ant.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

ant. stands for Antonym, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Points to a word of opposite meaning, as given in dictionaries, thesauruses and vocabulary exercises. Learners use antonym lists to build vocabulary in contrasting pairs.

Example: generous (adj.) willing to give freely. Ant. stingy, mean, selfish

Usage notes

Linguists distinguish gradable antonyms (hot and cold, with degrees in between) from complementary ones (alive and dead) and converse pairs (buy and sell). Prefixes such as un-, in- and dis- create many antonyms. The word "antonym" was coined in the 19th century as a counterpart to "synonym."

Related abbreviations

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

• abbr. – Abbreviation
• abl. – Ablative
• acc. – Accusative
• adj. – Adjective
• adv. – Adverb
• AmE – American English
• arch. – Archaic
• art. – Article
• attrib. – Attributive
• Austral. – Australian
• aux. – Auxiliary (verb)
• BrE – British English

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

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