INDEX:
1. the same one
2. exactly like someone or something
3. the same in amount or number
4. the same as before
5. always the same
6. when something is the same in all its parts
7. to make things the same
8. when facts, situations, or numbers are the same
9. having the same position, effect, value etc as something else
10. someone who has the same position in another company, organization, or group
11. to have the same beliefs, ideas, or opinions as someone else
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ DIFFERENT
see also
↑ LIKE OR SIMILAR
↑ EQUAL/NOT EQUAL
↑ COPY
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1. the same one
▷ the same /ðə ˈseɪm/ [adjective only before noun]
the same place, person, or thing, not a different one :
▪ My friend and I went to the same school.
▪ They work in different offices, but they have the same boss.
▪ He could hardly believe that the woman sitting in front of him was the same one he’d seen on TV so many times.
the same ... as
▪ She was born on the same day as me.
▪ I was staying in the same hotel as Nelson Mandela. Can you believe it!
▷ common /ˈkɒmənǁˈkɑː-/ [adjective only before noun]
two or more people who have common aims, interests, beliefs etc have the same interests, aims, or beliefs :
▪ We have a common goal - the creation of a united Europe.
▪ Dating agencies try to match people with similar personalities and common interests.
common ground
opinions, beliefs etc shared between people
▪ There was a great deal of common ground between all the different representatives.
▷ the very (same)/the self-same /ðə ˌveri (ˈseɪm), ðə ˈself seɪm/ [adjective phrase only before noun]
use this to emphasize that someone or something is the same person or thing, not a different one, when this is interesting or surprising :
▪ This is the very same house where Shakespeare wrote most of his plays.
▪ Television gets most of its stories from the very tabloid newspapers it is so fond of attacking.
▪ The self-same people who complain about low-flying aircraft are the ones who will be jetting off to Florida on their holidays next year.
2. exactly like someone or something
▷ the same /ðə ˈseɪm/ []
▪ They were both wearing the same shoes.
▪ We’ve opened up stores in the UK and we hope to do the same in the rest of Europe.
▪ ‘We always get up late on Saturdays.’ ‘It’s the same in our house.’
look/sound/taste etc the same
▪ The houses on the street all look the same.
just the same/exactly the same
not different in any way
▪ I tried three different types of wine, but they all tasted exactly the same to me.
all the same
▪ Take whichever you like - they’re all the same.
the same ... as
▪ They were doing the same jobs as the men, but being paid less.
▷ just like/exactly like /dʒʌst ˈlaɪk, ɪgˌzæktli ˈlaɪk/ [adjective only before noun]
if someone or something is just like or exactly like someone or something else, there is very little difference between them :
▪ You’re just like my teacher.
▪ There are insects that look exactly like green leaves.
▪ This song sounds exactly like that one by The Beatles.
be just/exactly like doing something
▪ We had often talked about emigrating to Australia. Suzie came from Melbourne, so it would be just like going home for her.
▷ identical /aɪˈdentɪk ə l/ [adjective]
identical things are exactly the same in every way :
▪ To me the two patterns looked identical.
identical to
▪ The picture is identical to the one in the museum of Modern Art in New York.
identical in size/colour/shape etc
▪ The tablets were identical in size, shape, and colour.
▷ can’t tell the difference/can’t tell them apart /ˌkɑːnt tel ðə ˈdɪf ə rəns, ˌkɑːnt tel ðəm əˈpɑːʳtǁ ˌkænt-/ [verb phrase]
if you can’t tell the difference between two people or things, or if you can’t tell them apart, they look, sound, or seem exactly the same to you :
▪ Emma and Louise sound so alike on the phone, I can’t tell the difference.
▪ They are identical twins and it’s impossible to tell them apart.
▪ These rap bands all sound the same to me -- I can’t tell them apart.
can’t tell the difference between
▪ Don’t let her help you with the gardening -- she can’t tell the difference between a weed and a strawberry plant!
