Business Opposite Verbs: 10 Essential Pairs for Professionals

1. Introduction to Business Opposite Verbs

In professional English, using the correct verb is crucial for clear and effective communication. Learning verbs in opposite pairs is a powerful strategy because it helps you remember both words more easily and understand the full range of action in a business context.

This lesson covers 10 essential pairs of opposite business verbs. By mastering these, you will:

• Expand your business vocabulary quickly
• Speak and write with greater precision
• Understand conversations, reports, and news about business
• Avoid common word choice errors

The 10 Pairs

#	Verb A	Verb B
1	increase	decrease
2	promote	demote
3	hire	fire / dismiss
4	deposit	withdraw
5	save	spend
6	borrow	lend
7	import	export
8	maximize	minimize
9	expand	contract
10	include	exclude

Why Learn Opposites?

• Memory aid: Opposites are easier to recall together.
• Context: They cover common business decisions and actions.
• Professionalism: Using the right term shows competence.
• Range: Demonstrates advanced vocabulary in exams and meetings.

Word Meaning Section

Word / Phrase	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Opposite	completely different	বিপরীত
Verb	action word	ক্রিয়া
Business	related to work and commerce	ব্যবসা
Vocabulary	set of words	শব্দভান্ডার
Professional	showing skill and competence	পেশাদার

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2. Pair 1: Increase vs. Decrease

Meaning

• Increase = to become larger or greater in number, amount, or degree
• Decrease = to become smaller or less

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	Sales increased by 20% last quarter.	Positive growth.
2	Profits decreased due to higher costs.	Negative decline.
3	The company plans to increase its workforce.	Intent to grow staff.
4	Inflation decreased slightly in June.	Prices went down.
5	We need to increase our production capacity.	Expand output.
6	Customer complaints decreased after the policy change.	Fewer complaints.
7	The price of oil increased overnight.	Sudden rise.
8	Our expenses decreased when we moved offices.	Cost reduction.
9	Please increase the font size for readability.	Instruction.
10	The number of errors decreased with practice.	Improvement.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Increase	to go up; become larger	বৃদ্ধি পাওয়া
Decrease	to go down; become smaller	হ্রাস পাওয়া
Sales	money from selling	বিক্রয়
Profit	financial gain	মুনাফা
Expense	cost	ব্যয়

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Go up	increase	Prices went up last month.
Go down	decrease	Demand went down after the holidays.
Bring down	reduce	We need to bring down costs.

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3. Pair 2: Promote vs. Demote

Meaning

• Promote = to move someone to a higher position or rank
• Demote = to move someone to a lower position or rank

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	She was promoted to regional manager.	Higher position.
2	He was demoted after the project failed.	Lower position.
3	The company promotes from within.	Internal advancement.
4	The army demoted the officer for misconduct.	Reduction in rank.
5	They promoted him despite his short tenure.	Recognition of performance.
6	She feared being demoted if she refused the transfer.	Consequence of refusal.
7	Good performance usually leads to being promoted.	Standard career path.
8	Budget cuts led to several employees being demoted.	Organizational change.
9	He was promoted to head of department.	Significant advancement.
10	The coach demoted the player to the junior team.	Lower level.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Promote	raise to a higher position	পদোন্নতি দেওয়া
Demote	lower to a smaller position	পদাবনতি দেওয়া
Position	rank or job	পদ
Rank	level in an organization	পদমর্যাদা
Tenure	period in a job	মেয়াদ

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Move up	advance	She moved up quickly in the company.
Move down	be lowered	He moved down after the reorganization.
Put forward	recommend for promotion	They put her forward for the director role.

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4. Pair 3: Hire vs. Fire / Dismiss

Meaning

• Hire = to employ someone; to give a job
• Fire (informal) / Dismiss (formal) = to remove someone from their job

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	The company hired ten new engineers.	Took on employees.
2	He was fired for repeated lateness.	Informal dismissal.
3	She was dismissed after the investigation.	Formal termination.
4	We need to hire more sales staff.	Business need.
5	The manager dismissed three employees for misconduct.	Formal action.
6	They hired her immediately after the interview.	Quick decision.
7	He got fired because of budget cuts.	Layoff, informal term.
8	The firm is hiring for several positions.	Currently recruiting.
9	She was dismissed without notice.	Abrupt termination.
10	If you don’t improve, you will be fired.	Warning.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Hire	employ	নিয়োগ দেওয়া
Fire	dismiss (informal)	চাকরি থেকে বের করে দেওয়া (অনানুষ্ঠানিক)
Dismiss	remove from job (formal)	বরখাস্ত করা
Recruit	find and hire	নিয়োগ করা
Layoff	job loss due to company decisions	ছাঁটাই

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Take on	hire	We took on three new assistants.
Let go	dismiss	He was let go after the merger.
Lay off	dismiss due to no work	The factory laid off 200 workers.

