The prefixes, e- and ex-, indicates out, away, out of or outside. Note: the prefix ex- can also mean former, e.g., ex-president. Words with the Prefix E- and Ex- Word Definition eave the lower edge of a roof that sticks out past the wall ebb to flow out or away eccentric not of
Prefixes are found at the beginning of a word; they are small but meaningful groups of letters that when added to the front or base of a word they contribute to the meaning of the word.
Knowing the meaning of prefixes will assist a child when encountering unknown words, it helps a child comprehend the meaning of word.
Most Common Prefixes
The following 20 prefixes are commonly used; representing approximately 97%.
Rank | Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
---|---|---|---|
1 | un | not, opposite of | uneasy, unhappy & unheard |
2 | re | again, back | return, restore & reset |
3 | in, im, ir, ill |
not, opposite of | incomplete, impossible, irregular & illegal |
4 | dis | not, opposite | discomfort, disconnect & discover |
5 | en, em | cause to | endanger, enlarge & enjoy |
6 | non | not, opposite of | nonprofit, nonliving & nonessential |
7 | in, im | in or into | indulge, inflame & impact |
8 | over | too much, above | overtime, overweight & overthrow |
9 | mis | wrongly | misfit, misspell & misstep |
10 | sub | under, lower | subway, submerge & subsoil |
11 | pre | before | predict, prehistoric & preface |
12 | inter | between, among | intervene, interactive & international |
13 | fore | before | forefront, foreman & foresee |
14 | de | opposite of, down | decrease, defrost & deform |
15 | trans | across | transatlantic, transfer & transport |
16 | super | above, beyond | supermarket, supernatural & supersonic |
17 | semi | half | semicolon, semifinal & semicircle |
18 | anti | against | antisocial, antidote & antibody |
19 | mid | middle | midway, midsummer & midwinter |
20 | under | too little, below | underclothes, undercooked & underdog |
Source: Fry, E.B., Ph.D. & Kress, J.E., Ed.D. (2006). The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists 5th Edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.