Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for by contrast. Search instead for in contrast.

by contrast

American  
[bahy kon-trast] / ˌbaɪ ˈkɒn træst /

idiom

  1. (used when making a comparison to something strikingly different from what was previously mentioned).

    Theater costumes must be viewed from a distance; film, by contrast, is all about close-ups.


Etymology

Origin of by contrast

First recorded in 1780–90

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.

Quantum computing, by contrast, “just in its nature of being able to have infinite outcomes at each bit, can look at lots and lots of different outcomes at the same time,” Newman said.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

Pakistan, by contrast, said Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

With the Andes virus, by contrast, people probably need to be symptomatic to spread illness.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

West Ham, by contrast, are sliding at the worst possible moment.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

The colonel was more than a head taller than the chaplain and over twice as broad, and his swollen, overbearing authority made the chaplain feel frail and sickly by contrast.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "by contrast" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com