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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687 words

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
spellbook
noun
a book of magic words and instructions used by witches and wizards in stories
Similar:
grimoire
spot
noun
a small round mark or patch of colour on something
Similar:
dot
spotless
adj.
completely clean, with no marks or dirt at all
Similar:
clean
Opposite:
dirty
spread
verb
to open out or cover a surface, or to reach more people or places
Similar:
circulate
Opposite:
contain
spring
noun
the season after winter and before summer, when plants begin to grow again
Similar:
springtime
Opposite:
autumn
sprint
verb
to run as fast as you can for a short distance
Similar:
dart
Opposite:
amble
squash
verb
to press or crush something so that it becomes flat or out of shape
Similar:
crush
squeak
noun
a short, high-pitched sound
Similar:
squeal
stair
noun
one of a set of steps that lead from one floor of a building to another
Similar:
step
stamp
verb
to bring your foot down hard and noisily on the ground
Similar:
stomp
Opposite:
tiptoe
start
verb
to begin doing something
Similar:
begin
Opposite:
end
steady
adj.
firmly fixed or balanced and not shaking or changing
Similar:
stable
Opposite:
changeable
steal
verb
to take something that belongs to someone else without permission
Similar:
pinch
Opposite:
give
steel
noun
a very strong, hard metal made mostly from iron
Similar:
alloy
stem
noun
the long thin main part of a plant that holds up its leaves and flowers
Similar:
shoot
stick
noun
a thin piece of wood, often one that has fallen from a tree
Similar:
branch
stone
noun
a small, hard piece of rock
Similar:
pebble
stop
verb
to stand still or no longer keep doing something
Similar:
cease
Opposite:
begin
store
verb
to keep something somewhere safe so you can use it later
Similar:
hoard
Opposite:
discard
storm
noun
very bad weather with strong winds and often rain, thunder or lightning
Similar:
gale
story
noun
a description of events, real or made up, told or written to entertain people
Similar:
account
straight
adj.
going in one direction without bending or curving
Similar:
direct
Opposite:
bent
straightforward
adj.
easy to understand or do, with no difficulties
Similar:
clear
Opposite:
complex
strange
adj.
unusual or surprising, and not what you expected
Similar:
odd
Opposite:
normal
street
noun
a road in a town or village, usually with houses or shops along it
Similar:
avenue
strength
noun
how strong someone or something is; the power to lift, push or hold things
Similar:
force
Opposite:
weakness
strike
verb
to hit something or someone hard
Similar:
bang
stroll
verb
to walk slowly and calmly, usually for pleasure
Similar:
amble
Opposite:
dash
strong
adj.
having a lot of power in the body, so you can lift or move heavy things
Similar:
mighty
Opposite:
feeble
success
noun
getting the result you wanted or doing something well
Similar:
achievement
Opposite:
failure
successful
adj.
having achieved what you aimed for
Similar:
winning
Opposite:
failed
suddenly
adv.
quickly and without any warning
Similar:
abruptly
Opposite:
gradually
sugar
noun
a sweet substance, often white grains, used in food and drinks
Similar:
sweetener
suggest
verb
to put forward an idea or plan for others to consider
Similar:
propose
Opposite:
command
suite
noun
a set of rooms or furniture that go together
Similar:
apartment
suppose
verb
to think something is probably true without knowing for certain
Similar:
assume
swallow
verb
to take food or drink down your throat
Similar:
gulp
Opposite:
discard
sway
verb
to move slowly from side to side
Similar:
rock
sweet
adj.
tasting of sugar or honey
Similar:
sugared
Opposite:
bitter
swift
adj.
moving or happening very quickly
Similar:
fast
Opposite:
slow
swirl
verb
to move round and round in circles
Similar:
spin
tail
noun
the part at the back end of an animal's body that sticks out
Similar:
brush
Opposite:
head
tale
noun
a story, especially an exciting or made-up one
Similar:
fable
talk
verb
to say words out loud to someone
Similar:
chat
tall
adj.
having a greater height than usual, reaching high up from the ground
Similar:
high
Opposite:
low
task
noun
a piece of work or a job that someone has to do
Similar:
chore
tasty
adj.
having a nice flavour that is good to eat
Similar:
appetising
Opposite:
bland
telephone
noun
a device you use to speak to someone who is far away
Similar:
handset
television
noun
a machine with a screen that shows programmes with pictures and sound
Similar:
telly
terrible
adj.
very bad or unpleasant
Similar:
awful
Opposite:
excellent
terrified
adj.
very, very frightened
Similar:
frightened
Opposite:
calm
therefore
adv.
for that reason; because of what has just been said
Similar:
consequently
thin
adj.
narrow or not thick; having a small distance from one side to the other
Similar:
fine
Opposite:
thick
though
conj.
in spite of the fact that
Similar:
although