contrast
kuhn-TRAHST
Contrast (noun) means a clear difference between two things when they are compared. Example: “There's a striking contrast between the two brothers' personalities.”
noun
1
A clear difference between two things when they are compared.
"There's a striking contrast between the two brothers' personalities."
"The dark curtains created a nice contrast with the pale walls."
"In stark contrast to the noisy street outside, the library was completely silent."
verb
1
To compare two things in order to highlight their differences.
"The article contrasts life in the city with life in the countryside."
"Students were asked to contrast the two poems and explain how their tone differs."
"If you contrast last year's results with this year's, the improvement is obvious."
How to use contrast
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA noticeable difference between things, or the act of comparing them to show that difference.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sharp contrast
in contrast to
contrast sharply
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Word forms
- Plural
- contrasts
- Third person singular
- contrasts
- Past tense
- contrasted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There's a striking _____ between the two brothers' personalities.
Etymology
From French contraster, from Latin contrastare ("to stand against"), from contra ("against") plus stare ("to stand").
Synonyms
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difference
distinction
disparity
dissimilarity
divergence
juxtaposition
line
counterpoint
demarcation
dividing line
direct contrast
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “contrast” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “contrast”?
“Contrast” is pronounced kuhn-TRAHST (/kənˈt(ʃ)ɹæst/ in IPA).
How do you use “contrast” in a sentence?
Here is “contrast” used in a sentence: “There's a striking contrast between the two brothers' personalities.”
What is the opposite of “contrast”?
The opposite of “contrast” — its antonyms — is liken.
What part of speech is “contrast”?
Depending on how it is used, “contrast” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “contrast” come from?
The word “contrast” comes from Latin. From French contraster, from Latin contrastare ("to stand against"), from contra ("against") plus stare ("to stand").
Is “contrast” a common word?
“Contrast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “contrast” have?
“Contrast” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a clear difference between two things when they are compared.
What is the difference between contrast and comparison?
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.
What is an example of contrast?
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.
What is the opposite of contrast?
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.
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