compare Hear it!

compare Definition

com·pare (kəm per′)

transitive verb -·pared′, -·par′·ing

  1. to regard as similar; liken (to) to compare life to a river
  2. to examine in order to observe or discover similarities or differences: often followed by with compare their voting records
  3. Gram. to form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or adverb)

Etymology: ME comparen < OFr comparer < L comparare < com-, with + parare, to make equal < par: see par

intransitive verb

    1. to be worthy of comparison (with)
    2. to be regarded as similar or equal
  2. to make comparisons
  3. to stand in comparison; measure up how does my car compare with his?

noun

Old Poet. comparison

compare Idioms

beyond compare

or past compare or without compare

without equal; incomparably good, bad, great, etc.

compare Synonyms

compare

v.

  1. To regard as similar

    relate, connect, liken, note the similarities, draw a comparison, make a comparison, associate, link, reduce to a common denominator, equate, match, express by metaphor, analogize, show correspondence, allegorize, correlate, parallel, show to be similar, show to be analogous, identify with, draw a parallel between.

  2. To examine on a comparative basis

    collate, contrast, balance, parallel, bring into comparison, estimate relatively, set over against, set off against, compare notes, exchange observations, weigh one thing against another, set side by side, put alongside, hold up together, correlate, weigh, oppose, measure against, juxtapose, place in juxtaposition, confront, counterpose, note the similarities and differences, compare and contrast, distinguish between, differentiate, analyze, examine; see also distinguish 1.

  3. To stand in relationship to another

    match, vie, rival, compete with, correspond, resemble, be comparable, be in the same class, parallel, equal, admit of comparison, measure up, match up, be on a par with, hold a candle to*, come up to*, stack up with, stack up against*; see also equal, match 3.

compare refers to a literal or figurative putting together in order to note points of resemblance and difference, and implies the weighing of parallel features for relative values to compare records and compact discs; contrast implies a comparison for the purpose of emphasizing differences to contrast farm life with city life; collate implies detailed, critical comparison, esp. of different versions of the same text

beyond<strong> or </strong>past<strong> or </strong>without compare<strong>

incomparable, without equal, distinctive; see unique 1.

compare Usage Examples

Object

  • price: Cheap Flights to Geneva, Switzerland - Compare prices on Geneva.. .
  • cent: Broadband subscriptions rose to 69.2 per cent compared with 49.1 per cent in March 2005.
  • %: The average monthly total of actual loans for Buy to Let investment rose by 30 % compared to the previous six months.
  • nothing: The persecution we face is nothing compared to what the early church had to go through.
  • result: By comparing results from the two studies the RSPCA hopes to understand more about the impact of seals being reared in captivity.
  • performance: Our performance compared with similar fire authorities the previous year is: How Did We Do?

Preposition: with

  • placebo: Of two trials looking at pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, both reported benefit compared with placebo.
  • %: Turnover rates in Bangalore have now reached 60 % annually, compared with 30 % to 35 % in the UK.
  • average: There is 25 % unemployment among Muslim graduates compared with a national average of 4.5 % .
  • percent: Compared with percent percent of those new courses for.
  • figure: That compares with a figure for the whole of the previous year of 3,500 mln liter.
  • month: First, newspaper circulation is down: 13 million daily papers were sold in February 2003, compared with 12 million last month.

Used with why or when

when: It's hard to contrast and compare when I just don't have the words.

Present participle complement

accord: Outcome measures The individuals were compared according to outcome of treatment and place of residence.

Modifying Another Word

  • favorably: Trade union rates in Britain compare very favorably with other EC countries.
  • unfavorably: It also compares unfavorably with other European nations - the second lowest turnout among founder members of the EEC.
  • favorably: Companies incorporated there compare favorably to those registered in purely offshore jurisdictions.
  • directly: Now be fair Rupert, Matty did not directly compare Bush with Zarqawi.
  • poorly: This compares very poorly with the US, where charities have long been proactive investors.
  • especially: For various reasons, sales of DAB digital radios have been pathetic - especially compared to successful products like DVD!