comparable

American  

[kom-per-uh-buhl, kuhm-pair-] / ˈkɒm pər ə bəl, kəmˈpɛər- /

adjective

1. 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

2. worthy of comparison.

   shops comparable to those on Fifth Avenue.

3. usable for comparison; similar.

   We have no comparable data on Russian farming.

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comparable British  

/ ˈkɒmpərəbəl /

adjective

1. worthy of comparison

2. able to be compared (with)

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Other Word Forms

• comparability noun
• comparableness noun
• comparably adverb
• intercomparable adjective
• uncomparable adjective
• uncomparableness noun

Etymology

Origin of comparable

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin comparābilis, equivalent to comparā(re) “to compare ” + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

A comparable pattern can be seen in Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands, which adapted to different food sources over time.

From Science Daily

Comparisons with antidepressant medication also suggested comparable effects, but the supporting evidence was limited and considered low certainty.

From Science Daily

Homeowners in pricey areas are still locked in because selling their current home and buying a comparable one could potentially double or even triple their monthly mortgage payment.

From MarketWatch

Warner Bros said Paramount amended its offer shortly after, but in a letter to shareholders on Wednesday the Warner Bros board said the offer was "not superior, or even comparable, to the Netflix merger".

From BBC

A concession is preferable to ending up in court in an attempt to retain the deposit or, worse, having to put the home back on the market and hope another comparable offer comes in soon.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• commensurate
• equal
• proportionate
• tantamount