What does a child have to do to select an antonym in the 11+?

Select a word with the opposite meaning in the stated context. It is one of 41 named English skills in the 11+, in the vocabulary strand, and this page carries 1 interactive exercise that practises it.

What is the trap in an 11+ select an antonym question?

A word that is merely different is not an opposite: it has to reverse the heading, not just avoid it. The wrong answers on this skill are built out of that, not out of random numbers, so it is worth naming out loud before your child meets it under time pressure.

What is not part of select an antonym in the 11+?

The skill map draws the line here: Excludes merely different words. A question past that line is testing a different named English skill, which is worth knowing before you spend a week practising the wrong one.

Which other 11+ skills should we practise alongside select an antonym?

The vocabulary strand holds 4 skills that are tested together, and the pages next to select an antonym are select a synonym, classify a word relationship and resolve a homophone. Each has its own exercise and its own link, and none of them needs an account.

How can my child practise select an antonym for free?

Use Word Bridge, embedded on this page. It is the exercise the skill map attaches to select an antonym, it runs in the browser with no account to make, these exercises are not scored and do not save learner records. The separate quiz sends answers for marking and shows a score, without saving an assessment record. It also has its own link, so you can send it to a child without sending them anywhere else first.

English · Vocabulary

Select an antonym

Select a word with the opposite meaning in the stated context.

Watch the worked example

Open the video page

Find the True Opposite

This video shows how to choose a word with the opposite meaning, checking that it fits the sentence context. Watch an 11+ English question solved step by step.

0:00 / 2:28

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Quick quiz: Select an antonym

10 questions, with feedback after each one. No sign-up needed.

Read the questions in this quiz

Question 1
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 2
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 3
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 4
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 5
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 6
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 7
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 8
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 9
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.
Question 10
Sort each word into the group whose heading word it is the opposite of.

Practise it now

Full is to empty as happy is to…?

This exercise practises select an antonym alongside its own main skill, Word Analogies.

It covers most of this skill rather than all of it.

Loading the interactive exercise. Nothing you do here is saved or scored.

A worked example

One question of the kind this skill is tested with, worked all the way through: the reasoning, and what the wrong answers are there to catch.

Words that reverse a meaning

Say each word next to its heading and listen for the reversal.

Words to sort: condemn, shrink, contract, insult, mock, reduce.
Groups to sort them into: Opposite of EXPAND; Opposite of PRAISE.

Answer: Opposite of EXPAND: shrink, contract, reduce. Opposite of PRAISE: condemn, insult, mock.

How you get there

An antonym reverses its heading word rather than simply differing from it: "reduce" belongs under "Opposite of EXPAND" and "mock" under "Opposite of PRAISE", which means every item here has exactly one correct group.

Why the other answers tempt

A word that is merely different is not an opposite: it has to reverse the heading, not just avoid it.

If they are stuck, say this

Say the heading word and the item one after the other - true opposites cannot both be true of the same thing at once.

Now do it live in Word Bridge

Kitchen-table script for parents

Try this together

A friendly mini script for the breakfast table, school run or a quiet two minutes. Read it aloud as written, or make it your own.

Ready? Let's try Select an antonym together. Words to sort: condemn, shrink, contract, insult, mock, reduce. Groups to sort them into: Opposite of EXPAND; Opposite of PRAISE. Here comes the question: Say each word next to its heading and listen for the reversal. A handy clue is: Say the heading word and the item one after the other - true opposites cannot both be true of the same thing at once. Nice work. Here is the thinking: An antonym reverses its heading word rather than simply differing from it: "reduce" belongs under "Opposite of EXPAND" and "mock" under "Opposite of PRAISE", which means every item here has exactly one correct group. So our answer is: Opposite of EXPAND: shrink, contract, reduce. Opposite of PRAISE: condemn, insult, mock. One sneaky trap is: A word that is merely different is not an opposite: it has to reverse the heading, not just avoid it. Can you show me the first move in your own words? No rush; one calm step is enough.

What this exercise is doing

Word Bridge

Full is to empty as happy is to…?

This engine’s own main skill is Word Analogies. It practises select an antonym alongside it, and covers most of it rather than all.

Full is the opposite of empty, so happy is the opposite of sad. In an analogy the two pairs must be joined by exactly the same relationship: find the link in the first pair, then carry that link across.

What to say if they get stuck

Say the first pair out loud: "Full is the opposite of empty."
The same bridge has to carry "happy". These are opposites.

Open Word Bridge on its own page to share it

How select an antonym differs from the skills beside it

The same exercise practises several skills, and telling them apart is often the difficulty rather than the exercise itself. On this page the skill is: select a word with the opposite meaning in the stated context, and it stops where excludes merely different words.

Identify an analogy relation
Identify the semantic relationship in one word pair. Excludes completing the second pair.
Transfer an analogy relation
Apply a stated or inferred word relationship to complete a second pair. One relation must remain invariant.
Select opposite meaning
Choose the option most opposite in meaning to a target word. Excludes merely unrelated options.

Related english skills

Classify a word relationshipClassify one pair or group by its semantic relationship.
Resolve a homophoneChoose the correctly spelled homophone for a sentence.
Select a synonymSelect a word with the closest meaning in the stated context.

All english 11+ skills

Questions parents ask about select an antonym

What this skill involves, common mistakes and ways to practise it at home.

: Select a word with the opposite meaning in the stated context. It is one of 41 named English skills in the 11+, in the vocabulary strand, and this page carries 1 interactive exercise that practises it.
: A word that is merely different is not an opposite: it has to reverse the heading, not just avoid it. The wrong answers on this skill are built out of that, not out of random numbers, so it is worth naming out loud before your child meets it under time pressure.
: Point at the next move rather than explaining the whole rule. Say the heading word and the item one after the other - true opposites cannot both be true of the same thing at once.
: The skill map draws the line here: Excludes merely different words. A question past that line is testing a different named English skill, which is worth knowing before you spend a week practising the wrong one.
: The vocabulary strand holds 4 skills that are tested together, and the pages next to select an antonym are select a synonym, classify a word relationship and resolve a homophone. Each has its own exercise and its own link, and none of them needs an account.
: Use Word Bridge, embedded on this page. It is the exercise the skill map attaches to select an antonym, it runs in the browser with no account to make, these exercises are not scored and do not save learner records. The separate quiz sends answers for marking and shows a score, without saving an assessment record. It also has its own link, so you can send it to a child without sending them anywhere else first.

Comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation are four different problems

A free diagnostic separates them, so practice goes where the gap actually is rather than on whichever one is easiest to set.