Example about compound word

The words pancake, living room, and merry-go-round have something in common.

They are all examples of compound words.

The noun compound means something made up of two or more separate components. Compound can also be an adjective meaning consisting of two or more parts or components.

A compound word is one word, or one unit of meaning, that is created by joining two or more separate words together.

What Are Compound Words?

A compound word is a word made up of usually two but sometimes more words that are joined together. The two (or more) that make the compound word are independent words; they have their own distinct meanings. When those words are joined and form a compound word, that compound word has its own new meaning.

The Three Types of Compound Words

Compound words can take three possible forms: closed, open, or hyphenated. In closed form, there is no space between the joined words. In open form, there is a space between the “joined” words that still act as one unit, and in hyphenated form—you guessed it! There is a hyphen between the joined words.

These general “rules”—which are somewhat fluid and flexible—provide guidance as to what format a compound word takes.

• Closed compound words are usually nouns: They put on makeup.

• Open compound words are usually nouns or verbs: I have to make up (verb) that exam at my high school. (noun)

• Hyphenated compound words are usually adjectives or adverb-adjective combinations: I have to take a make-up (adjective) exam. I will be well-prepared. (adverb + adjective)

The key word in each of those examples is “usually.” Some compound words break the rules. We’ll see how soon.

1. Closed Compound Words

To review: closed compound words are usually made up of two separate words that are put together to form a new word. There is no space between the two words in a closed-form compound word; the compound appears as one single word.

Examples of Closed Compound Words

• Cup + cake becomes cupcake

• Basket + ball becomes basketball

• Key + board becomes keyboard

• Extra + ordinary becomes extraordinary

• Birth + day becomes birthday

You can see through these examples that the meaning of the compound word is not just a merger of the independent definitions of the individual words that join together to make that compound.

However, there is a relationship between the individual word meanings and the compounds. Compound words have been integrated into language as speakers have discovered those relationships. It makes perfect sense to call a cake that could fit into a cup a cupcake and to call a ball thrown through a basket (now a hoop) a basketball.

The rules for compound words, listed earlier in the post, include the word usually. That word means the rules are not hard and fast, and there are examples of compound words that break those rules.

For example, compound words that are verbs are usually open form, but here are rule-breaking closed-form compound verbs that remind us to hold those rules loosely:

• I need to proofread my essay.

• I think the clerk shortchanged me.

• I have to babysit my little sister.

2. Open Compound Words

In an open compound word, there is a space between the two independent words, though they are still treated as one unit with a new “compound meaning.”

Examples of Open Compound Words

• Living room: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a room in a house.

• High school: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a school that has students in grades 9-12.

• Post office: as a unit, this compound refers to a building where mail is collected, sorted, and sent.

• Give up: as a unit, this compound verb means to stop trying.

• Ask for: as a unit, this compound verb means to request something.

3. Hyphenated Compound Words

Hyphenated compound words have hyphens between each of the independent words that serve as connectors. The hyphens are a visual cue that the words form one unit.

Some compound words are always hyphenated.

• Merry-go-round

• Mother-in-law (and brother-, sister-, and father-in-law)

• Self-esteem

Did you notice that all of those examples are nouns? Remember: the rules are flexible!

Examples of Hyphenated Compound Adjectives:

When compound words are used as adjectives (officially known as compound adjectives), the hyphenation rules change depending on where the compound adjective comes in the sentences.

If the compound adjective comes before the noun it modifies (describes), you should usually add a hyphen:

• High-speed chase

• Part-time employee

• Full-time job

• Fire-resistant pajamas

• Good-looking person

• Well-respected politician

• Up-to-date records

Of course, there are exceptions. Remember, those “rules” are flexible. Some compound adjectives that precede the nouns they modify never take a hyphen. For example, ice cream and high school:

• High school students
• Ice cream sundae

There’s really no “why” to explain these exceptions; we’ve just adopted these forms and made them part of our language.

Examples of Open-Form Compound Adjectives

If the compound adjective comes after the noun it modifies, the hyphen is usually omitted.

• Make sure the files are up to date. “Up to date” modifies, but comes after, the noun “files.”

• The cat is two years old. “Two years old” modifies, but comes after, the noun “cat.”

Though post-noun modifiers don’t technically take hyphens, according to Merriam-Webster, usage trends indicate the hyphens are often included anyway, if the compounds “continue to function as unit modifiers.” So there’s that flexibility again.

What About Adverb Compounds?

It’s easy to find examples of closed, open, and hyphenated adverbs.

As for the closed-form examples, we probably don’t even register them as compound words much of the time.

• Sometimes

• Thereafter

• Somewhere

Open-form adverbs occur when the adverb is the first word in the compound and ends in —ly. You should not hyphenate after an —ly adverb.

• We made the discovery early on.

• Her opinion is highly regarded.

• They entered the dimly lit room.

What to Do If You’re Not Sure Which Form Is Right

While those flexible rules can help you, there may still be times when you feel confused about which compound form to use. Don’t stress too much.

According to Merriam Webster, the rules are more like patterns. You may see differences in different publications depending on editorial choice and style. For example, I looked on Amazon for a teapot. I saw mostly teapots, but also a few tea pots. Out of curiosity I put “tea pot” into a New York Times search bar, and found articles from the 1800s that included “tea-pot” in the title!

While interesting, those stylistic changes and choices shouldn’t be too surprising. Language is fluid and ever-evolving. Compound words themselves are proof of that evolution.

Keep Clarity the Focus

The purpose of hyphens in compound words is to ensure clarity. For example,

• I bought over-the-counter medication.

• He passed the medicine over the counter.

In the first example, I know by the hyphen that the medicine «I» bought did not require a prescription. «Over-the-counter» is one unit—one compound—describing a type of medicine.

In the second example, «over the counter» is serving another purpose and, while the words form a phrase to tell me where «he» passed the medicine, hyphens do nothing to make the purpose of the phrase clear and are therefore unnecessary.

Now look at these examples:

• He owned a little-used car.
• He owned a little used car.

In the first example, I know the man owns a car that has not been driven much. The car is described by the compound modifier «little-used.»

In the second example, it seems that the man owns a used car that is also small, or little. In this example, putting a comma after «little» would help to separate the two words, «little» and «used,» and show that they aren’t intended to work as a compound.

ProWritingAid Can Help

Though you’re a compound-word expert now, if you find yourself with lingering doubts, remember that ProWritingAid is here to help. It will let you know if you’ve added an unnecessary hyphen after an -ly adverb, or if you’ve left one out of a pre-noun compound adjective. You don’t have to write alone!

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The final type of compound words are hyphenated compounds. These are words that — just like closed and open compounds — are frequently used together. The hyphen connects these words, so they function as one unit.

Published on
4 April 2023
by

Jack Caulfield.

