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One of the most frustrating moments in my ESL classroom happens when a student writes, “I came to the airport,” and means they left to go somewhere. The mix-up? Opposite verbs. English learners constantly swap verbs like come and go, give and take, or arrive and depart — and a single wrong choice can reverse your entire meaning. Opposite verbs are pairs of verbs with contradictory meanings, and mastering them is essential for clear, precise communication.
I’ll show you the most common opposite verbs in English, how they work in real sentences, and the mistakes learners usually make. You’ll also find a dialogue, a practice quiz, and an FAQ section to lock in what you learn.
Key Takeaways
- Opposite verbs reverse meaning — one verb’s action undoes the other’s in direction or result.
- Movement pairs — come/go, arrive/depart, enter/exit — show direction relative to the speaker.
- Transaction pairs — give/take, buy/sell, lend/borrow — flip the direction of an object’s movement.
- Emotional opposites — love/hate, laugh/cry — express contrasting feelings or reactions.
- Consequences matter — using the wrong opposite verb changes the entire meaning of your sentence.
What Are Opposite Verbs?
Opposite verbs are pairs of verbs that express contradictory or reverse actions. The opposite of “give” is “take” — one transfers something to someone; the other receives it from someone. The opposite of “open” is “close” — one makes access possible; the other blocks it.
These pairs appear in nearly every conversation and piece of writing. When you use the wrong one, native speakers understand you immediately but may notice the error, especially in formal or written contexts.
Common Opposite Verbs with Definitions
| Verb | Opposite Verb | Meaning Pair |
|---|---|---|
| Arrive | Depart | Reach a destination / Leave a destination |
| Buy | Sell | Acquire for money / Transfer for money |
| Come | Go | Move toward a place / Move away from a place |
| Enter | Exit | Move into a place / Leave a place |
| Give | Take | Transfer to someone / Receive from someone |
| Love | Hate | Feel deep affection / Feel strong aversion |
| Open | Close | Make accessible / Make inaccessible |
| Start | Stop/Finish | Begin something / End something |
| Increase | Decrease | Make larger / Make smaller |
| Win | Lose | Achieve victory / Fail to achieve victory |
Movement Opposite Verbs
The most common opposite verbs describe movement and location. These show direction relative to the speaker or a reference point.
Come / Go
Example 1: “I will come to your house tomorrow” — you are traveling toward the listener’s location.
Example 2: “Please go away from here” — you are traveling away from this place.
The difference is direction. Come brings motion toward the speaker; go moves away.
Arrive / Depart
Example 1: “The train will arrive at 3 p.m.” — it reaches its destination.
Example 2: “The train will depart at 4 p.m.” — it leaves to go somewhere else.
Enter / Exit
Example 1: “Please enter the building through the front door” — go inside.
Example 2: “Please exit the building through the emergency exit” — come out.
Transaction Opposite Verbs
These opposite verbs describe the transfer of objects, services, or money between people. They flip perspective: what is given by one person is taken by another.
Give / Take
Example 1: “Can you give me a glass of water?” — transfer to me.
Example 2: “I will take this book from the library” — receive for myself.
Buy / Sell
Example 1: “I want to buy a new phone” — acquire something by paying.
Example 2: “The store will sell the products at a discount” — transfer products for money.
Lend / Borrow
Example 1: “I can lend you some money if you need it” — let someone use it temporarily.
Example 2: “Can I borrow your pen for a moment?” — use it temporarily with permission.
Emotional and Reactive Opposite Verbs
Love / Hate
Example 1: “I love spending time with my family” — feel deep affection.
Example 2: “I hate waking up early in the morning” — feel strong dislike.
Laugh / Cry
Example 1: “We laughed so hard at the joke” — express joy through laughter.
Example 2: “She cried during the sad movie” — express emotion through tears.
Action / Result Opposite Verbs
Start / Stop, Finish
Example 1: “Let’s start the meeting at 2 pm” — begin the action.
Example 2: “We need to stop the car at the red light” — end the motion.
Create / Destroy
Example 1: “I want to create a new recipe for dinner tonight” — make something new.
Example 2: “The storm destroyed many homes in the area” — damage or ruin something.
