compare

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kəmˈpɛɚ/ UK /kəmˈpɛə/ See IPA manual

Freq #4766

Meanings

1

verb
To look at two or more things to see how they are similar or different.

I compared my haircut to my friend's.
2

verb
To say that one thing is like another in some way.

Astronomers have compared comets to dirty snowballs.
3

verb
To be as good as or similar to something else (often used in the negative).

This car does not compare with our line of far superior cars.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to look at two or more... collateweigh against

2 verb · to say that one thing is... liken equate

Word family

Forms cfcomparedcomparescomparingcp

Derived forms comparablecompareecomparinglyincomparedintercomparemiscomparerecompareuncompared

Related forms cfcomparandcomparandumcomparative comparison contrast

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

Do not compare apples and oranges

Simplified etymology

Compare entered English in late Middle English with the sense “to pair with” or “bring together.” It ultimately derives from Latin par, meaning “equal.”

Etymology

From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”).

comparen Middle English comparer Old French comparare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# compare

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kəmˈpɛɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /kəmˈpɛə/
**Frequency rank:** 4766

## Meanings
1. To look at two or more things to see how they are similar or different.
2. To say that one thing is like another in some way.
3. To be as good as or similar to something else (often used in the negative).

## Examples
- I compared my haircut to my friend's.
- Astronomers have compared comets to dirty snowballs.
- This car does not compare with our line of far superior cars.

## Derived Forms
- comparable
- comparee
- comparingly
- incompared
- intercompare
- miscompare
- recompare
- uncompared

## Related Forms
- cf
- comparand
- comparandum
- comparative
- comparison
- contrast

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: comparen
- Root: comparer
- Root: comparare

## Etymology
From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”).

## AI Etymology
compare is a verb. It is from Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”). Historical forms in the chain include comparen (Middle English), comparer (Old French), and comparare (Latin). Current senses include to look at two or more things to see how they are similar or different, to say that one thing is like another in some way, and to be as good as or similar to something else (often used in the negative). Derived forms include comparable, comparee, comparingly, incompared, and intercompare. Related words include cf, comparand, comparandum, and comparative.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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