INDEX:
1. not like someone or something else
2. very different from something or someone else
3. completely different from anyone or anything else
4. when someone is different from other people
5. when something is of the same type, but not the same one
6. clearly different from other things of the same type
7. a fact or quality that makes someone or something different
8. the difference between two people or things
9. in a different way
10. to notice that two things or people are different
11. to be the thing that makes someone or something different
12. when one statement, idea etc makes a different one seem untrue
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ LIKE OR SIMILAR
↑ SAME
different kinds of : ↑ VARIOUS/OF DIFFERENT KINDS
see also
↑ UNUSUAL
↑ SPECIAL
↑ OPPOSITE
↑ CONVENTIONAL/UNCONVENTIONAL
↑ STRANGE
◆◆◆
1. not like someone or something else
▷ different /ˈdɪf ə rənt/ [adjective]
if something or someone is different, they are not like something or someone else, or they are not like they were before :
▪ You look different. Have you had your hair cut?
▪ People are all so different. You can never tell how they will react.
▪ Things are different now, since John left.
▪ We’ve painted the door a different colour.
different from something/somebody also different than something/somebody
American
▪ This computer’s different from the one I used in my last job.
▪ Life today is different than ten, fifteen years ago.
completely/totally different
▪ I’d like a totally different look in the kitchen - something brighter and more modern.
differently [adverb]
▪ The two words sound the same, but they’re spelled differently.
▷ not like /nɒt ˈlaɪk/ [preposition]
different from - use this especially when two things or people are not at all similar :
▪ Walking in the hills isn’t like walking down the street - it can be very dangerous.
not at all like/nothing like
completely different from
▪ She’s very shy - not at all like her sister.
▪ James was nothing like I’d expected, from what I had heard.
not look/sound like
▪ The voice on the answering machine didn’t sound like Anna’s at all.
▷ not the same /nɒt ðə ˈseɪm/ [adjective phrase not before noun]
different - use this especially when two things are similar but are not exactly like each other, or when one of them is not as good as the other :
▪ The two designs are similar but not the same. Which do you prefer?
▪ I prefer having my own house. Living in a rented flat really isn’t the same.
not the same as
▪ I’ve tried Mexican food here in London, but it just isn’t the same as in Mexico.
▷ vary /ˈve ə ri/ [intransitive verb]
if things of the same type vary, they are all different from each other :
▪ Methods of treatment vary according to the age and general health of the patient.
vary considerably/greatly/widely
▪ Prices of video cameras vary considerably.
vary in price/quality/size etc
▪ The hotel rooms vary in size, but all have televisions and telephones.
▷ differ /ˈdɪfəʳ/ [intransitive verb] formal
if two things differ, they have different qualities or features :
▪ People’s abilities differ, but their rights and opportunities should be the same.
differ from
▪ Scottish law has always differed from English law.
differ in cost/size/appearance etc
▪ A lot of painkillers are basically the same, differing only in cost.
differ greatly/widely
▪ Opinions on the subject differ greatly.
▷ contrast with /kənˈtrɑːst wɪð ǁ-ˈtræst-/ [verb phrase]
if one thing contrasts with another thing, the difference between them is very easy to see and is sometimes surprising :
▪ His extrovert personality contrasts with his sister’s quiet, shy character.
▪ The snow was icy and white, contrasting with the brilliant blue sky.
contrast sharply/markedly with something
to be extremely different
▪ These results contrast sharply with those of similar tests carried out in Australia.
▷ be a departure from /biː ə dɪˈpɑːʳtʃəʳ frɒm/ [verb phrase]
a method, way of behaving etc that is a departure from the usual one is different, new, and unusual :
▪ Such methods are, of course, a departure from traditional medical practice.
mark/represent/signal a departure from something
▪ The move represented a departure from the government’s commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis.