Accept / Reject
Example 1: “She accepted the job offer” — said yes to the proposal.
Example 2: “He rejected the proposal” — said no to the proposal.
Expanded List of Opposite Verbs
- Arrive / Depart
- Ask / Answer
- Borrow / Lend
- Break / Mend
- Build / Destroy
- Buy / Sell
- Catch / Throw
- Come / Go
- Create / Destroy
- Cry / Laugh
- Decrease / Increase
- Drop / Pick
- Enter / Exit
- Export / Import
- Fail / Pass
- Frown / Smile
- Give / Take
- Hate / Love
- Heat / Cool
- Hide / Show
- Leave / Stay
- Lose / Win
- Open / Close
- Play / Work
- Pull / Push
- Question / Answer
- Rest / Exercise
- Rise / Fall
- Save / Spend
- Shrink / Grow
- Sit / Stand
- Sleep / Wake
- Slow down / Speed up
- Start / Stop
- Strengthen / Weaken
- Teach / Learn
- Whisper / Shout
Common Mistakes with Opposite Verbs
Movement Direction Confusion
✗ Incorrect: “I went to the party last night.” (when you mean you attended a party at your own location, or the listener’s location).
✓ Correct: “I came to the party last night.” (when the listener is at the party location or nearby).
Why: Come implies movement toward the speaker or listener; go implies movement away. Context determines which is correct.
Transaction Perspective Flip
✗ Incorrect: “Can I take you my pen?” (confusing the direction of transfer).
✓ Correct: “Can I lend you my pen?” or “Can I give you my pen?”
Why: Take means you are receiving; lend or give means you are transferring to someone else.
Emotional Intensity Mismatch
✗ Incorrect: “I’m okay with that, but I dislike chocolate.” (using dislike when stronger emotion is clear).
✓ Correct: “I’m okay with that, but I hate chocolate.”
Why: Hate and love express intense emotion; dislike and like express milder preference.
Dialogue: Booking a Flight
Agent: When will you arrive in New York?
Customer: I’ll arrive on Friday at 2 p.m. And I need to depart on Sunday evening.
Agent: Perfect. Will you bring any luggage?
Customer: Yes, I’ll take one large suitcase and a small backpack.
Agent: Great. We can also sell you travel insurance if you like.
Customer: Actually, I’d love to buy insurance. And please give me a window seat if possible.
Agent: Absolutely. I’ll create your booking now. Your flight will begin boarding at 1:45 p.m.
Quick Quiz
- I ________ to London tomorrow. (come / go) — Choose the correct word if you’re speaking to someone in London.
- Can you ________ me your dictionary? (lend / borrow) — I want to use it temporarily.
- The store will ________ everything at 20% off. (buy / sell)
- She ________ her job offer because she wanted to stay at her current job. (accepted / rejected)
- Please ________ the door quietly when you leave. (open / close)
Answers: 1. come · 2. lend · 3. sell · 4. rejected · 5. close
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Vocabulary
- Common Verbs in English — broader verb vocabulary guide
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Vocabulary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between “come” and “go”?
Come means move toward the speaker or listener. Go means move away from a reference point. If you say, “I’ll come to your house,” you’re traveling toward them. If you say, “I’ll go to the store,” you’re moving away from where you currently are.
What is the difference between “give” and “take”?
Give means transfer something to someone else. Take means receive or grab something for yourself. “Give me the pen” means transfer the pen to me. “Take the pen” means receive or grab it.
Can I use “arrive” and “go” interchangeably?
Not exactly. Arrive is the formal opposite of depart — both focus on a specific destination. Go is broader and just means move away. You can say “The bus will go to London” or “The bus will arrive in London,” but only “arrive/depart” are true opposites.
What is the difference between “lend” and “borrow”?
Lend means allow someone to use your property temporarily. Borrow means take permission to use someone else’s property temporarily. If you lend your friend money, your friend borrows it from you — same action, different perspective.
How do I know which opposite verb to use in a sentence?
Ask yourself: Which direction is the action? Who is receiving, and who is giving? Which perspective am I expressing — the giver’s or the receiver’s? Once you answer these questions, the correct opposite verb becomes clear.
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