A1adjective2K

Similar

UK /["/ˈsɪmələ(r)/"]/US /["/ˈsɪmələr/"]/

Definition

like somebody/something but not exactly the same

In simple words: Almost the same as something else.

Examples

These two paintings look very similar to each other.
The styles of these two artists are similar, but they have their own unique qualities.
Despite their differences, they have similar interests.
The results from both experiments were similar, leading to the same conclusion.
I find that the two languages are quite similar in grammar.

Usage notes

Use 'similar' when comparing two or more things that share characteristics. Avoid using it for things that are not closely related.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think 'Simil' like 'simile'—comparing one thing to another.

Collocations

be
feel
look
extremely
fairly
very
in
to

Synonyms

alike
comparable
analogous
resembling
akin

Antonyms

different
dissimilar

Common mistakes

Confused with 'same' — 'similar' means not exactly the same.
Incorrectly used for unrelated things.
Using 'similar' with more than two items without clarification.