked examples using example words.
Example 1
Which word is the opposite of abundant?
- scarce
- plentiful
- calm
- careful
Answer: scarce. Abundant means there is more than enough of it. Scarce means there is very little, so it is the opposite. Plentiful means the same as abundant, and it is the trap in this question.
Example 2
Which word is the opposite of scarce?
- rare
- plentiful
- calm
- careful
Answer: plentiful. Scarce means hard to find because there is very little of it. Plentiful means there is a lot, so it is the opposite. Rare means almost the same as scarce, so it cannot be the answer.
Example 3
Which pair of words are opposites?
- meticulous and careful
- tranquil and calm
- abundant and scarce
- reluctant and unwilling
Answer: abundant and scarce. The other three pairs each mean the same thing, so they are synonyms. Abundant means there is more than enough and scarce means there is very little.
What makes antonym questions tricky?
Two things catch children out: synonyms that look like good answers, and words with more than one meaning. A child who knows a word only roughly can mix up the synonym and the antonym. Knowing the exact meaning, and trying the word in a sentence, makes the opposite clear.
- Say the meaning of the word in your own words first.
- Cross out any option that means the same.
- Check your answer by putting both words into a sentence. Do they pull in opposite directions?
How can my child practise antonyms?
The best practice is short, regular and on the words your child actually gets wrong. VocabGecko turns each word from a practice test into antonym questions, alongside synonyms and the other question types, and brings the word back just before it would be forgotten. Five minutes a day is enough to keep the streak going.
Our 11+ vocabulary guide explains how spacing, retrieval and context help words stay learned.
What should my child practise next?
Synonym, antonym, cloze and verbal reasoning questions all rest on the same thing: knowing what words mean and how they relate to each other. The vocabulary guide explains how to help a child learn those words so they stay learned, and the pages below explain the other question types one at a time.
Where can we practise opposites alongside synonyms?
Use the mixed synonyms and antonyms practice page to switch between similar meanings and opposites. The questions come before an answer key with explanations, so you can cover the answers while working. Ask your child to explain the word and check whether the instruction asks for a similar meaning or its opposite.
Ready to try it with your child's own words?
Join the free beta waitlist. Once you have a place, you type in the words from your next practice test and check the first cards. Joining takes about a minute. VocabGecko is free during the beta, needs no card, and works alongside the prep platform or tutor you already use.
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