Meaning & use
contrast
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To examine two or more people or things in order to show their differences.
Grammar: Takes an object; the pattern is contrast A with B.
Patterns
- contrast A with B
- contrast two sources
- contrast ideas clearly
The essay contrasts city life with life in smaller towns.
Can you contrast the two translations without judging one too quickly?
She contrasted the candidates’ tax plans in a short table.
verbintransitive
To differ clearly from something else when considered together.
Grammar: No object; often followed by with when naming the other thing.
Patterns
- contrast with something
- contrast sharply
- contrast markedly
Her calm manner contrasts with her brother’s nervous energy.
The bright labels contrast sharply against the white boxes.
The results contrast markedly with last year’s survey.
nouncountable or uncountable
A clear difference between people, things, or ideas that are compared.
Grammar: Countable for a specific instance; uncountable for the general effect of difference.
Patterns
- in contrast to
- sharp contrast
- by contrast
The contrast between the drought map and the flood map was striking.
In contrast to her earlier reserve, Maya asked several direct questions.
The room uses warm lamps for contrast against cool blue walls.
Word forms
| third person singular | contrasts |
|---|---|
| past tense | contrasted |
| past participle | contrasted |
| -ing form | contrasting |
| plural noun | contrasts |
Common combinations
- contrast A with B
- In class, we contrast primary sources with later interpretations.
- sharp contrast
- There was a sharp contrast between the quiet morning and the noisy evening shift.
- in contrast to
- In contrast to last winter, this January has been mild.
- provide a contrast
- The dark doors provide a contrast that makes the pale walls look larger.
Synonyms and how they differ
- compare
- Compare can note similarities and differences; contrast focuses mainly on differences.
- differentiate
- Differentiate means tell apart or mark as distinct, often by identifying features.
- distinguish
- Distinguish stresses recognizing a difference between things, not necessarily presenting them side by side.
Opposites
Word family
- contrastive adjective
- Based on or showing contrast.
- contrasting adjective
- Clearly different from each other.
Commonly confused: contrast or contract?
contrast vs contract
Contrast is a difference or comparison; contract can be a legal agreement or the verb to shrink.
Practice
Complete the sentence: The report contrasts online sales ____ in-store sales.
Choose one answer.
The standard frame is contrast A with B; from, into, and about do not fit this transitive comparison pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “contrast”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.