Basic Details
Word: Anchored
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Held a ship or boat in place with an anchor; also fixed something firmly so that it cannot move.
Synonyms: moored, secured, fastened, fixed
Antonyms: loosened, unfastened
Word origin: Comes from Latin ancora, from Greek ankura, an anchor.
How to Spell Anchored
Syllables: an - chored
Tricky part: The k sound is spelt ch, and anchor ends in or, so the past tense is or + ed.
Watch out for: ankored, anchred, anckored
Memory tip: The ch in anchor is a hard k, as in school and chemist. Write anchor first, then add ed.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The ferry anchored a little way from the jetty.
Example 2: The tent was anchored with strong pegs.
Example 3: Her speech was anchored in real stories from her village.
Fun Fact
The earliest anchors were simply heavy stones or bags of sand tied to a rope.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The old wooden ship stayed ankored in the bay for three days while the storm raged and the crew waited for calm seas.
a) storm
b) wooden
c) crew
d) ankored
Show answer
d) ankored. The k sound in anchor is written ch, as in chorus.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. harbur 2. compas 3. anchored 4. voiage
a) held in place with an anchor
b) an instrument that shows direction
c) a long trip by sea
d) a sheltered place where ships stay
Show answer
a) held in place with an anchor. Harbour, voyage and compass are all misspelt here; anchored, with its ch, is the correct one.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word anchored as used in the sentence:
The fishermen anchored their boats behind the rocks before the cyclone.
a) painted
b) sank
c) moored
d) sold
Show answer
c) moored. A moored boat is held in place, just as an anchored one is.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A boat that is anchored is ____.
a) sinking fast
b) upside down
c) held in one place
d) racing ahead
Show answer
c) held in one place
2. A TV presenter who anchors the news ____.
a) fixes the cameras
b) sells the adverts
c) leads the programme
d) films the weather
Show answer
c) leads the programme
