differ
Americanverb (used without object)
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differs,
present (3rd person singular)
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differed,
past participle, past
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differing
present participle
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to be unlike, dissimilar, or distinct in nature or qualities (often followed byfrom ).
The two writers differ greatly in their perceptions of the world. Each writer's style differs from that of another.
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to disagree in opinion, belief, etc.; be at variance; disagree (often followed by with orfrom ).
His business partner always differs with him.
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Obsolete. to dispute; quarrel.
verb
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(often foll by from) to be dissimilar in quality, nature, or degree (to); vary (from)
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to be at variance (with); disagree (with)
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dialect to quarrel or dispute
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to end an argument amicably while maintaining differences of opinion
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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differsimple
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differssimple
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have differedperfect
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has differedperfect
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am differingprogressive
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are differingprogressive
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is differingprogressive
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have been differingperfect progressive
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has been differingperfect progressive
Past
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differedsimple
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had differedperfect
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was differingprogressive
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were differingprogressive
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had been differingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of differ
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English differren “to distinguish,” from Middle French differer “to put off, distinguish,” Latin differre “to bear apart, scatter, be different,” from dif- dif- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry”
Explanation
To differ is to be different, or to vary. Your list of favorite movies might differ from your sister's, especially if you like romantic comedies and she likes action films. Gas prices differ from state to state, and sometimes even from one side of the street to the other. Opinions on politics can often differ within a single family, and sometimes food preferences differ so much that no one can decide where to eat lunch. The verb differ can mean simply "be unlike," but it can also mean "clash" or "dissent." The Latin root, differre, combines dis, "away from," with ferre, "carry."
Vocabulary lists containing differ
"Making Faces"
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Shut Up, This Is Serious
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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.
See Examples For:
Everyone agrees there should be higher standards—they merely differ on who gets to set them.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
An executive at one of the Big Five publishers said they made the decision not to add specific contractual language on AI, given the rapidly evolving landscape, and that norms differ across imprints and editors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
These features differ from those documented in previously known mosasaurs.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
But prediction markets differ from polls in important ways.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
Modern American society and the Fayu differ in the presence or absence of a professional police force, cities, money, distinctions between rich and poor, and many other political, economic, and social institutions.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Feedback and interaction differs from club to club.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
While European liquidity broadly follows American trends, there is one sphere in which the liquidity cycle differs markedly: China, which is also travelling in the opposite direction, according to Howell.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
Hunnam is conscious that his turn in “Monster” differs from the men audiences have come to expect from him in shows like “Sons of Anarchy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
This process differs from what happens on Earth.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
This differs from Kodály’s use of solfege in that it is always combined with movement.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
The melting temperatures measured in the laboratory differed by roughly 20% from temperatures predicted by theoretical models.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
When he was born, Jonah's physical appearance also raised questions - it differed greatly from both her own and the one described in Ditto's profile.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Officials did not say why the reinstatement dates differed for each player.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Several factors could help explain why the results differed by beverage type, according to the researchers.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
The underlying problem was that Boukreev’s notion of his responsibilities differed substantially from Fischer’s.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
Its strategic lessons—balance differing viewpoints, understand politics, remain humble and optimistic, change the game—are difficult to argue with, because they operate at such a high level of generalization.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
The Games' differing relevance between sports was again clear - for netball, this remains the pinnacle and is treated as such; for others, it is a stepping stone.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
They also called for a common framework for attribution studies, noting that differing methods "sometimes leads to confusion among the public and other stakeholders when studies of the same event produce different results."
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
With the show’s upcoming launch, the goal of “Stuart” is not only to entertain audiences, but given its differing terrain from “Big Bang Theory” and its spinoffs, it will also surprise and feel unpredictable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
At times the Under Fifteens’ differing backgrounds seemed unimportant compared to the things that bound them together.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
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.
