Foundation vocabulary flashcards
Read each foundation word, explain its meaning, then turn the card for a definition and a sentence. Year 4 and Year 5 readers.
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106 teaching cards with answers. Practise here or print the fold-over cards.
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anxious
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anxious
Feeling worried and nervous about something that might happen.
adjective. Similar meanings: worried, nervous, uneasy. Opposite meanings: calm, relaxed.
Example: With the storm rolling in, Priya grew anxious about her dad's boat still out at sea.
content
Quietly happy and satisfied with the way things are.
adjective. Similar meanings: satisfied, pleased, comfortable. Opposite meanings: dissatisfied, restless.
Example: Curled up by the fire with a purring cat on her lap, Gran seemed perfectly content.
dread
A strong feeling of fear about something that is going to happen.
noun. Similar meanings: fear, terror, foreboding. Opposite meanings: eagerness, confidence.
Example: A cold dread crept over Amir as the dentist's door creaked open and his name was called.
envy
An unhappy wish to have what someone else has.
noun. Similar meanings: jealousy, longing. Opposite meanings: contentment, goodwill.
Example: Chloe gazed at her cousin's shiny new scooter with a pang of envy she tried to hide.
furious
Extremely angry, often in a way that is hard to hide.
adjective. Similar meanings: enraged, livid, fuming. Opposite meanings: calm, pleased.
Example: Dad was furious when he discovered the goat had eaten every lettuce on the allotment.
grief
Deep sadness, especially after someone or something is lost.
noun. Similar meanings: sorrow, heartache, mourning. Opposite meanings: delight, happiness.
Example: The whole village shared the farmer's grief when his faithful old sheepdog died.
relief
A feeling of comfort after worry, pain or danger has passed.
noun. Similar meanings: comfort, reassurance, ease. Opposite meanings: worry, distress.
Example: Relief flooded through the whole family as the missing tortoise plodded out from under the shed.
sulk
To stay silent and grumpy because you are annoyed about something.
verb. Similar meanings: mope, brood, pout. Opposite meanings: cheer up, brighten.
Example: Rather than join the game, Leo chose to sulk in the corner with his arms folded.
arrogant
Behaving as if you are more important or clever than everyone else.
adjective. Similar meanings: conceited, big-headed, haughty. Opposite meanings: modest, humble.
Example: The arrogant new striker told everyone he was the only player on the team worth watching.
loyalty
Staying faithful to a person, team or promise through good times and bad.
noun. Similar meanings: faithfulness, devotion, allegiance. Opposite meanings: betrayal, disloyalty.
Example: Out of loyalty to her village team, Beth cheered even when they were losing six-nil.
meddle
To interfere in something that is not your business.
verb. Similar meanings: interfere, tamper, pry. Opposite meanings: keep out, refrain.
Example: Gran told us not to meddle in the neighbours' argument, but Josh marched over to give his opinion anyway.
mischievous
Fond of playing tricks and causing small amounts of trouble.
adjective. Similar meanings: naughty, playful, impish. Opposite meanings: well-behaved, obedient.
Example: The mischievous kitten had unravelled the entire ball of wool across the landing by breakfast.
patience
The ability to wait calmly or put up with problems without complaining.
noun. Similar meanings: calmness, forbearance, tolerance. Opposite meanings: impatience, restlessness.
Example: Fishing from the harbour wall takes patience, as the mackerel may not bite for an hour.
pester
To keep bothering or annoying someone, often by asking for something again and again.
verb. Similar meanings: nag, badger, hound. Opposite meanings: ignore, leave alone.
Example: The seagulls will pester anyone eating chips on the pier until every last one is gone.
stubborn
Refusing to change your mind, even when others give good reasons.
adjective. Similar meanings: headstrong, obstinate, unyielding. Opposite meanings: compliant, open-minded.
Example: Too stubborn to ask for help, Uncle Pete drove us around the same roundabout four times.
tantrum
A sudden outburst of bad temper, usually by a young child.
noun. Similar meanings: outburst, fit of rage. Opposite meanings: composure, calm.