▷ diverse /daɪˈvɜːʳsǁdɪ-, daɪˈvɜːʳsǁdə-, daɪ-/ [adjective]
things that are diverse are different from each other and cover a wide range of possible styles, types etc :
▪ The music college aims to encourage talents as diverse as members of symphony orchestras and pop groups.
▪ diverse political views
a diverse range of something
▪ People enter the organisation from a diverse range of social, economic, and educational backgrounds.
2. very different from something or someone else
▷ have nothing in common /hæv ˌnʌθɪŋ ɪn ˈkɒmənǁ-ˈkɑː-/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
if two or more people or things have nothing in common, they do not have the same qualities, opinions, or interests :
▪ Apart from the fact that we went to the same school, we have absolutely nothing in common.
have nothing in common with
▪ Batavia was a completely new modern city, having very little in common with other Indonesian towns.
▷ bear no relation to /beəʳ ˌnəʊ rɪˈleɪʃ ə n tuː/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to be completely different from and not connected in any way with another person or thing :
▪ Everyone complains that the national tests bear no relation to what children have learnt in class.
▪ I was astonished when I read the press release, which bore no relation to what I had told them.
▷ worlds apart/poles apart /ˈwɜːʳldz əˌpɑːʳt, ˈpəʊlz əˌpɑːʳt/ [verb phrase]
people, beliefs, or ideas that are worlds or poles apart are so completely different that there is almost nothing about them that is similar :
▪ I don’t know why Max took an interest in me. We were always worlds apart.
worlds apart/poles apart from
▪ The children were on holiday, enjoying a lifestyle worlds apart from the one they had to put up with at home.
▷ be a far cry from /biː ə ˌfɑːʳ ˈkraɪ frɒm/ [verb phrase]
if a situation is a far cry from another situation or place, it is so different that it is almost the opposite :
▪ We had dinner at the Ritz, a far cry from our usual hamburger and fries.
▪ The first Olympic Games in 1896 were a far cry from the slick spectacle of today.
▷ there’s a world of difference between /ðeəʳz ə ˈwɜːʳld əv ˌdɪf ə rəns bɪtwiːn/
if you say there is a world of difference between two activities or situations, you mean that they are completely different from each other and people should not expect them to be the same :
▪ There is a world of difference between home-made bread and the tasteless substance that many people buy today.
▷ be a whole new ball game /biː ə ˌhəʊl njuː ˈbɔːl geɪmǁ-nuː-/ [verb phrase] especially American, informal
to be very different from what you have done or experienced before :
▪ Being married is one thing, but having children is a whole new ball game.
▷ be like chalk and cheese /biː laɪk ˌtʃɔːk ən ˈtʃiːz/ [verb phrase] British informal
if two people who are related or good friends are like chalk and cheese, they are completely different in a way that surprises you :
▪ It’s hard to believe that they’re brothers -- they’re like chalk and cheese!
3. completely different from anyone or anything else
▷ unique /juːˈniːk/ [adjective]
different, special, or unusual and the only one of its kind :
▪ The book is certainly very rare, and possibly unique.
▪ the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
unique among
▪ The power of speech makes the human race unique among animals.
▷ distinctive /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/ [adjective]
something that is distinctive has a special feature or appearance that makes it different from other things, and makes it easy to recognize :
▪ Male birds have distinctive blue and yellow markings.
▪ Whatever you think of Larkin’s poetry, it’s certainly distinctive.
distinctive feature (of something)
▪ The most distinctive feature of the building is its enormous dome-shaped roof.
▷ be the only one of its kind /biː ði ˌəʊnli wʌn əv ɪts ˈkaɪnd/ [verb phrase]
if something is the only one of its kind, it is the only one that exists :
▪ The 22-bedroomed clinic will be the only one of its kind in Ireland.
▷ be one of a kind /biː ˌwʌn əv ə ˈkaɪnd/ [verb phrase]
someone or something that is one of a kind is different because they are the only one to exist or be made :
▪ Marilyn Monroe was one of a kind. There’s no such thing as ‘the new Monroe’.
