Suffixes and Their Meanings

Front

Ness

Back

A state or quality (e.g., happiness, darkness)

Front

Ment

Back

An action or resulting state (e.g., enjoyment, development)

Front

Ize

Back

To make or become (e.g., realize, organize)

Front

ance/ence

Back

A state or quality (e.g., importance, independence)

Front

al/ial

Back

Related to or characterized by (e.g., personal, industrial)

Front

ant/ent

Back

An agent or something that performs the action (e.g., assistant, student)

Front

ic/ical

Back

Having the form or character of (e.g., poetic, historical)

Front

Ity

Back

A state or quality (e.g., activity, serenity)

Front

tion

Back

The action of or the result of (e.g., creation, celebration)

Front

Ish

Back

Having the quality of (e.g., childish, foolish)