English Grammar

Abstract Noun | Definition Examples and Categories

Written by grammrary.com

What is an Abstract Noun?

What about love, Hate or Emotions? Which kind of Nouns these are, that don’t have any physical presence? Abstract Noun! These refer to non-physical concepts or objects that we can’t perceive with our senses. For Example: Sadness, analysis, government, love, adulthood, etc. Abstract Nouns represent things you can’t see or touch like feelings or ideas. They don’t point to Physical Objects. In fact, they show deep aspects of life, like kindness, dreams, or freedom.

Abstract Noun Definition:

It is the type of Noun that demonstrates the idea, quality, or concept, instead of any physical object. Here are Examples:

  • Glory
  • Courage
  • Love
  • Truth
  • Honesty
  • Reflection

Abstract Noun Examples:

CategoriesTypes Examples
Personal qualities and emotionsCallousness, Nostalgia, Loquacity, Anger, Love, Charisma, Happiness, Exhaustion, Presumptuousness
ConceptsFaith, Motivation, Comfort
IdeasKnowledge, Wisdom, Sacrifice
StatesChaos, Luxury, Peace
FeelingsStress, Fear, Warmth
Time designationsCenturies, Midnight, The 1980s, Yesterday, The Future, Tuesday, Hours
EventsHoliday, Birthday, Vacation
States of beingPresence, Activation, Existence, Chaos, Peace, Vacancy, Solidity, Impermanence
Cultural/political/social/religious movementsRepublicanism, Marxism, Modernism, Conservatism, Environmentalism, Christianity, Buddhism, Romanticism, Feminism
Philosophical and academic conceptsPathos, Freedom, Ethics, Ontology, Anachronism, Beauty, Possibility
Characteristics of physical objectsSpeed, Loudness, Symmetry

Categories of Abstract Noun:

Here are categories of Abstract Nouns based on the concepts they represent.

  • Qualities and Characteristics
  • Emotions and Feelings
  • States and Conditions
  • Nature and Environment
  • Communication and Expression
  • Concepts and Ideas
  • Time and Occasions
  • Actions and Processes
CategoryExamples
Qualities and Characteristics
  • Beauty
  • Honesty
  • Courage
  • Patience
  • Generosity
  • Intelligence
Emotions and Feelings
  • Love
  • Happiness
  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Joy
  • Excitement
Power and Influence:
  • Authority
  • Influence
  • Control
States and Conditions
  • Peace
  • Freedom
  • Chaos
  • Silence
  • Comfort
  • Confusion
Quantity and Measurement Concepts
  • Abundance
  • Infinity
  • Volume
Nature and Environment
  • Beauty
  • Harmony
  • Ecology
  • Climate
  • Serenity
  • Wilderness
Communication and Expression
  • Truth
  • Lies
  • Friendship
  • Honesty
  • Trust
  • Respect
Concepts and Ideas
  • Knowledge
  • Wisdom
  • Justice
  • Liberty
  • Democracy
  • Equality
Time and Occasions
  • Past
  • Present
  • Future
  • Childhood
  • Memory
  • Celebration
Actions and Processes
  • Learning
  • Growth
  • Success
  • Failure
  • Change
  • Development

Abstract Noun Examples:

  • I appreciate the love in our family.
  • His wisdom and experience are priceless.
  • The painting captured the profound beauty of nature.
  • Patience and Hard work are the keys to success.
  • The nuanced power of a heartfelt apology can heal relationships.

Formation of abstract noun:

Not all Abstract Nouns follow the specific patterns in terms of the suffixes they end with (e.g., “-ness,” “-ism”). But most of them follow.

There are several ways for the formation of Abstract Nouns. Abstract Nouns are formed from adjectives, verbs, and nouns in the following ways.

Root words+SuffixAbstract nouns
Appear, Resist, Perform, Ally+-anceAppearance, Resistance, Performance, Alliance
Recite, Deny, Propose, Bestow+-alRecital, Denial, Proposal, Bestowal
Relax, Flirt, Color, Realize+-ationRelaxation, Flirtation, Coloration, Realization
Subsist, Exist, Depend, Refer+-enceSubsistence, Existence, Dependence, Reference
Indicate, Relate, Hydrate, Equate+-ionIndication, Relation, Hydration, Equation
Nation, Child, Mother, False+-hoodNationhood, Childhood, Motherhood, Falsehood
Parallel, Liberal, Lyric, Critic+-ismParallelism, Liberalism, Lyricism, Criticism
Judge, Amaze, Base, Pave+-mentJudgment, Amazement, Basement, Pavement
Christian, Generous, Dense, Historic+-ityChristianity, Generosity, Density, Historicity
Owner, Friend, Fellow, Reader+-shipOwnership, Friendship, Fellowship, Readership
Petty, Sad, Dark, One+-nessPettiness, Sadness, Darkness, Oneness

Converting Verbs and Adjectives & other Nouns into Abstract Nouns:

The Verbs,  Adjectives, and other Nouns can be transformed into abstract nouns by adding suffixes and vice versa. Here are some examples:

Converting Verbs to Abstract Nouns:

VerbsAbstract Nouns
Move Movement
ReflectReflection
PerceivePerception
ConsciousConsciousness
AppearAppearance
Resist Resistance
AppointAppointment
Enjoy Enjoyment
AssignAssignment
Inform Information
Decide Decision
Describe Description
DetermineDetermination
BlockBlockade

Converting Adjectives to Abstract Nouns:

AdjectivesAbstract Nouns
Brave Bravery
Truth Truthful
HonestHonesty
Weak Weakness
Happy Happiness
Sad Sadness
MadMadness
Responsible Responsibility
PossiblePossibility
Probable Probability
Able Ability
IndependentIndependence
Free Freedom
SilentSilence

Common Nouns into Abstract Nouns:

Common nounsAbstract Nouns
SlaveSlavery
FriendFriendship
leaderleadership
OwnerOwnership
scholarscholarship
brotherbrotherhood
ChildChildhood
TrueTruth
friendfriendship
membermembership
InfantInfancy

Words That Function as Both, Nouns and Verbs:

Here are some examples:

WordsUse as a NounUse as a verb
LoveLove is one of the qualities everyone should possessI love the way she works with it.
DivorceAre you getting a divorce?Harry cannot divorce his wife.
BattleDo you know who won the battle?Teena had to battle hard to stay in shape.
AimWhat is your aim?You have to aim for the highest grades.
Abstract Nouns

Abstract Nouns with Definition, categories and, and Examples

About the author

grammrary.com

The author of Grammrary.com is a Certified TEFL Trainer from Arizona State University with over 7 years of experience teaching English to students from different cultures around the world. Teaching English is both his profession and passion, and he is dedicated to helping learners improve their language skills.

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