▪ Each tile is a work of art, guaranteed one of a kind by the handprint of its maker.
▷ individual /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl◂, ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl◂/ [adjective]
an individual style, way of doing things etc is different from anyone else’s and is often fairly unusual :
▪ Every baby has its own, individual personality.
▪ a tennis player with a completely individual style
highly individual
▪ She dresses in a highly individual way.
▷ be a one-off /biː ə ˌwʌn ˈɒf/ [verb phrase] especially British
to be so different or unusual that people cannot expect to find anything or meet anyone like them again :
▪ I was really upset when I lost that hat. It was a one-off -- I’ll never find another like it.
▪ Doug’s achieved a lot with very limited resources. There’s no doubt that he’s a one-off.
4. when someone is different from other people
▷ be different /biː ˈdɪf ə rənt/ [verb phrase]
to think or behave in a way that is unusual :
▪ It’s a small community and anyone who shows any signs of being different just isn’t made to feel welcome.
▪ For teenagers, it’s important to speak and dress like their friends. They really don’t want to be different.
▷ not belong/not fit in /nɒt bɪˈlɒŋǁ-ˈlɔːŋ, nɒt fɪt ˈɪn/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
someone who does not belong or does not fit in is so different that people do not like them, do not help them to become one of the group etc :
▪ From the moment she first joined the company, Sally just didn’t belong.
▪ Until we learnt the language, we felt that we didn’t fit in. But after that the people seemed to accept us.
▷ be on a different wavelength /biː ɒn ə ˌdɪf ə rənt ˈweɪvleŋθ/ [verb phrase]
if two people are on a different wavelength, they have very different ideas and attitudes from each other, with the result that they do not understand each other :
▪ My dad doesn’t understand me. He’s on a completely different wavelength.
▪ We’d been married for twenty years, but we just weren’t on the same wavelength anymore.
▷ stick/stand out like a sore thumb /stɪk, stænd ˌaʊt laɪk ə ˌsɔːʳ ˈθʌm/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to be very different from the people around you especially in the way you dress or look, so that people notice you and look at you :
▪ You can’t come to the restaurant dressed in jeans. You’d stick out like a sore thumb.
▷ be out of step/sync /biː ˌaʊt əv ˈstep, ˈsɪŋk/ [verb phrase]
to be different from the other people in a group because you behave in a different way and have different ideas :
▪ In my school, anyone who was out of sync was ignored or ridiculed.
be out of step/sync with
▪ The Prime Minister has been criticized for being out of step with the British people.
5. when something is of the same type, but not the same one
▷ another /əˈnʌðəʳ/ [determiner/pronoun]
one more of the same kind of thing or person :
▪ Louise has a house in New York, and another in Florida.
▪ The blue suitcase is broken. Have we got another I could use?
▪ creatures from another planet
another one
▪ I decided I didn’t like the dress after all, so I changed it for another one.
▷ other /ˈʌðəʳ/ [determiner/pronoun]
different ones from the ones that you already have, or that you have already mentioned :
▪ I’m afraid we don’t have these jeans in any other sizes.
▪ Of course, my train was late, but the others seemed to be on time.
▪ Maria’s blond, but all my other children have dark hair.
▷ different /ˈdɪf ə rənt/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about several people or things of the same general type, when you are comparing them with each other and noticing the differences between them :
▪ Let’s compare the prices of five different detergents.
▪ a drug that affects different people in different ways
▷ new /njuːǁnuː/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about something or someone that replaces the one that was there before :
▪ Have you met Keith’s new girlfriend?
▪ She’s really enjoying her new job.
▷ else /els/ [adverb]
use this after a noun to talk about another thing, place, or person instead of this one :
▪ Go and play somewhere else. I’m trying to work.
▪ Andrea’s obsessed with money -- she never thinks about anything else.
▪ Jamie’s special. There’s really no one else like him.
