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

joke
noun
something funny that you say or do to make people laugh
Similar:
gag
jolly
adj.
happy, cheerful and full of fun
Similar:
cheerful
Opposite:
gloomy
journey
noun
a trip from one place to another
Similar:
expedition
joyful
adj.
feeling or showing great happiness
Similar:
cheerful
Opposite:
miserable
juice
noun
the liquid that comes out of fruit or vegetables, often used as a drink
Similar:
drink
junk
noun
old things that are useless or not wanted any more
Similar:
clutter
keen
adj.
very eager or interested in doing something
Similar:
eager
Opposite:
reluctant
kerb
noun
the raised stone edge between the pavement and the road
Similar:
edge
kind
adj.
friendly, caring and helpful towards other people
Similar:
caring
Opposite:
cruel
knot
noun
a fastening made by tying a piece of string, rope or ribbon
Similar:
loop
know
verb
to have information in your mind, or to be sure about something
Similar:
realise
knowledge
noun
the facts and understanding that you have learnt about things
Similar:
information
Opposite:
ignorance
language
noun
the words and system people use to speak or write to each other
Similar:
tongue
large
adj.
big in size or amount
Similar:
big
Opposite:
little
last
adj.
coming at the end, after all the others
Similar:
closing
Opposite:
first
late
adj.
arriving or happening after the expected or planned time
Similar:
delayed
Opposite:
early
laugh
verb
to make happy sounds because something is funny
Similar:
chortle
Opposite:
cry
lazy
adj.
not wanting to work or make an effort
Similar:
idle
Opposite:
busy
lead
verb
to go in front and show others the way
Similar:
conduct
Opposite:
follow
learn
verb
to get new knowledge or a new skill by studying, practising or being taught
Similar:
discover
Opposite:
forget
leave
verb
to go away from a place or person
Similar:
depart
Opposite:
arrive
ledge
noun
a narrow flat shelf sticking out from a wall, window or cliff
Similar:
ridge
left
verb
went away from a place
Similar:
departed
Opposite:
arrived
length
noun
how long something is from one end to the other
Similar:
distance
Opposite:
width
lesson
noun
a period of time when someone teaches you something
Similar:
class
letter
noun
a written message that you send to someone, usually by post
Similar:
message
light
adj.
not heavy and easy to lift or carry
Similar:
feathery
Opposite:
heavy
lighthouse
noun
a tall tower by the sea with a bright light that warns ships of danger
Similar:
beacon
lightning
noun
a bright flash of electricity in the sky during a storm
Similar:
bolt
litter
noun
rubbish such as paper and wrappers left lying around in public places
Similar:
debris
lively
adj.
full of energy and fun
Similar:
bouncy
Opposite:
dull
lock
verb
to fasten something shut, usually with a key, so others cannot open it
Similar:
bolt
Opposite:
open
long
adj.
measuring a great distance from one end to the other, or lasting a lot of time
Similar:
extended
Opposite:
brief
lose
verb
to no longer have something because you cannot find it
Similar:
drop
Opposite:
find
loud
adj.
making a lot of noise that is easy to hear
Similar:
booming
Opposite:
quiet
lovely
adj.
very nice, pleasant or beautiful
Similar:
beautiful
Opposite:
horrible
lunchbox
noun
a small box with a lid used for carrying a packed meal to school or work
Similar:
lunch box
lurk
verb
to wait somewhere hidden or quietly, often so you are not noticed
Similar:
hide
maid
noun
a woman whose job is to clean rooms and help in a house or hotel
Similar:
cleaner
mark
noun
a small spot, stain or line on a surface
Similar:
smear
massive
adj.
very large, heavy and solid
Similar:
enormous
Opposite:
minuscule
match
noun
a game in which two players or teams play against each other
Similar:
contest
mate
noun
a friend, especially one you spend a lot of time with
Similar:
buddy
Opposite:
enemy
material
noun
cloth, or any substance that things can be made from
Similar:
cloth
mean
adj.
unkind or not willing to share
Similar:
cruel
Opposite:
generous
meant
verb
planned or wanted to do something
Similar:
intended
Opposite:
accidental
meat
noun
the flesh of an animal that people cook and eat as food
Similar:
flesh
medal
noun
a small flat piece of metal given as a prize or reward for doing something well
Similar:
award
medicine
noun
something you take to help you get better when you are ill
Similar:
medication
melt
verb
to turn from a solid into a liquid because of heat
Similar:
dissolve
Opposite:
freeze
mend
verb
to fix something that is broken or torn
Similar:
fix
Opposite:
break
mention
verb
to talk or write about something briefly
Similar:
bring up
messy
adj.
untidy, dirty or all over the place
Similar:
cluttered
Opposite:
clean
middle
noun
the point or part that is the same distance from all the edges or ends
Similar:
centre
Opposite:
edge
mighty
adj.
very strong, powerful or large
Similar:
huge
Opposite:
feeble
mint
noun
a plant with fresh-smelling leaves used to flavour food, drinks and sweets
Similar:
peppermint
misbehave
verb
to behave badly or break the rules
Similar:
disobey
Opposite:
behave
miscount
verb
to count wrongly and get the wrong number
Similar:
miscalculate
misread
verb
to read or understand something wrongly
Similar:
misinterpret
misspell
verb
to write a word with the letters wrong
Similar:
misprint