A compound word (sometimes just called a compound) is a series of two or more words that collectively form a single word. There are three types of compound words, which differ in terms of how they are written:

• An open compound word is written with spaces between the words (e.g., “secondary school”).
• A hyphenated compound word is written with hyphens between the words (e.g., “sister-in-law”).
• A closed compound word is written with no spaces or punctuation (e.g., “cheesecake”).

	Individual words	Compound word
Open compound	house + party	house party
Hyphenated compound	mind + blowing	mind-blowing
Closed compound	pea + nut	peanut

If you’re confused about how to write a particular compound word or about whether it qualifies as a compound at all, check out our articles on commonly confused words (e.g., “everyday” vs “every day”) and on common mistakes (e.g., “now a days” vs “nowadays”).

For any words and phrases that we don’t cover, it’s best to consult a reliable dictionary like Merriam-Webster.

Table of contents

1. Open compound words
2. Hyphenated compound words
3. Closed compound words
4. List of compound words
5. Pluralising compound nouns
6. Compound words vs other types of words
7. Worksheet: Compound words
8. Other interesting articles
9. Frequently asked questions about compound words

Open compound words

Open compound words are written with spaces between the individual words. For example, “compound word” itself is an open compound word.

Open compounds are normally fairly new terms or are used only in specialist contexts. Over time, as they become more widely used, they tend to become hyphenated or closed compounds. But this is not universal: some well-established compounds such as “secondary school” continue to be written with spaces.

Many open compound words function as nouns and are formed by combining a noun with another noun or with an adjective.

My favorite part of the theme park was the roller coasters.

Some search engines are experimenting with incorporating artificial intelligence into their services.

Phrasal verbs are also normally written as open compounds. A phrasal verb is a series of two or more words (often a verb and a preposition) that functions collectively as a verb.

She couldn’t figure out the solution to the riddle.

Should I go ahead and log in, or should I hold off for now?

Note that normally open compounds are instead written as hyphenated or closed compounds in certain contexts. A compound noun is often hyphenated or closed when it’s used attributively (functioning as an adjective before another noun) or as a verb, and a phrasal verb is hyphenated or closed when it’s used as a noun.

It’s a commonsense solution to a complicated problem.

She’s gone to test-drive a new car.

Kenan gave me the go-ahead and forwarded my new login details.

Hyphenated compound words

Hyphenated compound words are written with hyphens connecting the words. For example, “well-being” is a hyphenated compound word.

Hyphenated compounds are typically noun phrases being used as adjectives (e.g. “long-term”) or as verbs (e.g., “strong-arm”) or verb phrases being used as nouns (e.g., “check-in”) or as adjectives (e.g., “mind-blowing”).

Compound nouns were quite commonly hyphenated in the past but mostly aren’t now (e.g., “walking-stick” and “living-room” are now usually written “walking stick” and “living room”). But some remain hyphenated, especially if they consist of three or more words (e.g., “father-in-law”).

My sisters-in-law are coming to stay on Saturday.

You could see what over-the-counter medication is available, or there’s a walk-in clinic down the street.

A shoplifter had a run-in with an off-duty police officer who caught him red-handed.

Since there are many compounds that are normally open but hyphenated when used in certain ways, people often struggle to understand when they should hyphenate a given term. Check out our article on hyphens for more in-depth guidance on specific hyphenation issues.

Closed compound words

Closed compound words are written without hyphens or spaces. For example, “babysitter” is a closed compound word.

Closed compounds can play a wide variety of roles, functioning as nouns (e.g., “weekend”), pronouns (e.g., “herself”), prepositions (e.g., “into”), adverbs (e.g., “however”), adjectives (e.g., “barefoot”), conjunctions (e.g., “whereas”), or verbs (e.g., “snowball”).

Closed compounds tend to be well-established words. They often start out as open compounds but close over time as they become more familiar. For example, compound indefinite pronouns used to be written as open compounds (e.g., “every one”, “some thing”), but now all except “no one” are closed.

I cannot wait for the weekend. I’m going backpacking with my boyfriend!

Andrea couldn’t function without his breakfast.

Few people want to babysit a newborn child.

List of compound words

The table below provides a representative selection of compound words, categorised by whether they are open, hyphenated, or closed and by what part of speech they function as.

You can observe some patterns in the table. For instance, there are many compound nouns; compound adjectives tend to be hyphenated; and some parts of speech only form compounds in certain ways.

Note that some words appear as more than one part of speech but may be written differently depending on their function. There may also be multiple ways of writing a single compound (e.g., “login” or “log-in”). Consult a dictionary if you’re unsure.

List of compound words

Part of speech	Open compounds	Hyphenated compounds	Closed compounds
Noun	artificial intelligence, attorney general, common sense, French fries, house party, living room, roller coaster, search engine, secondary school, test drive, theme park, walking stick	check-in, go-ahead, kick-off, know-it-all, man-of-war, merry-go-round, run-in, runner-up, sister-in-law, well-being	backpack, boyfriend, breakfast, bypass, checkout, cheesecake, highway, login, newborn, payout, peanut, smartphone, weekend, wherewithal
Pronoun	each other, no one, one another	—	anyone, everything, nobody, oneself, themselves
Verb	check in, figure out, go ahead, hold off, kick off, log in, pass by, used to	strong-arm, test-drive	babysit, breakfast, bypass, cannot, snowball
Adjective	—	empty-handed, full-fledged, lightning-fast, long-term, mind-blowing, off-duty, over-the-counter, roller-coaster, run-of-the-mill, up-to-date, walk-in	commonsense, everyday, heartbreaking, nearby, newborn, shamefaced, spellbinding
Adverb	after all, en route, next to, with feeling	lightning-fast, mind-blowingly, red-handed	anymore, anyway, awhile, elsewhere, hereby, however, maybe, moreover, nevertheless, nowadays, spellbindingly
Preposition	as far as, close by, such as, next to, with regard to	—	insofar, into, throughout, upon, within
Conjunction	as far as, in that	—	whenever, whereas
Determiner	—	—	another, whatever, whichever

Pluralising compound nouns

When you want to pluralise a noun that consists of multiple words, it can be difficult to know which word to pluralise. In a closed compound, it’s easy: the pluralisation always comes at the end, since it’s written as one word (e.g., “backpacks”, “houseboats”, “payouts”).

In open and hyphenated compounds, it varies; the final word is sometimes pluralised (e.g., “secondary schools”, “know-it-alls”), but sometimes an earlier word is instead (e.g., “attorneys general”, “men-of-war”). Usually, only one word is pluralised (e.g., “men-of-wars” is wrong).

To understand which word should be pluralised, look at the compound logically and consider which word “heads” the group – in other words, which one represents the thing being named?

• Frenches fry [Frenches that are fry?]
• French fries [Fries that are French]

• sister-in-laws [a sister (in multiple laws)?]
• sisters-in-law [multiple sisters (in law)]

But, admittedly, it can be hard to apply this logic in some cases (e.g., “merry-go-rounds”). If in doubt about how to pluralise a term, check a dictionary, where the correct plural form will be listed in the entry.

