adjective

comparable

/ˈkɒmp(ə)rəbəl/ · say it: KOM·pur·uh·bul

able to be likened to another

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (adjective) able to be compared; similar enough to be worth comparing

2. (adjective) of similar quality or value; roughly equal

Examples

1. The two cars are comparable in price and size.
2. This restaurant offers comparable quality to the one we visited last week.

How to use comparable

Comparable is used when two or more things have enough in common to be meaningfully compared or when they are roughly equivalent in value or quality. It often appears with 'to' or 'with' to specify what is being compared. It suggests sufficient similarity for useful comparison rather than perfect equivalence.

Common phrases

comparable to
comparable in size
comparable level
comparable quality
directly comparable
roughly comparable

Synonyms

similar · equivalent · parallel · commensurable · analogous

Opposites

incomparable · incommensurable · disparate

Word family

compare (verb) · comparison (noun) · comparably (adverb) · comparability (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use comparable when they mean 'unique' or 'unmatched' (incomparable), leading to confusion in contexts like 'This artist is comparable to the great masters' versus 'This artist is incomparable.'

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