comparable
gb/kəmpˈæɹəbəl/ us/kəmpˈæɹəbəl/
B2
English
~ 7500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
similar in degree, amount, or quality
Almost the same in size, amount, or quality as something else, so you can compare them fairly.
Usage pattern:
[something] is comparable to/with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"comparable than"* (✗) instead of *"comparable to"* or *"comparable with"* (✓). Another common confusion is mixing up *"comparable"* with *"compatible"*: *comparable* means similar in level or size, while *compatible* means able to work or exist together without problems.
Synonyms
similar (A more general word; 'comparable' often suggests a closer or more formal comparison, especially of value, quality, or size.)
Antonyms
incomparable (Suggests something is so different or so good/bad that it cannot be fairly compared to anything else.)
Collocations
comparable to
|comparable in size
|comparable quality
|comparable price
|comparable salary
|broadly comparable
Themes
comparison
|measurement
|descriptions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Employees in the new branch receive salaries comparable to those at the head office.
- The two phones offer comparable performance, but one is much cheaper.
- Crime rates in this city are comparable with those in other major urban areas.
- Her latest novel is comparable in quality to the award‑winning one she wrote five years ago.
- We need a company that can provide a service comparable to what we had before.
Learner examples
- My rent is comparable to my friends’ rent in the same area.
- This small car has power comparable to a much bigger car.
- The hotels are comparable in price, but this one is cleaner.
- His English level is comparable to a native speaker’s level.
- Living costs here are comparable with most big cities.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
able to be fairly compared
Possible to compare in a fair way, because they were made, measured, or judged using the same rules.
Usage pattern:
[figures/data/results] are (not) comparable
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning always implies that things are similar in level. In this sense, *comparable* only means they can be compared fairly, not that the results will be close.
Synonyms
commensurable (A technical and rare word, mainly in academic or mathematical contexts, meaning measurable by the same standard; more formal than 'comparable'.)
Antonyms
not comparable (Used when differences in conditions, standards, or methods make a fair comparison impossible.)
Collocations
directly comparable
|readily comparable
|statistically comparable
|comparable data
|comparable figures
|comparable groups
Themes
science
|business
|statistics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The test scores from the two schools are not directly comparable because different exams were used.
- Year‑on‑year sales figures are only comparable after adjusting for inflation.
- Patient groups must be comparable in age and health for the study to be valid.
- These statistics are comparable across countries because they follow the same reporting standard.
- Survey results from online and in‑person interviews are not really comparable.
Learner examples
- The numbers from last year are not comparable with this year’s numbers.
- These two studies are only comparable because they use the same method.
- Our data are comparable across all regions.
- The two groups must be comparable in age and size.
- Prices from different countries are not comparable without currency conversion.
Grammar
Dictionary form
comparable
IPA
GB/kəmpˈæɹəbəl/
US/kəmpˈæɹəbəl/
Syllables & stress
com - par - able (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (par)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: comparable
Word family
Core family
compare
verb B1
comparison
noun B1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
incomparable
adjective
Advanced or less common
comparability
noun
incomparably
adverb
Expressions
comparable to
1/kəmpˈæɹəbəl tə/
fixed phrase
similar to in degree or quality
Used to say that one thing is almost the same in size, amount, or quality as another thing.
Examples
- His pay is now comparable to that of a senior manager.
- Internet speeds here are comparable to what you get in most large cities.
comparable with
1/kəmpˈæɹəbəl wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
formal
formally similar enough to compare
A more formal way to say that one thing is almost the same in level, size, or quality as another thing, so you can compare them.
Examples
- The new software is comparable with leading products on the market.
- Living standards here are now comparable with those in Western Europe.