Compound words vs other types of words

Compound words are one way of combining multiple words into one unit, but there are other ways too. Read on to see how compound words differ from:

• Portmanteaus
• Contractions
• Acronyms
• Simple and complex words

Portmanteaus

A portmanteau (also called a blend) is a word created by blending two words together. A portmanteau is different from a closed compound word because at least one of the words making it up is not used in its complete form: some letters have been removed or moved around.

For example, the portmanteau “chortle” is a combination of “chuckle” and “snort”. A part of the word “snort” has been inserted in the middle of the word “chuckle”, but neither word appears in full. As a closed compound, it might be “chucklesnort” or “snortchuckle” (not real words).

Smog [smoke + fog] is a persistent danger in heavily industrialised environments.

The concept of the multiverse [multiple + universe] describes the collection of all the possible universes in existence.

Jazzercise [jazz + exercise] is a form of aerobic exercise based on jazz dancing.

Contractions

Contractions are shortenings of existing words where the omitted letters are usually (not always) marked by an apostrophe. Sometimes, a contraction is a single word with some letters omitted (e.g., “talkin’”), but most commonly, it’s two or more words combined (e.g., “don’t”, “it’s”, “wanna”).

Combining contractions like this differ from compound words, again, because they don’t include the full words they are formed from: some letters are replaced with apostrophes and not pronounced.

Another difference is that contractions, especially less common ones like “wouldn’t’ve”, are generally avoided in formal contexts like academic writing, whereas there’s no problem with using compound words in such contexts.

C’mon, let’s go! We’ve gotta hurry.

It’s hard for me to see why you don’t like the plan if you won’t explain your objections to it.

Acronyms

An acronym is another way of shortening a series of words into one unit, in this case by reducing each word to its first letter (e.g., “NATO”: “North Atlantic Treaty Organization”) or occasionally its first syllable (e.g., “Benelux”: “Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg”).

Some acronyms are pronounced as full words (e.g. “NATO” is [nay-toe]), while others, often called initialisms, are pronounced as individual letters (e.g., “BBC” is [bee-bee-see]).

Again, they differ from compound words because they don’t include the full words that are being combined. Acronyms are fine to use in academic writing, as long as you define them on first use.

The WHO [World Health Organization] named the new disease “COVID-19” (short for “coronavirus disease 2019”).

Simple and complex words

Simple words are words that cannot be broken down into smaller meaningful pieces. For example, “run” is a simple word – you could break it down into “ru” and “n”, but it’s clear that these don’t have any meaning on their own.

Complex words are composed of parts that each contribute some meaning to the whole. For example, “runner” consists of “run” (the verb it’s derived from, describing the action in question) and “-er” (a suffix used to indicate a person who does the action).

These individual units of sense are called morphemes: a simple word consists of just one morpheme, while a complex word consists of a main morpheme (called the root; “run” in our example) plus at least one other morpheme.

A compound word differs from a complex word because it’s made up of complete words that could also stand alone. In “runner”, it’s clear that while “run” is a word in its own right, “-er” is not. In contrast, the compound “runner-up” consists of two independent words, “runner” and “up”.

Even words where the prefix is written with a hyphen (e.g., “pre-approve”, “anti-glare”) are normally considered to be complex words rather than compound words, because the prefixes (“pre”, “anti”) cannot stand alone as words in their own right.

Worksheet: Compound words

Want to test your understanding of compound words? Check out the worksheet below. Try to find and highlight all the compound words in each sentence.

1. My mother-in-law remembers watching the moon landing on television in her teenage years.
2. We ate ice cream after the football game at the local secondary school.
3. A high-profile case is being considered at the courthouse.
4. A cat burglar has outpaced the night watchman and stolen the crown jewels!
5. After he was knocked out, it was several minutes before the prizefighter came to.

1. My mother-in-law remembers watching the moon landing on television in her teenage years.
   • This sentence contains all three kinds of compounds. “Mother-in-law” is a hyphenated compound noun. “Moon landing” is an open compound noun. And “teenage” (“teen” + “age”) is a closed compound adjective.

1. We ate ice cream after the football game at the local secondary school.
   • This sentence contains three open compounds, all of them nouns: “ice cream”, “football game”, and “secondary school”. Additionally, “football” is itself a closed compound formed with “foot” and “ball”.

1. A high-profile case is being considered at the courthouse.
   • This sentence contains two compound words: the hyphenated compound adjective “high-profile” and the closed compound noun “courthouse” (“court” + “house”).

1. A cat burglar has outpaced the night watchman and stolen the crown jewels!
   • This sentence contains three open compound nouns – “cat burglar”, “night watchman”, and “crown jewels” – and the closed compound verb “outpaced”. Moreover, “watchman” is itself a closed compound of “watch” and “man”.

1. After he was knocked out, it was several minutes for the prizefighter to come to.
   • This sentence contains the open compound verbs (aka phrasal verbs) “knocked out” and “come to” and the closed compound noun “prizefighter” (“prize” + “fighter”).

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about nouns, pronouns, verbs, and other parts of speech, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations and examples.

Verbs

• Verb tenses
• Phrasal verbs
• Sentence structure
• Active vs passive voice
• Subject-verb agreement

Other

• Articles
• Interjections
• Adjectives
• Determiners
• Prepositions

Frequently asked questions about compound words

Is “because” a compound word?

Yes, the conjunction because is a compound word, but one with a long history. It originates in Middle English from the preposition “bi” (“by”) and the noun “cause”. Over time, the open compound “bi cause” became the closed compound “because”, which we use today.

Though it’s spelled this way now, the verb “be” is not one of the words that makes up “because”.

Is “today” a compound word?

Yes, today is a compound word, but a very old one. It wasn’t originally formed from the preposition “to” and the noun “day”; rather, it originates from their Old English equivalents, “tō” and “dæġe”.

In the past, it was sometimes written as a hyphenated compound: “to-day”. But the hyphen is no longer included; it’s always “today” now (“to day” is also wrong).

Sources for this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

This Scribbr article

Caulfield, J.
(2023, April 04). Compound Words | Types, List & Definition. Scribbr.
Retrieved 12 April 2023,
from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/english-language/compound-word/

Sources

Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar. Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Show all sources (3)

Garner, B. A. (2022). Garner’s modern English usage (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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There are various classes of words in the English Language ranging from nouns to prepositions. All these have been discussed in the post, Parts of Speech. However, some words are regarded as compound words. This post gives 1000 Compound Words Examples out of the several thousands of examples of compound words in English.

There is no end to how many compound words there are in English; but with these 1000 Compound Words Examples in English, though not exhaustive, you can research further on other compound words not captured here or, probably, generate your own.

Before I list the 1000 Compounds Word Examples in English, it would be great to describe compound words. The question then comes: what is a compound word? Let us proffer an answer to this important question…

What is a Compound Word?

Compound words in English are usually formed when we join two or more words together. In other, words, a compound word is the combination of two or more free morphemes to form a new word.

