Determine the meaning of words using antonyms in context
Key Notes:
| Understanding Antonyms |
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Recognizing antonyms can be a powerful tool for understanding unfamiliar words, especially when you encounter them within a sentence or passage (i.e. in context).
| Antonyms in Context: A Definition |
When a sentence or surrounding text provides a word or phrase that is the opposite of an unknown word, you can often deduce the meaning of the unknown word. This process involves analyzing the context to identify the antonym and then inferring the meaning of the new word.
| Examples in Action |
| Example 1: The movie was not enjoyable, it was quite dreary. Antonym: enjoyable Inferred Meaning of Dreary: boring, unpleasant | Example 2: Instead of being optimistic, the employees were deeply pessimistic about the company’s future. Antonym: pessimistic Inferred Meaning of Optimistic: hopeful, positive |
| Example 3: The food wasn’t appetizing; in fact, it seemed quite repulsive. Antonym: appetizing Inferred Meaning of Repulsive: disgusting, unpleasant | Example 4: While some found him to be gregarious, others considered him quite reserved. Antonym: reserved Inferred Meaning of Gregarious: outgoing, sociable |
| Tips for Using Antonyms to Determine Meaning |
- Look for signal words: Words like but, however, instead of, on the other hand, and unlike often signal a contrast or opposition.
- Identify the known word: Determine which word in the sentence you already understand.
- Analyze the relationship: How does the known word relate to the unknown word? Is it an opposite?
- Infer the meaning: Based on the antonym relationship, make an educated guess about the meaning of the unknown word.
- Confirm your guess: If possible, try substituting your inferred meaning into the sentence to see if it makes sense.
| Practice Makes Perfect |
The more you practice identifying antonyms in context, the better you’ll become at deciphering unfamiliar words. Pay attention to the words around the new word. Consider how that word is being used in the surrounding sentences and make an educated guess. Happy reading!