differ

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈdɪfɚ/ UK /ˈdɪfə/ See IPA manual

Freq #12411

Meanings

1

verb
To be unlike something else in some way.

These two tests differ in only one respect.
2

verb
To have a different opinion from someone.

I beg to differ on that point.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to have a different opinion... dissent

More abludemismatchvary

Opposites

conform match

Word family

Forms differeddifferingdiffers

Related forms difference different differential differentiate differentiation differently indifference indifferent indifferently

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

Fools seldom differ

Simplified etymology

Differ entered English in the late Middle English period and ultimately comes from Latin ferre, meaning “bring.” It shares its origin with defer.

Etymology

From Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differō (“carry apart, put off, defer; differ”), from dis- (“apart”) + ferō (“carry, bear”). Compare Ancient Greek διαφέρω (diaphérō). Doublet of defer and dilate, see also infer, confer and collate, refer and relate, as well as prefer and prelate among others.

*bʰer- Proto-Indo-European differren Middle English differer Old French differō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# differ

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɪfɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɪfə/
**Frequency rank:** 12411

## Meanings
1. To be unlike something else in some way.
2. To have a different opinion from someone.

## Examples
- These two tests differ in only one respect.
- I beg to differ on that point.

## Synonyms
- ablude
- dissent
- mismatch
- vary

## Antonyms
- conform
- match

## Related Forms
- difference
- different
- differential
- differentiate
- differentiation
- differently
- indifference
- indifferent
- indifferently

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰer-
- Root: differren
- Root: differer
- Root: differō

## Etymology
From Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differō (“carry apart, put off, defer; differ”), from dis- (“apart”) + ferō (“carry, bear”). Compare Ancient Greek διαφέρω (diaphérō). Doublet of defer and dilate, see also infer, confer and collate, refer and relate, as well as prefer and prelate among others.

## AI Etymology
differ comes from Middle English differren, from Old French differer, from Latin differō (“carry apart, put off, defer; differ”), from dis- (“apart”) + ferō (“carry, bear”). Compare Ancient Greek διαφέρω (diaphérō). Doublet of defer and dilate, see also infer, confer and collate, refer and relate, as well as prefer and prelate among others. The historical chain includes Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-, Middle English differren, Old French differer, Latin differō. Current senses include to be unlike something else in some way and to have a different opinion from someone. English relatives and later formations include difference, different.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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