Basic Details
Word: Volatile
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Likely to change quickly or suddenly; unstable.
Synonyms: Unstable, changeable, explosive
Antonyms: Stable, calm, steady
Idioms and Phrases
- On volatile ground: Refers to a situation that is uncertain or unstable. Example: "The negotiations were on volatile ground, as both sides had different demands."
- Like a volatile storm: Used to describe someone who is unpredictable or temperamental. Example: "His mood was like a volatile storm, changing from happy to angry in seconds."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The stock market can be very volatile, with prices rising and falling rapidly.
Example 2: Her volatile emotions made it hard for friends to predict how she would react in different situations.
Example 3: Due to the volatile weather, the game was postponed to avoid dangerous conditions.
Fun Fact
The word volatile comes from the Latin word volatilis, meaning "flying" or "fleeting." This reflects its original use to describe substances that easily evaporate or escape as gases.
Famous Quote
"The world is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous." Clare E. S. Beckett
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "volatile" mean?
a) Likely to change quickly
b) Very strong
c) Very quiet
d) Very expensive
Answer: a) Likely to change quickly
2. Which of these is a synonym of "volatile"?
a) Calm
b) Stable
c) Unstable
d) Slow
Answer: c) Unstable
3. What is the opposite of "volatile"?
a) Changeable
b) Uncertain
c) Steady
d) Explosive
Answer: c) Steady
4. Which sentence uses "volatile" correctly?
a) His volatile reaction surprised everyone at the party.
b) The cat was very volatile when it slept.
c) She wrote a volatile poem about her garden.
d) The book was about volatile maths problems.
Answer: a) His volatile reaction surprised everyone at the party.
5. Which idiom relates to a situation being unstable?
a) On stable ground
b) On volatile ground
c) Like a calm sea
d) As steady as a rock
Answer: b) On volatile ground
