same

1 of 3

adjective

ˈsām 

1

a

: resembling in every relevant respect

b

: conforming in every respect

—used with as

2

a

: being one without addition, change, or discontinuance : identical

b

: being the one under discussion or already referred to

3

: corresponding so closely as to be indistinguishable

4

: equal in size, shape, value, or importance

—usually used with the or a demonstrative (such as that, those) in all senses

same

2 of 3

pronoun

1

: something identical with or similar to another

2

: something or someone previously mentioned or described

—often used with the or a demonstrative (such as that, those) in both senses

same

3 of 3

adverb

: in the same manner

—used with the or a demonstrative (such as that, those)

Phrases

all the same or just the same

: despite everything : nevertheless

Synonyms

Adjective

• coequal
• duplicate
• equal
• even
• identical
• indistinguishable

Choose the Right Synonym for same

same, selfsame, very, identical, equivalent, equal mean not different or not differing from one another.

same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route

derived from the selfsame source

very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Examples of same in a Sentence

Adjective

The words “their” and “there” are pronounced in exactly the same way but spelled differently.

She gave the same answer as before.

He eats the same breakfast every day.

The same thing happened to me yesterday.

Pronoun

“I'll have a coffee with cream and two sugars.” “Make mine the same.”

Your idea is the same as his.

All of your classmates have begun their projects, and I suggest you do the same.

The band's last album was a bunch of bubble-gum pop, and their new release is just more of the same.

After the accident, he was never quite the same again.

Things would never be the same without you!

Things are very much the same as before.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The longtime civil rights attorney rose to power that same year with the goal of reimagining how the DA’s office prosecutes cases and pushing back against the nation’s legacy of mass incarceration, which disproportionately affected Black residents and communities of color. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024

Over these same years, the polling tells us that Democrats have gone from having a modest edge in how voters identify themselves in partisan terms to having a small disadvantage. —Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024

Adverb

What is different/same between this Colts team and previous ones? —Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 17 Oct. 2019

Stradley: What is different/same between this Steelers' team and previous ones? —Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 22 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old Norse samr; akin to Old High German sama same, Latin simulis like, simul together, at the same time, similis like, sem- one, Greek homos same, hama together, hen-, heis one

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Pronoun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1766, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing same

• all the same
• all the same to
• amount to the same thing
• at the same time
• by the same token
• (cast) in the same mold as
• cut from the same cloth
• do the same
• exact same
• in the same boat
• in the same breath
• just the same
• lightning never strikes (the same place) twice
• more of the same
• not in the same league
• of the same mind
• one and the same
• on the same page
• plough the same furrow
• same again
• same as usual
• same difference
• same exact
• same here
• same old song
• same old song and dance
• same-sex
• speak/talk the same language
• tar with the same brush
• the same
• the same as
• the same old
• the same old story
• the same thing
• the same (thing) goes for (another person)
• the same to you
• two sides of the same coin
• under the same roof
• very same

Kids Definition

same

1 of 2 adjective

ˈsām 

1

: resembling in every respect

the same answer as before

2

: not another

the same school

3

: very much alike

on the same day last year

same

2 of 2 pronoun

: the same one or ones

Medical Definition

SAMe

noun

ˈsam-ē 

: S-adenosylmethionine especially when used as a dietary supplement (as to relieve depression or arthritic pain and inflammation)