Example: The toddler threw a tantrum in the supermarket because the trolley had no seat for his teddy.
charity
Giving money, food or help to people who need it.
noun. Similar meanings: generosity, goodwill, kindness. Opposite meanings: meanness, selfishness.
Example: Every autumn the school collects tins for charity so that nobody in town goes hungry at Christmas.
comfort
To make someone feel less sad or worried by being kind to them.
verb. Similar meanings: console, soothe, reassure. Opposite meanings: upset, distress.
Example: After the rabbit escaped, Grandma sat on the step to comfort Leah and dry her tears.
donate
To give something, such as money or clothes, to help a good cause.
verb. Similar meanings: give, contribute, hand over. Opposite meanings: keep, withhold.
Example: Please donate any outgrown wellies to the box in the porch for the nursery children.
generous
Happy to give more time, money or kindness than is expected.
adjective. Similar meanings: giving, open-handed, kind. Opposite meanings: mean, stingy, selfish.
Example: A generous neighbour left a whole box of apples from her tree on our doorstep.
rely
To depend on someone or something to do what is needed.
verb. Similar meanings: depend, count on, trust. Opposite meanings: distrust, doubt.
Example: Islanders rely on the little ferry to bring their post, milk and newspapers across each morning.
sacrifice
Giving up something you value in order to help someone else.
noun. Similar meanings: surrender, giving up, forfeit. Opposite meanings: keeping.
Example: Missing the cup final to look after his little sister was a real sacrifice for Marcus.
sympathy
A feeling of care and sorrow for someone who is having a hard time.
noun. Similar meanings: compassion, understanding, pity. Opposite meanings: indifference, coldness.
Example: The postman had real sympathy for Mrs Kaur, stopping to carry her shopping up the steps.
volunteer
To offer to do a job freely, without being made to or paid for it.
verb. Similar meanings: offer, step forward. Opposite meanings: refuse, shirk.
Example: Half the class chose to volunteer at the beach clean, filling twelve sacks with litter by lunchtime.
boast
To talk proudly about yourself or the things you own, to impress others.
verb. Similar meanings: brag, show off, crow. Opposite meanings: be modest, play down.
Example: Nobody wanted to sit next to Callum after he boasted about his new bike all lunchtime.
confess
To admit that you have done something wrong or embarrassing.
verb. Similar meanings: admit, own up, come clean. Opposite meanings: deny, cover up.
Example: Nobody would confess to eating the last biscuit, though there were crumbs on the dog's nose.
debate
A discussion in which people give reasons for different opinions.
noun. Similar meanings: discussion, argument, dispute. Opposite meanings: agreement, consensus.
Example: The class held a lively debate about whether the school should keep chickens on the field.
declare
To say something firmly and openly so that everyone knows it.
verb. Similar meanings: announce, state, proclaim. Opposite meanings: hide, withhold.
Example: "This is the best sandcastle on the whole beach," Dev declared, planting his flag on top.
exclaim
To say something suddenly and loudly because you are surprised or pleased.
verb. Similar meanings: cry out, shout, blurt. Opposite meanings: whisper, mutter.
Example: "Look, a kingfisher!" Priya exclaimed, nearly dropping her sandwich into the canal.
mutter
To speak quietly and unclearly, often because you are annoyed.
verb. Similar meanings: mumble, grumble. Opposite meanings: shout, exclaim.
Example: Grandad muttered something about the rain as he dragged the wheelbarrow back to the shed.
persuade
To make someone agree to do or believe something by giving them good reasons.
verb. Similar meanings: convince, talk round, win over. Opposite meanings: dissuade, discourage.
Example: After three weeks of asking, Amira finally persuaded her dad to adopt the scruffy rescue dog.
remark
A short comment that someone says or writes about something.
noun. Similar meanings: comment, observation, statement. Opposite meanings: silence.
Example: Auntie Jo made a kind remark about my painting, and I grinned all the way home.
clamber
To climb somewhere awkwardly, using your hands and feet.
verb. Similar meanings: scramble, climb, scale.
