Meaning & use
matches
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“matches” is a form of “match”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Small sticks with a special tip that produce fire when rubbed against a rough surface.
Grammar: Plural noun; the singular is 'match'.
Patterns
- a box of matches
- strike a match
He bought a box of matches to light the candles.
The matches got wet, so we couldn't start a fire.
nounplural
Sports events in which two people or teams compete against each other.
Grammar: Plural noun; the singular is 'match'.
Patterns
- play matches
- win a match
The team has won all its matches this season.
We watched the tennis matches on TV yesterday.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Third-person singular present of 'match': to be the same as or go well with something else.
Grammar: Used with he, she, or it: 'The color matches her eyes.'
Patterns
- match something
- match with something
This shirt matches your skirt perfectly.
The description matches what we saw.
Word forms
| singular | match |
|---|---|
| third person singular | matches |
| past tense | matched |
| past participle | matched |
| -ing form | matching |
Common combinations
- box of matches
- She kept a box of matches in the kitchen drawer.
- strike a match
- He struck a match to see in the dark.
- play a match
- They will play a match tomorrow afternoon.
- win a match
- Our team hopes to win the match.
- matches well
- The wallpaper matches well with the furniture.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fixtures
- In sports, 'fixtures' refers to scheduled matches, but it is more formal and often used in British English.
- games
- A 'game' is a more general term for any sport or activity, while 'match' usually implies a competitive event between two sides.
Opposites
Word family
- match noun
- Singular form, meaning one stick or one sports event.
- matching adjective
- Describing things that go well together, e.g., matching colors.
- matchbox noun
- A small box for holding matches.
Commonly confused: matches or mathes?
matches vs mathes
'Mathes' is a misspelling; the correct spelling is 'matches'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The singular 'a match' is correct because 'a' requires a singular noun. 'Matches' is plural and would need 'some' or 'the' in this context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “matches”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.