tell the difference
idiom
: to see how two or more people or things are unlike each other
It's hard to tell the difference between one action movie and another.
The new version is supposed to be much better than the old one, but I can't tell the difference (between them).
Examples of tell the difference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s a particular beep-boop-beep-boop that would be hard for anyone but devout fans of either artist to tell the difference between.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
There are other ways to do this, from using a letterbox around some scenes to simply trusting that viewers are able to tell the difference based on context.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
His perspective, explored here in the first of Newsweek's AI Impact interview series with Marcus Weldon, offers a crucial framework for understanding both the genuine promise and persistent limitations of artificial intelligence—and, most importantly, how to tell the difference.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
The easiest way to tell the difference is that toxic black mold often has a stronger, more pungent smell.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
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.
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
There are other ways to do this, from using a letterbox around some scenes to simply trusting that viewers are able to tell the difference based on context.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
His perspective, explored here in the first of Newsweek's AI Impact interview series with Marcus Weldon, offers a crucial framework for understanding both the genuine promise and persistent limitations of artificial intelligence—and, most importantly, how to tell the difference.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
The easiest way to tell the difference is that toxic black mold often has a stronger, more pungent smell.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
Cite this Entry
“Tell the difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20the%20difference. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share