match

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈmach 

1

a

: a person or thing equal or similar to another

b

: one able to cope with another

He was no match for his opponent.

c

: an exact counterpart

a lake that was almost the match of one he remembered from Switzerland

2

: a pair suitably associated

carpet and curtains are a match

3

a

: a contest between two or more parties

a golf match

a soccer match

a shouting match

b

: a contest (as in tennis or volleyball) completed when one player or side wins a specified number of sets or games

4

a

: a marriage union

b

: a prospective (see prospective sense 2b) partner in marriage

would make a good match for any man

match

2 of 3

verb

matched; matching; matches

transitive verb

1

a

: to encounter successfully as an antagonist

b(1)

: to set in competition or opposition

(2)

: to provide with a worthy competitor

c

: to set in comparison

2

: to join or give in marriage

3

a(1)

: to put in a set possessing equal or harmonizing attributes

(2)

: to cause to correspond : suit

matched programs to local needs

b(1)

: to be the counterpart of

also : to compare favorably with

(2)

: to harmonize with

the jacket matched the pants

c

: to provide with a counterpart

d

: to provide funds complementary to

employers may match the employee contribution

—D. J. Miller

4

: to fit together or make suitable for fitting together

5

a

: to flip or toss (coins) and compare exposed faces

b

: to toss coins with

intransitive verb

: to be a counterpart

matchable

ˈma-chə-bəl 

adjective

matcher noun

match

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a chemically prepared wick or cord formerly used in firing firearms or powder

2

: a short slender piece of flammable material (such as wood) tipped with a combustible mixture that bursts into flame when slightly heated through friction (as by being scratched against a rough surface)

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bout
• competition
• contest
• event
• game
• matchup
• meet
• sweepstakes
• sweep-stake
• tournament
• tourney

Verb

• correspond (to)
• equal
• parallel

Examples of match in a Sentence

Verb

This color matches your skin tone.

She was wearing a beautiful skirt, but her sweater didn't match it.

The upbeat music matched her mood.

Her skirt and sweater matched perfectly.

The pillows on the couch all match.

Your socks don't match each other.

His story doesn't match the facts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Despite no tickets winning the grand prize on Wednesday night, nine players matched five of the numbers, snagging $1 million prizes each. —Dalia Faheid, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024

But few college coaches can match what Musselman managed in his short tenure at Arkansas, a program that languished for two decades in the middle of the Southeastern Conference. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Van Horn's and Bianco's teams have matched up in 77. —Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 4 Apr. 2024

The ticket matched five winning numbers but not the Powerball in the drawing Wednesday, April 3, the national Powerball site said. —Don Sweeney, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024

The tickets matched five winning numbers but not the Powerball in the drawing Wednesday, April 3, the California Lottery said. —Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024

After no one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the Monday, April 1 drawing, the grand prize climbed to a whopping $1.09 billion for Wednesday, April 3. —Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

What is the Mega Millions payout on matching 2 lottery numbers? —Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 3 Apr. 2024

The city of Fayetteville administration matched the grant to fund two full-time, 40-hour officers trained in crisis intervention to provide co-response, enhancing services. —Ron Wood, arkansasonline.com, 23 Mar. 2024

Noun

Messi scored three goals in three matches to start the regular season and has five goals including Champions Cup. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024

With all three teams now having played 30 matches, the Opta supercomputer is giving Liverpool a 45% chance of winning the league, Manchester City 33.6% and Arsenal 21.4%. —Ben Church, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Burns had three assists against Duke and an impressive seven in their Sweet Sixteen match against 2-seed Marquette. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024

And Kansas has an economic weapon – STAR bonds – that has no identical match in Missouri. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

From lightweight formulas to powerful hydration, find your ideal match for a radiant complexion. —Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 3 Apr. 2024

Setting up the perfect match may be an imperfect science, but dating apps are far from being the obsolete platform they’re sometimes portrayed to be. —Bernard Kim, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

Nick Bril’s culinary wizardry is a fine match for the setting, a former chapel with vaulted ceilings and an open kitchen perched on the old altar. —Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024

In South Florida, severe thunderstorms Friday night delayed departures at the Miami International Airport during the busy spring break season, suspended a popular electronic music festival and disrupted matches at a high-profile tennis tournament. —CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English macche, from Old English gemæcca mate, equal; akin to Old English macian to make — more at make entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English macche, mecche candlewick, from Anglo-French meche

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing match

• grudge match
• a match made in heaven
• no match for
• more than a match for
• match up to
• meet one's match
• mix and match
• match point
• match/meet expectations
• book-match
• test match
• to match
• the whole shooting match
• shoving match
• shouting match
• return match
• safety match
• slow match
• match play
• slanging match
• matchy-match

Kids Definition

match

1 of 3 noun

ˈmach 

1

a

: a person or thing that is equal or similar to or exactly like another

b

: one that can compete or fight successfully with another

a match for the enemy

2

: two persons or things that go well together

curtains and carpet are a good match

3

: a contest between two or more parties

a tennis match

4

a

: marriage sense 1b

b

: a person to be considered as a marriage partner

match

2 of 3 verb

1

: to meet successfully as a competitor

2

a

: to place in competition

matched my strength with my friend's

b

: to provide with a worthy competitor

3

: to join or give in marriage

4

a

: to make or find the equal or the like of

b

: to make correspond

c

: to be the same as or suitable to one another

do these colors match?

5

: to flip or toss coins and compare upper surfaces

matcher noun

match

3 of 3 noun

1

: an evenly burning wick or cord formerly used to ignite a charge of powder

2

: a short slender piece of material (as wood) tipped with a mixture that ignites when scratched against something else

Etymology

Noun

Old English gemæcca "mate, equal"

Noun

Middle English macche "a wick," from early French meiche (same meaning)