Cool MateComplement vs Enhance vs Match vs Supplement
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Complement
Enhance
Match
Supplement
| Complement | Enhance | Match | Supplement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒmplɪment/","/ˈkɒmplɪments/","/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/","/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːmplɪment/","/ˈkɑːmplɪments/","/ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/","/ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈhɑːns/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪz/","/ɪnˈhɑːnst/","/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈhæns/","/ɪnˈhænsɪz/","/ɪnˈhænst/","/ɪnˈhænsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/mætʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/mætʃ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌplɪmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌplɪmənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something that goes well with something else or completes it. | To improve something and make it better. | To be the same as something else or to go well together. | Something added to help or improve something else. |
| Example | The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. | The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. | I watched the football match on TV last night. | The textbook serves as a supplement to the main course material. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | noun | noun |
| Collocations | nicely, well, perfectly | 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 | useful, valuable, colour/color, provide (somebody/something with), add, take, supplement to, useful, valuable, colour/color, provide (somebody/something with), add, take, supplement to, useful, valuable, colour/color, provide (somebody/something with), add, take, supplement to, additional, extra, $100, add, charge, carry, be payable, at a supplement, supplement for, supplement on |
| Antonyms | detract, contrast | degrade, diminish, reduce | mismatch, disagree | reduction, diminution, lessening |
| 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 '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. | Confused with 'complement', which means something that completes another., Using it as a verb when referring to physical items instead of additional support. |
| 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'. | 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. | Used in contexts related to health, nutrition, and finance. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing specific dietary needs or financial advice. |
Frequently asked questions: Complement vs Enhance vs Match vs Supplement
What's the difference between Complement, Enhance, Match, and Supplement?
Complement: Something that goes well with something else or completes it. Enhance: To improve something and make it better. Match: To be the same as something else or to go well together. Supplement: Something added to help or improve something else.
Which is more common: Complement, Enhance, Match, and Supplement?
Match is the most common in everyday English.
Are Complement, Enhance, Match, and Supplement the same CEFR level?
Complement: C1, Enhance: B2, Match: A1, Supplement: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Complement, Enhance, Match, and Supplement?
Complement: verb, Enhance: verb, Match: noun, Supplement: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Complement: The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. Enhance: The new software will enhance the overall performance of the computer. Match: I watched the football match on TV last night. Supplement: The textbook serves as a supplement to the main course material.
Can I use Complement, Enhance, Match, and Supplement interchangeably?
Not always. Complement, Enhance, Match, and Supplement 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.