compare

[ kuhm-pair ]

/ kəmˈpɛər /

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See synonyms for: compare / compared / comparing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), com·pared, com·par·ing.

to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences: to compare two pieces of cloth; to compare the governments of two nations.

to consider or describe as similar; liken: “Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?”

Grammar. to form or display the degrees of comparison of (an adjective or adverb).

verb (used without object), com·pared, com·par·ing.

to be worthy of comparison; be held equal: Dekker's plays cannot compare with Shakespeare's.

to appear in a similar standing: His recital certainly compares with the one he gave last year.

to differ in quality or accomplishment as specified: Their development compares poorly with that of neighbor nations.

to vie; rival: Can we all agree that most people want fair treatment and to compare favorably with others?

to make a comparison: The only way we can say which product is better is to compare.

noun

comparison: Her beauty is beyond compare.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about compare

compare and contrast. See entry at compare and contrast.

compare apples and / with / to oranges, to compare things that are fundamentally different from each other, usually used to suggest that the things cannot or should not be directly compared:Comparing per pupil costs in public schools to tuition costs in private schools is comparing apples and oranges.

compare apples to / with / and apples, to compare things that are similar to each other in a basic or fundamental way:Let’s compare apples to apples and look at the Professional package versus the Plus package.

compare notes. note (def. 32).

Origin of compare

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English comparen, from Latin comparāre “to place together, match,” verbal derivative of compar “alike, matching” (see com-, par¹); replacing Middle English comperen, from Old French comperer, from Latin

usage note for compare

The traditional rule about which preposition to use after compare states that compare should be followed by to when it points out likenesses or similarities between two apparently dissimilar persons or things: She compared his handwriting to knotted string. Compare should be followed by with, the rule says, when it points out similarities or differences between two entities of the same general class: The critic compared the paintings in the exhibit with magazine photographs. This rule is by no means always observed, however, even in formal speech and writing. The usual practice is to employ to for likenesses between members of different classes: A language may be compared to a living organism. But when the comparison is between members of the same category, both to and with are used: The article compares the Chicago of today with (or to ) the Chicago of the 1890s. Following the past participle compared, either to or with is used regardless of whether differences or similarities are stressed or whether the things compared belong to the same or different classes: Compared with (or to ) the streets of 18th-century London, New York's streets are models of cleanliness and order.

OTHER WORDS FROM compare

com·par·er, nounin·ter·com·pare, verb (used with object), in·ter·com·pared, in·ter·com·par·ing.pre·com·pare, verb (used with object), pre·com·pared, pre·com·par·ing.re·com·pare, verb (used with object), re·com·pared, re·com·par·ing.

un·com·pared, adjectivewell-com·pared, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH compare

compare , contrast

Words nearby compare

comparative philology, comparative psychology, comparative religion, comparative statement, comparator, compare, compare and contrast, compare notes, comparison, comparison microscope, comparison-shop

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use compare in a sentence

The post Community Power Leaders Steaming About SDG&E Price Cut Right Before Consumers Compare Rates appeared first on Voice of San Diego.
Community Power Leaders Steaming About SDG&E Price Cut Right Before Consumers Compare Rates|MacKenzie Elmer|August 15, 2022|Voice of San Diego
As well as investing, the platform allows customers to spend their cash via partnerships with impact-oriented compares, and offset their carbon footprint through a subscription.
Tickr, which allows retail investors to back Impact companies, secures $3.4M from Ada Ventures|Mike Butcher|February 5, 2021|TechCrunch
Get rid of excess moisture and up the starch content for crispiness beyond compare.
This crisp, classic potato latke recipe delivers a satisfying, celebratory crunch|Olga Massov|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
Compare that to Guardians of the Galaxy which opened in Korea on July 31.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And compare, as noted up top, to Secretary Clinton, who spent years quietly pushing a modernized Cuba policy.
Rubio’s Embargo Anger Plays to the Past|Michael Tomasky|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To compare, Lana Del Rey sold over 100,000 copies that same week.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You can even compare your results to the top golfers in the world.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Richard Hendriks in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now compare that to what happened when Sarah Palin's emails were released.
The IRS Email Double Standard|Matt Lewis|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here he can inspect what he sees, say the reflection of the face of his mother or nurse, and compare it at once with the original.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Pentegot est une fort belle riviere, et peut 48 estre compare la Garonne de France.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
A bull-fight is fearful enough, but it cannot compare with the struggle between a maddened buffalo and his pursuer.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
In the Pedal department no reed or flue pipe can begin to compare with a Diaphone, either in attack or in volume of tone.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
"And I can return the compliment," was my reply, as we all gathered round a brew of tea to exchange news and compare notes.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for compare

compare

/ (kəmˈpɛə) /

verb

(tr usually foll by to) to regard or represent as analogous or similar; likenthe general has been compared to Napoleon

(tr usually foll by with) to examine in order to observe resemblances or differencesto compare rum with gin

(intr usually foll by with) to be of the same or similar quality or valuegin compares with rum in alcoholic content

(intr) to bear a specified relation of quality or value when examinedthis car compares badly with the other

(intr usually foll by with) to correspond toprofits were £3.2 million. This compares with £2.6 million last year

(tr) grammar to give the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of (an adjective)

(intr) archaic to compete or vie

compare notes to exchange opinions

noun

comparison or analogy (esp in the phrase beyond compare)

Derived forms of compare

comparer, noun

Word Origin for compare

C15: from Old French comparer, from Latin comparāre to couple together, match, from compar equal to one another, from com- together + par equal; see par

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with compare

compare

In addition to the idiom beginning with compare

compare notes

also see:

beyond compare

compare

Idioms about compare

Origin of compare

usage note for compare

OTHER WORDS FROM compare

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH compare

Words nearby compare

Words related to compare

How to use compare in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for compare

Derived forms of compare

Word Origin for compare

Other Idioms and Phrases with compare