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5. Pair 4: Deposit vs. Withdraw

Meaning

• Deposit = to put money into a bank account
• Withdraw = to take money out of a bank account

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	She deposited her paycheck this morning.	Put money in.
2	He withdrew $200 from the ATM.	Took money out.
3	Please deposit the funds by Friday.	Instruction to add money.
4	You can withdraw cash using your debit card.	Access cash.
5	The company deposited the refund into my account.	Money coming in.
6	She withdrew all her savings before closing the account.	Money going out.
7	A fixed deposit earns higher interest.	Investment type.
8	He deposited the cheque at the bank.	Placed money into account.
9	The bank allows you to withdraw up to $500 daily.	Limit.
10	I need to deposit cash before paying bills.	Order of actions.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Deposit	put money in	জমা করা
Withdraw	take money out	উত্তোলন করা
ATM	automated teller machine	এটিএম
Account	bank record of money	হিসাব
Funds	money	তহবিল

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Put in	deposit	I put in $100 every week.
Take out	withdraw	She took out money for rent.
Pay in	deposit	He paid in the cheque yesterday.

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6. Pair 5: Save vs. Spend

Meaning

• Save = to keep money for future use
• Spend = to use money to buy things

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	She saves 20% of her salary.	Keeps for future.
2	He spends too much on entertainment.	Uses money.
3	Save for a rainy day.	Common advice.
4	They spent thousands on the new equipment.	Large expenditure.
5	We are saving to buy a house.	Goal-oriented saving.
6	Don’t spend all your money at once.	Warning.
7	The company saved money by switching suppliers.	Reduced costs.
8	The marketing team spent the entire budget.	Used all funds.
9	I’m trying to save more this year.	Personal goal.
10	She spends wisely and invests the rest.	Balanced approach.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Save	keep money; not spend	সঞ্চয় করা
Spend	use money to buy	ব্যয় করা
Budget	plan for spending	বাজেট
Invest	use money to earn more	বিনিয়োগ করা
Wise	smart; careful	বিজ্ঞ

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Set aside	save for a purpose	We set aside money for emergencies.
Blow	spend carelessly	He blew his bonus on a car.
Cut back	reduce spending	We need to cut back on travel.

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7. Pair 6: Borrow vs. Lend

Meaning

• Borrow = to take and use something that belongs to someone else, intending to return it
• Lend = to give something to someone for a temporary period

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	He borrowed money from the bank to start his business.	He received money.
2	The bank lends money to small businesses.	Bank gives money.
3	Can I borrow your pen for a moment?	Taking temporarily.
4	She lent me her notes for the meeting.	Giving temporarily.
5	They borrowed $50,000 to buy equipment.	Received a loan.
6	The library lends books for two weeks.	Allows temporary use.
7	He borrowed his friend’s car for the weekend.	Temporary use.
8	I don’t like lending money to friends.	Giving money temporarily.
9	The company borrowed heavily to expand.	Debt taken on.
10	Could you lend me your expertise on this?	Offering help (figurative).

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Borrow	take temporarily	ধার করা
Lend	give temporarily	ধার দেওয়া
Loan	money borrowed	ঋণ
Debt	money owed	দেনা
Interest	fee for borrowing	সুদ

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Pay back	return borrowed money	I’ll pay back the loan next month.
Owe	be in debt to	He owes the bank a lot of money.
Hand over	give something	He handed over the keys.

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8. Pair 7: Import vs. Export

Meaning

• Import = to bring goods into a country from abroad
• Export = to send goods out of a country to be sold abroad

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	Bangladesh imports a lot of machinery.	Goods coming in.
2	China exports electronics worldwide.	Goods going out.
3	The company imports raw materials from India.	Inputs from abroad.
4	They export garments to Europe.	Outputs to foreign markets.
5	Import duties make foreign goods more expensive.	Tax on incoming goods.
6	Export revenue supports the national economy.	Income from selling abroad.
7	We import luxury cars from Germany.	Specific product.
8	The US exports software and services.	Service export.
9	Importing goods requires compliance with customs.	Regulation.
10	The firm exports coffee beans to Italy.	Agricultural export.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Import	bring in goods	আমদানি করা
Export	send out goods	রপ্তানি করা
Customs	government agency controlling imports/exports	শুল্ক বিভাগ
Duty	tax on imports/exports	শুল্ক
Revenue	income	রাজস্ব

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Bring in	import	They bring in tea from Sri Lanka.
Send out	export	We send out software to Asia.
Ship out	export	The factory ships out 10,000 units monthly.

