Abstract Noun: List of 150 Common Abstract Nouns in English

Abstract nouns are integral to our language, allowing us to express complex ideas and emotions that cannot be seen or touched. These nouns differ from concrete nouns, which represent items that can be observed with our senses, like a book or a tree. Understanding how to identify and use abstract nouns enhances our ability to describe the world around us in a nuanced way.

Table of Contents

Understanding Abstract Nouns

Definition

An abstract noun is a grammatical term used to describe words that denote ideas, qualities, states of being, or events that have no physical presence. Unlike concrete nouns, which refer to objects that we can experience with our senses, abstract nouns embody the unseen and untouchable aspects of our world.

Characteristics

Abstract nouns share several unique characteristics:

Intangibility: They cannot be experienced through the five senses.
Conceptual: They represent ideas, feelings, qualities, or concepts.
Invariant: Often, they do not have a plural form, as they signify unquantifiable entities.

Formation

We can form abstract nouns in various ways:

By adding a suffix to adjectives or verbs (e.g., “happiness” from “happy,” “departure” from “depart”).
Through conversion, where words change grammatical categories without altering the form (e.g., “love” can be both a verb and an abstract noun).
Via compounding, combining two words to create a new noun (e.g., “heartache”).

In summary, abstract nouns allow us to articulate thoughts and emotions, making them an indispensable component of our language.

Categories of Abstract Nouns

In our exploration of language, we often encounter terms that don’t have a physical form but play a crucial role in our communication. These are known as abstract nouns, and they are categorized based on the type of idea they represent: emotions, states, qualities, and concepts.

Emotions

Emotions are abstract nouns that describe our internal feelings. For example:

Happiness: The joy we feel when something good happens.
Anger: The response to something that causes us irritation or displeasure.

States

States refer to conditions or situations that can change over time. They include:

Sleep: A state of rest when we are not awake.
Youth: The period of being young or the state of being youthful.

Qualities

Qualities are characteristics or attributes that we use to describe someone or something. Consider these instances:

Bravery: The admirable quality of being able to face danger without fear.
Wisdom: The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

Concepts

Concepts are ideas or principles that exist in the mind. Specific examples are:

Democracy: The concept of government by the people, typically through elected representatives.
Infinity: The idea of something without any limit or end.

Uses of Abstract Nouns

Abstract nouns are crucial for expressing concepts that are not tangible but are equally significant in our language and daily interactions. They allow us to articulate complex ideas and emotions with clarity.

In Language Arts

In the realm of language arts, we often employ abstract nouns to convey deeper meanings and themes within literature and poetry. These nouns allow us to discuss intangible qualities such as bravery in a character arc or the concept of freedom within a narrative. For instance:

Themes: Love, justice, betrayal
Character Traits: Honesty, ambition, courage

By using abstract nouns, we give our readers anchors to complex ideas that would otherwise be difficult to communicate.

In Everyday Communication

In our everyday interactions, abstract nouns permeate our conversations, even when we’re not fully aware of it. We use them to describe feelings, relationships, and ideas that are not physically present but are understood universally:

Emotions: Joy, sadness, elation
Qualities: Generosity, integrity, patience
Concepts: Democracy, education, knowledge

Through abstract nouns, we express not only personal experiences but also collective understandings, helping us connect with others on a profound level.

List of Abstract Noun

List of 150 common abstract nouns in English.

Ability
Generation
Cleverness
Generosity
Confidence
Goal
Horror
Goodness
Advantage
Annoyance
Anxiety
Appetite
Apprehension
Awareness
Awe
Beauty
Communication
Belief
Adventure
Amazement
Anger
Bravery
Brilliance
Calm
Care
Chaos
Adoration
Charity
Childhood
Confusion
Clarity
Coldness
Comfort
Compassion
Education
Ego
Elegance
Envy
Courage

Abstract Noun | Infographic 1

Crime
Curiosity
Customer service
Death
Deceit
Delay
Delight
Determination
Disappointment
Disquiet
Disregard
Disturbance
Divorce
Dream
Evil
Failure
Faith
Fascination
Fear
Fiction
Fragility
Freedom
Hurt
Idea
Infancy
Friendship
Gain
Gossip
Dedication
Defeat
Growth
Happiness
Hate
Hatred
Hope
Disbelief
Dishonesty
Infatuation
Life
Loneliness
Inflation
Insanity
Mercy
Movement
Music
Opinion
Opportunity
Intelligence
Irritation
Joy
Justice
Kindness
Laughter
Law
Liberty
Lie
Loss
Love
Luck
Luxury
Maturity
Pain
Nap
Need
Patience
Peace
Peculiarity
Union
Wariness

Abstract Nouns | Infographic 2

Pleasure
Poverty
Power
Pride
Riches
Right
Sacrifice
Principle
Reality
Trend
Trust
Uncertainty
Relaxation
Relief
Religion
Speed
Weakness
Wealth
Restoration
Sanity
Success
Surprise
Talent
Thrill
Satisfaction
Worry
Sensitivity
Service
Shock
Silliness
Skill
Sleep
Tiredness
Tolerance
Unreality
Victory
Unemployment
Warmth
Wit
Sorrow
Wisdom
Strength

Abstract Nouns | Examples

Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Manufacturers are working on a new generation of cheaper digital radios.
Most missiles with pretensions to cleverness are brighter than a laser-guided bomb, but not as clever as a Tomahawk.
There are stories about his generosity, the massive amounts of money he gave to charities.
She felt nervous, increasingly lacking in confidence about herself.
To me, they hide in the depths of your soul; be a distant dream, every dream will exceed your goal.
She seemed to personify goodness and nobility.
Students from a privileged background have an advantage at university.
The noisy traffic is a continual annoyance to the citizens.
Children normally feel a lot of anxiety about their first day at school.
I love reading: I have an insatiable appetite for vicarious experience.
It’s normal to feel a little apprehension before starting a new job.
The campaign was designed to increase public awareness of the problem.
The love of beauty is an essential part of all healthy human nature.
He looked at me with a mixture of amazement and horror.
Even if the boy is of uncommon brilliance, he should not have been praised to the skies.
The charity will be taking food and essential supplies to six refugee camps.
There is a question mark over the future of geriatric care.
We were thrown into confusion by the news.
I felt there was a certain coldness in her manner.
A desperate tiredness set in after hours of anxious waiting.
The organization promotes racial tolerance and unity in diversity.
There was an air of unreality about the visit, as if I’d stepped into another world for two weeks.
I will make you happy when you are depressed. i will make you delighted when you are in great sorrow!
Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position.
There is no direct reference to her own childhood in the novel.
The old people are treated with great compassion.
Her angry words jolted him out of the belief that she loved him.
You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.
Ramona spoke with warmth when she recollected the doctor who used to be at the county hospital.
Fortune often rewards with interest those that have patience to wait for her.
Those who foolishly seek power by riding on the back of the tiger and up inside.