comparison
Americannoun
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comparisons
plural
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the act of comparing.
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the state of being compared.
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a likening; illustration by similitude; comparative estimate or statement.
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Rhetoric. the considering of two things with regard to some characteristic that is common to both, as the likening of a hero to a lion in courage.
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capability of being compared or likened.
- Synonyms:
- similarity, resemblance, likeness
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Grammar.
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the function of an adverb or adjective that is used to indicate degrees of superiority or inferiority in quality, quantity, or intensity.
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the patterns of formation involved therein.
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the degrees of a particular word, displayed in a fixed order, as mild, milder, mildest, less mild, least mild.
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noun
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the act or process of comparing
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the state of being compared
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comparable quality or qualities; likeness
there was no comparison between them
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a rhetorical device involving comparison, such as a simile
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Also called: degrees of comparison. grammar the listing of the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb
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to be sufficiently similar in class or range to be compared with (something else), esp favourably
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of comparison
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English comparesoun, from Old French comparaison, from Latin comparātiōn-, stem of comparātiō, from comparāt(us) “placed together” (past participle of comparāre “to place together, match”; see compare) + -iō -ion
Explanation
When you make a comparison, you figure out how things are similar. Making comparisons is about taking a look at characteristics or qualities that show the similarities between living things, objects, or anything else. In the supermarket, people make comparisons based on price and ingredients. Lots of essays and articles make comparisons: between different politicians, bands, movies, athletes, and even whole era. Many teachers ask students to write comparisons in essays. If two things are totally different, you could say "There's no comparison!"
Vocabulary lists containing comparison
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 2
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
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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:
In comparison, Wimbledon runner-up Muchova landed 14 winners and just nine unforced errors as she impressed with smart drop shots and piercing groundstrokes.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
By the time a younger sibling arrives, parents know the ropes and the pathways to pursue, according to Blazo, who studies sibling relationships and social comparison in sports.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
By comparison, the mindfulness programs improved physical activity and diet, but did not produce the same medication adherence benefit, according to the study.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026
Our program is pretty immature in comparison to their programs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
My five years suddenly seemed short in comparison.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
A study published in Palaeontology used modern analytical methods and comparisons with more recently described fossil species to determine that Praearcturus was a scorpion and represented a distinct species.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026
Then, of course, there are the market comparisons, which help to give clarity when listing prices are being set.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
To impress doubtful sommeliers abroad, Milani challenged them to blind taste tests, and said they often preferred the Chinese wine to French or Italian comparisons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
The autopsy report said investigators used dental image comparisons to identify the body, which was severely decomposed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
A number of YouTube videos provide comparisons that you can listen to, for example comparisons of just intonation and equal temperament, or comparisons of various temperaments.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
