differ
Americanverb (used without object)
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differs,
present (3rd person singular)
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differed,
past participle, past
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differing
present participle
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to be unlike, dissimilar, or distinct in nature or qualities (often followed byfrom ).
The two writers differ greatly in their perceptions of the world. Each writer's style differs from that of another.
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to disagree in opinion, belief, etc.; be at variance; disagree (often followed by with orfrom ).
His business partner always differs with him.
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Obsolete. to dispute; quarrel.
verb
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(often foll by from) to be dissimilar in quality, nature, or degree (to); vary (from)
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to be at variance (with); disagree (with)
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dialect to quarrel or dispute
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to end an argument amicably while maintaining differences of opinion
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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differsimple
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differssimple
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have differedperfect
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has differedperfect
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am differingprogressive
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are differingprogressive
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is differingprogressive
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have been differingperfect progressive
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has been differingperfect progressive
Past
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differedsimple
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had differedperfect
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was differingprogressive
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were differingprogressive
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had been differingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of differ
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English differren “to distinguish,” from Middle French differer “to put off, distinguish,” Latin differre “to bear apart, scatter, be different,” from dif- dif- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry”
Explanation
To differ is to be different, or to vary. Your list of favorite movies might differ from your sister's, especially if you like romantic comedies and she likes action films. Gas prices differ from state to state, and sometimes even from one side of the street to the other. Opinions on politics can often differ within a single family, and sometimes food preferences differ so much that no one can decide where to eat lunch. The verb differ can mean simply "be unlike," but it can also mean "clash" or "dissent." The Latin root, differre, combines dis, "away from," with ferre, "carry."
Vocabulary lists containing differ
"Making Faces"
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Shut Up, This Is Serious
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Everyone agrees there should be higher standards—they merely differ on who gets to set them.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
The markup process in workflows such as contract review and negotiation, which takes a form known as redlining, can differ widely from one partner or senior attorney to another, according to Drumright.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
But prediction markets differ from polls in important ways.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
The company’s robotaxis differ from others already on the road because they do not have driver’s controls such as a steering wheel or gas pedal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
The historical authorities differ as to the number of sections a speech ought to be broken down into.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
While European liquidity broadly follows American trends, there is one sphere in which the liquidity cycle differs markedly: China, which is also travelling in the opposite direction, according to Howell.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
Hunnam is conscious that his turn in “Monster” differs from the men audiences have come to expect from him in shows like “Sons of Anarchy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Here’s how the Qatari jet differs from older Air Force Ones in service.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Chemical studies have shown that material from this dome and other recent volcanic activity differs from the magma released during the giant eruption.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
But Globalization 3.0 differs from the previous eras not only in how it is shrinking and flattening the world and in how it is empowering individuals.
From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman
When he was born, Jonah's physical appearance also raised questions - it differed greatly from both her own and the one described in Ditto's profile.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Before the NDIS, disability services differed across states.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
The findings suggest that additive manufacturing can produce cemented carbide molds without major defects, although the results differed depending on the fabrication arrangement.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026
That means the researchers found roughly 19,000 locations where sections of DNA differed because they had been duplicated, deleted, or rearranged.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Though my parents differed on many things, including the usefulness of Christianity to black people, they agreed on one thing: the power of witchcraft.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
"I recognise that a wildlife intervention is a complex and sensitive issue, and one on which there are strongly held and differing views."
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Tahoe straddles California and Nevada, plus several local counties and towns, often with differing guidelines on something as basic as stowing garbage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Airbus and Boeing presented differing outlooks for their commercial aircraft in coming years, as the aviation sector gathered near London for this week's Farnborough airshow.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
With the show’s upcoming launch, the goal of “Stuart” is not only to entertain audiences, but given its differing terrain from “Big Bang Theory” and its spinoffs, it will also surprise and feel unpredictable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
You know that Abrahamic religions are monotheistic and center on differing incarnations of Abraham.
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
