A List of 830 Compound Words—Plus, What Even Is a Compound Word?

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English teacher Noah Taxis explains what open, closed, and hyphenated compound words are (with examples)

Co-authored by Noah Taxis and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: December 1, 2025 Fact Checked

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Closed Compound Words

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Open Compound Words

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Hyphenated Compound Words

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Sometimes in the English language, two or more words are combined to create one new word. These are called compound words, and there are three different types of them: closed, open, and hyphenated. In this article, we’ll explain what compound words are, go over each of the three different types, and provide a long list of examples of compound words with help from English teachers. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

What are some examples of compound words?

English teacher Noah Taxis explains that a compound word refers to any word that’s made up of 2 separate words, and says there are 3 common types of compound words:

Closed: Anybody, breakfast, checkout, daylight, everywhere, fingerprint, gentleman, inside, nowhere, payday, rainbow, waterfall.
Open: Cell phone, common sense, high school, hot dog, living room, post office, roller coaster, video game, washing machine.
Hyphenated: Able-bodied, check-in, eye-opener, far-fetched, long-term, mother-in-law, runner-up, two-dimensional, up-to-date, well-being.

Section 1 of 4:

Closed Compound Words

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Closed compound words have no spaces between them. A compound word is “any word that’s made up of two separate words,” says Taxis, and specifically, a closed compound word has no space between the 2 component words. He gives “bedroom” and “shoehorn” as common examples.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Noah Taxis
English Teacher

