Use thesaurus entries

Key Notes :

What is a Thesaurus Entry?

A thesaurus is a book that lists words in groups of synonyms and antonyms. A thesaurus entry is the information provided for a specific word. Thesaurus entries help us find words with similar meanings (synonyms) and words with opposite meanings (antonyms). Using a thesaurus can make your writing more interesting and varied.

How to Use a Thesaurus Entry

Here’s how to use a thesaurus entry effectively:

  1. Find the Word: Look up the word you want to replace in the thesaurus (either online or in a physical book). Thesauruses usually list words alphabetically, just like dictionaries.
  2. Read the Entry: The entry will include the word you looked up, followed by a list of synonyms and sometimes antonyms.
  3. Consider the Context: Choose a synonym that fits the context of your sentence. Not all synonyms are interchangeable. Think about the nuance of each word.
  4. Check the Definition (if needed): If you’re unsure about a synonym, look it up in a dictionary to make sure you understand its meaning.
Synonyms and Antonyms
  1. Synonyms: Words that have similar meanings. Example: happy, joyful, glad, cheerful.
  2. Antonyms: Words that have opposite meanings. Example: happy, sad, unhappy.
Examples

Let’s look at an example. Imagine you want to find a synonym for the word “big.” A thesaurus entry might look like this (simplified):

Big:

  • Synonyms: large, huge, enormous, gigantic, immense
  • Antonyms: small, tiny, little

So, instead of saying “The big dog barked,” you could say “The large dog barked,” or “The enormous dog barked.”

Exercise 1: Finding Synonyms

Replace the underlined word in each sentence with a synonym from the list below.

  • List: hide, reply, begin, glad, correct
  • The answer is right.
  • I am happy to see you.
  • Start the game!
  • Answer the question.
  • Conceal the treasure.
Exercise 2: Finding Antonyms

Write down the antonym for each word from the list below.

  • List: hot, happy, loud, fast, day
Answers to Exercises

Here are the answers to the exercises:

Exercise 1:

  1. Correct
  2. Glad
  3. Begin
  4. Reply
  5. Hide

Exercise 2:

  • Hot: cold
  • Happy: sad
  • Loud: quiet
  • Fast: slow
  • Day: night
Next Steps

Now that you know how to use a thesaurus entry, practice using a thesaurus when you write. This will improve your vocabulary and make your writing more interesting. Try to use a thesaurus for your next writing assignment!

List of Use thesaurus entries

Let’s practice!

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