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Meaning & use

similar to or as

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈsɪmɪlə tuː ɔːr æz/
US/ˈsɪmələr tuː ɔːr æz/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    A pair of patterns learners often mix up: 'similar to' compares one thing with another, while 'as ... as' says two things are equal in some way.

    Grammar: 'Similar to' comes before a noun or pronoun; 'as' comes before an adjective or adverb and is repeated later: as tall as me.

    Patterns

    • similar to someone/something
    • be similar to something in some way
    • as adjective as someone/something
    • as adverb as someone/something

    Her handwriting is very similar to her mother's.

    This tablet is similar to the one I bought last year, but cheaper.

    He isn't as tall as his brother, but he's just as funny.

  2. phrasefixed phraseinformal

    Used when asking which of the two patterns is correct in a sentence, or when correcting someone who has used the wrong one.

    Grammar: Often appears in questions and in grammar explanations rather than in ordinary statements.

    Patterns

    • is it 'similar to' or 'as'?
    • 'similar to' or 'as'?

    Is it 'similar to' or 'as' in this sentence?

    The teacher explained when to use 'similar to' or 'as', and the class finally understood.

  3. phrasefixed phrase

    The choice between 'similar to' and 'as' when both could appear in a comparison of appearance, sound, or behavior.

    Grammar: 'Similar to' links two whole things; 'as' joins two things being measured against each other.

    Patterns

    • similar to something
    • as ... as something

    This fabric feels similar to silk, though it is much cheaper.

    This fabric feels as smooth as silk, but it costs far less.

Common combinations

similar to mine
Your jacket is similar to mine, but the buttons are different.
similar in size
The two rooms are similar in size, so either one will work.
as big as
Their new office is not as big as the old one.
as quickly as
She finished the test as quickly as I did.
very similar to
His voice is very similar to the singer's on that record.

Synonyms and how they differ

like
'Like' is more informal and goes straight before a noun: 'It looks like mine'; 'similar to' sounds more careful and often appears in writing.
comparable to
'Comparable to' suggests the two things are close enough to be measured against each other, which is stronger than simply being similar.
the same as
'The same as' says there is no difference at all, while 'similar to' allows small differences.

Opposites

different fromunlike

Word family

similarity noun
the state of being alike, or a point in which two things are alike
similarly adverb
in a way that is alike; also used to add a matching point
dissimilar adjective
not alike at all; a formal opposite of 'similar'

Commonly confused: similar to or as or same as? similar to or as or as?

similar to or as vs same as

'Same as' means there is no difference, so it is stronger than 'similar to'. If two things only resemble each other, use 'similar to'.

similar to or as vs as

'As' on its own does not mean 'similar to'. It needs a second 'as' (as cold as ice) or it introduces a reason or a job (she works as a nurse).

Practice

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