comparable

adjective

com·​pa·​ra·​ble ˈkäm-p(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce comparable (audio)
 also  kəm-ˈpa-rə-bəl,
-ˈper-ə- How to pronounce comparable (audio)
1
: capable of or suitable for comparison
The situations are not at all comparable.
2
: similar, like
fabrics of comparable quality
The two houses are comparable in size.
comparableness noun

Examples of comparable in a Sentence

two comparable selections that are hard to choose between
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rural states like West Virginia have life expectancies akin to those in developing nations, while wealthier states like California boast outcomes comparable to European ones. Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024 Lululemon China Sales As a result, the company has turned to China for growth, which so far has helped lift sales across the overall business and because of that company-wide comparable sales grew 4% during the quarter. Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 The $34 juicer, comparable to a $60 Hamilton Beach version, made a lot of noise — and a perfectly delicious glass of beet juice. Vicky Nguyen, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024 The increase is attributed to a 3% rise in comparable store sales and a 2% increase from non-comparable store sales. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for comparable 

Word History

Etymology

see compare entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of comparable was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near comparable

Cite this Entry

“Comparable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comparable. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

comparable

adjective
com·​pa·​ra·​ble ˈkäm-p(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce comparable (audio)
1
: capable of being compared
2
: similar, like
cloth comparable to the best
comparably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on comparable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!