differ

[ dif-er ]

/ ˈdɪf ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR differ ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
When my Uncle Toby took the fly and let him out, he did as men should to others who differ in opinion.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 120, October, 1867.|Various
When they examine the real principles of both parties, I think they will find little to differ about.
Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson
They differ in many minor details from that given by Scott in 1824.
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Vol. VII|Jonathan Swift
They do, in truth, differ widely from the works which they succeeded, but the difference is not temperamental.
French Art|W. C. Brownell
Practically there is a divergence when their clothing begins to differ, but this is merely artificial.
Household Organization|Florence Caddy

British Dictionary definitions for differ

differ

/ (ˈdɪfə) /

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

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.

differ

verb (used without object)

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Origin of differ

Examples from the Web for differ

differ

verb (intr)

Word Origin for differ

differ

differ