Prefixes in English F to P
List of common prefixes -F to P
for-
Meaning:
: far, away, from
: prohibition, neglect, renunciation
: extremity of negative state expressed
Example:
forbid = to order (someone) not to do something
forget = to be unable to think of or remember (something)
forgive = to stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done sth wrong) : to stop blaming
forgo = to give up the use or enjoyment of (something)
forlorn = sad and lonely : empty and in poor condition : not having much chance of success : nearly hopeless
forsake = to give up or leave (someone or something) entirely
hemi- Synonyms : demi-, semi-
Meaning:
: half
Example:
hemisphere = a half of the Earth e.g. the Northern/Southern Hemisphere
hyper- Antonyms : hypo-
Meaning:
: over, above or beyond
: excessive, excessively, exceeding
: more than normal
Example:
hypersonic = of or relating to speed five or more times that of sound in air
hyperactive = extremely active or too active
hypo-
Meaning:
: below; beneath; under
: deficient; less than normal
Example:
hypodermic = going under the skin
hypothetical = involving or based on a suggested idea or theory : involving or based on a hypothesis; not real
hypocrite = a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
in- (i-, il-, im-, ir-)
Meaning:
: (added to adjectives) not
: (added to nouns) without; lacking
Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:
・i- before gn, eg. ignoble
・il- before l, eg. illegal
・im- before b, m, or p, eg. improper
・ir- before r, eg. irresistible
Example:
intolerant = not willing to allow or accept something ― often + of : disapproving
illegible = not clear enough to read : not legible
irregular = not regular
irresponsible = not having or showing maturity or good judgment : not responsible
illegal = not legal
immoral = not morally good or right : morally evil or wrong
irrevocable = not able to be called back
irrelevant = not important or relating to what is being discussed right now : not relevant
in- ( il-, im-, ir-)
Meaning:
: in; into; toward; within
: up; upon; against
Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:
・il- before l, eg. illustration
・im- before b, m, or p, eg. imbibe
・ir- before r, eg. irradiate
Example:
insert = to put (something) in something
influence = the power to change or affect someone or sth : the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen
impression = the effect or influence that something or someone has on a person's thoughts or feelings : an idea or belief that is usually not clear or certain : an appearance or suggestion of something
influx = the arrival of a large number of people
inbox = a box or other container on a desk in which letters, notes, etc., that are sent to the desk are placed ―called also (Brit) in tray
input = noun : advice or opinions that help someone make a decision : information that is put into a computer verb : to enter (information) into a computer
induce = somewhat formal : to cause (someone or something) to do something
inborn = existing from the time someone is born : natural or instinctive
infra-
Meaning:
: below; beneath; inferior
Example:
infrared = producing or using rays of light that cannot be seen and that are longer than rays that produce red light
infrastructure = the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly
infrasonic = relating to or denoting sound waves with a frequency below the lower limit of human audibility ; infrasound
inter-
Meaning:
: among, between, during, within, amid
: mutual, reciprocal
Example:
intersect = to divide (something) by passing through or across it : cross: to meet and cross at one or more points : to share some common area
intercept = to stop and take someone or something that is going from one place to another place before that person or thing gets there
interagency = occurring between or involving different government agencies
interactive = designed to respond to the actions, commands, etc., of a user
interact = to talk or do things with other people
interchange =verb: to put each of two or more things in the place of the other
intervene = to come or occur between two times or events to become involved in something (such as a conflict) in order to have an influence on what happens
interjection = a spoken word, phrase, or sound that expresses sudden or strong feeling
international = involving two or more countries : occurring between countries
intra-
Meaning:
: (added to adjectives) on the inside; within; during; interior
:
Example:
intravascular = situated in, occurring in, or administered by entry into a blood vessel
intravenous = through, in, or into a vein : entering the body through a vein
intramural = existing or occurring within a particular group or organization (such as a school)
mis-
Meaning:
: bad, badly, wrong, wrongly
: lack, failure
Example:
mistake = something that is not correct : a wrong action, statement, or judgment : error
misspell = to spell (a word or name) incorrectly
mistreat = to treat (someone or something) badly : abuse
miscarriage = a condition in which a pregnancy ends too early and does not result in the birth of a live baby
mistrust = lack of trust or confidence : a feeling that someone is not honest and cannot be trusted
non-
Meaning:
: Used in the sense of not, to negate the meaning of the word to which it is prefixed.
