match
30 synonyms and 1 antonym for match, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An organized contest between competitors, as in sport.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
How to use match
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
football match
perfect match
strike a match
Etymology
The "equal/pair" sense traces to Old English mæcca ("companion, mate"); the "fire-stick" sense is a separate, later development referring to a wick or fuse used to carry flame.
Full origin of match →Frequently asked questions
What does “match” mean?
The word “match” means an organized contest between competitors, as in sport. In plain terms, depending on context: a sports contest, something that corresponds to another thing, or the small stick you strike to make fire.
How do you pronounce “match”?
“Match” is pronounced mach (/mæt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “match” in a sentence?
Here is “match” used in a sentence: “They watched the tennis match go to a third set.”
What is the opposite of “match”?
The opposite of “match” — its antonyms — is differ.
What part of speech is “match”?
Depending on how it is used, “match” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “match” come from?
The word “match” comes from Old English. The "equal/pair" sense traces to Old English mæcca ("companion, mate"); the "fire-stick" sense is a separate, later development referring to a wick or fuse used to carry flame.
Is “match” a common word?
“Match” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “match” have?
“Match” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an organized contest between competitors, as in sport.
What is the difference between a match and a game?
In many sports the terms overlap, but a match is often the whole contest, while a game can be a smaller unit within it — a tennis match contains several games. Usage is also regional: British English tends to say match for football, while American English usually says game for the same fixture.
What is the difference between a match and a tournament?
A match is a single contest between competitors, such as one boxing bout or one football fixture. A tournament is a whole series of matches organised to find an overall winner. So a tournament is made up of many matches, while a match is the individual event within it.
What are the different meanings of match?
Match has several senses. In sport it is an organised contest. A match is also a small stick tipped with a chemical that ignites when struck. As a verb, to match means to correspond or be equal. And a good match can describe two people or things that suit each other well.
What is an example of a match?
A tennis final is a clear example of a match: two players compete under agreed rules until one wins. Other examples include a boxing match, a cricket match, or a chess match. Each is a single, organised contest between competitors, distinct from a whole tournament or league of many such contests.