▷ alternative also alternate American /ɔːlˈtɜːʳnətɪv, ɔːlˈtɜːnə̇tǁˈɔːltɜːrnə̇t/ [adjective usually before noun]
an alternative plan, arrangement, or system can be used instead of the usual or main one :
▪ For vegetarian guests there is an alternative menu.
▪ The bridge is closed so we advise you to use an alternate route.
▪ Do you have any alternative suggestions to make?
▷ variation /ˌve ə riˈeɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
something that is done in a way that is different from the way it is usually done :
variation on
▪ This recipe makes an interesting variation on the traditional Christmas cake.
a variation on the theme of something
▪ The new movie is a variation on the theme of the original ‘Blue Lagoon’.
variation in
▪ There are at least ten styles of Apple Mac computers, and countless variations in those models.
▷ variant /ˈve ə riənt/ [countable noun]
something that is slightly different from the usual form of something or has developed from it :
▪ The English and Americans often spell words differently, but both variants are acceptable.
▪ The name Lloyd and its variant Floyd are Celtic in origin.
variant of
▪ There is evidence that a new variant of the disease has recently been found in Britain.
6. clearly different from other things of the same type
▷ special /ˈspeʃ ə l/ [adjective]
designed for one particular purpose, and therefore different from other things of its type :
▪ Bob’s been on a special diet since his heart attack.
▪ The fish will be kept in special tanks that mimic the natural currents in rivers.
▷ specially /ˈspeʃ ə li/ [adverb]
specially designed/made/built/chosen etc
designed, made, built etc for a special purpose :
▪ Customs officers use specially trained dogs to search for drugs.
▪ We’re introducing a new range of beauty products specially designed for teenagers.
▷ particular /pəʳˈtɪkjɑləʳ/ [adjective only before noun]
clearly different from others of the same kind :
▪ The lights were arranged to give a particular effect.
▪ Is there a particular type of car that you are looking for?
▪ I didn’t have any particular plan in mind.
▷ distinct /dɪˈstɪŋkt/ [adjective]
two or more things that are distinct from each other belong to the same general type, but are clearly different from each other in an important way :
▪ The European Union is made up of 15 nations with distinct cultural, linguistic and economic roots.
distinct from
▪ The mammoth was related to, but distinct from, modern elephants.
7. a fact or quality that makes someone or something different
▷ difference /ˈdɪf ə rəns/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a detail, fact, or quality that makes one person or thing different from another :
▪ We should think about the similarities between cultures, not the differences.
difference between
▪ Try and spot the differences between these two pictures.
▪ The difference between the two cheeses is that one is made from goat’s milk.
difference in
▪ I don’t think there’s any difference in the way you pronounce these two words.
know the difference
▪ He’s speaking Italian, not Spanish. Don’t you know the difference?
▷ distinction /dɪˈstɪŋkʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
a clear, but usually small, difference between similar things :
▪ Pablo insists that he is Basque, not Spanish - an important distinction.
distinction between
▪ There is a clear distinction between lawful protest and illegal strike action.
▷ distinguishing feature/mark/characteristic /dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃɪŋ ˌfiːtʃəʳ, ˌmɑːʳk, kærə̇ktəˌrɪstɪk/ [countable noun]
a feature of a particular person or thing that makes them look different from other similar people or things :
▪ The distinguishing feature of the African elephant is the size of its ears.
▪ The melodies of most composers have distinguishing characteristics which make them instantly identifiable.
8. the difference between two people or things
▷ difference /ˈdɪf ə rəns/ [singular/uncountable noun]
the amount by which one person, thing, or amount is different from another :
difference between
▪ Calculate the difference between the amount you started with and what you have left.
a big/huge etc difference
▪ There is a vast difference between daytime and night-time temperatures in the desert.
difference in
▪ There was fifteen years difference in age between the two women.
age/height/price etc difference
between one amount and another
▪ I prefer the Peugeot 406 to the 405. What’s the price difference?
pay the difference
▪ If you put all your savings towards the cost of a bike, your Dad and I will pay the difference.
