The aim of this work to investigate the changes in total phenolic content and free radical scavenging abilities against the stable 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH assay) during soaking and germination of three cereal grains; wheat (Sids 1), corn (H310 White) and sorghum (Giza 15) grown in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Total phenolic compounds in wheat, sorghum and corn were 381.4, 288.5 and 204 mg/100g, respectively. Soaking and germination processes showed significant decrease in total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Losses of total phenols during soaking for 12 hour were 15.18, 14.9 and 5.96% of its initial values in raw materials, in wheat, sorghum and corn, respectively. Germination process for 48 hour led to decrement of total phenols ranged from 39.3-43.95% in investigated cereal grains of its initial values in raw materials. Sorghum had higher antioxidant activity than wheat and corn, it was 37.28, 34.44, 33.05% in raw materials, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased during soaking and germination processes. Losses was 6.85, 13.49 and 16.84% during soaking while in Germination DPPH activity decreased to 30.79, 21.6, 20.12% of its initial values after germination for 48 hour in wheat, corn and sorghum, respectively. Gross chemical composition for the whole grains was studied.