# differing

/ˈdɪfɝɪŋ/ (US) · /dˈɪfəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/differing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. being different

verb · CEFR B2

the act of being unlike something else in nature, quality, or form.

For teachers: the present participle of the intransitive verb 'differ', indicating a state of being dissimilar or distinct in character.

- The two brothers are always differing in their opinions about politics.
- The results of the two studies are constantly differing, which suggests that the initial variables were not properly controlled.

### 2. unlike or dissimilar

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

used to describe two or more things that are not the same as each other.

For teachers: functioning as an attributive adjective to describe entities that possess distinct or non-identical characteristics.

- The committee listened to several differing views before making a final decision.
- The researchers struggled to reconcile the differing interpretations of the data provided by the various regional departments.

### 3. disagreeing

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of having a different opinion from someone else.

For teachers: the present participle of 'differ', specifically referring to the state of being at variance or in disagreement with another party.

- They found themselves differing on almost every point of the new contract.
- While the board members were differing on the specific allocation of funds, they all agreed on the project's ultimate necessity.

## Examples

- The two scientists reached differing conclusions from the same data.
- Despite their differing opinions on the budget, the committee members agreed on the final project goals.
- The success of the merger was hindered by the differing corporate cultures and management styles of the two formerly independent firms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.