▷ indistinguishable /ˌɪndɪˈstɪngwɪʃəb ə l/ [adjective not usually before noun]
two people or things that are indistinguishable are so similar that it is impossible to know which is which or to see any differences between them :
▪ In the storm the sky and sea were indistinguishable.
▪ It was claimed that Russian and American defence policies were indistinguishable.
indistinguishable from
▪ He tasted the cheaper wine and found it indistinguishable from a superior one.
▷ be no different from /biː nəʊ ˈdɪf ə rənt frɒm/ [verb phrase]
use this especially when you expect something or someone to be different from another thing or person, but in fact they are the same :
▪ People often think that movie stars are special in some way, but really they’re no different from anybody else.
▪ Life on the island is no different from life on the mainland.
▷ match /mætʃ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
if one thing matches another or if two things match, they look the same or have the same qualities or characteristics :
▪ You can’t go out wearing socks that don’t match.
▪ Their performance in government didn’t quite match their election promises.
▷ word for word /ˌwɜːʳd fəʳ ˈwɜːʳd/ [adverb]
if you repeat or copy something word for word, you do it using exactly the same words :
▪ Janice repeated word for word what Harold had told her.
▪ It appears that someone has copied your essay word for word.
3. the same in amount or number
▷ the same /ðə ˈseɪm/ [adjective only before noun]
▪ Both stores are charging the same price for CD players.
the same height/age/price etc as
▪ Her sister is the same age as me.
▪ For much the same price as a flat in London, you can buy a luxury home in Barnsley.
exactly the same height/age/price etc
▪ We’re both exactly the same height.
▷ be as old/long/strong etc as /biː əz; ˈəʊld əz/ [verb phrase]
to be the same age, length etc as someone or something else :
▪ At 14, Richard was already as tall as his father.
be as old/long/strong etc as
▪ The loss of a pet can be just as upsetting as the death of a member of the family.
▷ equal /ˈiːkwəl/ [adjective]
two or more amounts, totals, levels etc that are equal are the same as each other :
▪ You should spend an equal amount of time on each question in the test.
equal to
▪ A pint is equal to about half a litre.
of equal power/strength/weight etc
▪ Choose two stones of roughly equal weight and size.
▷ equally /ˈiːkwəli/ [adverb]
to the same degree :
▪ Both schools seem equally good.
▪ Club bosses and doormen are equally concerned about the situation.
4. the same as before
▷ the same /ðə ˈseɪm/ []
▪ Now that Sam’s retired, things won’t be the same around here.
▪ The people may be different, but their music remains the same.
the same as
▪ We went to the office Christmas party, but it was just the same as last year’s.
the same as ever
▪ School’s the same as ever - too much work and not enough time to do what I really want!
just the same/exactly the same
not changed in any way
▪ I hadn’t seen John for ages, but he was still just the same.
▷ hasn’t changed /ˌhæznt ˈtʃeɪndʒd/ [verb phrase]
if someone or something hasn’t changed, they are the same as they were before, even though you have not seen them for a long time :
▪ I went back to my old school for a visit - it hadn’t changed.
▪ He hasn’t changed at all - he’s still crazy about football.
▷ unchanged /ˌʌnˈtʃeɪndʒd◂/ [adjective not before noun]
still the same, especially after a long period of time when there would usually have been a lot of changes :
▪ She kept her son’s bedroom unchanged for years after his death.
▪ On going back to visit the village after almost twenty years, Mrs Simons was surprised to find it unchanged.
remain unchanged
▪ They speak an Indian language which has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
▷ unaffected /ˌʌnəˈfektɪd, ˌʌnəˈfektəd/ [adjective not before noun]
the same as before, and not changed or affected by something that has happened :
remain unaffected
▪ The rest of the world was in recession, but the Soviet economy remained unaffected.
unaffected by
▪ The Queen’s role remains the same, apparently unaffected by the changes and upheavals of recent years.
