same
gb/sˈeɪm/ us/sˈeɪm/
A1
English
~ 200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
identical or not different
Exactly like another thing; not different.
Usage pattern:
[something] is the same as [something else]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'same' with 'similar'. 'Same' means there is no difference, while 'similar' means there are small differences.
Synonyms
identical (Stronger in suggesting complete correspondence in all aspects.)
|
equal (Often used in mathematics or to indicate fairness, not just similarity.)
Antonyms
different (Indicates that two or more things are not alike.)
|
distinct (Emphasizes clear separation or uniqueness.)
Collocations
exact same
|same time
|same place
|same way
|same thing
Themes
comparison
|description
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- These two shirts are the same size.
- We were born on the same day.
- She ordered the same meal as yesterday.
- He wore the same jacket all week.
- They live in the same neighborhood.
Learner examples
- My bag is the same as yours.
- We are in the same class.
- This car is the same color as that one.
- I have the same phone as my sister.
pronoun
A2
relation
2
the identical thing mentioned before
The person or thing you talked about before, which is not different.
Usage pattern:
the same
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'the' before 'same' when used as a pronoun. Correct: 'the same', Incorrect: 'same'.
Synonyms
identical one (More formal and explicit way to indicate exact sameness.)
Antonyms
different one (Indicates a separate or non-matching item.)
Collocations
do the same
|say the same
|think the same
Themes
reference
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- I'll have the same, please.
- He said he would do the same.
- They think the same about this issue.
- We arrived early, and she did the same.
Learner examples
- I want the same, please.
- He will do the same as me.
- We think the same about this problem.
adjective
B1
property
3
unchanged over time or situations
Not changing over time or between places.
Usage pattern:
stay/remain the same
Synonyms
unchanged (Directly states that no change has occurred.)
|
consistent (Suggests regularity and stability, especially over time.)
Antonyms
changed (Indicates that something has become different.)
|
altered (More formal term for having been changed.)
Collocations
stay the same
|remain the same
|kept the same
Themes
time
|consistency
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Prices have stayed the same for years.
- Her attitude remained the same despite the news.
- The rules will stay the same next season.
Learner examples
- The price stayed the same for three years.
- His face remained the same over time.
- The weather stayed the same all week.
Grammar
Dictionary form
same
IPA
GB/sˈeɪm/
US/sˈeɪm/
Syllables & stress
same (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (same)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: same
Word family
Core family
sameness
noun B2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
samey
adjective B2
dissimilar
adjective B2
Expressions
more of the same
1/mˈɔɹ əv ðə sˈeɪm/
fixed phrase
more things just like before
More things like what we already had, often boring or with no change.
Examples
- The sequel offered more of the same—action scenes and explosions.
- Dinner was more of the same: rice and beans.
same difference
1/sˈeɪm dˈɪfɹəns/
idiom
informal
no real difference between two things
Two things are almost the same, so it doesn't matter which one you choose or say.
Examples
- You call it soda, I call it pop—same difference.
- Whether we go today or tomorrow, it's the same difference.
same here
1/sˈeɪm hˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
informal
I agree or feel the same way
I feel or think like you just said.
Examples
- "I'm tired." "Same here."
- "I love this movie." "Same here!"
the same old story
1/ðə sˈeɪm ˈoʊld stˈɔɹi/
idiom
a repeated, predictable situation
Something that happens again and again in the same way, often boring or bad.
Examples
- It's always the same old story—he promises to help but never does.
- Late trains again? The same old story.
in the same boat
1/ˈɪn ðə sˈeɪm bˈoʊt/
idiom
informal
Share the same problem or situation
To be in the same bad situation as someone else.
Examples
- We’re all in the same boat after losing our jobs.
- Don’t worry, you’re not alone – we’re in the same boat.
in the same boat
2/ˈɪn ðə sˈeɪm bˈoʊt/
idiom
in a shared difficult situation
In the same bad or hard situation as other people.
Examples
- We're all in the same boat after losing our jobs.
- Don't worry, many students are in the same boat during exams.