Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense compares, present participle comparing, past tense, past participle compared
1. verb
When you compare things, you consider them and discover the differences or similarities between them.
Compare the two illustrations in Fig 60. [VERB noun]
Was it fair to compare independent schools with state schools? [VERB noun + with]
Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is, then compare it to the skin on theelbow. [VERB noun + to]
Synonyms: contrast, balance, weigh, set against More Synonyms of compare
2. to compare notes
3. verb
If you compare one person or thing to another, you say that they are like the other person or thing.
Some commentators compared his work to that of James Joyce. [V n + to/with]
I can only compare the experience to falling in love. [V n + to/with]
4. verb
If one thing compares favourably with another, it is better than the other thing. If it compares unfavourably, it is worse than the other thing.
Our road safety record compares favourably with that of other European countries. [V adv + with]
How do the two techniques compare in terms of application? [VERB adverb]
5. verb [usu with neg]
If you say that something does not compare with something else, you mean that it is much worse.
The flowers here do not compare with those at home. [VERB + with]
The more recent conifer plantations cannot yet compare with the old woodlands. [VERBwith noun]
6.
See beyond compare
7. See also compared
compare in British English
(kəmˈpɛə)
verb
1. (transitive; usually foll byto)
to regard or represent as analogous or similar; liken
the general has been compared to Napoleon
2. (transitive; usually foll bywith)
to examine in order to observe resemblances or differences
to compare rum with gin
3. (intransitive; usually foll bywith)
to be of the same or similar quality or value
gin compares with rum in alcoholic content
4. (intransitive)
to bear a specified relation of quality or value when examined
this car compares badly with the other
5. (intransitive; usually foll bywith)
to correspond to
profits were £3.2 million. This compares with £2.6 million last year
6. (transitive) grammar
to give the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of (an adjective)
7. (intransitive) archaic
to compete or vie
8. compare notes
noun
9.
comparison or analogy (esp in the phrase beyond compare)
Derived forms
comparer (comˈparer)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Old French comparer, from Latin comparāre to couple together, match, from compar equal to one another, from com- together + par equal; see par
compare in American English
(kəmˈpɛr)
verb transitiveWord forms: comˈpared or comˈparing
1.
to regard as similar; liken (to)
to compare life to a river
2.
to examine in order to observe or discover similarities or differences
often followed by with
compare their voting records
3. Grammar
to form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or adverb)
verb intransitive
4.
a.
to be worthy of comparison (with)
b.
to be regarded as similar or equal
5.
to make comparisons
6.
to stand in comparison; measure up
how does my car compare with his?
noun
7. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
comparison
Idioms:
beyond compare
SYNONYMY NOTE: compare refers to a literal or figurative putting together in order to note points of resemblanceand difference, and implies the weighing of parallel features for relative values[to compare Shakespeare with Schiller]; contrast implies a comparing for the purpose of emphasizing differences [to contrast farm life with city life]; collate implies detailed, critical comparison, specif., of different versions of the sametext
Word origin
ME comparen < OFr comparer < L comparare < com-, with + parare, to make equal < par: see par1
Examples of 'compare' in a sentence
compare
But you cannot compare the two.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is a mystery beyond compare.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet the battle in Manchester is a mere skirmish compared with the one which lies ahead.
The Sun (2016)
Third-quarter profits rose by 7 per cent compared with last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It can't remember any big speeches in which anyone compared the two favourably.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The average bonus rose by 10.7 per cent compared with a year earlier.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Spending by businesses was 1.6 per cent lower compared with last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When the researchers compared the two time periods they found a strong link between being upset or angry and having a heart attack.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its profit margin widened by 6 % compared with the same period in 2015 after cutting back on discounts.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Here, their tenth album and first in six years, has songs that compare favourably with their best work.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You think your experiences are anything compared to mine?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Investors should read the small print this month and compare the periods covered.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What are these like to live with and how do their resale values compare?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Or we compare our valleys one with the other.
Christianity Today (2000)
Prices compare favourably with other luxury tented camps.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Compare the two large pictures on these pages.
Bennett, Darren Learn to Draw Cats (1999)
Do you compare yourself unfavourably to others?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
To be sure of that is a gift beyond compare.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Alternative formulations being examined can be compared.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
There are few experiences that compare to scuba diving.
The Sun (2012)
They compared the intrinsic value of the items being auctioned with the prices they actually sold for.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Ambassadors were still providing a way for distant civilizations to meet and compare one another.
Jonathan Wright Ambassadors: From Ancient Greece to the Nation State (2006)
Compare performance records but also think about how a fund might perform in the future given its approach.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's a good exercise to compare coaching teams in the same way as players.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It had about 7 per cent more space during the period compared with the previous year.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The costs compare badly, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Good, compared with last season.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Like-for-like sales were down 21% in January compared with a year ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That is small beer compared to, say, electricity generation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In this respect Britain has failed badly compared to competitors: it has simply got less output from similar equipment or has misused equipment.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
In other languages
compare
British English: compare /kəmˈpɛə/ VERB
If you compare things, you consider them and discover the differences or similarities between them.
Compare the two illustrations on page 60.
American English: compare
Arabic: يُقَارِنُ
Brazilian Portuguese: comparar
Chinese: 比较
Croatian: usporediti
Czech: porovnat
Danish: sammenligne
Dutch: vergelijken
European Spanish: comparar
Finnish: verrata
French: comparer
German: vergleichen
Greek: συγκρίνω
Italian: paragonare
Japanese: 比較する
Korean: 비교하다
Norwegian: sammenlikne
Polish: porównać
European Portuguese: comparar
Romanian: a compara
Russian: сравнивать
Latin American Spanish: comparar
Swedish: jämföra
Thai: เปรียบเทียบ
Turkish: kıyaslamak
Ukrainian: порівнювати
Vietnamese: so sánh
Chinese translation of 'compare'
compare
(kəmˈpɛəʳ)
vt
比较(較) (bǐjiào)
vi
to compare favourably/unfavourably (with sth/sb)比得上/比不上(某物/某人) (bǐdeshang/bǐbùshang (mǒuwù/mǒurén))
n
beyond or without compare (liter) 无(無)与(與)伦(倫)比 (wú yǔ lún bǐ)
to compare sb/sth with or to sth (= contrast) 将(將)某人/某物与(與)某物相比较(較) (jiāng mǒurén/mǒuwù yǔ mǒuwù xiāng bǐjiào)
to compare sb/sth to (= liken to) 把某人/某物比作 (bǎ mǒurén/mǒuwù bǐzuò)