Expert Interview} Closed compound words can be pretty much any part of speech. For example, they can be nouns (desktop, fingerprint), verbs (daydream, proofread), adjectives (undercooked, overstuffed), and adverbs (sometimes, anywhere).^{[2]
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Research source} Here’s a list of examples:
- A: Aftereffect, afternoon, afterthought, airbag, aircraft, airline, airplane, airport, airtight, another, anybody, anyhow, anymore, anyone, anyplace, anything, anytime, anywhere, applesauce, armchair, armpit, arrowhead, artwork, awestruck
- B: Background, backpack, backstab, backyard, barcode, barefoot, baseball, basketball, bathroom, bathtub, battlefield, bedroom^{[3]
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  Expert Interview}, bedtime, beehive, beforehand, bellyache, benchmark, billboard, birthday, bittersweet, blackberry, blackboard, blacklist, blackout, blockbuster, blueberry, bodyguard, bookshelf, bookworm, brainstorm, brainwash, breadcrumb, breakdown, breakfast, breakout, breakthrough, breakup, briefcase, bulldozer, businessman, buttermilk, bygone, bypass
- C: Callback, campfire, candlestick, cannot, cardboard, carefree, careless, caretaker, carpool, chairman, checkerboard, checkmate, checkup, childlike, childproof, classmate, classroom, clockwise, coastline, cobweb, coldhearted, cookbook, copycat, copyright, corkscrew, cornbread, countdown, counterattack, counterbalance, countryside, courthouse, courtyard, cowboy, crossroads, crosswalk, crossword, cupboard, cupcake, cutoff, cutthroat
- D: Daredevil, dashboard, database, daybreak, daydream, daylight, daytime, deadline, desktop, dimwit, dishcloth, dishwasher, doghouse, doorbell, doorknob, doorman, doorstop, doorway, downcast, downfall, downhill, download, downplay, downpour, downright, downscale, downsize, downstairs, downstream, downtown, downtrodden, downward, downwind, dragonfly, drainpipe, dressmaker, driftwood, driveway, dropout, drugstore, drumroll, drumstick, dugout, dumbbell, dustpan
- E: Earache, eardrum, earlobe, earmark, earring, earthquake, earthworm, eavesdrop, egghead, eggshell, elsewhere, evergreen, everlasting, everybody, everyday, everyone, everything, everywhere, eyeball, eyebrow, eyesight, eyewitness
- F: Fallout, fanfare, farewell, farmhouse, farsighted, fingernail, fingerprint, fingertip, firearm, firefighter, firefly, fireplace, fireproof, firsthand, fishbowl, fisherman, fishnet, flagpole, flashlight, floorboard, flowerpot, foghorn, folklore, foolproof, football, footnote, footwear, forecast, foreshadow, framework, freeland, freshwater, frostbite, fruitcake
- G: Gallbladder, gearshift, gemstone, gentleman, ghostwriter, gingerbread, globetrotter, goalkeeper, goalpost, goldfish, goldmine, goodnight, grandchild, grandfather, grandmother, grapevine, grasshopper, graveyard, greenhouse, gridlock, groundbreaking, groundwork, guideline, gunfire
- H: Hairbrush, haircut, hairdresser, hairline, halfhearted, halfway, handbag, handbook, handcuff, handmade, handprint, handshake, handwriting, handyman, hangout, hardware, hardworking, headache, headfirst, headline, headphones, headquarters, heartbeat, heartburn, herself, hideaway, highway, hijack, hillside, himself, hindsight, homecoming, homeland, homemade, homesick, homework, horseback, horsepower, hotline, hourglass, household, housekeeper, housewarming, however, humankind
- I: Iceberg, inchworm, income, indoor, inkblot, inland, inlet, inmate, inside, instep, into, inward, itself
- J: Jackknife, jackpot, jawbone, jawbreaker, jellybean, jellyfish, joystick, jumpsuit
- K: Keepsake, keyboard, keyhole, keyword, kickoff, killjoy, kindhearted, knapsack, kneecap, knockout
- L: Ladybug, lakeside, landfall, landlord, landmark, landowner, landslide, laughingstock, lawnmower, lawsuit, layover, leapfrog, leftover, letdown, levelheaded, lifeguard, lifelong, lifestyle, lifetime, liftoff, lightheaded, lighthouse, lightweight, limelight, lineup, lipstick, lookout, loophole, loudmouth, lovesick, lukewarm
- M: Mailbox, mailman, mainland, mainstream, makeover, makeshift, makeup, manhunt, mankind, manpower, marketplace, mastermind, matchmaker, maybe, mealtime, meanwhile, meatball, milkshake, mockup, moonbeam, moonlight, motorcycle, mousetrap, mouthpiece, myself
- N: Namesake, nearsighted, necklace, neckline, necktie, network, nevertheless, newborn, newcomer, newsletter, newspaper, newsworthy, nightfall, nightgown, nightlight^{[4]
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  Expert Interview}, nightmare, nobleman, nobody, northeast, northwest, nosebleed, nosedive, notebook, noteworthy, nothing, nowhere, nutshell
- O: Offline, offspring, oneself, ongoing, online, onlooker, onset, onto, onward, otherwise, ourselves, outburst, outcast, outcome, outcry, outdated, outdo, outdoor, outfit, outlaw, outlet, outlook, outnumber, output, outrage, outrank, outrun, outside, outsider, outsmart, outspoken, outstanding, overachiever, overall, overboard, overcome, overcompensate, overcrowded, overdo, overdrive, overflow, overhear, overhead, overkill, overlap, overlook, overnight, overpower, overseas, oversight, overthrow, overturn, overworked
- P: Pancake, paperback, paperweight, paperwork, parkway, passageway, passerby, passkey, passport, password, patchwork, pathway, payback, payroll, peacekeeper, peppermint, pickpocket, pigeonhole, piggyback, pigtail, pillowcase, pinpoint, pipeline, playground, pocketbook, policeman, popcorn, postcard, pothole, potluck, powerhouse, praiseworthy, printout, proofread, pushover
- Q: Quarterback, quartermaster, quickfire, quicksand, quicksilver
- R: Racecar, racehorse, racetrack, railroad, rainbow, raincoat, raindrop, rainfall, rainstorm, rattlesnake, redhead, redwood, reindeer, ringleader, riverbed, roadside, rockslide, roommate, rosebud, roughhouse, roundup, rowboat, runaway, runoff, runway
- S: Sailboat, salesman, saltwater, sandbox, saucepan, sawdust, scarecrow, scrapbook, screwdriver, seafood, seasick, secondhand, setback, shellfish, shipwreck, shoehorn^{[5]
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  Expert Interview}, shoelace, shopkeeper, shortbread, shorthand, showoff, sidekick, sideline, sidetrack, sidewalk, sideways, sightseeing, silverware, skateboard, skyscraper, sleepover, slingshot, snapshot, snowball, snowflake, softball, somebody, someday, somehow, someone, someplace, something, sometime, somewhere, soundproof, soundtrack, spaceship, spotlight, springtime, staircase, standby, starlight, startup, stopwatch, storyteller, streamline, suitcase, sunburn, sundress, sunlight, sunset, sunshine, superhero, supermarket, supernatural, surfboard, sweatshirt, sweetheart, swimsuit
- T: Tablecloth, tablespoon, tailspin, takeaway, takeoff, takeout, takeover, tapeworm, teacup, teammate, teapot, teardrop, teaspoon, telltale, textbook, themselves, throughout, thunderstorm, tightrope, timeline, timeout, toadstool, toenail, tombstone, toolbox, toothbrush, toothpaste, topknot, touchdown, trademark, tradeoff, treadmill, treetop, troublemaker, trustworthy, tryout, turnout, turnover, turtleneck, typewriter
- U: Underachiever, underarm, undercook, undercover, undercut, underdog, undergrown, understand, underwater, underwear, upbeat, upcoming, update, upgrade, uphill, uphold, upkeep, uplift, upload, upright, uprising, uproar, uproot, upstage, upstairs, uptown, upward, username
- V: Viewpoint, vineyard, volleyball
- W: Waistline, walkway, wallpaper, warehouse, warfare, warmup, washcloth, wasteland, waterfall, watermelon, waterproof, wavelength, wayside, weatherman, weekday, weekend, weightlifter, wetsuit, whatever, wheelchair, whenever, whichever, whirlpool, whirlwind, wholehearted, whomever, widespread, wildfire, wildlife, windfall, windowpane, windpipe, windswept, wingspan, wintertime, witchcraft, withdraw, withhold, within, without, woodland, woodwork, workday, workout, workshop, worldwide, worthwhile
- Y: Yardstick, yearbook, yellowtail, yourself
- Z: Zigzag, zookeeper
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Noah Taxis is a high school English teacher based in San Francisco, California, with over 4 years of teaching experience.

