comparable
Americanadjective
-
capable of being compared; having features in common with something else to permit or suggest comparison.
He considered the Roman and British empires to be comparable.
- Synonyms:
- similar, equivalent, equal, like
-
worthy of comparison.
shops comparable to those on Fifth Avenue.
-
usable for comparison; similar.
We have no comparable data on Russian farming.
adjective
-
worthy of comparison
-
able to be compared (with)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of comparable
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin comparābilis, equivalent to comparā(re) “to compare ” + -bilis -ble
Explanation
Use comparable to describe two things that are alike. If you are offered two jobs with comparable salaries, you might take the one where the weather is nicer. Comparable can also mean exactly what it looks like: things you are “able” to “compare” are comparable. When you say that comparing two things is “like comparing apples and oranges,” you're saying the two things in question are not comparable. When you pronounce this word, remember that, unlike with “compare,” you emphasize the first syllable and swallow the first “a”: COM-pra-ble. The sounds of the two words aren't really comparable.
Vocabulary lists containing comparable
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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.
Chief Executive David Overton said The Cheesecake Factory’s comparable sales and traffic outperformed the broader casual dining industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Overall the fashion and leather goods division, which includes Gucci as well as Balenciaga, Brioni and McQueen, saw steady sales on a comparable basis.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
To put that in context, the comparable total for U.S. equity funds and ETFs is less than 1% of assets.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization after leases edged up to 3.53 billion euros, representing an increase of 3.9% on a comparable change basis or 10.4% on a historical change basis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
For Kino and Juana this was the morning of mornings of their lives, comparable only to the day when the baby had been born.
From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck
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.
