coincide
B2Neutral to formal. Common in written and academic contexts; less common in casual speech.
Definition
Meaning
To happen at the same time or occupy the same space.
To correspond exactly, be in agreement, or share the same opinion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used in mathematical, scientific, and abstract contexts to describe perfect alignment. When used about opinions/ideas, it suggests harmony rather than mere similarity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. British usage may more commonly employ the perfect aspect ('Our views have coincided') where American might use simple past.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/conceptual in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
coincide with somethingOur schedules coincided.Their opinions coincide.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Our stars coincided (rare, poetic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for scheduling: 'The project deadline coincides with the audit.'
Academic
Used in statistics, geometry, and theory: 'The data points coincide perfectly with the predicted curve.'
Everyday
Used for timing: 'My holiday sadly coincides with the festival, so I'll miss it.'
Technical
In geometry: 'The two circles coincide.' In computing: 'Memory addresses coincide.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bank holiday coincides with the school half-term.
- Our research findings coincide remarkably.
American English
- The concert coincides with the big game, so traffic will be awful.
- Her views don't coincide with the party's official stance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My birthday coincides with Christmas Day.
- The two meetings coincide.
- Her arrival coincided with the start of the storm.
- Our opinions on politics do not coincide.
- The peak of the crisis coincided with a change in leadership.
- For their partnership to work, their commercial interests must coincide.
- The artist's most prolific period coincided with his residence in Paris, suggesting a profound environmental influence.
- Theoretical predictions and experimental results coincided to an astonishing degree.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CO-IN-CIDE: two things coming INto the same SIDE or happening at the same time.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT IS ALIGNMENT / TIME IS SPACE (events 'meeting' at a point in time).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'coincide' for simple similarity; it's for exact timing/alignment. Don't confuse with 'совпадать' in all its weaker uses (e.g., for loosely matching features).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'coincide to' (correct: 'coincide with').
- Using it for vague similarity rather than precise alignment in time/space/opinion.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'coincide' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not directly for people physically meeting. It is used for their schedules, views, or interests coinciding.
It is neutral but leans toward formal, especially in writing. In casual speech, people might say 'happen at the same time' or 'line up'.
'Agree' is broader for opinions. 'Coincide' implies a more exact, often unexpected or independent, alignment in time, space, or opinion.
Yes, the noun is 'coincidence'. The adjective is 'coincident' or 'coincidental'.
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