compare

play

verb com·pare \kəm-ˈper\

Definition of compare

compared

;

comparing

transitive verb
1 : to represent as similar : liken Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? — William Shakespeare
2a : to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences compare your responses with the answersb : to view in relation to He is tall compared to me. The test was easy compared with the last one.
3 : to inflect or modify (an adjective or adverb) according to the degrees of comparison : state the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of
intransitive verb
1 : to bear being compared The two don't even begin to compare. We bought two different brands of peanut butter to see how they compare.
2 : to make comparisons If we now go to Italy at all, we go not to learn, but to compare. — Norman Douglas
3 : to be equal or alike Nothing compares to you.

See compare defined for English-language learners

See compare defined for kids

Examples of compare in a Sentence

The singer's voice has been compared to that of Elvis.
We each did the homework assignment, then compared answers.
I compared several bicycles before buying one.

Recent Examples of compare from the Web

Overdose deaths rise Meanwhile, drug overdose deaths in Kentucky rose again last year, with 1,404 people dying in 2016 compared to 1,248 in 2015, according to a report by the state Office of Drug Control Policy.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky drug epidemic's smallest victims: Babies dying in their sleep", 6 July 2017
The experts also compared the facial features and body proportions of the two figures in the photograph with known pictures of Earhart and Noonan.

— the washington post, AL.com, "New Amelia Earhart photo suggests she was captured by Japan, investigators say", 6 July 2017
Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler posted big drops in June compared with the same month last year.

— jon talton, The Seattle Times, "Manufacturing’s latest threat: An auto slowdown", 5 July 2017
Obama hoped to cut the greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil-fuel companies by 40 percent by 2025, as compared to 2012 levels.

— robinson meyer, The Atlantic, "The First Court Victory for Environmentalists Under Trump", 5 July 2017
In a small but thorough study, researchers found that people who consumed vinegar before eating a breakfast of white bread felt more satisfied 90 minutes after eating compared to people who only ate the bread.

— elizabeth narins, Cosmopolitan, "13 Reasons Apple Cider Vinegar Is the Magic Potion You Need in Your Life", 3 July 2017
In 2014, the 13 northern counties had a combined state income tax assessment of $1 billion, compared with $4 billion from San Francisco County.

— thomas fuller, New York Times, "California’s Far North Deplores ‘Tyranny’ of the Urban Majority", 2 July 2017
Novak has compared the death rate of soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2001 to 2011 with Kansas City homicide statistics.

— kelsey ryan and ian cummings, kansascity, "Crime statistics reveal Kansas City’s disturbing homicide trend", 2 July 2017
Of course, Twitter exploded with hilarious reactions comparing Duey to other large animals like polar bears.

— melissa minton, Teen Vogue, "Mom's Tweet About Dog Photo Goes Viral", 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compare'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of compare

Middle English, from Anglo-French comparer, from Latin comparare to couple, compare, from compar like, from com- + par equal

NEW!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of compare

compare, contrast, collate mean to set side by side in order to show differences and likenesses. compare implies an aim of showing relative values or excellences by bringing out characteristic qualities whether similar or divergent. compared the convention facilities of the two cities contrast implies an emphasis on differences. contrasted the computerized system with the old filing cards collate implies minute and critical inspection in order to note points of agreement or divergence. data from districts around the country will be collated

compare

noun com·pare

Definition of compare

: the possibility of comparing beauty beyond compare; also : something with which to be compared a city without compare

See compare defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of compare from the Web

More: How Indiana's black homicide rate compares to other states More: In Fishers, suicides outnumber homicides.

— fatima hussein, Indianapolis Star, "Indy to receive Justice Department help for crime fighting", 20 June 2017
None of these compares to the Tri-State disaster in terms of casualties (695) and path length (219 miles).

— tom skilling, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Tom: What was the 1925 Tri-State Tornado like?", 16 June 2017
Certainly nothing he's ever done before compares in its absolute awfulness to his latest, The Mummy.

— todd mccarthy, The Hollywood Reporter, "Critic's Notebook: After 'The Mummy,' Tom Cruise Needs to Get Back to Acting", 9 June 2017
Q: Generally speaking, how do the costs of a prefab home compare to those of a traditional home?

— sandy deneau dunham, The Seattle Times, "A Q&A on prefabricated homes", 7 June 2017
Nursing home compare link: click here Location: Strongsville Total hours per resident day: 3.08 RN hours per resident day: 0.40 LPN hours per resident day: 0.78 CNA hours per resident day: 1.90 Overall star rating as of May 2017: 2 Ownership:

— cleveland.com, "See 25 low-staffed nursing homes in Northeast Ohio: A Critical Choice", 6 June 2017
Still, thanks to Ms. De Waal’s smart performance in that very rangy role, and the delicious compare-and-contrast work of Ms. Parry and Tessa Auberjonois as the Elphaba and Glinda of Sussex, the play’s emotional architecture holds up.

— jesse green, New York Times, "Review: Shaw’s ‘Heartbreak House’ Gets an Unexpected Visitor", 31 May 2017
How does Oregon's only Frank Lloyd Wright building compare to his masterpieces around the world?

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Oregon's part in the worldwide celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright's 150th birthday (photos)", 23 May 2017
In Virginia, the seven insurers proposing prices for 2018 compares with 11 now selling ACA health plans there.

— amy goldstein, Washington Post, "Early proposed rates for ACA health plans hint at a jump in premiums for 2018", 9 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of compare

see ¹compare

NEW!

First Known Use: 1589

See Words from the same year

COMPARE Defined for English Language Learners

compare

play

verb

Definition of compare for English Language Learners

: to say that (something) is similar to something else
: to look at (two or more things) closely in order to see what is similar or different about them or in order to decide which one is better
: to be as good or as bad as something else : to be on the same level or in the same category as something else

COMPARE Defined for Kids

compare

play

verb com·pare \kəm-ˈper\

Definition of compare for Students

compared

;

comparing

1 : to point out as similar : liken She compared the activity of ants to the behavior of humans.
2 : to examine for similarity or differences Before buying compare the two bicycles.
3 : to appear in relation to others She compares well with the rest of the class.
4 : to state the positive, comparative, and superlative forms of an adjective or adverb