by contrast

American

[bahy kon-trast] / ˌbaɪ ˈkɒn træst /

idiom

(used when making a comparison to something strikingly different from what was previously mentioned).

Theater costumes must be viewed from a distance; film, by contrast, is all about close-ups.

Etymology

Origin of by contrast

First recorded in 1780–90

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.

Osaka, by contrast, invited pressure on herself, being taken to deuce after leading 40-15 in three first-set service games and landing just 53% of her first serves.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Chimpanzees, by contrast, concentrated more of their effort on a smaller number of favored companions.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2026

ChatGPT, by contrast, produced its version in seconds.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

In industrial societies, by contrast, children represent a net cost, with resources flowing from parent to child.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Optical fibers, by contrast, can carry very high-frequency optical pulses on the same individual fiber without substantial signal degradation for many, many miles.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023