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by contrast

American  
[bahy kon-trast] / ˌbaɪ ˈkɒn træst /

idiom

  1. (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.

Quantum computing, by contrast, “just in its nature of being able to have infinite outcomes at each bit, can look at lots and lots of different outcomes at the same time,” Newman said.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

Pakistan, by contrast, said Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Frontier AI models, by contrast, were developed almost entirely inside private companies with private capital, and the state of the art remains there.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

With the Andes virus, by contrast, people probably need to be symptomatic to spread illness.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

How white by contrast the image came to me of my wife and children.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

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