Year 4 · free for everyone

Foundation vocabulary

Everyday words used well: the solid base every 11+ child needs before the harder lists. Each word has a meaning written for children, a similar word and an opposite. Every word on this list is free.

Quick quiz

Ten questions from the Foundation level in the 11+ styles: closest meaning, opposites, odd one out, words in context and missing words. Marked straight away, with explanations. No account needed.

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Printables

A word list (word, meaning, similar word and example) and a matching worksheet with answers. Free account needed: it takes a minute.

Word list (PDF) Matching worksheet (PDF)

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101 words starting with S

sack
noun
a large bag made of strong material for carrying things
Similar:
bag
safe
adj.
not in danger and not likely to be hurt
Similar:
protected
Opposite:
dangerous
safety
noun
being kept away from danger or harm
Similar:
protection
Opposite:
danger
sail
verb
to travel across water in a boat or ship
Similar:
cruise
sale
noun
a time when a shop sells things for less money than usual
Similar:
bargain
scared
adj.
feeling afraid or worried that something bad might happen
Similar:
afraid
Opposite:
brave
scene
noun
one part of a play or film, or a view of a place
Similar:
part
school
noun
a place where children go to learn from teachers
Similar:
academy
scorching
adj.
extremely hot
Similar:
baking
Opposite:
freezing
seal
noun
a sea animal with smooth fur and flippers that lives in the sea and on rocky shores
Similar:
sea lion
season
noun
one of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn or winter
Similar:
time of year
second
adj.
coming next after the first one in order
Similar:
following
Opposite:
first
section
noun
one of the parts that something is divided into
Similar:
part
Opposite:
whole
select
verb
to carefully choose something from a group
Similar:
choose
Opposite:
reject
sentence
noun
a group of words that makes complete sense, starting with a capital letter and ending with a full stop
Similar:
clause
shatter
verb
to break suddenly into many small pieces
Similar:
break
Opposite:
mend
shear
verb
to cut the wool off a sheep, or to cut something with large scissors
Similar:
clip
shed
noun
a small wooden building, usually in a garden, used for storing tools or bikes
Similar:
hut
sheer
adj.
very steep, almost straight up and down
Similar:
sharp
Opposite:
gentle
ship
noun
a large boat that carries people or goods across the sea
Similar:
boat
shop
noun
a building or room where people buy things
Similar:
boutique
short
adj.
small in length, height or time
Similar:
brief
Opposite:
long
shout
verb
to say something very loudly, often to be heard far away
Similar:
bellow
Opposite:
murmur
shove
verb
to push someone or something roughly or hard
Similar:
barge
Opposite:
pull
show
verb
to let someone see something, or to explain how to do something
Similar:
demonstrate
Opposite:
conceal
shower
noun
a short fall of rain
Similar:
drizzle
shut
verb
to close something such as a door, window or lid
Similar:
close
Opposite:
open
sigh
verb
to breathe out slowly and loudly because you are tired, sad or relieved
Similar:
exhale
sight
noun
the ability to see, or something that you see
Similar:
eyesight
Opposite:
blindness
silent
adj.
making no sound at all; completely quiet
Similar:
hushed
Opposite:
loud
silly
adj.
foolish or not sensible, sometimes in a funny way
Similar:
absurd
Opposite:
sensible
simple
adj.
easy to understand or do, without lots of difficult parts
Similar:
basic
Opposite:
complex
sink
verb
to go down below the surface of water or another liquid
Similar:
descend
Opposite:
float
site
noun
a place where something is, was, or will be built or happens
Similar:
location
skinny
adj.
very thin
Similar:
lean
Opposite:
chubby
sleepover
noun
a party or visit where children stay the night at a friend's house
Similar:
slumber party
slip
verb
to slide by accident and lose your balance
Similar:
skid
slope
noun
a surface that is higher at one end than the other
Similar:
incline
Opposite:
evenness
slow
adj.
moving or happening without much speed, taking a long time
Similar:
leisurely
Opposite:
fast
slowly
adv.
at a low speed, taking a long time
Similar:
gradually
Opposite:
fast
slump
verb
to sit or fall down heavily because you are tired or upset
Similar:
collapse
smart
adj.
clever and quick at learning or understanding things
Similar:
brainy
Opposite:
foolish
smash
verb
to break something into many pieces with great force
Similar:
break
Opposite:
mend
snap
verb
to break suddenly with a short, sharp sound
Similar:
break
snarl
verb
to make an angry growl while showing the teeth, like an annoyed dog
Similar:
growl
sniff
verb
to breathe in quickly through your nose, often to smell something
Similar:
inhale
snoop
verb
to look around secretly to find out things that are private
Similar:
nose
snooze
verb
to have a short, light sleep, especially during the day
Similar:
doze
Opposite:
wake
soaked
adj.
completely wet all the way through
Similar:
drenched
Opposite:
dry
soar
verb
to fly or rise high up into the air
Similar:
climb
Opposite:
fall
soggy
adj.
very wet and soft, often in an unpleasant way
Similar:
soaked
Opposite:
crisp
soldier
noun
a person who serves in an army
Similar:
fighter
Opposite:
civilian
soul
noun
the part of a person that holds their deepest thoughts and feelings
Similar:
being
Opposite:
body
sound
noun
something that you can hear
Similar:
noise
Opposite:
silence
space
noun
an empty area where nothing is, or room to put things
Similar:
area
spade
noun
a tool with a flat blade and long handle, used for digging
Similar:
shovel
speak
verb
to say words out loud
Similar:
say
special
adj.
better, more important or different from what is usual
Similar:
unique
Opposite:
common
speedy
adj.
moving or happening very quickly
Similar:
fast
Opposite:
slow
spell
verb
to say or write the letters of a word in the correct order
Similar:
write out