different
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.not the same as another person or thing.
adj.not identical; exhibiting a lack of similarity in character, form, or nature.
Simple“The two brothers are very different even though they look alike.”
In context“The results of the second experiment were remarkably different from the initial findings, suggesting that the temperature variable had been underestimated.”
UsageCommonly followed by the preposition 'from'.
PitfallMy car is different than yours. My car is different from yours.In standard British and American English, 'different from' is the most widely accepted prepositional pairing.
Synonyms - 02 A2 Elementary
adj.used to talk about many separate or various things.
adj.referring to various or assorted items within a group; distinct and separate.
Simple“We visited three different museums during our trip to London.”
In context“The committee heard testimony from twelve different experts, each representing a unique sector of the renewable energy industry.”
UsageOften follows a number or a determiner like 'several' or 'many'.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.not like most other things; special or unusual.
adj.distinctive or unusual in a way that sets the subject apart from the norm.
Simple“I like her style; it is very different and creative.”
In context“The director's approach to the classic play was certainly different, incorporating modern technology into a sixteenth-century setting.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.in a way that is not the same.
adv.functioning as a manner adverb meaning 'differently'; common in specific collocations like 'think different'.
Simple“You need to look at the problem different if you want to solve it.”
In context“The marketing campaign encouraged consumers to think different, challenging the established conventions of the personal computer industry.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'differently' is the standard adverb, 'different' is frequently used as an adverb in informal speech and famous advertising slogans.
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage different ways · different types · different way
From Middle English different, from Old French different, from Latin differēns, present active participle of differō (“to differ”). See also differ. Supplanted native Old English ungelic (whence modern English unalike).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.