Word Analogy
Find the relationship between a given pair and apply the same relation to another pair.
What is a word analogy?
A word analogy compares two pairs of words that share the same relationship. First, identify the relation in the model pair; then choose an option that mirrors it precisely.
| Type | Definition | Example (A : B :: C : ?) |
|---|---|---|
| Synonym | Similar meaning | brave : valiant :: quick : rapid |
| Antonym | Opposite meaning | expand : contract :: arrive : depart |
| Part–Whole | Part belongs to a whole | petal : flower :: wheel : car |
| Function | Object’s purpose or use | pen : write :: thermometer : measure |
| Cause–Effect | One leads to the other | rain : flood :: drought : famine |
| Degree / Intensity | One is a stronger/weaker form | annoyed : furious :: damp : soaked |
| Agent–Action | Doer and their action | author : write :: mason : build |
| Tool–User | Who uses which tool | stethoscope : doctor :: trowel : mason |
| Symbol / Sign | Symbol represents concept | olive branch : peace :: scales : justice |
“Define the relation in words; then test each option with the same sentence.”
Key points
- Lock the relation first; not just word meaning.
- Match part of speech (noun↔noun, verb↔verb).
- Check direction (A→B vs B→A).
- Beware tempting topic-only links without the right relation.
Common Pitfalls
| Pitfall | Looks tempting | But the correct relation is… |
|---|---|---|
| Topic trap | doctor : nurse :: teacher : school | Agent–Agent is fine, but “teacher : student” matches better than agent : place. |
| Direction flip | seed : tree :: chick : egg | Should be egg : chick or seed : sapling to mirror direction. |
| POS mismatch | run : runner :: swim : swim | Verb : agent → swimmer (noun). |
Turn the model pair into a short sentence and reuse it verbatim on options.
Mini Reference
- Agent–Action: baker : bake
- Tool–User: scalpel : surgeon
- Part–Whole: keyboard : computer
- Cause–Effect: effort : success
- Degree: drizzle : downpour
For degree, ensure both items lie on the same scale.
Practice
A) Complete the Analogy
-
Feather : Bird :: Fin : _____
Water Fish Swim Gill
-
Thermometer : Temperature :: Odometer : _____
Speed Distance Fuel Pressure
-
Teacher : Student :: Doctor : _____
Medicine Clinic Patient Surgery
B) Identify the Relationship
- locomotive : train — (Tool–User / Part–Whole / Cause–Effect)
- chef : recipe — (Agent–Tool / Agent–Product / Symbol–Concept)
- whisper : shout — (Antonym / Degree / Function)
C) Use a Sentence Template
If “key : lock” means “A is used to open B”, then “password : _____” should match the same sentence: “A is used to open B”. Options: keyboard account cipher device
D) Tiny code sample (formatting test)
// Return a naive relation label (demo only)
const relation = (a, b) => {
if (a.endsWith("er") && !b.endsWith("er")) return "Agent–Action/Tool?";
return "Unknown—define a sentence template";
};Short Task
Complete: Drizzle : Downpour :: Breeze : _____ (choose a word on the same intensity scale).
Hint: Both pairs should represent weaker → stronger on the same dimension.
Show Suggested Answers
A) Complete the Analogy
- Fish (part–whole: fin is part of fish, like feather is part of bird)
- Distance (tool–measure: odometer measures distance)
- Patient (agent–recipient parallel to teacher–student)
B) Identify the Relationship
- Part–Whole (locomotive is a part/engine of train)
- Agent–Tool (chef uses a recipe)
- Antonym (whisper vs shout)
C) Template
key : lock → “A opens B” → password : account.
Short Task
One natural answer: gale (breeze → gale mirrors drizzle → downpour in intensity).
Exam tips
- Write the relation as a short sentence; reuse it on options.
- Keep parts of speech and direction consistent.
- For degree analogies, ensure both pairs lie on the same scale.
- Eliminate topic-only connections that don’t express the relation.
