sim ‧ i ‧ lar S1 W1 AC /ˈsɪm ə lə, ˈsɪmɪlə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ similarity ≠ ↑ dissimilarity ; adverb : ↑ similarly ; adjective : ↑ similar ≠ ↑ dissimilar ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: French ; Origin: similaire , from Latin similis 'like, similar' ]
almost the same OPP different ⇨ alike :
We have similar tastes in music.
Both approaches seem to achieve similar results.
A number of his friends had been affected in a similar way.
The two products look quite similar.
similar to
Her ideas are quite similar to mine.
similar in
The two cars are very similar in size and design.
broadly/roughly similar
The two groups have broadly similar aims.
remarkably/strikingly similar
The speech was strikingly similar to one given by the American President earlier this year.
⇨ ↑ similarly
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ very similar
I was in a very similar situation not so long ago.
▪ broadly/roughly similar
The new employment terms and conditions will be broadly similar to those currently in place.
▪ remarkably/strikingly/startlingly similar
The results of each study are remarkably similar.
▪ quite/fairly similar
The two species are quite similar.
▪ somewhat similar
Their reactions were somewhat similar.
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THESAURUS
▪ similar adjective almost the same:
Jo said she’d had a similar experience.
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The colours are very similar, but I like this one best.
▪ like preposition similar to something or someone else:
It tastes a little like chicken.
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She still looks like a teenager.
▪ alike adjective [not before noun] very similar - used especially about the way people look or behave:
She and her sister look alike.
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Lawyers are all alike - I don’t trust them.
▪ close adjective very similar:
The film bears a close resemblance to real life (=is very similar) .
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The painting is remarkably close to the original.
▪ much the same very similar:
The glass is still made in much the same way as it was 100 years ago.
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People are much the same, wherever you go.
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She still looks very much the same.
▪ identical adjective exactly the same:
The two computers were identical in design.
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identical names
▪ matching adjective having the same colour, style, pattern etc as something else - used about clothes or furniture that you wear or use together:
She wore matching silver shoes and handbag.
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a dining table and matching chairs
▪ akin to something formal fairly similar to something:
These dialects are akin to Arabic, though different in several respects.