fundamental
Forming the most important base of something.
fundamental in a sentence
- Reading is fundamental to almost every other subject at school.
- There is a fundamental difference between being quiet and being shy.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to fundamental?
- Atrivial
- Bbasic
- Csecondary
- Dminor
Show the answer
B: basic. The other three mean the opposite of fundamental.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to fundamental?
- Abasic
- Bunderlying
- Cminor
- Dvital
Show the answer
C: minor. The other three mean nearly the same as fundamental.
Words that mean something similar
basic, underlying, vital
Words that mean the opposite
minor, trivial, secondary
More words about thinking & learning
- heed: To pay careful attention to advice or a warning.
- ignorant: Not knowing about something, often because you have not been told or taught.
- illusion: Something that tricks your eyes or mind into believing what is not real.
- imaginative: Full of new and clever ideas.
- immerse: To put something completely under a liquid, or to get lost in an activity.
- improvise: To make or do something on the spot without preparing.
- infer: To work out something that has not been said directly.
- ingenious: Very clever and full of smart ideas.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test