compare apples to apples

verb

To compare like things.

“The article compares apples to apples, grouping diamond rings of the same variety and price together.”

Opposite
compare apples and oranges
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Meanings

verbcompare apples to apples (third-person singular simple present compares apples to apples, present participle comparing apples to apples, simple past and past participle compared apples to apples)

present singular third person compares apples to apples · participle present comparing apples to apples · participle past compared apples to apples · past compared apples to apples

  1. To compare like things.

    The article compares apples to apples, grouping diamond rings of the same variety and price together.

    Antonyms: compare apples and oranges

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo compare like things.

Opposite
compare apples and oranges
Cite this entry
APA

compare apples to apples. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compare%20apples%20to%20apples

MLA

“compare apples to apples.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compare%20apples%20to%20apples. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “compare apples to apples,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compare%20apples%20to%20apples.

Source: compare apples to apples on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.