match
A2Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
An object or situation where two or more things correspond or are compatible with each other; a contest or game.
A device for producing fire; a suitable partnership, especially in marriage; an exact counterpart or equivalent.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun has two primary, distinct meanings: 1) a correspondence or equivalence, 2) a contest or sporting event. The verb meaning 'to correspond to' is derived from the first noun sense. Context is crucial for disambiguation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In sports, 'match' is more common in BrE (e.g., 'football match'). In AmE, 'game' is often preferred for major team sports (e.g., 'baseball game'), though 'match' is standard in tennis, boxing, and chess. For a small stick for lighting fire, 'match' is universal, but the specific types 'safety match' and 'strike-anywhere match' are more common in AmE.
Connotations
Both varieties share core connotations. The verb 'to match' (e.g., colours) is identical. In a romantic context, 'a good match' carries the same connotation.
Frequency
The word is high-frequency in both varieties. The noun sense 'sporting contest' is statistically more frequent in BrE corpora due to lexical preference over 'game'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N match N (The curtains match the sofa)N match (The socks don't match)be matched by/with N (His skill was matched by his determination)match N against N (We matched our team against theirs)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “meet your match”
- “a match made in heaven”
- “the whole shooting match”
- “be no match for someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We need to find a supplier that can match our quality standards." (verb: correspond to)
Academic
"The experimental results closely match the predicted model." (verb: correspond to)
Everyday
"Can you pass me the matches? I need to light the candle." (noun: fire-lighter) / "We're going to the match on Saturday." (noun: game)
Technical
"The algorithm performs string matching to find identical sequences." (verb: find correspondence)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The paint doesn't quite match the original colour.
- Can you match these socks for me?
- No one could match her enthusiasm for the project.
American English
- Your story doesn't match the facts we have.
- The company will match your donation dollar for dollar.
- We need a candidate whose skills match the job description.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Matchingly' is obsolete/non-standard.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- We sell match tickets at the office.
- He bought a set of match pots and pans. (less common, means 'matching')
American English
- The match highlights will be on TV tonight.
- She wore a match skirt and blazer. (less common, means 'matching')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I watched a tennis match on TV.
- Your blue shirt matches your eyes.
- He used a match to light the fire.
- The two teams are a very close match; either could win.
- The software tries to match your skills with suitable jobs.
- She finally met her match in the chess tournament.
- The funding from the government was matched by private investment.
- His aggressive debating style was no match for her calm logic.
- The DNA sample was a conclusive match to the suspect.
- The company's offer was carefully crafted to match the competitor's new product features.
- The diplomat sought to match the rhetorical force of the declaration with an equally robust response.
- Their research aims to match theoretical models with empirical data from the field study.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MATCH as bringing two things together: either to START a fire (when the match head meets the strip) or to START a game (when two teams meet).
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMILARITY IS PROXIMITY / ALIGNMENT (e.g., 'Their opinions match' implies they are in the same 'place'). COMPETITION IS COMBAT / CONTEST (e.g., 'a boxing match').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'матч' (игра) и 'спичка'. В русском это два разных слова, в английском — одно.
- Глагол 'to match' (соответствовать) часто ошибочно переводят как 'совпадать' (to coincide), что уже означает временное совпадение.
- 'Match' как 'пара' (e.g., a match of socks) может быть неочевидным значением.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'match together' (redundant; 'match' alone is sufficient).
- Confusing 'match' (contest) with 'game' (broader term for play or sport).
- Incorrect plural: 'mathces' instead of 'matches'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'match' mean 'a small stick for lighting a fire'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Match' implies a formal, structured contest between individuals or sides, often in sports. 'Game' is broader, referring to any activity with rules for play, from children's games to professional sports. 'Contest' is a general term for any competition.
Not in a standard way. The adjective is 'matching' (e.g., 'matching socks'). 'Match' can be a noun modifier (e.g., 'match day', 'match point'), which functions adjectivally but is not a standalone adjective.
It is almost always countable. You have 'a match', 'two matches'. The uncountable sense is rare and relates to the concept of correspondence (e.g., 'There is a degree of match between the systems').
Common patterns: 1) A matches B (The key matches the lock). 2) Match A with/to B (We matched the volunteers with suitable tasks). 3) Match A against B (The system matches your fingerprints against a database). Do not add 'together'.