Prefixes in English R to U
List of common prefixes-R to U
re-
Meaning:
: once more; afresh; anew
: (also red-) in return; mutually; in opposition
: behind or after
: with frequentative or intensive force
: in a withdrawn state : back and away; down : with negative force
Example:
reactivate = to cause sth to start working or happening again : to activate sth again
reappraise = to make a new judgment about the value of (something)
:to think about sth again to decide whether you should change your opinion
revert = to go back or return to (an earlier state, condition, situation, etc.)
resemble = to look or be like (someone or something)
repel = to keep sth out or away : to force (an enemy, etc.) to stop an attack and turn away
resistance = refusal to accept something new or different (-from)
: effort made to stop or to fight against sth or sb
: the ability to prevent something from having an effect
remain = to be left when the other parts are gone or have been used
: to be sth that still needs to be done, dealt with, etc.
relic = something that is from a past time, place, culture, etc. ― often + of or from
recede = to move away gradually : to become smaller or weaker
rebuff = formal : to refuse (something, such as an offer or suggestion) in a rude way
se-
Meaning:
: apart; without
Example:
secede= to separate from a nation or state and become independent
seclude= to keep (someone) away from other people
secure= protected from danger or harm : providing protection from danger or harm
: feeling safe and free from worries or doubt : confident
: firmly attached :not in danger of being lost or taken away
semi-
Meaning:
: half
; occurring or appearing twice in a specified period
: partly; in some degree or particular
: almost
Example:
semicircle = half of a circle
semilegendary= having historical foundation but elaborated in legend
semiannual= happening or produced every six months or twice in each year
semidarkness= partial darkness
semiconscious= incompletely conscious : imperfectly aware or responsive
sub- (Also suc-, suf-, sug-, sup-, sur-, sus-)
⇔super‐
Meaning:
: under, beneath
: subsidiary, secondary
: almost, nearly
Example:
submarine= a ship that can operate underwater
subset=a group of things, people, etc., that is part of a larger group
subway= a system of underground trains in a city
Brit : a road for walking under a road, set of railroad tracks, etc. : underpass
subtitle= a secondary or explanatory title
: words that appear on the screen during a movie, etc. and that are translations of what the actors are saying
subjugate= formal : to defeat and gain control of sb or sth by the use of force
: to conquer and gain the obedience of (a group of people, a country, etc.)
succumb= somewhat formal 1 : to stop trying to resist something
: to die
suggest= to mention (sth) as a possible thing to be done, used, thought about, etc.
: to say that (someone or something) is good or deserves to be chosen : recommend
: to show that sth is likely or true : to indicate sth usually without showing it in a direct or certain way : to say (something) in an indirect way ;imply
suppress= to end or stop (something) by force
: to keep (something) secret : to not allow people to know about or see (something)
: to not allow yourself to feel, show, or be affected by (an emotion)
: to slow or stop the growth, development, or normal functioning of (something)
suspend= : to force sb to leave a job, position, or place for a usually short period of time as a form of punishment
: to stop (something) for a usually short period of time
: to make (something) happen later : to delay (something)
: to hang something so that it is free on all sides except at the point of support
substance= a material of a particular kind
: the quality of being meaningful, useful, or important (noncount)
: the most basic or necessary part or quality of something : essence (noncount)
: a drug that is considered harmful and whose use is controlled by law or made illegal
syn-, sym-, syl-
Meaning:
: united; acting or considered together
Example:
synonym= a word that has the same meaning as another word in the same language
synchronize= to cause (things) to agree in time or to make (things) happen at the same time and speed
symmetry=the quality of something that has two sides or halves that are the same or very close in size, shape, and position : the quality of having symmetrical parts
synergy= the increased effectiveness that results when two or more people or businesses work together
synchronicity= the quality or fact of being synchronous
synesthesia= the production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body.
trans-
Meaning:
: across, beyond
: through
Example:
transnational= operating in or involving more than one country
transatlantic= going across the Atlantic Ocean : located on or coming from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean
transfer= to move (someone or something) from one place to another
: to cause (a disease, virus, etc.) to move from one living thing to another : transmit
: to use (something, such as an idea, a skill, etc.) for a new or different purpose
: to stop going to one school and begin going to another
: to move to a different place or job for the same employer
: to change from one plane, bus, train, etc., to another while traveling
transit = the act of moving people or things from one place to another
transmit=
: to send (information, sound, etc.) in the form of electrical signals to a radio, television, etc.
: to give or pass (information, values, etc.) from one person to another
: to cause (a virus, disease, etc.) to be given to others
: to allow (light, heat, etc.) to pass through
transport= to carry (someone or something) from one place to another
ultra-
Meaning:
: beyond; on the other side of; trans-
: extreme; to an extreme degree; super-
Example:
ultraviolet= used to describe rays of light that cannot be seen and that are slightly shorter than the rays of violet light
ultrasonic= used to describe sounds that are too high for humans to hear; ultrasound
ultrasecret= extremely secret
un-
Meaning:
: denoting the reversal or cancellation of an action or state
: denoting deprivation, separation, or reduction to a lesser state
Example:
unhappy= sad, depressed, or disappointed : not happy
unbreakable= not able to be broken : not breakable
unmask= to reveal the true identity or nature of (someone or something)
unhand= release (someone) from one's grasp
unsettle= to make (someone) nervous, worried, or upset
under-
Meaning:
: below; beneath
: insufficiently; incompletely
Example:
underwear= clothing that is worn next to your skin and under other clothing
undercover= done or working in a secret way in order to catch criminals or collect information
undernourished= not getting enough food or not getting enough healthy food for good health and growth
underdeveloped= not developed to a normal size or strength
undersecretary= a high-ranking government official who serves under a department secretary or other high official
up-
Meaning:
: (added to verbs and their derivatives) upward
: (added to nouns) denoting (direction of) motion up
: (added to nouns) higher
Example:
uptight= nervous or worried and tending to become upset about sth that does not make other people upset
upturned= turned so that the bottom part is on top : turned upside down
uphill= toward the top of a hill or mountain
update= to change (something) by including the most recent information
upland= a region of high land especially far from the sea ― usually plural