contrast

The word “contrast” means a clear difference between two things when they are compared. In plain terms, a noticeable difference between things, or the act of comparing them to show that difference.

“Contrast” is pronounced kuhn-TRAHST (/kənˈt(ʃ)ɹæst/ in IPA).

Here is “contrast” used in a sentence: “There's a striking contrast between the two brothers' personalities.”

The opposite of “contrast” — its antonyms — is liken.

Depending on how it is used, “contrast” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “contrast” comes from Latin. From French contraster, from Latin contrastare ("to stand against"), from contra ("against") plus stare ("to stand").

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

“Contrast” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a clear difference between two things when they are compared.

A comparison looks at two things to find both their similarities and their differences. A contrast focuses only on the differences, on what sets the two apart. So contrast is really one half of comparison: when you contrast things, you are deliberately highlighting how they differ rather than how they are alike.

The contrast between light and dark in a painting is a classic example, where the difference makes each stand out. Other examples include the contrast between city and countryside, or between a character's calm words and anxious body language. In each case, a clear difference is being drawn between two things.

The opposite of contrast is similarity or likeness, the quality of two things being alike rather than clearly different. Where contrast emphasises difference, words like resemblance, sameness, and harmony point to agreement. In visual terms, the opposite of high contrast is a uniform, low-contrast blend where elements barely stand apart.