For full tracking and unlimited access to thousands of activities

Adding the prefix dis- to a word often changes the word into its antonym (opposite).

 

like / dislike

honest / dishonest

obey / disobey

 

However, sometimes adding the prefix dis- has a different effect on a word.

For example, the word disinterested does not mean the opposite of interested.

 

Matthew didn't like either team, so he was a disinterested observer at the match.

 

The above sentence doesn't mean that Matthew wasn't interested in the match. It actually means that he was neutral or impartial.

 

football match

 

In this activity, we will be thinking about how the prefix dis- affects the meaning of words in different ways.

 

You might find a dictionary helpful.

 

a dictionary

10 questions