compare

/kəmˈpɛɚ/

//kəmˈpɛɚ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"compare" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“compare” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #3,285. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#3,285
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
10
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things ["to compare X with Y"]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it similar to Y or different from Y.

Corpus desk

Index EN-compare · compare · English

compare · rank #3,285 · 10 variants · 9 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #3,285
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 9 pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH contained

Nearest frequency peer: contained (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “compare”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “compare” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

compare vs compete
71% similar
compare vs compass
71% similar
compare vs comrade
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for compare
PropertyValue
Headwordcompare
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/kəmˈpɛɚ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#3,285
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “compare”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).comparelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “contained” (#3,286), “charity” (#3,283), “cooking” (#3,287). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “compare” is #3,285. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around compare (IPA /kəmˈpɛɚ/), averb. Corpus frequency is #3,285 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for compare, with forms such as "ccompare", "cmopare", and "comapre". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 9 confusable-pair relationships, "compete", "compass", "comrade", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”). The correct English form is compare, spelled C-O-M-P-A-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things ["to compare X with Y"]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it similar to Y or different from Y.
  2. 2
    To declare two things to be similar in some respect ["to compare X to Y"].
  3. 3
    To form the three degrees of comparison of (an adjective).
  4. 4
    To be similar (often used in the negative).
  5. 5
    To get; to obtain.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how compare appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Compare the tiger's coloration with that of the zebra.
  2. You can't compare my problems and yours.

Etymology

From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”).

This word in other languages

comparar(Español)comparer(Français)vergleichen(Deutsch)comparar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccompare
  • cmopare
  • comapre
  • commpare
  • compaer
  • comparre
  • comppare
  • comprae
  • copmare
  • ocmpare

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of compare - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ccompare1cmopare2comapre2commpare1compaer2comparre1comppare1comprae2
Edit distance from "compare"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "compare"?
"compare" is spelled C-O-M-P-A-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /kəmˈpɛɚ/.
What does "compare" mean?
As a verb, "compare" means: To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things ["to compare X with Y"]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it similar to Y or different from Y.
What words are commonly confused with "compare"?
"compare" is commonly confused with "compete", "compass", "comrade". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "compare"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "compare" is /kəmˈpɛɚ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "compare"?
From Middle English comparen, from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare (“to prepare, procure”), from compar (“like or equal to another”), from com- + par (“equal”). Displaced native Old English metan (“to compare,” also “to measure”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "compare", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

charity#3,283cooking#3,287curious#3,289anxiety#3,278

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

formula10 variantsviolent10 variantshungry10 variantssoldier10 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list