Example: The children clambered over the slippery rocks to reach the pool at the far end.
dawdle
To walk or do something slowly, wasting time along the way.
verb. Similar meanings: dally, loiter, drag your feet. Opposite meanings: hurry, rush.
Example: We dawdled home from school, stopping to look at every snail on the pavement.
errand
A short journey to do a small job, such as delivering something.
noun. Similar meanings: task, job, mission.
Example: Before tea, Mum sent me on an errand to fetch milk from the corner shop.
fidget
To keep making small restless movements because you are bored or nervous.
verb. Similar meanings: squirm, wriggle, twitch. Opposite meanings: settle, relax.
Example: The vicar's sermon dragged on, and the choirboys began to fidget in the front pew.
hesitate
To pause before doing something because you are unsure or nervous.
verb. Similar meanings: pause, dither, hold back. Opposite meanings: rush, plunge in.
Example: Rosie hesitated at the edge of the pool, then took a deep breath and jumped.
hurl
To throw something with great force.
verb. Similar meanings: fling, throw, toss. Opposite meanings: catch, hold.
Example: Furious with the wind, Tom hurled his broken kite into the hedge.
hurtle
To move very fast, often in a wild or out-of-control way.
verb. Similar meanings: race, speed, rush. Opposite meanings: crawl, creep.
Example: The sledge hurtled down the slope so fast that the twins had to bail out into a snowdrift.
scurry
To move quickly with short, hurried steps.
verb. Similar meanings: scamper, dash, scuttle. Opposite meanings: dawdle, amble.
Example: A mouse scurried across the kitchen floor and disappeared under the fridge.
stride
To walk with long, confident steps.
verb. Similar meanings: march, pace, step out. Opposite meanings: shuffle, dawdle.
Example: Ignoring the drizzle, the coach strode across the pitch to shake the referee's hand.
stumble
To trip or nearly fall while walking or running.
verb. Similar meanings: trip, lurch, totter.
Example: Halfway across the field, Jack stumbled on a molehill and landed in the wet grass.
concentrate
To give all your attention to one thing.
verb. Similar meanings: focus, pay attention, apply yourself. Opposite meanings: daydream, drift.
Example: With the telly blaring downstairs, Sofia found it hard to concentrate on her jigsaw.
doubt
A feeling of not being sure whether something is true or will happen.
noun. Similar meanings: uncertainty, hesitation, misgiving. Opposite meanings: certainty, confidence, trust.
Example: There was some doubt about whether the frozen pond was thick enough to walk on.
hunch
A feeling that something is true, even without any proof.
noun. Similar meanings: feeling, instinct, suspicion.
Example: Following a hunch, Dan checked under the shed and found the missing football.
memorise
To learn something so well that you can repeat it exactly.
verb. Similar meanings: learn by heart, commit to memory, remember. Opposite meanings: forget.
Example: Over the weekend Finn memorised every line of his part in the school play.
realise
To suddenly notice or understand something that you did not know before.
verb. Similar meanings: notice, grasp, become aware. Opposite meanings: overlook, miss.
Example: Halfway to the bus stop, Zara realised she had left her packed lunch on the table.
recall
To bring a memory back into your mind.
verb. Similar meanings: remember, recollect, call to mind. Opposite meanings: forget.
Example: Try as she might, Nan could not recall where she had put her reading glasses.
reckon
To think or believe that something is likely to be true.
verb. Similar meanings: think, suppose, believe.
Example: I reckon the tide will be far enough out by four o'clock for us to explore the rock pools.
theory
An idea that tries to explain why something happens.
noun. Similar meanings: idea, explanation, hypothesis.
Example: Milo's theory was that the birds sang louder whenever next door's cat was indoors.
bluff
To pretend to be confident or to know something so that other people believe you.
verb. Similar meanings: pretend, fake, put on an act. Opposite meanings: admit, own up.
Example: The goalkeeper tried to bluff, diving left with a shout, but the striker calmly rolled the ball right.
cunning
Clever at getting what you want by using tricks.
adjective. Similar meanings: crafty, sly, wily. Opposite meanings: honest, naive.
