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:
But prediction markets differ from polls in important ways.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
The company’s robotaxis differ from others already on the road because they do not have driver’s controls such as a steering wheel or gas pedal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Flock cameras differ from traditional surveillance cameras in that they do not record video footage.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
Her treatment recommendations differ based on the type of tear, how active a patient is or how much arthritis they have, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
And these differ from each other, sometimes dramatically, reflecting the authors’ biases and ignorance, and their informants’ manipulation of history to cast a flattering light on their family lines.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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
However, Blue Owl Credit Income, known as OCIC, differs by including the entire undrawn portion of its credit facilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Strangers don’t need to know your whole family tree, which is the first way asking for free advice differs from paying a professional.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
A thermochemical plume also differs chemically from the mantle around it and may carry material recycled from ancient oceanic crust.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
His account differs from both mine and Richard’s.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
In both simulations, atmospheric CO2 increased gradually, but the rate of that increase differed substantially.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
Officials did not say why the reinstatement dates differed for each player.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
The results suggest that its sensory experience differed in several important ways from that of modern pigeons and doves.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
Cooper said he concluded the men were armed after observing movements that differed from ordinary punching.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
In person, he was just as warm and thoughtful, though we differed markedly on the issues of the armed struggle and sanctions.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Cope gave differing measurements of the vertebra at various times, making it unclear quite how large it actually was.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
Their mortgage payments were split proportionally to take into account their differing salaries, and the arrangements detailed in a declaration of trust so they would be protected when they came to sell.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
After eight Top 40 singles and a triple-platinum LP, the Bangles split in 1989 amid differing ideas about the band’s creative direction and ambitions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 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
In short, only a few areas of the world developed food production independently, and they did so at widely differing times.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
