similar

The word “similar” means sharing enough features with something else to be alike, though not identical. In plain terms, alike in some important way, without being exactly the same.

“Similar” is pronounced SIHM-ih-luh (/ˈsɪm.ə.lɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “similar” used in a sentence: “The two proposals were similar in almost every respect.”

Words with a similar meaning to “similar” include akin, allied, alike, comparable, identical and same.

The opposite of “similar” — its antonyms — are different, unlike, dissimilar and unique.

“Similar” is an adjective.

The word “similar” comes from Latin. From French similaire, based on Latin similis, "like, resembling.".

“Similar” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

Similar things share enough features to seem alike but still differ in some way. Identical things are exactly the same, with no meaningful difference at all. Two brothers may look similar; identical twins look the same. Similar always leaves room for variation, whereas identical rules it out.

Same means there is no difference — one thing, or two things exactly matching. Similar means alike but not the same, sharing important features while differing in others. If two answers are the same, they match completely; if they are similar, they resemble each other but are not interchangeable.

The main opposites are different, dissimilar, and unlike. Where similar stresses shared features, these words stress contrast — things that have little or nothing in common. Contrasting and distinct also work when the point is that two things clearly stand apart rather than resemble each other.

Lemons and limes are similar: both are small, sour citrus fruits, yet they differ in colour and taste. Two houses on the same street can have similar designs without being identical. In each case, the things clearly resemble each other while keeping noticeable differences.