easy
Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
What does Capital mean?
Capital can mean a government city, an uppercase letter, or money and resources used to create value.
Dictionary definition
A city where a government is based; an important centre; an uppercase letter; wealth or resources used to create more value; or the top of a column. As an adjective, capital can mean main, uppercase, financial, punishable by death, or, in old-fashioned British use, excellent.
Example sentences
Capital in a sentence
easy
Begin the name Maya with a capital letter.
medium
The bakery raised enough capital to buy a larger oven.
medium
The town calls itself the blueberry capital of the region.
hard
The carved capital at the top of the stone column supports the structure above it.
medium
In legal writing, a capital offence is one that can be punished by death.
hard
In an old British story, a character calls a clever plan a capital idea.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice capital in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Commonly confused words
Capital or capitol?
Compare the meanings, then choose a word for each new sentence.
Capital
A main city of a country or region; also an uppercase letter or resources such as money.
In a sentence Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
Capitol
A building where a legislature meets, especially in the United States.
In a sentence The visitors toured the state capitol.
Spot the difference Capital has several meanings, including a main city and an uppercase letter. Capitol names a legislative building, especially in the United States.
Which word fits?
Choose capital or capitol for each blank. Say your answer, then check why it fits.
1Begin the sentence with a ___ letter.
Check answer 1
capital — The sentence means an uppercase letter.
2The state lawmakers met inside the ___ building.
Check answer 2
capitol — The sentence names a legislative building.
Make it your ownTry the word in a sentence about your day.
Write a sentence with capitalQuick practice
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Practice the meaning of Capital
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
Which list contains three common meanings of capital?
Capital has several distinct meanings, so context is essential.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses capital in its finance sense?
Here capital means money or productive resources used by an organization.
Practice 3
Complete the sentence: The lawmakers met inside the ____, located in the state capital.
In U.S. usage, capitol with an o names a legislative building; capital names the city.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
Pronunciation coach
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Capital
Voice settings
Sounds like
kap · ih · tuhl · strongest beat: kap
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordCapital.
Partnoun, adjective.
MeaningCapital means Capital can mean a government city, an uppercase letter, or money and resources used to create value.
ExampleExample: Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- kap · ih · tuhl
- Strongest beat
- kap
- Ending
- tuhl
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on kap.
Your turn
Say Capital
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Nice work—you practiced capital.
Synonyms
Words like Capital
Antonyms
Opposite words
Synonym practice
Want to practice capital synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "Use an uppercase letter at the start of the sentence," then compare close word choices. Practice capital synonyms.
Word family
Capital word family
Base word
capital
noun
capitals
More than one capital city, capital letter, or architectural capital.
verb
capitalize
To write with a capital letter, or to use something for advantage.
adjective
capitalized
Written with an initial capital letter or recorded as capital in finance.
noun
capitalization
The use of capital letters, or the financial value or funding structure of a business.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Capital
Hint for students
Look for government, writing, money and resources, importance, architecture, or old-fashioned praise before choosing a meaning.
Common mix-up
Capital and capitol sound alike. Capital covers cities, letters, money, and other meanings; capitol with an o refers to a legislative building, especially in the United States.
Try it in class or at home
Give groups six capital sentence cards. Students label each city, letter, finance, important centre, architecture, or legal, then replace capital with a qualified synonym where possible.
Teacher prompt
Use three model sentences—"Regina is a capital," "Regina starts with a capital," and "The company needs capital." Ask students which context clue identifies each meaning.
Word Wheels
Practice Capital with a Word Wheel
Explore 2 wheels that include this word.
1 of 2
Word Wheel
Practice with the Geography & Places Words Wheel
Spin this researched Geography & Places wheel to compare maps, political areas, regions, cities, borders, and Earth coordinates in context.
Word Wheel
Practice with the School Words Wheel
This word is part of WordHive's researched School Words collection. Spin the complete wheel to review meanings, discuss classroom connections, and practice using school vocabulary in sentences.
Learning activities
Practice Capital and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice CAPITAL” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
Practice CAPITAL
Sentence Builder
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Write a sentence with CAPITAL
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Spell Hive
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Vocabulary Match
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Match meanings
Explore · Context
Context Clue Challenge
Use sentence clues to choose the word that fits the meaning.
Use context clues
Practice CAPITAL
Synonym Search
Compare meanings in a question that includes CAPITAL.
Practice CAPITAL
Explore · Scramble
Scrambled Bees
Rebuild words from mixed-up letters for spelling practice.
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