Comparing
/kəmˈpɛərɪŋ/
Definitions
To examine (two or more objects, ideas, or people) in order to note similarities and differences.
/kəmˈpɛərɪŋ/
Examining two or more things to identify similarities and differences.
I'm comparing the features of two laptops.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have two toys. Comparing means looking closely at both toys and seeing how they are the same and how they are different. Like comparing a teddy bear and a toy car—one is fluffy, the other has wheels!
👶 For kids: Looking at two things to see how they are alike and different.
More Examples
He's comparing his current salary to his previous one.
How It's Used
"The professor was comparing the two theories."
"She's comparing prices before buying a new phone."
From the verb 'compare', ultimately derived from the Latin 'comparare', meaning 'to liken'. The '-ing' suffix indicates the present participle.
The word 'compare' and its derivatives have been used in similar ways throughout history, primarily focused on assessing similarities and differences.
Memory tip
Think 'com' (together) and 'pare' (to trim/reduce differences). Comparing brings things together to find what's similar and different.