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Common Opposite Verbs in English

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Opposite Verbs are an interesting aspect of the English language that can be both confusing and intriguing. These are pairs of verbs that have opposite meanings, such as “to give” and “to take,” or “to come” and “to go.” Understanding Opposite Verbs is essential for effective communication, as using the wrong verb can completely change the meaning of a sentence. In this article, we will explore some of the most common Opposite Verbs in the English language, their meanings, and how they can be used in different contexts. Whether you’re a native speaker or learning English as a second language, understanding Opposite Verbs is essential for clear and accurate communication.

Opposite Verbs with Meanings

Here is a list of Opposite Verbs with their meanings:

Verb Opposite Verb Meaning
Arrive Depart To reach a destination / To leave a destination
Buy Sell To acquire something by paying for it / To transfer something to someone else in exchange for money
Come Go To move towards a particular place / To move away from a particular place
Enter Exit To go into a place / To leave a place
Give Take To transfer something to someone else / To receive something from someone else
Increase Decrease To make something bigger / To make something smaller
Love Hate To have a strong affection for someone or something / To have a strong aversion to someone or something
Open Close To make something accessible by removing a barrier / To make something inaccessible by adding a barrier
Start Finish To begin something / To end something
Win Lose To achieve victory in a competition or contest / To fail to achieve victory in a competition or contest

These are just a few examples of the many Opposite Verbs that exist in the English language. Understanding these Opposite Verbs is essential for clear and accurate communication, as using the wrong verb can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

Opposite Verbs with Examples

Verb Opposite Verb Example
Come Go I will come to your house tomorrow. / Please go away from here.
Give Take Can you give me a glass of water? / I will take this book from the library.
Open Close Please open the window, it’s hot in here. / Can you close the door, please?
Start Stop Let’s start the meeting at 2 pm. / We need to stop the car at the red light.
Buy Sell I want to buy a new phone. / The store will sell the products at a discount.
Love Hate I love spending time with my family. / I hate waking up early in the morning.
Win Lose Our team won the basketball game. / We lost the soccer match.
Create Destroy I want to create a new recipe for dinner tonight. / The storm destroyed many homes in the area.
Accept Reject She accepted the job offer. / He rejected the proposal.
Borrow Lend Can I borrow your pen for a moment? / I can lend you some money if you need it.

Understanding these Opposite Verbs is essential for clear and accurate communication, as using the wrong verb can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

List of Opposite Verbs in English

  • lose – win
  • shout – whisper
  • float – sink
  • borrow – lend
  • break – mend
  • build – destroy
  • put on – take off
  • punish – reward
  • stop – move
  • exercise – rest
  • show – hide
  • drop – pick
  • laugh – cry
  • give – take
  • import – export
  • add – subtract
  • enter – exit
  • leave – stay
  • open – close
  • play – work
  • question – answer
  • sit – stand
  • throw – catch
  • teach – learn
  • fall – rise
  • come – go
  • go – stop
  • sleep – wake up
  • live – die
  • push – pull
  • cool – heat
  • pass – fail
  • smile – frown
  • strengthen – weaken
  • speed up – slow down
  • arrive – leave
  • spend – save

Common Opposite Verbs in English | Image

Opposite Verbs in English

In conclusion, Opposite Verbs are pairs of verbs that have opposite meanings and are essential for clear and accurate communication in the English language. Whether it’s understanding the difference between “arrive” and “depart,” “give” and “take,” or “open” and “close,” using the correct Opposite Verb is crucial for conveying the intended meaning of a sentence. By familiarizing oneself with these Opposite Verbs and their meanings, one can communicate more effectively and avoid misunderstandings.

Related: common verbs in English

ESLBUZZ

ousman dukureh waggeh

Monday 8th of November 2021

awora hola no bonbiya si

ousman dukureh waggeh

Monday 8th of November 2021

hola

Sanjana

Thursday 25th of March 2021

Wow

Sanjana

Thursday 25th of March 2021

Family

patita_333

Sunday 18th of October 2020

sorry but the first verb is: lose-find because is perder-encontrar 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋

Michael

Sunday 21st of May 2023

@patita_333, no, there are two possibilities: lose/win; lose/find