Compounding: A Word Formation Process

This takes us to the concept of Compounding, which is one of the word formation processes in English. Compounding takes place when two or more free morphemes that can stand severally on their own are brought together to create a new word. It could happen that the meaning of a compound word could be related to or different from the meaning or connotation it its constituent parts when considered severally.

Types of Compound Words

There are three types of compound words and these include: closed compound words, hyphenated compound words and open compound words. See more…

Closed Compound Words

In the closed compound words, the words involved are combined together. Closed compound words, most likely, are usually monosyllabic units already established in the language for a long time. Examples include: flowerpot, keyboard, notebook, bookstore, basketball, etc.

Hyphenated Compound Words

For the hyphenated compound words, a hyphen is used to join the words involved; for example: mother-in-law, merry-go-round, off-the-cuff, etc. The use of a hyphen in this instance helps to prevent ambiguity.

Open Compound Words

In the open compound words, there is a space between the compound words that are written together such as school bus, living room, carbon dioxide, snow white, blood red, etc.

What Determines Types of Compound Words

What determines if a compound word is classified as closed, hyphenated or open could depends on whether we use it as a noun, adjective or verb.

Verbs are usually open. For example:

• You must always back up the files on your computer.
• It is not good for students to carry over their courses
• Police usually follow up on a new lead.

Adjectives and nouns are usually closed or hyphenated. For instance:

1. You can access backup copies of your files in case of any eventuality.
2. The students had many carryovers in their courses.
3. The police had already worked on the follow-up lead.

Adjective–adjective compounds, as well as, verb–verb compounds, such as blue-green and freeze-dried, are often hyphenated. Compounds that contain articles, prepositions or conjunctions, such as rent-a-cop, mother-of-pearl and salt-and-pepper, salt-and-sugar, hard-and-fast, etc. are also often hyphenated.

Longer words usually fall under the category of open compound words such as distance learning, player piano, lawn tennis, etc.

It is important to note that usage or forms of compound words in American English and British English Usage varies and is usually contingent on the individual choice of the writer rather than on a hard-and-fast rule; therefore, it is possible to encounter closed, hyphenated, and open forms for the same compound noun, such as the trio of:

• Container ship, container-ship or containership
• Particle board, particle-board or Particleboard.

Classifications of Compound Words

The constituent words in a compound word can be classified based on their Word Classes or Parts of Speech. We can call this type of classification a Syntactic Classification. The constituent words may be from similar Part of Speech or may be of different parts of speech. Let us see some examples:

Noun-Noun

This is an instance where both constituent words in the compound words are nouns. Examples include: airport, wallpaper, textbook, doorknob, waterbed, wastebasket, football, cufflinks, housewife, lawsuit, wallpaper, basketball, sodium chloride, classroom, workstation, tapeworm, crankshaft, etc.

Noun-Verb

The noun-verb compound word has a noun as the first constituent and a verb as the second constituent. For example: browbeat, sidestep, manhandle, safeguard, water borne, value-added, rocket-propelled, sunbathe, airlift, etc.

Noun-Adjective

The noun-adjective combination has a noun as the first constituent and an adjective as the second constituent. Examples include: snow white, world population, overcoat, trustworthy, blood red, handpicked, world famous, heartbroken, heart problem, prize worthy, lead strong, worldwide, lifelong, tax-free, sky blue, self-important, spoon-fed, praiseworthy, water-repellant, air-tight, bulletproof, etc.

Adjective-Noun

This is an instance where the first constituent word in the compound word is an adjective and the other one a noun. Examples include: blackboard, smartphone, whiteboard, badmouth, blue sky, red light, four wheel, full-time, long-term, etc.

Adjective-Verb

This instance is when the first constituent is an adjective while the second word in the compound word is a verb. Examples of this instance include: whitewash, blacklist, highlight, proofread, shortlist, etc.

Verb-Verb

In this instance, both constituents of the compound words are verbs. Examples include: typewrite, test-drive, freeze-dry, etc.

Verb-Noun

This is an instance where the first constituent word in the compound word is a verb and the other one a noun. Examples include: dreadnought, typewriter, breakfast, cutthroat, pickpocket, killjoy, spoilsport, know-nothing, breakwater, carrycot, etc.

Verb-Preposition

In this instance, we have a combination of a verb and a preposition forming the compound word respectively. Examples of this instance include: Roll off, roll on, stick on, walk on, stand by, walk through, see through, lay by, cut through, lookout, Work on, take down, take away, tear up, etc. Some of these examples also pass for Phrasal Verbs. You can take a look at the over 500 Phrasal Verbs discussed here.

Preposition-Noun

In this combination of compound words, we have a preposition coming first and followed by a noun. Examples of this combination include: overview, downsize, upgrade, underworld, oversight, undergraduate under-development, etc.

Preposition Noun (Phrase) Combinations

Examples of Preposition-Noun Phrase include: Off-the-record, over-the-counter, off-the-cuff, round-the-block, off-the-deep-end, off the hook, off the wall, off-your-head, off-your-own-bat, off-your-rocker, round-the-twist, round-the-corner, etc.

Preposition-Verb

This combination comprises a preposition and a verbs in the first and second constituents respectively. Examples include: overhang, counterattack, undercut, overpay, counterbalance, overrate, underlie, outrun, outvote, overreact, oversleep, overwork, undersell, undervalue, etc.

Other Combinations

There are other possible combinations like:

• Adjective-adjective (blue-green)
• Adverb-preposition (forthwith)
• Verb-adverb (tumbledown)
• Preposition-adjective (overripe, off-white)
• Verb-adverb (takeout)
• Preposition-adverb (without)
• Compound Adverbs (moreover, however, nonetheless, furthermore, meanwhile)
• Determiner-Noun Combinations or wh-forms (anyhow, somewhere, nowhere, sometimes, anytime)

You can attempt to fit the 1000 examples of compound words provided below into their appropriate combinations. I’m sure that should not be difficult for you to do.

It is also important to note that compound words in English, save for exceptions, are usually stressed on their first words.

