- same */*/*/
- UK [seɪm] / US
adjective, adverb, pronoun
Summary:
Same can be used in the following ways: - as an adjective (after "the", "this", "that", "these", or "those"): We both went to the same school. ♦ Our new competitors are those same people who once asked us to help them. - as a pronoun (after "the"): I'd do the same if I had the chance. - as an adverb (after "the"): The twins always dress the same.
The same is often followed by "as" or "that": Three-twelfths is the same as a quarter. ♦ I've got the same problem as you. ♦ It's the same film that they showed last year. In informal spoken English "the" is sometimes left out before same: We'll meet again next week, same time, same place. But in written English same is almost always used with "the", "this", "that" etc.
Other ways of saying same:
alike almost exactly the same: No two pieces are alike. identical exactly the same, with no differences: identical twins ♦ My brother was in an identical situation last year. similar almost the same, but with small differences: We have a similar sense of humour. equal on the same level, or the same in quality or quantity: Those pieces of cake don't look equal to me. ♦ We want to give everyone an equal chance to participate. constant remaining at the same level: maintaining a constant temperature uniform the same, with no variation at all, especially in appearance: a row of small uniform houses homogeneous (formal) made up entirely of the same elements or of one single element: Television audiences used to be more homogeneous than they are now.1) not a different or separate one used for saying that a particular person or thing is the one that you are referring to and not a different onethe same ... as:Sometimes UN troops and their commanders may not even speak the same language.
the same ... that:We were staying at the same hotel as our parents.
this/that/these/those same:Was this the same Timothy Evans that Carol had been at school with?
the very same (= exactly the same):At first many schools resisted the reforms, but those same schools are now seeing the most improvement.
I was born on the very same day that my father died.
"Do you mean Vendelin Gajdusek, the Czech writer?" "The very same!"
2) exactly similar exactly like another person, thing, or way of doing somethingShe did not want to make the same mistake again.
the same ... as:The two pictures look the same to me – I can't tell them apart.
Her eyes are the same colour as yours.
just the same:Animals feel pain the same as we do.
much the same (= almost the same):Kevin gets bored very quickly. His Dad was just the same.
Stuart's opinion on this subject was much the same as mine.
3) not changed used for saying that someone or something has not changedthe same as:The Government's policy has remained the same since 1991.
much the same (= almost the same):"How is Frances?" "Oh, she's still the same as always."
The countryside looks much the same as it did 200 years ago.
4) equal in amount used for saying that one number, amount, price etc is equal to anotherthe same as:The four sides of a square are all the same length.
One centimetre is the same as ten millimetres.
A one-bedroom flat in London costs almost the same as a five-bedroom house in Liverpool.
•all/just the same
— mainly spoken despite what has been mentionedI'm sure he's safe, but all the same, I wish he'd come home.
I didn't expect to find anything, but I decided to look around just the same.
amount/come to the same thing
— to have the same meaning or effect as something elseWhether someone made a mistake or whether there's a fault in the system, it all comes to the same thing – sheer inefficiency.
of/for/to same
— formal used in bills and official documents for referring to something that has just been mentioned1 Epson Stylus 740 Ink Jet Printer + 2 ink cartridges for same
(the) same again
— spoken used for ordering another drink like the one you have just hadSame again, George?
the same old...
— used about someone or something that is familiar because you have seen or heard them many times before and they have not changedPoliticians repeat the same old phrases every election.
She's still the same old Jane that we all grew to love.
(the) same to you
— spoken used as a friendly reply to someone's good wishes; impolite used as an angry reply to an insult or rude comment"Have a good weekend!" "Same to you."
"You're such a loser." "Yeah, same to you."
See:boat, page I
English dictionary. 2014.