Ronnie Ramos is an English language teacher with over 15 years of experience. She shares lessons and insights on YouTube @engvidRonnie to 4+ million subscribers.

Diane Stubbs is a high school English teacher based in Dover, Delaware, with over 25 years of teaching experience.

Section 2 of 4:

Open Compound Words

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Open compound words feature 2 words with a space between them. Taxis explains that open compound words are “written with a space in the middle, like ‘high school’ or ‘hot dog.’”^{[6]
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Noah Taxis
English Teacher

Expert Interview} Even though they may look like two separate words, they actually function like one in a sentence, says English language teacher Ronnie Ramos.^{[7]
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Ronnie Ramos
English Language Teacher

Expert Interview} For example, if you wanted to make a compound word plural, you would only add an “s” to the second word, not the first. (Ex: You’d say, “I want to play video games,” not “I want to play videos games.”) Or, if an open compound word is a verb, you’d only change one word in the group to make it past tense, not both. (Ex: You’d say, “I found out,” not “I founded outed.”).^{[8]
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- Ask out
- Black eye
- Box cutter
- Box spring
- Cell phone
- Close call
- Cold sore
- Common sense
- Corn dog
- Cotton candy
- Dining room
- Down payment
- Family room
- Find out
- First aid
- Full moon
- French fry
- Heart attack
- High school^{[9]
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- Hot dog^{[10]
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- Ice cream
- Life jacket
- Living room
- No one
- Peanut butter
- Post office
- Prime minister
- Real estate
- Remote control
- Report card
- Rib cage
- Role model
- Roller coaster
- Salad dressing
- School bus
- Search engine
- Slam dunk
- Sleeping bag
- Test drive
- Time capsule
- Vacuum cleaner
- Vending machine
- Video game
- Waiting room
- Washing machine

Section 3 of 4:

Hyphenated Compound Words

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Hyphenated compound words are separated by a hyphen. Taxis agrees, saying, “Hyphenated compound words…have a hyphen in between, like ‘old-fashioned’ or ‘check-in.’”^{[11]
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Noah Taxis
English Teacher

Expert Interview} In this case, “A hyphen is used to join words together,” says English teacher Diane Stubbs. Stubbs lists examples like “son-in-law” and “pick-me-up,” and explains that they are “operating as a single entity,” even though they’re made up of more than one word.^{[12]
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Diane Stubbs
English Teacher

Expert Interview} If you want to make a hyphenated compound word plural, the “s” sometimes comes at the end of the first word (fathers-in-law), but other times, it comes at the end of the last word (know-it-alls).
- Brother-in-law
- Check-in^{[13]
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- Clean-cut
- Daughter-in-law
- Editor-in-chief
- Empty-handed
- Eye-opener
- Far-fetched
- Father-in-law
- Fire-resistant
- Free-for-all
- Full-time
- Good-looking
- High-speed
- Know-how
- Know-it-all
- Life-size
- Long-distance
- Long-term
- Merry-go-round
- Mind-blowing
- Mother-in-law
- Nitty-gritty
- Old-fashioned^{[14]
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- One-dimensional
- One-sided
- Over-the-counter
- Part-time
- Runner-up
- Run-in
- Self-esteem
- Sister-in-law
- Strong-arm
- Topsy-turvy
- Toss-up
- Two-dimensional
- Two-sided
- Up-to-date
- Well-being
- Word-of-mouth
- World-class
A compound adjective may sometimes be hyphenated. It depends on its placement in a sentence. The general rule is: if the adjective comes before the noun it modifies, you hyphenate, but if the adjective comes after, you don’t add hyphens. E.g., “I need an up-to-date schedule” vs. “I need a schedule that’s up to date.”