Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » contrast

contrast

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Contrast means to compare in order to show differences.

(verb)

An example of contrast is to explain the differences between the causes of World War I and World War II.

The definition of contrast is the difference between two objects, people or places.

(noun)

An example of contrast is thunder storms on one end of an island and clear, blue skies on the other end.

See contrast in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to compare so as to point out the differences; set off against one another

Origin: Fr contraster < It & VL *contrastare, to withstand < L contra, against + stare, to stand

intransitive verb

to show differences when compared; form a contrast

noun

a contrasting or being contrasted
a difference, esp. a striking difference, between things being compared
a person or thing showing differences when compared with another
the effect of a striking difference, as in color or tone, of adjacent parts of a painting, photograph, video-screen image, etc.

Related Forms:

contrastable adjective
contrastive adjective

See contrast in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb con·trast·ed, con·trast·ing, con·trasts

verb, transitive

To set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences: an essay that contrasts city and country life; contrasted this computer with inferior models.

verb, intransitive

To show differences when compared: siblings who contrast sharply in interests and abilities; a color that contrasted clearly with the dark background.
Linguistics To evince a difference that can distinguish meaning: Voiced and voiceless stops contrast in English but not in Cree.

noun (kŏnˈtrăstˌ)

a. The act of contrasting; a setting off of dissimilar entities or objects.
b. The state of being contrasted: red berries standing in vivid contrast against the snow.
A difference, especially a strong dissimilarity, between entities or objects compared: the contrast between Northern and Southern speech patterns.
One thing that is strikingly dissimilar to another: My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before.
The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.
The difference in brightness between the light and dark areas of a picture, such as a photograph or video image.
Linguistics A difference between units, especially one that distinguishes meaning.

Origin:

Origin: French contraster

Origin: , from Italian contrastare

Origin: , from Medieval Latin contrāstāre

Origin: : Latin contrā-, contra-

Origin: + Latin stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

con·trastˈa·ble adjective

con·trastˈing·ly adverb

Usage Note: The noun contrast may be followed by between, with, or to: There is a sharp contrast between his earlier and later works. In contrast with (or less frequently, to) his early works, the later plays are dark and forbidding. When contrast is used as a transitive verb, both with and to may follow, though with is more common: Most scholars contrast the light comedies of his early career with (or to) the dark comedies that were written late in his life.

Learn more about contrast

contrast synonyms

contrast computer definition

contrast in a sentence

contrast images