Prefixes
A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. This is a list of
the most common prefixes in English, together with their basic meaning and some examples.
You can find more detail or precision for each prefix in any good dictionary.
A prefix goes at the beginning of a word. A suffix goes at the end of a word.
The origins of words are extremely complicated. You should use this list as a guide only, to help
you understand possible meanings. But be very careful, because often what appears to be a prefix
is not a prefix at all. Note also that this list does not include elements like "auto-" or " bio-",
because these are "combining forms", not prefixes.
prefix meaning examples
a- also an- not, without atheist, anaemic
a- to, towards aside, aback
in the process of, in a a-hunting, aglow
particular state
a- of anew
completely abashed
ab- also abs- away, from abdicate, abstract
ad- also a-, ac-, af-, movement to, change advance, adulterate, adjunct, ascend,
prefix meaning examples
ag- al-, an-, ap-, into, addition or affiliate, affirm, aggravate, alleviate,
at- as-, at- increase annotate, apprehend, arrive, assemble,
attend
ante- before, preceding antecedent, ante-room
anti- also ant- opposing, against, the anti-aircraft, antibiotic, anticlimax,
opposite Antarctic
be- all over, all around bespatter, beset
completely bewitch, bemuse
having, covered with bejewelled
affect with (added to befog
nouns)
cause to be (added to becalm
adjectives)
com- also co-, col-, with, jointly, combat, codriver, collude, confide,
con-, cor- completely corrode
prefix meaning examples
contra- against, opposite contraceptive
counter- opposition, opposite counter-attack, counteract
direction
de- down, away descend, despair, depend, deduct
completely denude, denigrate
removal, reversal de-ice, decamp
dia- also di- through, across diagonal
dis- also di- negation, removal, disadvantage, dismount, disbud, disbar
expulsion
en- also em- put into or on engulf, enmesh
bring into the enlighten, embitter
condition of
intensification entangle, enrage
prefix meaning examples
ex- also e-, ef- out exit, exclude, expand
upward exalt, extol
completely excruciate, exasperate
previous ex-wife
extra- outside, beyond extracurricular
hemi- half hemisphere
hyper- beyond, more than, hypersonic, hyperactive
more than normal
hypo- under hypodermic, hypothermia
in- also il-, im- not, without infertile, inappropriate, impossible
also il-, im-, ir- in, into, towards, influence, influx, imbibe
inside
prefix meaning examples
infra- below infrared, infrastructure
inter- between, among interact, interchange
intra- inside, within intramural, intravenous
non- absence, negation non-smoker, non-alcoholic
ob- also oc-, of-, op- blocking, against, obstruct, occult, offend, oppose
concealing
out- surpassing, outperform
exceeding
external, away from outbuilding, outboard
over- excessively, overconfident, overburdened, overjoyed
completely
upper, outer, over, overcoat, overcast
above
peri- round, about perimeter
prefix meaning examples
post- after in time or order postpone
pre- before in time, place, pre-adolescent, prelude, precondition
order or importance
pro- favouring, in support pro-African
of
acting for proconsul
motion forwards or propulsion
away
before in time, place prologue
or order
re- again repaint, reappraise, reawake
semi- half, partly semicircle, semi-conscious
sub- also suc-, suf-, at a lower position submarine, subsoil
prefix meaning examples
sug-, sup-, sur-,
sus-
lower in rank sub-lieutenant
nearly, sub-tropical
approximately
syn- also sym- in union, acting synchronize, symmetry
together
trans- across, beyond transnational, transatlantic
into a different state translate
ultra- beyond ultraviolet, ultrasonic
extreme ultramicroscopic
un- not unacceptable, unreal, unhappy,
unmanned
reversal or unplug, unmask
cancellation of action
prefix meaning examples
or state
under- beneath, below underarm, undercarriage
lower in rank undersecretary
not enough underdeveloped