▷ contrast /ˈkɒntrɑːstǁˈkɑːntræst/ [singular/uncountable noun]
a very clear difference that you can easily see when you compare two things or people :
contrast between something/somebody and something/somebody
▪ What surprised me was the contrast between Picasso’s early style and his later work.
▷ gap /gæp/ [countable noun]
a big difference between two amounts, two ages, or two groups of people :
gap between
▪ There’s a ten-year gap between Kay’s two children.
▪ The gap between rich and poor is wider in the South than in the rest of the country.
age/gender/income etc gap
▪ The age gap between us didn’t seem to matter until we decided to have children.
▷ gulf /gʌlf/ [countable noun usually singular]
a very big difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life :
gulf between somebody and somebody
▪ More riots led to a growing gulf between the police and the communities in which they worked.
bridge/cross the gulf
improve understanding and communication
▪ The central problem was how to bridge the gulf between the warring factions of the party.
▷ divide /dɪˈvaɪd, dəˈvaɪd/ [countable noun usually singular]
a difference between two groups of people, especially in their beliefs, opinions, and way of life which means they will never be friends, become the same etc :
divide between
▪ Recently the divide between the two sides has widened.
a cultural/political etc divide
▪ There is still a great economic and political divide between the east and the west of the country.
▷ disparity /dɪˈspærɪti, dɪˈspærəti/ [countable/uncountable noun] formal
a big difference between two groups of people or things - use this especially when you think the difference is unfair or may cause problems :
disparity between
▪ It is not easy to explain the disparity that still exists between the salaries of men and women.
disparity in
▪ the disparity in wealth between the highest and the lowest employees
the economic/income etc disparity
▪ The economic disparity between the area’s black and white citizens is a serious problem.
9. in a different way
▷ differently/in a different way /ˈdɪf ə rəntli, ɪn ə ˌdɪf ə rənt ˈweɪ/ []
▪ The words ‘through' and ’threw' sound the same, but they are spelled differently.
▪ These three chemicals react to heat in slightly different ways.
▪ He started to treat me in a different way once we got married.
differently/in a different way from
▪ I always felt that my parents treated me differently from my brothers and sisters.
see/look at something differently
have a different opinion
▪ I believe you, but I think the police might see it differently.
▷ along different lines /əlɒŋ ˌdɪf ə rənt ˈlaɪnzǁəlɔːŋ-/ [adverb]
using a different method or system :
▪ Their organization was run along different lines to ours.
▷ otherwise /ˈʌðəʳwaɪz/ []
if you do, say, or think otherwise, you do, say, or think something different from what has already been mentioned :
▪ The situation was very serious indeed, even if the government tried to pretend otherwise.
▪ The police stressed that Straskow would be considered innocent until proved otherwise.
10. to notice that two things or people are different
▷ can tell the difference /kən ˌtel ðə ˈdɪf ə rəns/ [verb phrase]
to be able to notice that two things or people are different, even though they seem to be similar :
▪ It looked just like a real diamond - I couldn’t tell the difference.
can tell the difference between
▪ Can you tell the difference between a really good wine and the sort that you might drink every day?
▷ can tell somebody/something apart /kən ˌtel somebody/something əˈpɑːʳt/ [verb phrase]
to be able to see that two very similar people or things are different - use this especially in questions and negative statements :
▪ The twins are identical - even their parents can’t always tell them apart.
▷ distinguish /dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to be able to recognize and understand the difference between two or more similar people or things :
▪ Several thousand minerals can be distinguished, each defined by its own set of properties.
distinguish between
▪ Even a expert would find it hard to distinguish between the original painting and the copy.
distinguish from
▪ A tiny baby soon learns to distinguish its mother’s face from other adults’ faces.
▷ differentiate /ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to know, see, or show the difference between a group of people or things :
differentiate between
▪ As journalists, we have to differentiate between facts and opinions.
differentiate from
▪ Part of the management course was teaching us how to differentiate essential tasks from less important ones.
