same

1 of 3

adjective

ˈsām 

1

a

: resembling in every relevant respect

b

: conforming in every respect

—used with as

2

a

: being one without addition, change, or discontinuance : identical

b

: being the one under discussion or already referred to

3

: corresponding so closely as to be indistinguishable

4

: equal in size, shape, value, or importance

—usually used with the or a demonstrative (such as that, those) in all senses

same

2 of 3

pronoun

1

: something identical with or similar to another

2

: something or someone previously mentioned or described

—often used with the or a demonstrative (such as that, those) in both senses

same

3 of 3

adverb

: in the same manner

—used with the or a demonstrative (such as that, those)

Phrases

all the same or just the same

: despite everything : nevertheless

Synonyms

Adjective

• coequal
• duplicate
• equal
• even
• identical
• indistinguishable

Choose the Right Synonym for same

same, selfsame, very, identical, equivalent, equal mean not different or not differing from one another.

same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route

derived from the selfsame source

very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Examples of same in a Sentence

Adjective

The words “their” and “there” are pronounced in exactly the same way but spelled differently.

She gave the same answer as before.

He eats the same breakfast every day.

The same thing happened to me yesterday.

Pronoun

“I'll have a coffee with cream and two sugars.” “Make mine the same.”

Your idea is the same as his.

All of your classmates have begun their projects, and I suggest you do the same.

The band's last album was a bunch of bubble-gum pop, and their new release is just more of the same.

After the accident, he was never quite the same again.

Things would never be the same without you!

Things are very much the same as before.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Violent crime is down 22 percent over that same period. —Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024

The play was never produced, and perhaps never finished; that same year, Durang received a diagnosis of logopenic primary progressive aphasia, a rare form of dementia that robbed him of language and, ultimately, his life. —Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

The settlement was a culmination of four different lawsuits brought together in a New Jersey court, that same state where Verizon is headquartered. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024

Medical students also are scheduled to start classes that same year. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024

Those same providers are now readying for a second wave. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024

Nonetheless, that same player found a way to score the deciding run in a 5-3 Dodgers victory over the Boston Braves, after reaching first base in the seventh inning following an error. —Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 14 Apr. 2024

Or, instead, these same feelings might arise as some kind of confusion and indecisiveness. —Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2024

That same year, Chile's socialist president, Salvador Allende, was ousted in a U.S.-backed coup. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2024

Adverb

What is different/same between this Colts team and previous ones? —Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 17 Oct. 2019

Stradley: What is different/same between this Steelers' team and previous ones? —Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 22 Dec. 2017

Without the wireless mousepad, that chamber can be used for optional weights same as...well, most Logitech gaming mice. —Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, 12 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old Norse samr; akin to Old High German sama same, Latin simulis like, simul together, at the same time, similis like, sem- one, Greek homos same, hama together, hen-, heis one

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Pronoun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1766, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing same

• amount to the same thing
• all the same to
• all the same
• by the same token
• of the same mind
• more of the same
• lightning never strikes (the same place) twice
• exact same
• same-sex
• same here
• same difference
• same again
• same as usual
• one and the same
• plough the same furrow
• the same as
• tar with the same brush
• the same
• speak/talk the same language
• the same old
• the same thing
• the same old story
• the same to you
• the same (thing) goes for (another person)
• under the same roof
• not in the same league
• on the same page
• cut from the same cloth
• (cast) in the same mold as
• two sides of the same coin
• very same
• same exact
• in the same breath
• in the same boat
• just the same
• do the same
• at the same time

Kids Definition

same

1 of 2 adjective

ˈsām 

1

: resembling in every respect

the same answer as before

2

: not another

the same school

3

: very much alike

on the same day last year

same

2 of 2 pronoun

: the same one or ones

Medical Definition

SAMe

noun

ˈsam-ē 

: S-adenosylmethionine especially when used as a dietary supplement (as to relieve depression or arthritic pain and inflammation)