Cool MateComplement vs Complete vs Enhance vs Match
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Complement
Complete
Enhance
Match
| Complement | Complete | Enhance | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmplɪment/","/ˈkɒmplɪments/","/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/","/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmplɪment/","/ˈkɑːmplɪments/","/ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/","/ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəmˈpliːt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəmˈpliːt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈhɑːns/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪz/","/ɪnˈhɑːnst/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈhæns/","/ɪnˈhænsɪz/","/ɪnˈhænst/","/ɪnˈhænsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/mætʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/mætʃ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something that goes well with something else or completes it. | To finish something completely. | To improve something and make it better. | To be the same as something else or to go well together. |
| Example | The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. | The puzzle is now complete after I found the last piece. | The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. | I watched the football match on TV last night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A1 | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | adjective | verb | noun |
| Collocations | nicely, well, perfectly | be, seem, survive, remarkably, very, far from, be, seem, almost, nearly, substantially | considerably, dramatically, greatly, can, could, may, digitally enhanced, surgically enhanced | boxing, chess, football, play, have, go to, take place, during a/the match, in a/the match, match against, excellent, good, perfect, find, make, match between, match for, meet your match, the right match, excellent, good, perfect, find, make, match between, match for, meet your match, the right match, exact, find, match for, lighted, lit, book, box, light, strike, blow out, put a match to something |
| Antonyms | detract, contrast | incomplete, unfinished, partial | degrade, diminish, reduce | mismatch, disagree |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'compliment', which means to praise someone., Using 'complement' in the wrong context, like to mean 'complete'., Incorrectly spelling it as 'complement' when referring to praise. | Confused with 'finished' — both mean to end, but 'complete' emphasizes fullness., Using 'complete' when a task is partially done., 'Complete' is sometimes incorrectly used as a noun. | Confused with 'enhancement' in noun form., Using 'enhance' without an object (it needs something to enhance)., Incorrectly using as a synonym for 'increase' in unrelated contexts. | Confusing with 'mismatch' when talking about differences., Using 'matches' as a verb incorrectly in past tense without context., Using 'match' as a noun without proper context can be confusing. |
| Usage notes | Use 'complement' when talking about adding something that enhances or completes another thing. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid using it in situations that require a different meaning like 'compliment'. | Use 'complete' in academic or professional contexts when discussing tasks, projects, or forms. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations. | Used in both professional and casual contexts. More common in writing than speaking. Avoid in informal situations where simpler words may suffice. | Use 'match' when comparing items, like colors or styles. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where 'correspond' might be better. |
Frequently asked questions: Complement vs Complete vs Enhance vs Match
What's the difference between Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Match?
Complement: Something that goes well with something else or completes it. Complete: To finish something completely. Enhance: To improve something and make it better. Match: To be the same as something else or to go well together.
Which is more advanced: Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Match?
Complement is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Match the same CEFR level?
Complement: C1, Complete: A1, Enhance: B2, Match: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Match?
Complement: verb, Complete: adjective, Enhance: verb, Match: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Complement: The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. Complete: The puzzle is now complete after I found the last piece. Enhance: The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. Match: I watched the football match on TV last night.
Can I use Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Match interchangeably?
Not always. Complement, Complete, Enhance, and Match are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.