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9. Pair 8: Maximize vs. Minimize

Meaning

• Maximize = to make as large or as great as possible
• Minimize = to make as small or as little as possible

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	The goal is to maximize profits.	Increase to the highest point.
2	We must minimize costs to stay competitive.	Reduce to the lowest point.
3	Maximize your strengths in the presentation.	Make the most of.
4	Minimize risks by diversifying.	Reduce risk.
5	The company wants to maximize shareholder value.	Financial goal.
6	Use technology to minimize errors.	Reduce mistakes.
7	She maximizes her time by multitasking.	Use time fully.
8	Minimize distractions while working.	Reduce distractions.
9	The CEO aims to maximize efficiency.	Highest output per input.
10	We should minimize waste in production.	Reduce waste.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Maximize	make as large as possible	সর্বাধিক করা
Minimize	make as small as possible	সর্বনিম্ন করা
Efficiency	doing things well without waste	দক্ষতা
Diversify	spread risk	বৈচিত্র্য আনা
Profit	financial gain	মুনাফা

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Make the most of	maximize	Make the most of every opportunity.
Keep down	minimize	Keep down costs.
Cut down	reduce	Cut down on waste.

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10. Pair 9: Expand vs. Contract

Meaning

• Expand = to become larger or more extensive
• Contract = to become smaller or shrink

Note: When “contract” is a verb, the stress is on the second syllable: con-TRACT. When it is a noun (a legal agreement), stress is on the first syllable: CON-tract.

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	The economy expanded by 3% last year.	Became bigger.
2	The economy contracted during the recession.	Became smaller.
3	The company plans to expand into new markets.	Grow.
4	The business contracted after losing its main client.	Shrink.
5	Metals expand when heated.	Physical growth.
6	Muscles contract and relax.	Physical shrinking.
7	We are expanding our product line.	Increase variety.
8	The tech sector is contracting due to layoffs.	Decrease.
9	Expand your network to find new opportunities.	Grow connections.
10	The universe is expanding.	Cosmological expansion.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Expand	become larger	প্রসারিত হওয়া
Contract	become smaller	সংকুচিত হওয়া
Recession	economic decline	মন্দা
Layoff	job loss	ছাঁটাই
Network	group of contacts	নেটওয়ার্ক

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Branch out	expand into new areas	The company branched out into Asia.
Scale back	reduce in size	We scaled back operations.
Grow	expand	The business grew rapidly.
Shrink	contract	The market shrank last year.

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11. Pair 10: Include vs. Exclude

Meaning

• Include = to make someone or something part of a group or set
• Exclude = to deliberately leave someone or something out

8 Examples with Explanations

#	Example	Explanation
1	The report includes financial data.	Contains data.
2	The guest list excludes former employees.	Leaves them out.
3	Does the price include tax?	Ask about tax.
4	The package excludes meals.	Meals not included.
5	Please include me in the meeting invitation.	Add to list.
6	He was excluded from the email chain.	Left out.
7	The new policy includes remote workers.	Covers them.
8	The discount excludes sale items.	Not applicable.
9	She includes a cover letter with every application.	Adds.
10	The survey excludes people under 18.	Restricts.

Word Meaning Section

Word	English Meaning	Bengali Meaning
Include	make part of	অন্তর্ভুক্ত করা
Exclude	leave out	বাদ দেওয়া
Tax	money paid to government	কর
Package	set of items	প্যাকেজ
Survey	questionnaire	জরিপ

Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Leave out	exclude	Don’t leave out the important details.
Count in	include	Count me in for the trip.
Take into account	include in consideration	Take all factors into account.

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12. Grammar Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement and Tense Usage

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule	Example
Singular subject + singular verb	The economy expands.
Plural subject + plural verb	Prices increase.
Third person singular adds -s	She borrows; he lends.

Tense Usage

These verbs can be used in all tenses.