1000 Compound Words Examples

It is really impossible to give an exhaustive list of all the compound words in English; especially, those that fall under the open class segment as there is no end to compound words that could be therein generated. But the list below contains 1000 Compound Words Examples in English. For emphasis, there are thousands of other examples. So, the list is not limited to what is provided below. Take a look…

1000 Compound Words Examples (A-D)

• Above-board
• Afterglow
• Afterimage
• Afterlife
• Afternoon
• Airbag
• Airbase
• Airborne
• Aircraft
• Airfield
• Airlift
• Airline
• Airmen
• Airplane
• Airport
• Airtight
• Airtime
• All-over
• Allspice
• Alongside
• Anybody
• Anyhow
• Anymore
• Anyone
• Anyplace
• Anytime
• Anyway
• Arm-twist
• Ashtray
• Baby bed
• Baby boom
• Baby boomers
• Baby carriage
• Baby-faced
• Babyhood
• Babyminder
• Babysit
• Babysitter
• Backache
• Backbeat
• Backbench
• Backbenchers
• Backbend
• Backbite
• Backblast
• Backbone
• Backbreaker
• Backdrop
• Backfire
• Background
• Backhand
• Backlash
• Backlog
• Backpack
• Backside
• Backslap
• Backslide
• Backspace
• Backspin
• Backstage
• Backstroke
• Backtrack
• Backward
• Ballpark
• Ballroom
• Bandwagon
• Bankbook
• Bankroll
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Beachcomb
• Bedclothes
• Bed lamp
• Bedrock
• Bedroll
• Bedroom
• bedspread
• Bellbottom
• Bellboy
• Bellhop
• Below
• Berrylike
• Billboard
• Billhook
• Bitterroot
• Bittersweet
• Bitterweed
• Bitterwood
• Blackball
• Blackberries
• Blackbird
• Blackboard
• Blackjack
• Blacklist
• Blackmail
• Blackout
• Blackpool
• Blacksmith
• Blacktop
• Blowgun
• Bluebell
• Blueberry
• Bluebird
• Bluefish
• Bluegrass
• Blueprint
• Boardwalk
• Body bag
• Body-boarding
• Body blow
• Bodybuilder
• Body hair
• Bodywork
• Bodyguard
• Bodywork
• Boldface
• Bookcase
• Bookend
• Bookkeeper
• Bookmark
• Bookmobile
• Bookseller
• Bookshelf
• Bookstore
• Bookworm
• Bootstrap
• Bowlegs
• Bowtie
• Brainchild
• Brainwash
• Brotherhood
• Brow beat
• Bugspray
• Butterball
• Buttercup
• Butterfingers
• Butterflies
• Buttermilk
• Butternut
• Butterscotch
• Bypass
• Cabdriver
• Candlelight
• Candlestick
• Candyfloss
• Candytuft
• Cardboard
• Cardsharp
• Cardstock
• Carefree
• Caretaker
• Careworn
• Carfare
• Cargo
• Carhop
• Carload
• Carpetbagger
• Carpool
• Carport
• Carrack
• Carryall
• Carsick
• Cartwheel
• Catchword
• Cattail
• Catwalk
• Caveman
• Centercut
• Cheeseburger
• Cheesecake
• Classmates
• Classroom
• Clockwise
• cocksure
• Coffeemaker
• Comeback
• Comedown
• Commonplace
• Commonwealth
• Cornmeal
• Counterattack
• Counterproductive
• Courthouse
• Courtyard
• Crewcut
• Crossbow
• Crossbreed
• Crosscut
• Crossover
• Crosswalk
• Dairymaid
• Daisywheel
• Daybed
• Daybook
• Daybreak
• Daydream
• Daylight
• Daytime
• Deadbeat
• Dead body
• Deadbolt
• Dead drop
• Dead-end
• Deadeye
• Deadfall
• Dead heat
• Dead letter
• Deadlight
• Deadline
• Dead load
• Deadlock
• Deadlocked
• Dead mail
• Dead march
• Dead metaphor
• Dickhead
• Dick test
• Dishcloth
• Dishpan
• Dishwasher
• Dishwater
• Diskdrive
• Dog-tired
• Dogwood
• Doorstop
• Double agent
• Double-barrelled
• Double-bedded
• Double bond
• Doublecross

1000 Compound Words Examples (D-N)

• Double-date
• Double-decker
• Downbeat
• Downcast
• Downcourt
• Downtime
• Downtown
• Downtrodden
• Downunder
• Drawbridge
• Driveway
• Duckbill
• Duckpin
• Duckweed
• Earache
• Eardrop
• Eardrum
• Earring
• Earthbound
• Earthquake
• Earthward
• Earthworm
• Egghead
• Eggshell
• Elsewhere
• Everything
• Extraordinary
• Eyeballs
• Eyebath
• Eyebeam
• Eye-catching
• Eyeglasses
• Eyelash
• Eyelid
• Eyesight
• Eyewitness
• Fatherhood
• Fatherland
• Firearm
• Fireball
• Fireboat
• Firebomb
• Firebreak
• Firecracker
• Firefighter
• Fireflies
• Firehouse
• Fireproof
• Firewater
• Fishbowl
• Fisherman
• Fisheye
• Fishhook
• Fishlike
• Fishmonger
• Fishnet
• Fishpond
• Fishtail
• Football
• Foothill
• Footlights
• Footlocker
• Footnote
• Footprint
• Footprints
• Footrest
• Footwear
• Forbearer
• Forbid
• Forebode
• Forearm
• Forebear
• Forebrain
• Forecast
• Forecastle
• Foreclose
• Foreclosure
• Foredoom
• Forefather
• Forefeet
• Forefinger
• Forefoot
• Forego
• Foregone
• Foreground
• Forehand
• Forehead
• Foreknowledge
• Foreleg
• Foreman
• Foremost
• Forepaws
• Foresee
• Foreshadow
• Foresight
• Forestall
• Forethought
• Foretell
• Foretold
• Forever
• Forewarn
• Foreword
• Forget
• Forgive
• Forklift
• Format
• Fortnight
• Friendship
• Fruitcup
• Gearshift
• Glassmaking
• Goodbye
• Goodnight
• Grandaunt
• Grandchild
• Grandchildren
• Granddaughter
• Grandfather
• Grandmaster
• Grandmother
• Grandnephew
• Grandnieces
• Grandparent
• Grandson
• Grandstand
• Granduncle
• Grasshopper
• Grassland
• Graveyard
• Gumball
• Haircut
• Hamburger
• Hammerhead
• Handbook
• Handcuff
• Handgun
• Handmade
• Handout
• Headache
• Headdress
• Headlight
• Headline
• Headquarters
• Heaven-sent
• Heavenward
• Helpdesk
• Helpline
• Helpmate
• Hereafter
• Hereby
• Herein
• Hereupon
• Herself
• Highball
• Highchair
• Highland
• Highway
• Himself
• Homemade
• Hometown
• Honeybee
• Honeybees
• Honeycomb
• Honeycreeper
• Honeydew
• Honeymoon
• Honeypot
• Honeysuckle
• Hookup
• Hookworm
• Horseback
• Horsefly
• Horsehair
• Horseman
• Horseplay
• Horsepower
• Horseradish
• hotbed
• hothead
• Houseboat
• Household
• Housekeeper
• Housetop
• Housework
• However
• Intake
• Interstate
• Ironwork
• Itself
• Jackpot
• Jailbait
• Jellybean
• Jellyfish
• Jetliner
• Jetport
• Jumpshot
• Jumpstart
• Keyboard
• Keyhole
• Keynote
• Keypad
• Keypunch
• Keystone
• Keystroke
• Keyway
• Keyword
• Lacklustre
• Lifeblood
• Lifeboat
• Lifebuoy
• Lifeguard
• Lifejacket
• Lifelike
• Lifeline
• Lifelong
• Lifesaver
• Lifestyle
• Lily-livered
• Lifetime
• Lifework
• Limelight
• Limestone
• Longhand
• Longhouse
• Lukewarm
• Mainland
• Mainline
• Matchbox
• Meantime
• Meanwhile
• Moneybag
• Moneylender
• Moonbeam
• Moonflower
• Moonlight
• Moonlit
• Moonscape
• Moonshine
• Moonstruck
• Moonwalk
• Moorfields
• Moorfowl
• Moorland
• Mopboard
• Moreover
• Mothball
• Motherhood
• Motorcycle
• Nearby