▷ draw/make a distinction /ˌdrɔː, ˌmeɪk ə dɪˈstɪŋkʃ ə n/ [verb phrase]
to say what the difference is between two or more similar people or things :
draw/make a distinction between
▪ The law draws a distinction between different types of killing, according to whether it was intended or not.
▪ In the government’s education proposals there is a clear distinction made between academic and practical training.
▷ discriminate /dɪˈskrɪmɪneɪt, dɪˈskrɪməneɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to be able to find differences between similar people or things in order to make a choice :
discriminate between
▪ The monkeys were easily able to discriminate between the different objects, according to their visual appearance.
discriminate from
▪ A test is useful for discriminating those students who have reached a higher level from those at a lower level.
11. to be the thing that makes someone or something different
▷ distinguish /dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ/ [transitive verb]
to be the thing that makes someone or something different from other people or things :
▪ What really distinguishes the proposal?
distinguish from
▪ There’s not a lot that distinguishes her from the other candidates.
▪ What distinguishes this approach from previous attempts to deal with HIV?
▷ set somebody/something apart /ˌset somebody/something əˈpɑːʳt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
if a quality sets someone or something apart, it makes you notice them because they are so different or unusual :
▪ Such seriousness and ambition in a very young man set him apart.
set sb/sth apart from
▪ The new software was a unique tool that set the Microsoft Network apart from other commercial online services.
12. when one statement, idea etc makes a different one seem untrue
▷ contradict /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktǁˌkɑːn-/ [transitive verb]
if one statement or fact contradicts another one, it is so different that it makes the other one seem untrue or impossible :
▪ The two newspaper reports totally contradict each other.
▪ Recent experiments seem to contradict earlier results.
▪ O'Brien’s later statement contradicted what he had told Somerville police on the night of the murder.
contradictory /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt ə ri◂ǁˌkɑːn-/ [adjective]
ideas, statements, results etc that are contradictory are different from each other, especially when you would expect them to be the same :
▪ The two boys gave contradictory accounts of the accident.
▪ A lot of the information we receive from historical sources is contradictory, inaccurate, or incomplete.
▷ conflicting /kənˈflɪktɪŋ/ [adjective only before noun]
very different from each other - use this especially when two things should be the same :
▪ At first we received conflicting information about the number of children who were seriously hurt.
▪ Researchers tend to offer conflicting advice on which vitamin and mineral supplements might keep us healthy.
▷ be inconsistent with /biː ˌɪnkənˈsɪst ə nt wɪð/ [verb phrase]
if a statement, story, fact etc is inconsistent with what you expect or already know of the situation, it is completely different from it :
▪ IBM said that the £37 million payment had been made in a way that was inconsistent with company policy.
▪ Wolff, an economics professor at New York University, said that the results were inconsistent with all the other data they had.
▷ discrepancy /dɪˈskrepənsi/ [countable noun]
a small fact or detail that is different from what you expected, especially one that makes you think that something is wrong :
▪ Whenever he works out his accounts there are always discrepancies.
discrepancy between
▪ Apparently there were discrepancies between police reports taken from the same witnesses at different times.
discrepancy in
▪ She always refused to discuss the discrepancies in her biography.
▷ go against /ˌgəʊ əˈgenst/ [verb phrase]
if something goes against what you think or what someone has told you, it is different from the opinions, attitudes etc that you have learnt :
▪ What the teacher was saying went against everything his parents had taught him.
▪ She couldn’t explain what had made her go against her upbringing and character and behave so recklessly.
▷ be at odds with /biː ət ˈɒdz wɪð ǁ-ˈɑːdz-/ [verb phrase]
if a statement, story, fact etc is at odds with another, the two things are so completely different that one of them must be untrue :
▪ John Nelson has been re-examining the evidence, and his conclusions are greatly at odds with the story so far.
▪ The government decision to raise taxes was at odds with their policies on inflation.