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Synonyms

same

American  
[saym] / seɪm /

adjective

  1. identical with what is about to be or has just been mentioned.

    This street is the same one we were on yesterday.

    Synonyms:
    equal, interchangeable, corresponding
    Antonyms:
    different
  2. being one or identical though having different names, aspects, etc..

    These are the same rules though differently worded.

    Synonyms:
    equal, interchangeable, corresponding
  3. agreeing in kind, amount, etc.; corresponding.

    two boxes of the same dimensions.

    Synonyms:
    equal, interchangeable, corresponding
    Antonyms:
    unlike
  4. unchanged in character, condition, etc..

    It's the same town after all these years.


pronoun

  1. the same person or thing.

  2. the same kind or category of thing.

    You're having steak? I'll have the same, but very rare.

  3. the very person, thing, or set just mentioned.

    Sighted sub sank same.

  4. the same, in the same manner; in an identical or similar way.

    I see the same through your glasses as I do through mine.

idioms

  1. all the same,

    1. notwithstanding; nevertheless.

      You don't have to go but we wish you would, all the same.

    2. of no difference; immaterial.

      It's all the same to me whether our team loses or wins.

  2. just the same,

    1. in the same manner.

    2. nevertheless.

      It was a success, but it could easily have failed, just the same.

same British  
/ seɪm /

adjective

  1. being the very one

    she is wearing the same hat she wore yesterday

    1. being the one previously referred to; aforesaid

    2. ( as noun )

      a note received about same

    1. identical in kind, quantity, etc

      two girls of the same age

    2. ( as noun )

      we'd like the same, please

  2. unchanged in character or nature

    his attitude is the same as ever

    1. Also: just the same. nevertheless; yet

    2. immaterial

      it's all the same to me

"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

adverb

  1. in an identical manner

"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
same More Idioms  

Usage

The use of same exemplified in if you send us your order for the materials, we will deliver same tomorrow is common in business and official English. In general English, however, this use of the word is avoided: may I borrow your book? I'll return it (not same ) tomorrow

Synonym Usage

Same, similar agree in indicating a correspondence between two or more things. Same means alike in kind, degree, quality; that is, identical (with): to eat the same food every day; at the same price. Similar means like, resembling, having certain qualities in common, somewhat the same as, of nearly the same kind as: similar in appearance; Don't treat them as if they were the same when they are only similar.

Etymology

Origin of same

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; Old English same (adverb); cognate with Old Norse samr, Greek homós, Sanskrit samá


Explanation

Same means identical, similar, or unchanged. If you wear the same outfit as your best friend, your clothes will be exactly alike. That's NOT ok on prom night. You might make the same mistake on one math quiz after another — in other words, you mess up similar problems every time. You can also say that one thing is the same as another if there's an equal amount: "We got the same pay for babysitting last summer." You might wake up at the same time every day and eat the same cereal for breakfast. If so, change it up!

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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:

Jessica has shown the BBC more letters from the same period, written in noticeably different hands.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

Both Collins and Jackson hail from the same sparsely populated, heavily forested northern county of Aroostook, bordering Canada.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

The former employees said the companies applied the same approach to both Medicaid and privately insured patients.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

"I remember going to school in the 90s and people would take the piss out of anyone whose voice wasn't exactly the same as everyone else's."

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

I told all my customers the same thing.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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