match

¹ American  

[mach] / mætʃ /

noun

1. a slender piece of wood, cardboard, or other flammable material tipped with a chemical substance that produces fire when rubbed on a rough or chemically prepared surface.

2. a wick, cord, or the like, prepared to burn at an even rate, used to fire cannon, gunpowder, etc.

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match ² American  

[mach] / mætʃ /

noun

1. a person or thing that equals or resembles another in some respect.

   Synonyms:

   replica, facsimile, duplicate, copy, clone, carbon copy, twin, spit and image, picture, look-alike, likeness, image, double, doppelgänger, dead ringer

2. a person or thing able to cope with another as an equal.

   to meet one's match.

   Synonyms:

   rival, peer, parallel, like, equivalent, equal, counterpart, coequal

3. a person or thing that is an exact counterpart of another.

   Synonyms:

   mate, half, fellow, companion

4. a corresponding, suitably associated, or harmonious pair.

   The blue hat and green scarf were not a good match.

5. Sports.

   1. a game or contest in which two or more contestants or teams oppose each other.

      a soccer match.

   2. a contest consisting of a specific number of sets.

      a tennis match.

   Synonyms:

   contest, competition, bout, game

6. any contest or competition that resembles a sports match.

   a shouting match.

7. a person considered with regard to suitability as a partner in marriage.

   a good match.

8. a matrimonial union; marriage.

   Neither family approved of the match.

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verb (used with object)

• matches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• matched,
  past participle,  past
• matching
  present participle

1. to equal; be equal to.

   My talent does not match his.

2. to be the match or counterpart of; harmonize with.

   The skirt matches the jacket perfectly.

3. to cause to correspond; adapt.

   to match one's actions to one's beliefs.

4. to fit together, as two things.

   to match the pieces of a puzzle.

5. to fit (boards) together, side by side or end to end, with a tongue-and-groove or rabbeted joint.

6. to procure or produce an equal to.

   Try though we did, we could not match our first success.

7. to place in opposition or conflict.

   I matched my wits against his strength.

8. to provide with an adversary or competitor of equal power.

   The teams were well matched.

9. to encounter as an adversary with equal power.

10. to prove a match for.

11. to unite in marriage; procure a matrimonial alliance for.

12. to toss (coins) into the air and then compare the matching or contrasting sides that land facing up, as for determining the winner of a bet.

13. to match coins with.

verb (used without object)

• matches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• matched,
  past participle,  past
• matching
  present participle

1. to be equal or suitable.

   Our talents match.

2. to correspond; be of corresponding size, shape, color, pattern, etc..

   These gloves do not match.

3. Archaic. to ally oneself in marriage.

match ¹ British  

/ mætʃ /

noun

1. a formal game or sports event in which people, teams, etc, compete to win

2. a person or thing able to provide competition for another

   she's met her match in talking ability

3. a person or thing that resembles, harmonizes with, or is equivalent to another in a specified respect

   that coat is a good match for your hat

4. a person or thing that is an exact copy or equal of another

5. 1. a partnership between a man and a woman, as in marriage

   2. an arrangement for such a partnership

6. a person regarded as a possible partner, as in marriage

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verb

1. to fit (parts) together

   to match the tongue and groove of boards

2. to resemble, harmonize with, correspond to, or equal (one another or something else)

   the skirt matches your shoes well

3. to compare in order to determine which is the superior

   they matched wits

4. to adapt so as to correspond with

   to match hope with reality

5. to arrange a competition between

6. to find a match for

7. electronics to connect (two circuits) so that their impedances are equal or are equalized by a coupling device, to produce a maximum transfer of energy

match ² British  

/ mætʃ /

noun

1. a thin strip of wood or cardboard tipped with a chemical that ignites by friction when rubbed on a rough surface or a surface coated with a suitable chemical See safety match

2. a length of cord or wick impregnated with a chemical so that it burns slowly. It is used to fire cannons, explosives, etc

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match Idioms  

1. see meet one's match; mix and match; whole ball of wax (shooting match).

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• matcher
  noun
• matchable
  adjective
• matching
  adjective
• unmatchable
  adjective
• unmatched
  adjective
• unmatching
  adjective
• well-matched
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• matching
  present
• matched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• match
  simple
• matches
  simple
• have matched
  perfect
• has matched
  perfect
• am matching
  progressive
• are matching
  progressive
• is matching
  progressive
• have been matching
  perfect progressive
• has been matching
  perfect progressive

Past

• matched
  simple
• had matched
  perfect
• was matching
  progressive
• were matching
  progressive
• had been matching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will match
  simple
• will have matched
  perfect
• will be matching
  progressive
• will have been matching
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of match¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English meccche, macche “wick,” from Middle French meiche, Old French me(s)che, from unattested Vulgar Latin mesca “lamp wick,” variant of Latin myxa, from Greek mýxa “mucus, nostril, nozzle of a lamp”

Origin of match²

First recorded before 900; Middle English ma(c)che, me(c)che “husband, wife, mate, equal,” Old English gemæcca, gemecca “mate, fellow, consort”

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Explanation

A match is a competition or game, like a soccer match. Another type of match places people together instead of opposing one another. Perhaps you'll find your perfect match on an online dating web site. You might cheer at a boxing match or challenge your friend to a tennis match. Another kind of match is a pair of things that go together or are equal: "His zombie costume was a perfect match with his best friend's." There's also the match you strike to start a fire: "She lit the candle with a match." This match has a Greek root meaning "lamp wick," while other matches come from the Proto-Germanic gamakon, "fitting together."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

match matches matched matching

We are going to match everybody’s expertise and probably exceed it.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

But he described the match as "great fighting, conducted with mutual respect".

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

An enthusiastic crowd of approximately 15,000 followed the team to Carson for the “Decision Day” match.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

"I was thinking afterwards that maybe that's the way to go - be a bit more relaxed before the match."

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

I’m nothing like those cheerleader girls that guys like him go for, with their perfect hair and makeup, shoes that match their shirts.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

And wherever he’s gone, he has created indelible moments out of nowhere with a mustache that matches his bravado.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

Digital labels can also help ensure the price on the shelf matches the price at checkout.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

The Black Cats have won just one of their first nine league matches and lost 3-1 away to newly promoted Coventry on Saturday.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

McDermott - with no mid-season international or warm-up matches to fine-tune a style of play - has produced improvements.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

They had ample food, guns, matches, and dogs.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

In 1950 he guided City College to both the National College Athletic Association and the National Invitation Tournament, or NIT, championships—a feat no other men’s college team has matched.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

“His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity, which have been evident throughout his 37 years as host of ‘Inside the NBA.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

Using a statistical method called Bayesian weighting, the researchers assigned greater importance to models that more closely matched the historical evidence.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

In completing the set of a hundred in a T20, double hundred in an ODI and triple century in a Test, Brook has matched the previously unique treble of West Indies' legend Chris Gayle.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

She was in the middle of trying to do her hair so it matched Ayanna’s.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Around 70,000 security personnel will be deployed on Saturday, matching the number mobilised a week ago, as authorities seek to avert a repeat of the October 17 unrest.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

In a February 2024 poll, 28% of U.S. respondents told Gallup that immigration was the country’s most important problem – matching the largest share since tracking began in 1981.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

Instead of matching the thread colour to the garment, they make the mend highly decorative using geometric patterns in large white stitching.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

The plenum promoted 10 alternates to full membership—nearly matching the 11 such promotions approved at a plenum last year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Regan shrugged and turned her attention back to O’Reilly and his description of matching knitwear common to that time period.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

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Related Words

• bout
• contest
• event
• game
• race
• test
• trial

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