Tense	Example (increase)
Present simple	Sales increase every year.
Past simple	Sales increased last year.
Present perfect	Sales have increased steadily.
Future simple	Sales will increase next quarter.
Continuous	The economy is expanding.

Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative Forms

Form	Example (hire)
Affirmative	The company hires new staff.
Negative	The company does not hire new staff.
Interrogative	Does the company hire new staff?
Past affirmative	They hired ten workers.
Past negative	They did not hire anyone.
Past interrogative	Did they hire anyone?

5 WH-Question Examples with Answers

#	WH Question	Possible Answer
1	Why did profits decrease?	Profits decreased because of higher costs.
2	Who was promoted to manager?	Sarah was promoted to manager.
3	When should we deposit the cheque?	Please deposit it by Friday.
4	How can we maximize our budget?	We can maximize it by cutting waste.
5	What does the price exclude?	The price excludes delivery charges.

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13. Sentence Patterns for Business Communication

Pattern 1: Subject + Verb + Object

Example
The bank lends money.
He deposited the cheque.
We export software.

Pattern 2: Subject + Verb + Adverb

Example
Sales increased dramatically.
Costs decreased slightly.
The team expanded rapidly.

Pattern 3: It is important to + Verb

Example
It is important to maximize profits.
It is essential to minimize risks.
It is wise to save money.

Pattern 4: Be + Past Participle (Passive)

Example
She was promoted last month.
He was dismissed after the review.
The goods were imported from China.

Pattern 5: Verb + Prepositional Phrase

Example
Deposit money into the account.
Withdraw cash from the ATM.
Borrow funds from the bank.
Lend money to customers.

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14. Special Tips for Learners

Tip 1: Learn Opposites in Pairs

Always study the pair together. It helps memory.

Tip 2: Use the Words in Business Contexts

Write sentences like: “We plan to increase sales and decrease costs.”

Tip 3: Pay Attention to Formality

Use fire informally, dismiss formally. In business writing, prefer dismiss.

Tip 4: Practice Pronunciation of “Contract”

Verb: con-TRACT; Noun: CON-tract.

Tip 5: Understand the Direction

• Increase/expand/import = movement in/up
• Decrease/contract/export = movement out/down

Tip 6: Make Flashcards

Front: Verb A; Back: Verb B + example sentence.

Tip 7: Listen for These Verbs in News

Business news frequently uses these opposites.

Tip 8: Use “Minimize/Maximize” in Professional Plans

It shows analytical thinking.

Tip 9: Don’t Confuse “Borrow” and “Lend”

The borrower receives; the lender gives.

Tip 10: Practice with Real Data

Describe company reports or economic trends using these verbs.

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15. Tips for Competitive Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, GRE

IELTS

Skill	How It Is Tested	Strategy
Writing Task 1	Describing trends (increase/decrease, expand/contract)	Use precise verbs for data description.
Speaking Part 3	Discussing business and economy	Use opposites to show range.
Listening	Understanding business conversations	Recognize verb pairs.

TOEFL

Skill	How It Is Tested	Strategy
Listening	Lectures on business and economics	Identify increase/decrease, import/export.
Speaking	Summarizing business information	Use accurate verb pairs.
Writing	Integrated tasks	Demonstrate varied business vocabulary.

GRE

Skill	How It Is Tested	Strategy
Analytical Writing	Discussing economic or business topics	Use precise verbs for clarity.
Text Completion	Vocabulary in context	Know meanings of opposites.

Exam Rules

• Use increase/decrease and expand/contract for data and trends.
• Use import/export for trade discussions.
• Use hire/dismiss appropriately.
• Avoid slang (fire) in formal writing; use dismiss.
• Distinguish borrow and lend clearly.
• Use maximize/minimize in recommendation tasks.

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16. Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct verb from the pair.

1. The company plans to ______ (increase / decrease) its workforce by 10%.
2. She was ______ (promoted / demoted) to senior manager.
3. The bank ______ (hired / dismissed) three new tellers.
4. Please ______ (deposit / withdraw) $500 into my account.
5. We should ______ (save / spend) more for retirement.
6. Consumers often ______ (borrow / lend) money to buy homes.
7. Bangladesh ______ (imports / exports) garments to many countries.
8. The goal is to ______ (maximize / minimize) profits.
9. The economy ______ (expanded / contracted) during the boom.
10. The price ______ (includes / excludes) delivery charges.

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the best answer.

