Cool MateCompare
UK /["/kəmˈpeə(r)/","/kəmˈpeəz/","/kəmˈpeəd/","/kəmˈpeərɪŋ/"]/US /["/kəmˈper/","/kəmˈperz/","/kəmˈperd/","/kəmˈperɪŋ/"]/
Definition
to examine people or things to see how they are similar and how they are different
In simple words: To look at two or more things to see how they are alike or different.
Examples
- You can compare the two paintings to see which one you like better.
- It is important to compare prices before you make a purchase.
- In her essay, she decided to compare the themes of love and loss.
- To compare the results, we need to look at all the data carefully.
- They often compare their experiences to understand different cultures.
Usage notes
Use in both spoken and written contexts. Common in academic writing. Avoid using in overly casual situations where simplifications are needed.
Grammar pattern
compare + object + to/with + object
Memory hint
Think of 'compare' as 'pairing up' items to see their similarities.
Collocations
- favourably/favorably
- well
- unfavourably/unfavorably
- cannot
- do not
- with
- compare and contrast
- be nothing compared to somebody/something
- nothing compares to somebody/something
- favourably/favorably
- well
- unfavourably/unfavorably
- cannot
- do not
- with
- compare and contrast
- be nothing compared to somebody/something
- nothing compares to somebody/something
- favourably/favorably
- well
- unfavourably/unfavorably
- cannot
- do not
- with
- compare and contrast
- be nothing compared to somebody/something
- nothing compares to somebody/something
Synonyms
- contrast
- evaluate
- assess
- measure
- weigh
Antonyms
- ignore
- disregard
Common mistakes
- Confusing 'compare' with 'contrast' — remember, 'compare' emphasizes similarities.
- Omitting 'to' or 'with' when specifying what to compare.
- Using 'compare' without an object is incorrect.