Y05W05VC Word Roots — pre- (before)

The prefix pre- comes from Latin and carries the core meaning of 'before'. It attaches to verbs, adjectives, and nouns to show that something happens earlier or is positioned in front. Words built with pre- are widely used in academic and scientific writing. This module explores six academic words and three further examples that share this prefix.

Word Families

These three words all use pre-. As you read, notice how the meaning 'before' helps explain each word.

preview

/ˈpriːvjuː/

pre‑view

verb | [preview – previewed – previewed]

To preview something is to look at or experience it before it is officially shown or released.

Example: The students were excited to preview the new library books before the official reading week began.

Synonyms: look at in advance, sample, view early

Collocations: preview the film, a preview of, preview before

prepare

/prɪˈpɛː/

pre‑pare

verb | [prepare – prepared – prepared]

To prepare means to get ready for something that is going to happen.

Example: She spent the evening preparing her notes and equipment before the science experiment.

Synonyms: get ready, plan, organise

Collocations: prepare for, prepare in advance, prepare carefully

predict

/prɪˈdɪkt/

pre‑dict

verb | [predict – predicted – predicted]

To predict something is to say what you think will happen before it actually occurs, based on what you already know.

Example: He used the graph to predict what the temperature would be by the end of the week.

Synonyms: forecast, anticipate, expect

Collocations: predict the outcome, predict what will happen, predict accurately

Academic Vocab

create

/kriˈeɪt/

cre‑ate

verb | [create – created – created]

To create something is to make or produce something new that did not exist before.

Word family: creation (n.), creative (adj.), creator (n.)

Example: She used coloured pencils and recycled materials to create a model of the solar system.

Synonyms: make, produce, design

Collocations: create a plan, create something new, create an opportunity

represent

/ˈrɛprɪzɛnt/

rep‑re‑sent

verb | [represent – represented – represented]

To represent something is to stand for it or to act as a symbol or example of it.

Word family: representation (n.), representative (n./adj.)

Example: The blue ribbon on the map represents a river flowing through the valley.

Synonyms: stand for, symbolise, show

Collocations: represent an idea, represent a group, represent the school

explore

/ɪkˈsplɔː/

ex‑plore

verb | [explore – explored – explored]

To explore something is to travel through or look at it carefully in order to find out more about it.

Word Breakdown: ex- (prefix meaning ‘out or outward’)

Word family: exploration (n.), explorer (n.)

Example: The class was asked to explore the theme of friendship in the story they had just read.

Synonyms: investigate, discover, examine

Collocations: explore ideas, explore the topic, explore and discover

discover

/dɪˈskʌvə/

dis‑cov‑er

verb | [discover – discovered – discovered]

To discover something is to find it or learn about it for the first time.

Word family: discovery (n.), discoverer (n.)

Example: Scientists continue to discover new species of insects in the rainforests of Australia.

Synonyms: find, uncover, come across

Collocations: discover a fact, discover for the first time, discover that

imagine

/ɪˈmædʒɪn/

i‑mag‑ine

verb | [imagine – imagined – imagined]

To imagine something is to form a picture or idea of it in your mind.

Word family: imagination (n.), imaginative (adj.)

Example: He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what it would feel like to stand at the top of a mountain.

Synonyms: picture, visualise, think of

Collocations: imagine that, imagine what, hard to imagine

for example

/fɔː ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl/

for ex‑am‑ple

phrase

‘For example’ is used to introduce a specific instance that illustrates or supports a general point.

Example: Many animals have adapted to survive extreme conditions; for example, camels can go several days without water.

Synonyms: such as, for instance, to illustrate

Collocations: for example, this shows; for example, animals such as; for example, consider

Confusing Words

affect vs effect

These two words are very commonly confused because they look and sound similar and are closely related in meaning.

  • affect — Affect' is almost always a verb — it means to have an influence on something or cause a change in it. For example, The drought began to affect the water supply across the region.
  • effect — Effect' is almost always a noun — it refers to the result or impact that something has. For example, The effect of the drought on the water supply was severe.

Memory rule: A useful trick is this: 'affect' is the action (both start with 'a'), and 'effect' is the end result (both start with 'e'). Ask yourself: am I describing the action of influencing something, or the result of that influence?