Example: The cunning fox waited until the farmer had gone indoors before creeping towards the hen house.
deceive
To make someone believe something that is not true.
verb. Similar meanings: mislead, trick, fool. Opposite meanings: enlighten, inform.
Example: Every person in the audience was deceived by the trick, certain the coin had truly vanished.
exaggerate
To describe something as bigger, better or worse than it really is.
verb. Similar meanings: overstate, embellish, inflate. Opposite meanings: understate, minimise.
Example: Dad always exaggerates the size of the fish he caught, and it grows with every retelling.
genuine
Real, and exactly what it claims to be.
adjective. Similar meanings: real, authentic, true. Opposite meanings: fake, false.
Example: Grandad checked the old coin with a magnifying glass and declared it a genuine Roman one.
sincere
Honestly meant, without any pretending.
adjective. Similar meanings: heartfelt, honest, earnest. Opposite meanings: false, hypocritical.
Example: Her apology was so sincere that Ravi forgave her before she had even finished speaking.
trustworthy
Describing a person who can be relied on to be honest.
adjective. Similar meanings: reliable, dependable, honest. Opposite meanings: dishonest, unreliable.
Example: Only the most trustworthy pupils were allowed to collect the dinner money from each classroom.
courageous
Describing someone who faces fear or hardship without giving up.
adjective. Similar meanings: brave, fearless, plucky. Opposite meanings: cowardly, timid.
Example: It was courageous of Aisha to speak up for the new boy when everyone else stayed silent.
cowardly
Too afraid to face difficulty, and quick to run from it.
adjective. Similar meanings: timid, spineless, fearful. Opposite meanings: brave, courageous.
Example: Leaving your friend to face the angry goose alone was a cowardly thing to do, Tom.
defend
To protect someone or something from attack or harm.
verb. Similar meanings: protect, guard, shield. Opposite meanings: attack, abandon.
Example: The mother swan spread her wings wide to defend her cygnets from the curious dog.
hazard
A thing that could cause harm or an accident.
noun. Similar meanings: danger, risk, peril. Opposite meanings: safety, protection.
Example: Loose stones on the cliff path were a real hazard for walkers after the heavy rain.
quarrel
An angry argument between people who disagree.
noun. Similar meanings: argument, row, dispute. Opposite meanings: agreement, reconciliation.
Example: A silly quarrel over whose turn it was on the swing ended with both cousins in tears.
surrender
To stop fighting and admit that the other side has won.
verb. Similar meanings: give in, yield, submit. Opposite meanings: resist, fight on.
Example: After an hour of snowball fighting, the soaked and shivering red team finally surrendered.
threaten
To say you will hurt or punish someone if they do not do what you want.
verb. Similar meanings: menace, intimidate, bully. Opposite meanings: reassure, protect.
Example: The older boys threatened to throw our football over the fence unless we let them play.
alter
To change something slightly, or to become different.
verb. Similar meanings: change, adjust, modify. Opposite meanings: preserve, keep.
Example: Mum had to alter the costume because the sleeves hung right down over Josh's hands.
expand
To become larger, or to make something larger.
verb. Similar meanings: grow, enlarge, swell. Opposite meanings: shrink, contract.
Example: Watch the balloon expand as you blow into it, then let go and see it shoot across the room.
fragile
Easily broken or damaged.
adjective. Similar meanings: delicate, breakable, flimsy. Opposite meanings: sturdy, tough.
Example: The eggs were so fragile that Nan wrapped each one in a tea towel for the journey.
mighty
Very powerful or very large.
adjective. Similar meanings: powerful, strong, huge. Opposite meanings: weak, puny.
Example: With one mighty heave, the three of them dragged the fallen branch off the footpath.
shrivel
To become smaller, dry and wrinkled, usually from heat or lack of water.
verb. Similar meanings: wrinkle, shrink, wither. Opposite meanings: swell, plump up.
