Prefixes are letters which we add to the beginning of a word to make a new word with a different meaning. Prefixes can, for example, create a new word opposite in meaning to the word the prefix is attached to. They can also make a word negative or express relations of time, place or manner. Here are some examples:
type of meaning
im possible
un able
non -payment
pre -war
terrestrial
extra terrestrial
place (outside of/beyond)
over cook
manner (too much)
I’m sorry I was un able to attend the meeting.
Non -payment of fees could result in a student being asked to leave the course.
Has anyone ever really met an extra terrestrial being? (meaning a being from another planet)
The meat was over cooked and quite tasteless.
anti-government, anti-racist, anti-war
autobiography, automobile
reverse or change
de-classify, decontaminate, demotivate
reverse or remove
disagree, displeasure, disqualify
reduce or lower
downgrade, downhearted
extraordinary, extraterrestrial
hyperactive, hypertension
il-, im-, in-, ir-
illegal, impossible, insecure, irregular
interactive, international
very big, important
megabyte, mega-deal, megaton
midday, midnight, mid-October
misaligned, mislead, misspelt
non-payment, non-smoking
overcook, overcharge, overrate
outdo, out-perform, outrun
post-election, post-war
prehistoric, pre-war
pro-communist, pro-democracy
reconsider, redo, rewrite
semicircle, semi-retired
submarine, sub-Saharan
super-hero, supermodel
television, telepathic
transatlantic, transfer
ultra-compact, ultrasound
remove, reverse, not
undo, unpack, unhappy
less than, beneath
undercook, underestimate
make or move higher
upgrade, uphill
There are no absolute rules for when to use a hyphen or when to write a prefixed word as one whole word (see the examples in the table). A good learner’s dictionary will tell you how to write a prefixed word.
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/prəˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
/proʊˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024
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