1000 Compound Words Examples (N-S)

• Nevermore
• Newborn
• Newfound
• Newsboy
• Newsbreak
• Newscaster
• Newsdealer
• Newsletter
• Newsman
• Newspaper
• Newsperson
• Newsprint
• Newsreel
• Newsroom
• Newsstand
• Newsworthy
• Nightfall
• Noisemaker
• Northeast
• Notebook
• Noteworthy
• Nowhere
• Nursemaid
• Nutcracker
• Offbeat
• Off-record
• Oilbird
• Oilcan
• Oilcloth
• Oilfield
• Oilman
• Oil-rich
• Oneself
• Onetime
• Outbalance
• Outbid
• Outboard
• Outdoor
• Outflank
• Outflow
• Outlive
• Outnumber
• Overabundance
• Overboard
• Overcoat
• Overflow
• Overland
• Overshoes
• Overview
• Pacemaker
• Pancake
• Passbook
• Passkey
• Passover
• Paycheck
• Peppermint
• Pickup
• Pinhole
• Pinstripe
• Pinup
• Pinwheel
• Pipe-borne
• Play-actor
• Playback
• Playbill
• Playbook
• Playboy
• Play day
• Play dough
• Playground
• Playhouse
• Playthings
• Ponytail
• Popcorn
• Postcard
• Poverty grass
• Poverty level
• Poverty line
• Poverty trap
• Poverty-stricken
• Priesthood
• Punchbag
• Punchboard
• Punchbowl
• Racquetball
• Railroad
• Railway
• Rainbow
• Raincheck
• Raincoat
• Raindrop
• Rainstorm
• Rainwater
• Rattlesnake
• Rattletrap
• Repairman
• Riverbanks
• Rollerblade
• Rollercoaster
• Roller-skating
• Rubberband
• Sailboat
• Salesclerk
• Sand dune
• Sandlot
• Sandstone
• Saucepan
• Scapegoat
• Scarecrow
• Schoolbook
• Schoolboy
• Schoolbus
• Schoolhouse
• Schoolwork
• Seaport
• Seashore
• Setback
• Shadyside
• Sharecropper
• Sharpshooter
• Sheepskin
• Shipbottom
• Shoelace
• Shoemaker
• Shortbread
• Showoff
• Showplace
• Sideburns
• Sidekick
• Sideline
• Sideshow
• Sidestep
• Sidetrack
• Sidewalk
• Silver age
• Silver ash
• Silver beech
• Silver bell
• Silver berry
• Silver-blue
• Silver-bodied
• Silver bromide
• Silver-bush
• Silver cord
• Silver dollar
• Silver fern
• Silver fir
• Silverfish
• Silver grass
• Silver-gray
• Silver-green
• Silver-haired
• Silversmith
• Sisterhood
• Sixfold
• Skateboard
• Skintight
• Skylark
• Skylight
• Skyscraper
• Slapstick
• Slowdown
• Slumlord
• Smartphone
• Snakeskin
• Snowball
• Snowbank
• Snowbird
• Snowboard
• Snowdrift
• Snowfall
• Snowflakes
• Snowshovel
• Softball
• Software
• Somebody
• Someday
• Somehow
• Someone
• Someplace
• Something
• Sometimes
• Somewhat
• Somewhere
• Soulmate
• Soundproof
• Southeast
• Southwest
• Soybean
• Spacewalk
• Spearmint
• Spillway
• Spokesperson
• Stagehand
• Stage-manage
• Standby
• Standoff
• Standout
• Standpipe
• Standpoint
• Starfish
• Steamboat
• Steamship
• Stepson
• Stockroom
• Stonewall
• Stoplight
• Stopwatch
• Storerooms
• Stronghold
• Subway
• Sunbaked
• Sunbathe
• Sunbeams
• Sunbelt
• Sunberry
• Sunblock
• Sunburn
• Sunday
• Sundial
• Sundown
• Sunfish
• Sunflower
• Sunglasses
• Sunlit
• Sunrays
• Sunroof
• Sunup
• Supercargo
• Supercharge

1000 Compound Words Examples (S-W)

• Supercool
• Superego
• Superfine
• Supergiant
• Superhero
• Superhighways
• Superhuman
• Superimpose
• Superman
• Supermarket
• Supermen
• Supernatural
• Superpower
• Superscript
• Supersensitive
• Supersonic
• Superstar
• Superstrong
• Superstructure
• Supertanker
• Superweapon
• Superwoman
• Sweetheart
• Sweetmeat
• Swift-footed
• Swordfish
• Tablecloth
• Tablespoon
• Tabletop
• Tableware
• Tadpole
• Tagalong
• Tailbone
• Tailcoat
• Tailgate
• Taillight
• Taillike
• Tailpiece
• Tailspin
• Takeoff
• Takeout
• Takeover
• Talebearer
• Taleteller
• Tapeworm
• Taproom
• Taproot
• Taskmaster
• Taxicab
• Taxpayer
• Teacup
• Teammate
• Teamwork
• Teapot
• Teaspoon
• Teenager
• Telltale
• Tenderfoot
• Tenfold
• Textbook
• Themselves
• Therefore
• Throwaway
• Throwback
• Thunderbird
• Thunderbolt
• Thunderclap
• Thundercloud
• Thunderflash
• Thunderhead
• Thundershower
• Thunderstorm
• Thunderstruck
• Timekeeper
• Timepieces
• Timesaver
• Timesaving
• Timeshare
• Timetable
• Tonguefish
• Tongue-lash
• Toolbox
• Toothpaste
• Toothpick
• Touchdown
• Township
• Turnabout
• Turnaround
• Turnbuckle
• Turncoat
• Turndown
• Turnkey
• Turnoff
• Turntable
• Typewrite
• Typewriter
• Underachieve
• Underact
• Underage
• Underarm
• Underbelly
• Underbid
• Undercharge
• Underclothes
• Undercover
• Undercurrent
• Undercut
• Underdevelop
• Underdog
• Underestimate
• Underexpose
• Underfoot
• Underground
• Upbeat
• Upbringing
• Upcoming
• Upcourt
• Update
• Upend
• Upgrade
• Upheaval
• Upheld
• Uphill
• Uphold
• Upkeep
• Upland
• Uplift
• Uplink
• Upload
• Upmarket
• Uppercase
• Upperclassman
• Uppercut
• Uppermost
• Upright
• Uprising
• Uproar
• Uproot
• Upscale
• Upset
• Upshot
• Upside
• Upstage
• Upstairs
• Upstanding
• Upstart
• Upstate
• Upstream
• Upstroke
• Uptake
• Upthrust
• Uptight
• Uptime
• Uptown
• Upturn
• Upward
• Upwind
• Vainglory
• Viewpoint
• Vineyard
• Violin cello
• Volleyball
• Voltmeter
• Vouchsafe
• Waistline
• Walkways
• Walleyed
• Wallpaper
• Wardroom
• Warehouse
• War advocacy
• War baby
• War bride
• War chest
• War cloud
• War correspondent
• War crime
• War criminal
• War cry
• Warfare
• Warlike
• Warmonger
• Warmblooded
• Warpath
• Washboard
• Washbowl
• Washcloth
• Washhouse
• Washout
• Washrag
• Washroom
• Washstand
• Washtub
• Wastebag
• Wastebasket
• Wastebin
• Wasteland
• Wastepaper
• Wastewater
• Watchband
• Watchdog
• Watchmaker
• Watchman
• Watchtower
• Watchword
• Waterbed
• Water beetle
• Water birch
• Waterbird
• Water biscuit
• Waterboarding
• Water boatman
• Waterborne
• Waterbottle
• Water boy
• Water buck
• Water buffalo
• Water bug
• Watercolour
• Watercooler
• Watercourse
• Watercraft
• Waterfall
• Waterfowl
• Waterfront
• Waterline
• Waterlog

