same

same — adjective

1. Two or more things that are the same are exactly like each other in the ways tha

1.adjectiveA1
Definition

Two or more things that are the same are exactly like each other in the ways that matter most, so there is very little or no difference between them.

Example

Tamar's backpack is the same as the one Lan bought last week.

the same as + noun for comparing two items

Sophia and her brother both ordered the same dish at the restaurant.

Common collocations
  • the same as
  • look the same
  • exactly the same
  • almost the same
  • about the same
Synonyms
  • identical

    stronger — means exactly the same in every detail, not just most ways

  • matching

    focuses on visual appearance, especially colours or patterns

  • alike

    used after a verb, e.g. 'look alike', 'are alike' — cannot go before a noun

Antonyms
  • different

    the most common opposite; not the same in one or more ways

  • opposite

    as far apart as possible; completely different in nature or direction

Grammar Patterns

the same + noun

the same as + noun

Usage Note

Always used with a determiner — most commonly "the" (the same colour), but also "this", "that", "these", or "those" (that same afternoon).

Common Mistakes

I have same phone as my sister.
I have the same phone as my sister.
'same' must be preceded by a determiner like 'the'.
This bag is same like yours.
This bag is the same as yours.
Use 'as', not 'like', after 'the same'.

2. You use "same" before a noun to talk about a particular person, place, thing, or

2.adjectiveA1
Definition

You use "same" before a noun to talk about a particular person, place, thing, or situation that you have already mentioned — not a different one.

Example

Rafael returned to the same village where his grandmother was born.

I cannot believe we are having the same argument again.

Common collocations
  • the same person
  • the same place
  • the same day
  • the same reason
Synonyms
  • identical

    can also mean 'the very same' when used before a noun ('the identical spot') but sounds more formal

  • very

    used for emphasis before a noun ('that very day'), but narrower in use

  • selfsame

    very formal and literary; means 'exactly the same person or thing'

Antonyms
  • other

    a different person or thing from the one mentioned

  • another

    an additional or different one

Grammar Patterns

the same + noun

Usage Note

Distinguish from IDENTICAL sense (adj/1): this sense points to ONE specific referent already known from context, while adj/1 compares TWO or more things that resemble each other. For example: 'the same doctor' (this sense) means the very doctor already mentioned, not another one; 'the same shoes' (adj/1) means shoes that look like another pair.

Common Mistakes

Please come at same time tomorrow.
Please come at the same time tomorrow.
The determiner is required even when the referent is obvious from context.
Idioms

(the) same again

idiom

Used to ask for another serving of the same drink or food that you just had.

After finishing his beer, Henrik gestured to the bartender and said, "Same again, please."

The coffee was so good that Lan asked the waiter for the same again.

same old, same old

idiom

This phrase means that nothing has changed and things are still exactly as before.

When I asked about his job, he just said, 'Same old, same old.'

Is your daily routine still the same old, same old?

the same old story, stuff, nonsense, etc.

idiom

This phrase is used when a situation, excuse, product, or entertainment has not improved or changed.

The politician gave us the same old story about fixing the roads.

Why do they keep selling the same old stuff in this store?

same — pronoun

same — adverb

Word family

  • sameness
    nounB2
  • samey
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

"Same" is the most general and common word: it describes things that are not different in the ways that matter most. "Identical" is stronger — it means exactly the same in every detail, down to the smallest feature. "Matching" focuses on visual qualities such as colour, pattern, or design, and is often used for clothes or furniture. "Equivalent" is used for abstract comparisons, especially value, function, or meaning: one amount can be the equivalent of another even if they look different. "Alike" is a predicate adjective that cannot go before a noun (you say "the bags are alike", not "alike bags"). For example: these two keys are the same shape (same), these two coins are identical down to the mint mark (identical), she wore a matching scarf and gloves (matching), one dollar is roughly the equivalent of thirty Taiwan dollars (equivalent), the twins look very much alike (alike).

identical ↗matching ↗equivalent ↗alike ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the same thing
  • the same way
  • the same time
  • the same place
  • the same reason
  • the same amount

Adverbs

  • exactly the same
  • just the same
  • almost the same
  • practically the same
  • much the same
  • exactly the same as

Phrases

Prepositions

  • the same as

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word "same" comes from Old English "same," which traces back to a Proto-Germanic root *samaz, meaning "together" or "one." That root itself goes back to the ancient Proto-Indo-European root *sem-, which carried the sense of "one" or "together with." This same ancient root also gave English the words "similar," "simile," "simultaneous," "some," and "together." The idea of sameness has always been about oneness — things being together or of one kind.