For parents of young learners
Opposite words for kids: 75 easy opposites
Opposite words, or antonyms, mean the reverse of each other: big and small, hot and cold. They help children compare, describe and explain. Here are 75 opposites sorted by level, example sentences, and quick games.
By the Eloqova team · Updated 26 October 2026
Opposite words have meanings that are completely different from each other. For example: up and down, day and night, happy and sad.
Easy opposites for UKG and Class 1
| Word | Opposite |
|---|---|
| big | small |
| hot | cold |
| up | down |
| in | out |
| day | night |
| happy | sad |
| tall | short |
| fast | slow |
| open | close |
| old | new |
| good | bad |
| yes | no |
| come | go |
| full | empty |
| boy | girl |
| wet | dry |
| clean | dirty |
| light | dark |
| push | pull |
| sit | stand |
| thick | thin |
| long | short |
| hard | soft |
| front | back |
| left | right |
Opposites for Class 2
| Word | Opposite |
|---|---|
| above | below |
| early | late |
| near | far |
| heavy | light |
| loud | quiet |
| rich | poor |
| strong | weak |
| sweet | sour |
| win | lose |
| first | last |
| give | take |
| laugh | cry |
| buy | sell |
| inside | outside |
| morning | evening |
| question | answer |
| remember | forget |
| start | finish |
| true | false |
| wide | narrow |
| young | old |
| friend | enemy |
| always | never |
| before | after |
| love | hate |
Opposites for Class 3
| Word | Opposite |
|---|---|
| accept | refuse |
| arrive | depart |
| brave | cowardly |
| cheap | expensive |
| entrance | exit |
| polite | rude |
| honest | dishonest |
| possible | impossible |
| kind | unkind |
| ancient | modern |
| increase | decrease |
| visible | invisible |
| wise | foolish |
| shallow | deep |
| borrow | lend |
| victory | defeat |
| safe | dangerous |
| agree | disagree |
| common | rare |
| patient | impatient |
| friendly | unfriendly |
| appear | disappear |
| import | export |
| maximum | minimum |
| tidy | untidy |
Opposites in sentences
| Sentence | Opposite sentence |
|---|---|
| The tea is hot. | The juice is cold. |
| The giraffe is tall. | The rabbit is short. |
| Open the door. | Close the door. |
| The glass is full. | The glass is empty. |
| I came early. | He came late. |
How to practise at home
- Say a word and throw a soft ball; your child catches it and says the opposite.
- Act it out: tall (stretch up), short (crouch down), fast and slow walking.
- Make opposite pairs with picture cards and play memory match.
- Ask your child to describe their room using three pairs of opposites.
Questions parents ask
What are opposite words?
Opposite words, also called antonyms, are pairs of words with reverse meanings, like big and small or happy and sad.
What are 10 opposite words for kids?
Big and small, hot and cold, up and down, day and night, happy and sad, open and close, fast and slow, full and empty, old and new, in and out.
How can I teach opposites to a 4 or 5-year-old?
Use real objects and actions: a full and an empty glass, a big and a small ball, walking fast and slow. Children remember opposites they can see and do.