5. always the same
▷ stay the same /ˌsteɪ ðə ˈseɪm/ [verb phrase]
to continue to be the same and not change :
▪ The word ‘sheep’ doesn’t take ‘s’ in the plural - the ending stays the same.
▪ Tamara lived in a government apartment, and the rent stayed the same for five years.
▷ constant /ˈkɒnstəntǁˈkɑːn-/ [adjective]
an amount, temperature, rate etc that is constant stays the same and does not change :
▪ It is important to store wine at a constant temperature.
remain constant
▪ The number of deaths from road accidents has remained constant over the last five years.
▷ consistent /kənˈsɪst ə nt/ [adjective]
always staying the same in your beliefs, your behaviour, the quality of your work etc :
▪ She is one of the most consistent players on the tennis circuit.
▪ To secure our future, we need a consistent economic strategy.
consistent in
▪ Judges must be firm, fair and consistent in their application of the law.
consistently [adverb]
▪ The team has played consistently well since the start of the season.
▷ unchanging /ʌnˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ [adjective]
not changing, even when conditions or situations change :
▪ Unlike us, most animals have needs that are fixed and unchanging.
▪ She always had the same unchanging expression on her face, whatever mood she was in.
6. when something is the same in all its parts
▷ uniform /ˈjuːnɪfɔːʳm, ˈjuːnəfɔːʳm/ [adjective]
a thing or group that is uniform has the same appearance or characteristics in all its parts :
▪ The temperature must be uniform in every area of the reactor.
▪ The postal system operates a uniform price structure, so it always costs the same to send a letter.
uniform in
▪ Grade A vegetables have to be uniform in size and without marks or blemishes.
uniformly [adverb]
▪ Throughout the industry the standard of product is uniformly high.
uniformity /ˌjuːnɪˈfɔːʳməti, ˌjuːnəˈfɔːʳməti/ [uncountable noun]
▪ Most modern housing developments show a tedious uniformity of design.
▷ homogeneous /ˌhəʊməˈdʒiːniəs/ [adjective] formal
having the same characteristics in every part, so that every single person or thing in a group is the same :
▪ Women are not a homogeneous group.
▪ Computers check whether each text is stylistically homogeneous.
7. to make things the same
▷ standardize also standardise British /ˈstændəʳdaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to make sure that a particular type of product, service, activity etc is always made or done in exactly the same way :
▪ They are standardising all the equipment throughout the area and bringing it up to British Standards safety requirements.
▪ At first there were several competing designs of electric plug-sockets, but these were standardized in the 1920s.
▷ bring something into line with /ˌbrɪŋ something ɪntə ˈlaɪn wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to change something such as a rule or system so that it is the same as another generally accepted rule or system :
▪ Our wage levels should be brought into line with those of our competitors.
▪ There have been calls for the total abolition of car tax, which would bring car prices into line with those in the rest of Europe.
8. when facts, situations, or numbers are the same
▷ correspond /ˌkɒrɪˈspɒnd, ˌkɒrəˈspɒndǁˌkɔːrə̇ˈspɑːnd, ˌkɑː-/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
if facts or situations correspond, they are the same as each other or have the same effect :
▪ The dates quoted in these two documents do not correspond.
correspond with
▪ The witness’s statements correspond with the available evidence.
correspond to
▪ His own domestic situation did not correspond very closely to his ideal of a loving, equal partnership.
▷ be consistent with /biː kənˈsɪst ə nt wɪð/ [verb phrase]
if something that is said, written, or done is consistent with a particular idea or piece of information, it says the same thing or follows the same principles :
▪ The figures in the accounts must be consistent with the information given in the annual report.
▪ Charging these very high fines is hardly consistent with your policy of "user-friendly banking'.
▪ This sort of repression is not consistent with a democratic system.
▷ agree /əˈgriː/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
if two pieces of information agree with each other, they are the same, and so they are both likely to be correct :
▪ I’ll have to check these calculations again -- the totals don’t agree.
agree with
▪ Your story doesn’t agree with what the police have told us.