Example: Without rain for a month, the lettuces began to shrivel and the soil cracked like old paint.
sturdy
Strongly built and not easily broken.
adjective. Similar meanings: strong, solid, robust. Opposite meanings: flimsy, fragile.
Example: Twenty winters on the seafront had not put a single wobble in the sturdy wooden bench.
swell
To grow bigger than usual, often by filling with something.
verb. Similar meanings: expand, bulge, grow. Opposite meanings: shrink, deflate.
Example: The stream began to swell after the storm, spilling over its banks into the meadow.
vast
Extremely large in size or amount.
adjective. Similar meanings: enormous, huge, immense. Opposite meanings: tiny, minute.
Example: From the top of the hill, the moor stretched away, a vast sea of purple heather.
gradually
Slowly and steadily, a little at a time.
adverb. Similar meanings: slowly, steadily, bit by bit. Opposite meanings: suddenly, abruptly.
Example: The tide crept in gradually, until the sandcastle's moat was full and its walls began to crumble.
hasty
Done in a hurry, often without enough thought.
adjective. Similar meanings: hurried, rushed, rash. Opposite meanings: careful, leisurely.
Example: In her hasty dash for the bus, Nia left her packed lunch sitting on the kitchen table.
postpone
To move an event to a later time than planned.
verb. Similar meanings: delay, put off, defer. Opposite meanings: bring forward, advance.
Example: Because of the thunderstorm, the head teacher decided to postpone sports day until the following week.
punctual
Describing someone who arrives or does things exactly on time.
adjective. Similar meanings: prompt, on time, timely. Opposite meanings: late, tardy.
Example: Mr Das is so punctual that the class can set the clock by the moment he walks in.
sequence
A set of things that follow one another in a particular order.
noun. Similar meanings: order, series, succession. Opposite meanings: jumble, muddle.
Example: The recipe only works if you follow the sequence: cream the butter first, then add the eggs.
swift
Moving or happening very quickly.
adjective. Similar meanings: quick, speedy, rapid. Opposite meanings: slow, sluggish.
Example: A swift reply came back from the library: the book we wanted was already on its way.
dense
Packed closely together, with little space between the parts.
adjective. Similar meanings: thick, packed, crowded. Opposite meanings: sparse, thin.
Example: The fog was so dense that Priya could not see the bus stop from the corner.
drought
A long period with little or no rain, when the land dries out.
noun. Similar meanings: dry spell, water shortage. Opposite meanings: flood, deluge.
Example: During the summer drought the reservoir shrank and cracked mud appeared where water had been.
horizon
The distant line where the land or sea seems to meet the sky.
noun. Similar meanings: skyline, far distance.
Example: A tiny ship crept along the horizon, so far off that it looked like a toy.
overcast
Describing a sky that is covered in cloud, with no sun showing.
adjective. Similar meanings: cloudy, grey, dull. Opposite meanings: sunny, cloudless.
Example: The morning was overcast and dull, so the beach was almost empty when we arrived.
remote
Far away from towns and hard to reach.
adjective. Similar meanings: faraway, distant, out-of-the-way. Opposite meanings: nearby, central.
Example: The stone hut stood on a remote hillside, miles from the nearest road or shop.
rural
Describing the countryside rather than a town or city.
adjective. Similar meanings: country, pastoral, agricultural. Opposite meanings: urban.
Example: Gran's rural cottage had fields on three sides and a farm track instead of a street.
summit
The highest point of a mountain or hill.
noun. Similar meanings: peak, top, crest. Opposite meanings: base, foot.
Example: After four hours of climbing, we reached the summit and could see three counties below us.
urban
Describing a town or city rather than the countryside.
adjective. Similar meanings: city, built-up, metropolitan. Opposite meanings: rural.
Example: Pigeons and foxes have adapted well to urban life, raiding bins behind busy high streets.
dazzling
So bright that it is hard to look at.
adjective. Similar meanings: blinding, brilliant, glaring. Opposite meanings: dim, dull.