1000 Compound Words Examples (W-Z)

• Watermark
• Watermelon
• Waterpower
• Waterproof
• Waterscape
• Watershed
• Waterside
• Waterspout
• Watertight
• Waterway
• Waterwheel
• Waterworks
• Wavelength
• Wavelike
• Waxwork
• Waybill
• Wayfarer
• Waylaid
• Wayside
• Wayward
• Weathercock
• Weatherman
• Weatherproof
• Weekday
• Weekend
• Weeknight
• Wetland
• Whatever
• Whatsoever
• Wheelbarrow
• Wheelbase
• Wheelchair
• Wheelhouse
• Wheelhouse
• Whereabouts
• Whipcord
• Whip hand
• Whiplash
• Whiplike
• Whipsaw
• Whip snake
• Whipstitch
• Whipstock
• Whiptail
• Whip through
• Whip top
• Whiteboard
• Whitecap
• Whitefish
• Whitehall
• Whitehead
• Whitewall
• Whitewash
• Widespread
• Wipeout
• Wisplike
• Without
• Wood ant
• Woodblock
• Woodborer
• Wood-burning
• Woodcarver
• Woodcarving
• Woodchip
• Wood coal
• Woodcock
• Woodcraft
• Wood-creeper
• Woodcutter
• Wood duck
• Woodshop
• Yachtsman
• Yachtsman
• Yachtsmen
• Yachtsmen
• Yard bird
• Yard birds
• Yard land
• Yard lands
• Yard wand
• Yard wands
• Yard work
• Yard works
• Yardarms
• Yardman
• Yardmaster
• Yardmasters
• Yardstick
• Yardsticks
• Yearbook
• Yearbooks
• Yearlong
• Yellow fin
• Yellow fins
• Yellow ware
• Yellow wares
• Yellowhammer
• Yellowhammers
• Yellowlegs
• Yellowtail
• Yellowtails
• Yellowthroat
• Yellowthroats
• Yellowwood
• Yellowwoods
• Yokefellow
• Yokefellows
• Yokemate
• Yokemates
• Youngberries
• Youngberry
• Youth quake
• Zoo technical
• Zoogeographer
• Zoogeographers
• Zoogeographies
• Zoogeography
• Zookeeper
• Zoosperms
• Zootechnics

Closing Words and Related Posts

It is possible that some of these 1000 Compound Words Examples could be written differently in other instances where they appear; but remember that this also depends on the choice of the writer to select any of the three types of compound words that we have. However, there are some of these compound words that have to be written based on acceptable convention. You can check out other related posts as listed below:

9 Types of Nouns with Examples

10 Examples of Complex Sentences

100 Examples of Synonym Words

100 Examples of Compound Sentences in English

25 Examples of Complex Sentences

50 Examples of Simple Sentences

Many compound words exist in English. There could be many that you probably never realized were compound terms. Words like ‘football,’ for example, are made up of two different words: ‘foot’ and ‘ball.’ When combined, they form the name of a sport.

If you want to delve deep into learning about compound words, then read ahead. We have discussed it all in detail.

Compound words in various forms

Compound words are made up of two or more words that have been combined to form a new word with a distinct meaning. There are three types of compound words-

• Closed compound word
• Open compound word
• Hyphenated compound word

It is crucial to remember, though, that a compound word doesn’t have to consist of just two components. One can also make a compound with more than two terms.

Closed compound words

The most well-known of the three categories are closed compound words. These words are formed when two or more words that were earlier unrelated but are now accepted as one are combined to make a single, larger word.

Consider the following examples–

• Waistcoat
• Railroad
• Mailbox
• Sunflower
• Breakfast

Let’s have a look at the word ‘mailbox.’ ‘Mail’ and ‘box’ are the two words that make this up. In this example, the word ‘mail’ does not mean ‘to write.’ Additionally, ‘box’ is a word that is added. However, the compound ‘mailbox’ means to store mail in a box. Thus, we get an entirely new word.

Open compound words

Open compound words differ from closed compound words in a way that they still appear as two, separated by a space. A modifying adjective is used with a noun to create a new noun. We classify them as compound words since they have a new and distinct meaning when they’re combined.

Consider the following examples-

• Living room
• Real estate  
• Ice cream

The word ‘room’ is a noun that is complete on its own. However, the word ‘living’ is added to it. So, it specifically becomes a new noun – living room – which means a room meant for living purposes. Another example is ‘reading room,’ which is a room meant for reading.

Hyphenated compound words

There are a lot of things to remember when it comes to hyphenated compound words. The most crucial thing to remember is that if an open compound word is used to modify another noun, it will nearly always be hyphenated.

When modifying a noun like ‘player’ or ‘collector,’ for example, the term ‘video game’ is an open compound that is usually hyphenated. As a result, the new phrases are video-game collectors.

Hyphens are often used when a compound adjective is put before a participle, or a word is framed from an action word. These terms can likewise be utilized to modify a thing’s significance. For example, in the phrase “record-breaking snow,” the adjective occurs before the present participle, and they both refer to the noun “snow.”

Consider the following examples–

• Short-term
• Father-in-law
• Cold-hearted
• Merry-go-round
• Check-out

How are compound words formed?

Like many other aspects of the English language, they are the outcome of linguistic evolution. When two words are used together often in speech and writing, their meanings become increasingly similar over time. This usually happens first in speech and then in writing, when compounds are recognized as separate words.

The closed compound word ‘notebook’ is a perfect example of this. We would have said, “a book to write notes in” before the word “notebook” existed. It’s possible that this was condensed to an open compound, ‘note book’ at that point. This would have eventually turned into the term notebook, which we still use today.

