Meaning & use
comparable to
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Similar enough to be compared with something else; roughly equal in size, quality, or importance.
Grammar: Followed by a noun or pronoun: comparable to the previous year. Do not use with.
Patterns
- comparable to something
- be comparable to something
- not comparable to something
The company's profits this year are comparable to last year's figures.
Her salary is comparable to what other engineers in the city earn.
The climate in southern Spain is comparable to that of California.
phrasefixed phrase
Worthy of being compared because of similar importance or quality, often in negative statements.
Grammar: Often used in the negative: not comparable to, meaning much less good or important.
Patterns
- nothing comparable to something
- not comparable to something
There is nothing comparable to the feeling of finishing a marathon.
His later novels are not comparable to his early masterpieces.
Common combinations
- be comparable to
- The new model's speed is comparable to that of the older one.
- roughly comparable to
- The cost is roughly comparable to what we paid last time.
- not comparable to
- The two situations are not comparable to each other.
- comparable to that of
- The rainfall is comparable to that of a tropical region.
Synonyms and how they differ
- similar to
- Similar to is more general and common in everyday speech; comparable to suggests the things are close enough in size or value to be measured against each other.
- equivalent to
- Equivalent to means exactly equal in value or meaning, while comparable to allows for small differences.
Opposites
Word family
- compare verb
- To examine two or more things to see how they are similar or different.
- comparison noun
- The act of comparing things, or a statement that compares them.
- comparable adjective
- Similar enough to be compared, as in comparable prices.
Commonly confused: comparable to or comparable with?
comparable to vs comparable with
Comparable with is also possible but less common; comparable to is the standard choice when you mean 'similar to'. Use comparable with mainly when you mean 'able to be compared with' in a technical sense.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is comparable to when you mean 'similar to'. Comparable with is sometimes used but is less standard here, and for and at do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “comparable to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.