compare
B1 (Intermediate)Neutral to formal, widely used in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
to examine two or more people/things to discover similarities and differences between them.
To consider or describe something as being similar or equal to something else; to be worthy of comparison.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb has a subtle semantic distinction: 'compare with' often suggests identifying both differences and similarities, while 'compare to' often suggests emphasising similarity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage of prepositions can be slightly more prescribed in formal BrE. The noun form 'a compare' (meaning a comparison) is obsolete and non-standard; the accepted noun is 'comparison' in both varieties.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Compare A with BCompare A to BA compares favourably with BVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “compare notes”
- “beyond compare (unrivalled)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to analyse competitors, market data, and performance metrics (e.g., Compare last quarter's figures with this quarter's).
Academic
Central to comparative analysis in literature, social sciences, and scientific experiments (e.g., The study compares the effects of two variables).
Everyday
Used for decisions involving products, experiences, or opinions (e.g., Let's compare prices before we buy).
Technical
Used in programming (comparison operators), statistics (comparing datasets), and engineering (comparing specifications).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We compared the train and coach timetables for our journey to Edinburgh.
- Shall we compare our answers before submitting the coursework?
American English
- Let's compare the electric and gas models before we buy a new dryer.
- Her singing voice has been compared to Whitney Houston's.
adverb
British English
- Comparatively speaking, this winter has been quite mild.
- The new version is comparably priced.
American English
- This laptop is comparatively more powerful than my old one.
- The two services perform comparably well.
adjective
British English
- The comparable model from last year had fewer features.
- There is no compare function in this basic software (rare/non-standard).
American English
- The two cars are comparable in terms of fuel efficiency.
- They offered a comparative analysis of the policies.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Compare the two pictures. What is different?
- My mum always compares prices at the supermarket.
- We need to compare the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
- He compared the city centre to a busy beehive.
- The report compares the environmental impact of renewable versus fossil fuel energy sources.
- When compared with its international rivals, the company's performance is lacklustre.
- Critics have compared the novel's intricate plot to a finely woven tapestry.
- The data sets were compared using a multivariate statistical analysis to identify significant correlations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COMPARE sounds like 'come pair' – imagine two items coming together to form a pair so you can look at them side-by-side.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING SIDE-BY-SIDE (e.g., 'Let's put the plans side-by-side to compare them').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'сравнивать' when it means 'to criticise/scold' (упрекать). 'Compare' never has this meaning in English.
- Be careful with prepositions: Russian 'с' can correspond to both 'with' and 'to' depending on context.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'compare' without a needed object (Incorrect: 'This model compares well.' Correct: 'This model compares well with its predecessor.').
- Confusing 'compare to' (for likeness) and 'compare with' (for analysis) in formal writing.
- Using 'comparison' wrongly: 'make a comparison between A to B' (incorrect preposition; use 'between A and B' or 'of A with/to B').
Practice
Quiz
In formal academic writing, which preposition is generally preferred when analysing differences and similarities?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, 'compare to' is used to suggest similarities ('Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?'), while 'compare with' is used for detailed examination of similarities and differences ('Compare the results with the control group'). In modern usage, especially in AmE, the distinction is often blurred.
The standard noun is 'comparison'. Using 'a compare' as a noun is obsolete and considered incorrect in modern English.
Yes, but usually only in specific constructions like 'How do they compare?' or with an adverb (e.g., 'This brand compares favourably'). The implied object must be clear from context.
A common mistake is using an incorrect preposition in the noun form, e.g., 'the comparison of A to B' is common, but 'the comparison between A to B' is incorrect. It should be 'the comparison between A and B' or 'the comparison of A with/to B'.