We may also compare words that should be similar in nature to see how the English language evolves through time. Backyard and backseat are closed compound words, but the front yard and front seat are open terms. Nonetheless, they both define a certain area of the yard or a car seat’s location.

However, sometimes compounds are produced as a result of a linguistic gap. For example, the term ‘football’ would have been developed out of necessity because the game would have been without a name otherwise. This compound is regarded to be quite literal, as it is made up of the terms foot and ball, which refer to the act of kicking a ball with one’s foot.

Compound words are sometimes referred to as compound nouns. When two nouns are united to make another noun, it is called compounding. A compound noun is a sort of compound word used to describe someone, somewhere, or something. Compound nouns include toothpaste, rain forest, brother-in-law, etc.

Common errors in compound words

Writers might quickly become lost by compound words. Closed compounds (for example, horseshoe), hyphenated compounds (light-year), and open compounds (income tax) are all terms used to describe compound nouns.

A broad group of words, such as everyday, are rightly closed in one grammatical form and open in the other. This is true for many verb-preposition phrases, such as “log in,” “break down,” and “mark up,” that become closed compounds when used as nouns. There are, however, exceptions, such as come-on, where the compound is hyphenated as displayed.

In a nutshell

All in all, a compound word is one that is made up of two or more terms that have been combined. The two (or more) terms that make up the compound word are separate terms with unique meanings. If you want to clear out more of your English doubts, reach out to us or drop a comment!

Liked this blog? Read more: Parts of Speech in English | An overview on 8 important sections

FAQs

Q1. What are some tricky compound words?

Answer- The following are a few tricky compound words-

Q2. How to identify compound words?

Answer- When two words are used together to yield a new meaning, a compound is formed. Some change their type based on their function in a particular sentence. To identify compound words, you must know the word’s function in the sentence such as a noun, an adjective, or a verb.

Q3. What are compound sentences?

Answer- A compound sentence has at least two independent clauses joined by a comma, semicolon, or conjunction. For example, they spoke to him in French, but he responded in English.

What are Compound Words?

Compound words are formed when two or more words are joined together to create a new word that has an entirely new meaning.

Click here for Compound Words Games, Videos, Quizzes, Worksheets and Lessons.

For example, “sun” and “flower” are two different words, but when fused together, they form another word, Sunflower. These words are formed by either adding a hyphen or just using the two words as a single term.  The spelling of the two words is not necessarily changed when they are joined together, but the definition becomes unique.

    

Consider the words “make up” and “makeup”. This is a more advanced example of a compound word because the resulting combination is a homonym and can be used in more than one way.

Make up your mind fast.

My makeup was ruined by the rain!

I have a makeup exam tomorrow.

In the first sentence, make up is a verb. In the second sentence, makeup is used as a noun.  In the third sentence, we see makeup as an adjective describing “exam.”

Types of Compound Words

There are three types of compound words;

1. Closed Compound words: These words are written as a single word, such as haircut, newspaper, grandmother, etc.
2. Open Compounds: Compound words that are written as separate words such as high school, living room, school bus, etc.
3. Hyphenated Compounds: Words that use a hyphen in between two words, such as well-known, second-rate, merry-go-round, etc.

Fun ways to teach Compound Words

Every child has a different way of learning. What works for one may not work for another so we have created these fun ways to teach your kid compound words. Choose the best activity that tailors to your kid’s learning style.

• Visual learning style – Prepare flashcards, half with words and half with pictures. Have your child lay them out in grid style and flip two cards over at a time. The goal is to find a word and a picture to create a compound word. Students will have to use their memory to succeed at this game.
• Kinesthetic learning style- Give students a compound word and have them draw the two “parts” of the compound word. For example, for “doghouse” a kid would draw a dog and a house.
• Help the kids make compound word daisies. Have them write a word in the middle of the paper flower and ask them to write compound words that utilize the word on the petals.

Once your students know the basics of compounds, you can help them move onto more difficult words.

Practice with these 150 examples of compound words:

1. Airplane
2. Airport
3. Angelfish
4. Antfarm
5. Ballpark
6. Beachball
7. Bikerack
8. Billboard
9. Blackhole
10. Blueberry
11. Boardwalk
12. Bodyguard
13. Bookstore
14. Bow Tie
15. Brainstorm
16. Busboy
17. Cabdriver
18. Candlestick
19. Car wash
20. Cartwheel
21. Catfish
22. Caveman
23. Chocolate chip
24. Crossbow
25. Daydream
26. Deadend
27. Doghouse
28. Dragonfly
29. Dress shoes
30. Dropdown
31. Earlobe
32. Earthquake
33. Eyeballs
34. Father-in-law
35. Fingernail
36. Firecracker
37. Firefighter
38. Firefly
39. Firework
40. Fishbowl
41. Fisherman
42. Fishhook
43. Football
44. Forget
45. Forgive
46. French fries
47. Goodnight
48. Grandchild
49. Groundhog
50. Hairband
51. Hamburger
52. Handcuff
53. Handout
54. Handshake
55. Headband
56. Herself
57. High heels
58. Honeydew
59. Hopscotch
60. Horseman
61. Horseplay
62. Hotdog
63. Ice cream
64. Itself
65. Kickball
66. Kickboxing
67. Laptop
68. Lifetime
69. Lighthouse
70. Mailman
71. Midnight
72. Milkshake
73. Moonrocks
74. Moonwalk
75. Mother-in-law
76. Movie theater
77. Newborn
78. Newsletter
79. Newspaper
80. Nightlight
81. Nobody
82. Northpole
83. Nosebleed
84. Outer space
85. Over-the-counter
86. Overestimate
87. Paycheck
88. Policeman
89. Ponytail
90. Post card
91. Racquetball
92. Railroad
93. Rainbow
94. Raincoat
95. Raindrop
96. Rattlesnake
97. Rockband
98. Rocketship
99. Rowboat
100. Sailboat
101. Schoolbooks
102. Schoolwork
103. Shoelace
104. Showoff
105. Skateboard
106. Snowball
107. Snowflake
108. Softball
109. Solar system
110. Soundproof
111. Spaceship
112. Spearmint
113. Starfish
114. Starlight
115. Stingray
116. Strawberry
117. Subway
118. Sunglasses
119. Sunroof
120. Supercharge
121. Superman
122. Superstar
123. Tablespoon
124. Tailbone
125. Tailgate
126. Take down
127. Takeout
128. Taxpayer
129. Teacup
130. Teammate
131. Teaspoon
132. Tennis shoes
133. Throwback
134. Timekeeper
135. Timeline
136. Timeshare
137. Tugboat
138. Tupperware
139. Underestimate
140. Uplift
141. Upperclassman
142. Uptown
143. Video game
144. Wallflower
145. Waterboy
146. Watermelon
147. Wheelchair
148. Without
149. Workboots
150. Worksheet