Example:
nonsense = words or ideas that are foolish or untrue : behavior that is silly, annoying, or unkind : language that has no meaning
noncommittal = not telling or showing what you think about something
nonentity = a person who is not famous or important
nonsmoker = a person who does not smoke
ob-, oc-, of-, op-
Meaning:
: against, blocking, concealing
: denoting exposure or openness
: denoting opposition, hostility, or resistance
: denoting extensiveness, finality, or completeness
Example:
obverse = formal : something that is the opposite of something else : opposite
observe = to watch and sometimes also listen to (sb or sth) carefully to see and notice ( sb or sth)
obstruct = somewhat formal : to block (sth, such as a pipe or street) so that things cannot move through easily
occult = of or relating to supernatural powers or practices
offend = to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done :insult
oppose = to disagree with or disapprove of (sth or sb) to compete against sb : to be an opponent of sb
occlude = formal: stop, close up, or obstruct (an opening, orifice, or passage); shut
opponent = a person, team, group, etc., that is competing against another in a contest
out-
Meaning:
: to the point of surpassing or exceeding
: external; separate; from outside
: away from; outward
Example:
outstanding = extremely good or excellent : easy to notice especially because of being important or very good
outrage = extreme anger : a strong feeling of unhappiness because of sth bad, hurtful, or morally wrong
outperform = to do or perform better than (someone or something)
outboard = located on or toward the outside of a vehicle (such as an airplane or ship)
outdo = to do better than (someone or something) : to be more successful than (someone or something)
outburst = a sudden expression of strong feeling : a sudden increase in activity
outbound = traveling away from a place : outward bound
outpatient = a person who goes to a doctor's office or hospital for treatment but who does not spend the night there
over-
Meaning:
: above, or higher
: superior
: excessively
Example:
overcoat = a long coat that is worn to keep a person warm during cold weather
overburden = to give (sb or sth) too much work, worry, etc. : to burden (sb or sth) too much
overjoyed = filled with great joy : very happy
overtake = to move up to and past (someone or something that is in front of you) by moving faster
overwork = to work too hard : to use (something) too much or too often
peri-
Meaning:
: around, about, near
Example:
period = a length of time during which a series of events or an action takes place or is completed
perimeter = the outside edge of an area or surface ― often + of
=
perinatal = happening during or around the time of birth
periphery = formal : the outside edge of an area : the area that surrounds a place or thing ― often + of
post- (⇔ante‐)
Meaning:
: after in time or order
Example:
postpone = to decide that sth which had been planned for a particular time will be done at a later time instead
postmodern = of or relating to postmodernism
postmortem = an examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death : a discussion or analysis of sth (such as an event) after it has ended
pre-
Meaning:
: before (in time, place, order, degree, or importance)
Example:
precondition= something that must exist or happen before something else can exist or happen
prelude = something that comes before and leads to something else ― usually singular ― often + to
predict = to say that (something) will or might happen in the future
preview = a special show or performance that allows some people to see a movie, play, etc., before it is shown to the public
precedent = somewhat formal : a similar action or event that happened at an earlier time
pro-
Meaning:
: favoring; supporting
: acting as a substitute or deputy for; on behalf of; for
: denoting motion forward, out, or away
Example:
pro-American = supporting the United States and its policies
proportion = an amount that is a part of a whole : proper or equal share : the relationship that exists between the size, number, or amount of two things
proponent = a person who argues for or supports something : advocate
propulsive = the force that moves something forward : the force that propels something
produce = to make (sth) especially by using machines : to make or create (sth) by a natural process : to cause (something) to exist or happen
propose = to suggest (something, such as a plan or theory) to a person or group of people to consider
procure = to get (something) by some action or effort : obtain : to find or provide (a prostitute) for someone
prostrate = lying with the front of your body turned toward the ground : so tired, upset, etc., that you are unable to do anything
proceed = to continue to do something : to continue being done
propel = to push or drive (someone or something) forward or in a particular direction
project = a planned piece of work that has a specific purpose (such as to find information or to make something new) and that usually requires a lot of time