root word

/ruːt wɜːrd/

Definition

Definition of root word - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

linguistics

TECH.

base form of a word without affixes

TECH.

The root word of 'unhappiness' is 'happy'.
In linguistics, 'run' is a root word.
Teachers often ask students to identify the root word.

stem

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with root

root for

show strong sympathy or alignment with a side

She always roots for the underdog in any situation.

root up

remove completely by pulling out from the ground

Farmers had to root up old trees to plant new crops.

take root

grow roots into soil

The saplings will take root in a few weeks.

root about

search for something in a casual way

She rooted about in her bag for the keys.

root of all evil

primary cause of all negative things

Some say money is the root of all evil.

at the root of

prep.

points to the origin of a problem or situation

Poverty is often at the root of social issues.

Expressions with word

get word

receive information or news

I got word that the meeting is canceled..

magic word

word like please or thank you for politeness

Remember to say the magic word when asking.

good word

praise or positive comment about someone or something

She always has a good word to say about her colleagues..

household word

person or thing that is very well known

She became a household word after the movie's release.

break one's word

fail to keep a promise or commitment

He broke his word and didn't show up.

keep one's word

do what you promised or said you would do

He always keeps his word.

keep your word

do what you promised

If you say you'll come, keep your word and show up.

oh my word

intj.

express surprise or astonishment at something unexpected

Oh my word, I can't believe you did that!

take someone's word for it

believe what someone says without checking or proof

I will take your word for it that the event is tomorrow.

without a word

adv.

in silence without speaking or making noise

She left the room without a word.

Terms with root word included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.

intensive

linguistics

word form with stronger sense than its root

stemming

linguistics

process of removing word endings to find the root

underlie

linguistics

be the root from which a word is derived

paronym

linguistics

word derived from the same root as another word

View all translations of root word

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:mot racine, ...
German:Stammwort, ...
Italian:radice, ...
Spanish:raíz, ...
Portuguese:palavra raiz, ...
Chinese:词根, ...
Japanese:語根, ...
Arabic:كَلِمَة جَذْرِيَّة, ...
Hebrew:מִלַּת שֹׁרֶשׁ, ...
Russian:корень, ...
Ukrainian:корінь слова, ...
Hindi:मूल शब्द, ...
Bengali:মূল শব্দ, ...
Catalan:arrel, ...
Czech:kořen slova, ...
Danish:rod, ...
Dutch:stamwoord, ...
Greek:ρίζα, ...
Hungarian:szótő, ...
Khmer:ពាក្យឫស, ...
Korean:어근, ...
Persian:ریشه واژه, ...
Polish:rdzeń, ...
Portuguese (BR):palavra raiz, ...
Romanian:rădăcina cuvântului, ...
Swedish:rotord, ...
Thai:รากศัพท์, ...
Turkish:kök kelime, ...
Vietnamese:từ gốc, ...

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.

Definition of root word - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

Expressions with root

Expressions with word

Terms related to root word

Terms with root word included in their meaning

View all translations of root word

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery