compare
1 of 2verb
com·pare kəm-ˈper 
compared; comparing
transitive verb
1
: to represent as similar : liken
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
a
: to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences
compare your responses with the answers
b
: to view in relation to
He is tall compared to me.
The test was easy compared with the last one.
3
: to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison : state the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of
intransitive verb
1
: to bear being compared
The two don't even begin to compare.
We bought two different brands of peanut butter to see how they compare.
2
: to make comparisons
If we now go to Italy at all, we go not to learn, but to compare. Norman Douglas
Norman Douglas3
: to be equal or alike
Nothing compares to you.
compare
2 of 2noun
: the possibility of comparing
beauty beyond compare
also : something with which to be compared
a city without compare
Synonyms
Verb
- analogize
- assimilate
- bracket
- equate
- liken
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The singer's voice has been compared to that of Elvis. We each did the homework assignment, then compared answers. I compared several bicycles before buying one.
Recent Examples on the Web Peter A. Bonis, STAT, 11 Sep. 2022 Bess Wohl doesn’t want to compare the process of crafting a film to birthing a child, but the connection is almost too easy given the subject matter of her directorial debut. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 For those reasons, the 2021-22 tests offer the first opportunity to broadly compare performance from before the pandemic versus now. Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 Also Tuesday, prosecutors filed a motion seeking DNA from Pascual-Reyes to compare with biological evidence taken from the scene. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2022 Although there’s no way to compare the costs directly since every Airbnb is different, some key indicators provide clues as to when Airbnbs are better or worse than a hotel. Sally French, oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2022 Being able to compare the video footage taken during each eight-hour excursion could help determine the rate of decay, and the company is collaborating with scientists keen to identify the various species on and around the wreckage. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2022 There’s a natural instinct to compare Mo to Ramy, and not just because the latter’s star and creator Ramy Youssef is also producing the series. Shamira Ibrahim, refinery29.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Agencies use this number to compare historical temperatures and quantify differences in temperatures over time. Arjun Thakkar, Freep.com, 2 Sep. 2022 Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 24 July 2022 Consider a little compare and contrast involving a famed dinosaur, like the long-necked herbivore Brachiosaurus. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 How did this final compare to the finals in the other All Stars seasons? Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 July 2022 Bill Russell, a basketball player and man beyond compare, died Sunday, and then Scully two days later. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 How does the slightly slower and less expensive EQB 300 compare to the EQB 350? Michael Harley, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 How does the content of the podcast compare to the Hulu docuseries? Shirley Ju, Variety, 28 July 2022 How does Great Wolf Lodge's deal compare to Groupon? Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 28 July 2022 How does mushroom coffee compare to traditional coffee? Good Housekeeping, 21 July 2022 See More
Verb
Consumers may benefit from having more options, but choosing among them will be challenging without trustworthy means to compare costs and quality. Peter A. Bonis, STAT, 11 Sep. 2022 Bess Wohl doesn’t want to compare the process of crafting a film to birthing a child, but the connection is almost too easy given the subject matter of her directorial debut. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 For those reasons, the 2021-22 tests offer the first opportunity to broadly compare performance from before the pandemic versus now. Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 Also Tuesday, prosecutors filed a motion seeking DNA from Pascual-Reyes to compare with biological evidence taken from the scene. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2022 Although there’s no way to compare the costs directly since every Airbnb is different, some key indicators provide clues as to when Airbnbs are better or worse than a hotel. Sally French, oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2022 Being able to compare the video footage taken during each eight-hour excursion could help determine the rate of decay, and the company is collaborating with scientists keen to identify the various species on and around the wreckage. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2022 There’s a natural instinct to compare Mo to Ramy, and not just because the latter’s star and creator Ramy Youssef is also producing the series. Shamira Ibrahim, refinery29.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Agencies use this number to compare historical temperatures and quantify differences in temperatures over time. Arjun Thakkar, Freep.com, 2 Sep. 2022 Noun
The teams working at the DoeNetwork compare and review cases based on time frame, location, age, facial shape, and structure, etc., to see if there are any matches for a particular unidentified person. Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 24 July 2022 Consider a little compare and contrast involving a famed dinosaur, like the long-necked herbivore Brachiosaurus. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 How did this final compare to the finals in the other All Stars seasons? Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 8 July 2022 Bill Russell, a basketball player and man beyond compare, died Sunday, and then Scully two days later. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 How does the slightly slower and less expensive EQB 300 compare to the EQB 350? Michael Harley, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 How does the content of the podcast compare to the Hulu docuseries? Shirley Ju, Variety, 28 July 2022 How does Great Wolf Lodge's deal compare to Groupon? Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 28 July 2022 How does mushroom coffee compare to traditional coffee? Good Housekeeping, 21 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple, compare, from compar like, from com- + par equal
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1589, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing compare
Kids Definition
compare
verb
com·pare kəm-ˈper
compared; comparing
1
: to point out as similar : liken
She compared the activity of ants to the behavior of humans.
2
: to examine for similarity or differences
Before buying compare the two bicycles.
3
: to appear in relation to others
She compares well with the rest of the class.
4
: to state the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb
compare
verb
1
as in to equate
to describe as similar reviews that compared the adventure movie to a thrilling ride on a roller coaster Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- equate
- refer
- analogize
- liken
- relate
- connect
- link
- bracket
- assimilate
- associate
- match
- parallel
- allude
- couple
- equal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- contrast
2
as in to identify
to regard or represent as equal or comparable compared the restaurant's food to the nectar of the gods Synonyms & Similar Words
- identify
- equate
- connect
- liken
- relate
- correlate
- match
- classify
- link
- categorize
- associate
- group
- class
- group
- sort
- join
- grade
- assort
- lump (together)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- distinguish
- differentiate
- separate
- discriminate
- discern
Synonym Chooser
The words collate and contrast are common synonyms of compare. While all three words mean "to set side by side in order to show differences and likenesses," compare implies an aim of showing relative values or excellences by bringing out characteristic qualities whether similar or divergent.
compared the convention facilities of the two cities
The meanings of collate and compare largely overlap; however, collate implies minute and critical inspection in order to note points of agreement or divergence.
data from districts around the country will be collated
While the synonyms contrast and compare are close in meaning, contrast implies an emphasis on differences.
contrasted the computerized system with the old filing cards