# compare

> English word · Verb · IPA /kəmˈpɛɚ/ · frequency rank #3,285

## Definitions
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. To declare two things to be similar in some respect ["to compare X to Y"].
3. To form the three degrees of comparison of (an adjective).
4. To be similar (often used in the negative).
5. To get; to obtain.

## 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”).

## Easily confused with
- **compete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-compete)
- **compass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-compass)
- **comrade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-comrade)
- **compose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-compose)
- **compute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-compute)
- **compile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-compile)
- **compared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compare-vs-compared)
- **company** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/company-vs-compare)
- **compact** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compact-vs-compare)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ccompare`, `cmopare`, `comapre`, `commpare`, `compaer`, `comparre`, `comppare`, `comprae`, `copmare`, `ocmpare`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/compare