▷ tally /ˈtæli/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
if a piece of information tallies with another, they are the same; if two sets of numbers tally, they add up to the same thing. :
▪ Check both sets of results to see if they tally.
tally with
▪ His account of the discovery of the body tallied with the testimony of his wife.
▷ coincide /ˌkəʊɪnˈsaɪd, ˌkəʊənˈsaɪd/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
if two people’s ideas, opinions, or wishes coincide, they are the same, even though this may be completely by chance :
▪ For once our wishes coincided. We both wanted a quick divorce.
coincide with
▪ His views coincided perfectly with our thinking.
▪ Even if her advice does not coincide with what you want, I advise you to follow it.
▷ match up /ˌmætʃ ˈʌp/ [intransitive verb not in progressive/intransitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
if information from one place matches up with information from another, both sets of information are the same, which shows that they are both correct :
▪ I’ve questioned both suspects and so far their stories just don’t match up. One of them must be lying.
match up with
▪ You must make sure that your sales figures match up with your receipts at the end of each week.
9. having the same position, effect, value etc as something else
▷ corresponding /ˌkɒrɪˈspɒndɪŋ◂, ˌkɒrəˈspɒndɪŋ◂ǁˌkɔːrə̇ˈspɑːn-, ˌkɑː-/ [adjective only before noun]
▪ Compared with the corresponding period last year, average temperatures have been low.
▪ The removal of American nuclear forces brought a corresponding withdrawal of Russian troops.
▪ A big fall in steel productivity caused a corresponding decrease in profits.
▷ equivalent /ɪˈkwɪv ə lənt/ [adjective]
having the same importance, purpose, or value as something else :
▪ He was fined $50 but given the choice of doing the equivalent amount of community work.
▪ The US Congress is roughly equivalent to the British Parliament.
equivalent to
▪ His monthly US salary is equivalent to a year’s pay here in Mexico.
10. someone who has the same position in another company, organization, or group
▷ counterpart /ˈkaʊntəʳpɑːʳt/ [countable noun]
▪ Belgian government officials are discussing the matter with their counterparts in France.
▪ Eighteenth-century urban dwellers lived in much worse conditions than their modern counterparts.
▷ opposite number /ˌɒpəzɪt ˈnʌmbəʳ, ˌɒpəzət ˈnʌmbəʳǁˌɑː-/ [countable noun]
someone who has the same job as someone else in a different organization :
▪ The project was run jointly by Morris and his opposite number in the New York office.
▪ After years of communication by telephone she finally met her opposite number in the Spanish government.
11. to have the same beliefs, ideas, or opinions as someone else
▷ like-minded /ˌlaɪk ˈmaɪndə̇d◂/ [adjective]
having the same attitudes and beliefs and enjoying the same things as someone else :
▪ Being with like-minded people makes my job much more enjoyable.
▪ She convinced a group of like-minded friends to join her trekking in the Himalayas.
▷ be on the same wavelength /biː ɒn ðə ˌseɪm ˈweɪvleŋθ/ [verb phrase]
to have the same opinions, attitudes, and feelings as someone else, so that you understand each other very well :
▪ My mother and I just aren’t on the same wavelength -- she just can’t understand why I don’t want to get married.
▷ speak the same language /ˌspiːk ðə seɪm ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ/ [verb phrase]
to have the same opinions as someone else and agree about most things, so that you can exchange ideas easily and easily understand :
▪ Politically they are our enemies, but when it comes to trade I think we speak the same language.
▪ When your sales, marketing, and production people are all speaking the same language, it pays real dividends.
▷ be in tune with /biː ɪn ˈtjuːn wɪðǁ-ˈtuːn-/ [verb phrase]
to have the same ideas and attitudes as a group, society, country etc and be easily accepted by it :
▪ I’m not sure you’re quite in tune with the philosophy of the organization.
▪ Sartre’s novels and plays were in tune with the revolutionary spirit of post-war France.