1. Which pair means to give someone a job and to take away a job?
   a) promote/demote
   b) hire/fire
   c) save/spend
   d) borrow/lend
2. What does “withdraw” mean?
   a) Put money into bank
   b) Take money out of bank
   c) Save money
   d) Lend money
3. Which verb means to bring goods into a country?
   a) export
   b) import
   c) expand
   d) include
4. Which verb means to make something smaller?
   a) increase
   b) expand
   c) contract
   d) maximize
5. If a company reduces its costs, it tries to ______ them.
   a) maximize
   b) minimize
   c) include
   d) expand
6. The bank ______ money to businesses.
   a) borrows
   b) lends
   c) spends
   d) withdraws
7. “He was dismissed” means he was ______.
   a) promoted
   b) hired
   c) fired
   d) lent
8. Which word is a noun when pronounced with stress on the first syllable?
   a) contract (verb)
   b) contract (noun)
   c) increase
   d) decrease
9. “The price includes tax” means tax is ______.
   a) excluded
   b) added
   c) contracted
   d) withdrawn
10. Which pair refers to making the most and the least of something?
    a) import/export
    b) save/spend
    c) maximize/minimize
    d) include/exclude

Exercise 3: Sentence Transformation / Error Correction

Rewrite each sentence correctly.

1. He was demoted to a higher position.
2. The company fired her, so she got a new job.
3. I need to borrow you $100.
4. Sales decreased by 10% means sales went up.
5. The economy contracted means it grew.
6. Please include him from the meeting.
7. They import goods out of the country.
8. The bank withdraws money to customers.
9. We want to minimize our profits.
10. He expanded his expenses.

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17. Answer Key with Explanations

Exercise 1 Answers

1. increase
   Explanation: Workforce is growing.
2. promoted
   Explanation: Senior manager is a higher role.
3. hired
   Explanation: Took on new employees.
4. deposit
   Explanation: Putting money in.
5. save
   Explanation: Keeping for future.
6. borrow
   Explanation: Consumers receive money.
7. exports
   Explanation: Sending goods out.
8. maximize
   Explanation: Want profits as high as possible.
9. expanded
   Explanation: Boom means growth.
10. includes
    Explanation: Delivery charges are part of price.

Exercise 2 Answers

1. b) hire/fire
   Explanation: Give/take away job.
2. b) Take money out of bank
   Explanation: Withdraw = take out.
3. b) import
   Explanation: Bring in.
4. c) contract
   Explanation: Become smaller.
5. b) minimize
   Explanation: Reduce to smallest.
6. b) lends
   Explanation: Bank gives money.
7. c) fired
   Explanation: Dismissed = fired.
8. b) contract (noun)
   Explanation: Stress on first syllable.
9. b) added
   Explanation: Included = tax is added.
10. c) maximize/minimize
    Explanation: Make most/least.

Exercise 3 Answers

1. He was promoted to a higher position.
   Explanation: Demoted is lower.
2. The company hired her, so she got a new job.
   Explanation: Fired is losing job.
3. I need to borrow $100 from you.
   Explanation: Borrow from; lend to.
4. Sales increased by 10% means sales went up.
   Explanation: Decreased = down.
5. The economy expanded means it grew.
   Explanation: Contracted = shrank.
6. Please exclude him from the meeting.
   Explanation: Exclude = leave out.
7. They export goods out of the country.
   Explanation: Import = bring in.
8. The bank lends money to customers.
   Explanation: Withdraw = take out.
9. We want to maximize our profits.
   Explanation: Minimize = reduce.
10. He expanded his business.
    Explanation: Expenses are reduced, not expanded.

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18. Conclusion

Mastering opposite business verbs is an efficient way to build professional vocabulary. These ten pairs cover essential actions in business: finance, employment, trade, and strategy.

Key points to remember:

• Increase/decrease and expand/contract describe size and trends.
• Promote/demote and hire/dismiss describe employment changes.
• Deposit/withdraw, save/spend, borrow/lend describe money actions.
• Import/export describe international trade.
• Maximize/minimize and include/exclude describe decision-making and scope.

By practicing these verbs in context, you will communicate with greater precision and professionalism, and you will be better prepared for exams like IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE.

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Call to Action: Create ten sentences—one for each verb pair—describing real or hypothetical business situations. Practice saying them aloud. Then, write a short paragraph summarizing a company’s quarterly performance using at least five of these verb pairs. Review your work with a teacher or study partner.