differ

[dif-er]

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verb (used without object)

to be unlike, dissimilar, or distinct in nature or qualities (often followed by from): The two writers differ greatly in their perceptions of the world. Each writer's style differs from that of another.

to disagree in opinion, belief, etc.; be at variance; disagree (often followed by with or from): His business partner always differs with him.

Obsolete. to dispute; quarrel.

Origin of differ

1325–75; Middle English differren to distinguish < Middle French differer to put off, distinguish, Latin differre to bear apart, put off, delay (see defer¹) be different, equivalent to dif- dif- + ferre to bear

Related formsun·dif·fer·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for differ

vary, disagree, diverge, modify, contradict, alter, contrast, squabble, divide, dissent, quarrel, turn, qualify, diversify, digress, reverse, contend, bicker, discord, disaccord

Examples from the Web for differ

Contemporary Examples of differ

Unlike Maryland, national costs for institutionalization as opposed to HCBS do not differ by an order of magnitude.
Medicaid Will Give You Money for At-Home Care, but You Might Wait Years
Elizabeth Picciuto
December 2, 2014
Unlike Axler, Pacino says he has yet to lose his, though many critics would beg to differ.
Al Pacino Does What He Wants to Do: 'The Humbling,' Scorsese, and That 'Scarface' Remake
Alex Suskind
September 9, 2014
The soil variations are acute enough that they can differ radically from one side of a road to another.
Napa’s Earthquake Is Not The Only Thing Shaking The Vineyards
Clive Irving
August 31, 2014
My Netflix account and, more importantly, my wallet would beg to differ.
Comic-Con’s Year of the Kickass Woman
Kendra Pettis
July 28, 2014
But a world of people who care so very passionately about figure skating for exactly 10 days every four years beg to differ.
Sotnikova Beat Kim Yu-Na? Figure Skating Is Probably Corrupt (But We Knew That)
Kevin Fallon
February 21, 2014

Historical Examples of differ

There only remains to examine the opinions of those who differ from me.
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part II]
Benedict of Spinoza
Up to this point all aviators agree, but as to the best form most of them differ.
Flying Machines
W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
Fortifications of the future will differ curiously from those of the present.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes
From which virtuous and venomous opinion the undersigned begs to differ.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 15, July 9, 1870
Various
He did not differ from those around him in any respect, except that he did not carry a rifle.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for differ

differ

verb (intr)

(often foll by from) to be dissimilar in quality, nature, or degree (to); vary (from)

(often foll by from or with) to be at variance (with); disagree (with)

dialect to quarrel or dispute

agree to differ to end an argument amicably while maintaining differences of opinion

Word Origin for differ

C14: from Latin differre, literally: to bear off in different directions, hence scatter, put off, be different, from dis- apart + ferre to bear

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

Word Origin and History for differ

late 14c., from Old French differer (14c.) and directly from Latin differre "to set apart, differ," from dis- "away from" (see dis-) + ferre "carry" (see infer).

Two senses that were present in Latin have gone separate ways in English since c.1500 with defer (transitive) and differ (intransitive). Related: Differed; differing.

Idioms and Phrases with differ

differ

see beg to differ. Also see under difference; different.