tell the difference
idiom
: to see how two or more people or things are unlike each other
It's hard to tell the difference between one action movie and another.
The new version is supposed to be much better than the old one, but I can't tell the difference (between them).
Examples of tell the difference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By intent, the new versions on Legacy so closely mirror the originals that even Fogerty can’t always tell the difference.
—
Melinda Newman, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
If the human can’t tell the difference, the computer passes the test.
—Tamilla Triantoro, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025
The graphics look so realistic that casual fans can’t tell the difference between the game and a broadcast at first glance.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
Once they’re digested, your body can’t tell the difference.
—Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
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Melinda Newman, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2025
If the human can’t tell the difference, the computer passes the test.
—Tamilla Triantoro, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025
The graphics look so realistic that casual fans can’t tell the difference between the game and a broadcast at first glance.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
Once they’re digested, your body can’t tell the difference.
—Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
Cite this Entry
“Tell the difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20the%20difference. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
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