Example: Sunlight bounced off the snow in a dazzling glare that made everyone squint and reach for sunglasses.
deafening
So loud that it hurts your ears.
adjective. Similar meanings: ear-splitting, thunderous, booming. Opposite meanings: silent, hushed.
Example: The thunder was deafening, and the dog dived under the table with his paws over his ears.
dim
Describing light that is weak and makes things hard to see.
adjective. Similar meanings: weak, shadowy, murky, gloomy. Opposite meanings: bright, dazzling.
Example: In the dim glow of the torch, the tent looked much bigger than it really was.
flicker
To burn or shine unsteadily, going bright and dark very quickly.
verb. Similar meanings: flutter, twinkle, quiver.
Example: The candle began to flicker in the draught, throwing jumpy shadows across the ceiling.
glisten
To shine with a wet or sparkling light, like dew or raindrops.
verb. Similar meanings: sparkle, shimmer, twinkle, glitter. Opposite meanings: dull, darken.
Example: After the shower the cobwebs began to glisten, each thread strung with tiny drops.
hush
A sudden silence, especially after there has been noise.
noun. Similar meanings: silence, quiet, stillness. Opposite meanings: uproar, racket.
Example: A hush fell over the hall as the curtain twitched and the lights went down.
peculiar
Describing something strange or odd, unlike what you would usually expect.
adjective. Similar meanings: strange, odd, curious, bizarre. Opposite meanings: ordinary, normal.
Example: A peculiar smell, like burnt toast mixed with seaweed, drifted out of the science cupboard.
reek
To give off a very strong and unpleasant smell.
verb. Similar meanings: stink, smell, whiff. Opposite meanings: freshen.
Example: The changing rooms reek of damp socks by the end of every Friday swimming lesson.
rustle
To make a soft, dry, whispering sound, like leaves moving.
verb. Similar meanings: swish, whisper, crackle.
Example: Something began to rustle in the hedge, and a hedgehog shuffled out onto the path.
alliteration
The use of the same first sound in several words close together.
noun. Similar meanings: initial rhyme, sound repetition.
Example: 'Slippery slugs slide slowly' is packed with alliteration, all those hissing s sounds.
metaphor
A way of describing something by saying it is something else.
noun. Similar meanings: comparison, image, figure of speech.
Example: Calling the playground 'a zoo at feeding time' is a metaphor, since it is not really a zoo.
narrator
The person or character who tells a story to the reader.
noun. Similar meanings: storyteller, teller, voice.
Example: The narrator of the book is a ten-year-old girl, so we only know what she notices.
setting
The place and time in which the events of a story happen.
noun. Similar meanings: location, backdrop, scene.
Example: The setting is a snowbound Scottish village in 1950, which explains why nobody has a phone.
simile
A comparison of two things using the words 'like' or 'as'.
noun. Similar meanings: comparison, likeness, figure of speech.
Example: 'Her hands were as cold as frogs' is a simile that made the whole class shiver.
although
Used to join two ideas when the second one is surprising after the first.
conjunction. Similar meanings: though, even though, while.
Example: Although the pool was freezing, Tomasz swam twenty lengths before breakfast.
barely
Only just; by a very small amount.
adverb. Similar meanings: hardly, scarcely, only just. Opposite meanings: easily, amply.
Example: The kite barely cleared the telephone wires before the wind snatched it higher.
despite
Used to say that something happened even though another thing might have stopped it.
preposition. Similar meanings: in spite of, regardless of, notwithstanding.
Example: Despite the drizzle, the whole street turned out for the summer fete on the green.
however
Used to add a point that goes against what was just said.
adverb. Similar meanings: nevertheless, but, still, yet.
Example: The forecast promised sunshine; however, we spent the whole afternoon sheltering under the pier.
otherwise
Used to say what will happen if something is not done.
adverb. Similar meanings: or else, if not.
Example: Put the guinea pigs in the shed tonight, otherwise the frost will get them.
therefore
For that reason; as a result of what has just been said.
adverb. Similar meanings: so, consequently, thus, hence.
Example: The river had burst its banks; therefore the footpath to school was closed for a week.
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