different
/ˈdɪfrənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪfrənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdi-f(ə-)rənt ˈdi-fərnt/ (ame, mw)
different — adjective
- differentpositive
- more differentcomparative
- most differentsuperlative
1. not like another person or thing; having features or qualities that set someone
not like another person or thing; having features or qualities that set someone or something apart from someone or something else so that the two are not identical.
Jisoo's taste in music is very different from her brother's.
different from + noun: shows comparison
These two boxes look the same, but the things inside are different.
We took three different roads, but we all ended up at the same place.
Alessia wanted a different color for her room, not plain white.
Each student in the class chose a different book to read for the project.
- dissimilar
more formal; suggests a stronger contrast than 'different'
- distinct
emphasizes clear separation between two things
- contrasting
highlights differences, often for effect or comparison
文法句型
different + from/to/than + noun/pronoun
different + plural noun
用法筆記
The preposition that follows 'different' varies by region: 'different from' is standard everywhere; 'different to' is common in British English; 'different than' is widely used in American English, though some consider it less formal.
常見錯誤
2. strange or unusual in a way that makes you think something is not quite right, o
strange or unusual in a way that makes you think something is not quite right, or that a person's choice or action stands out from what others would normally do or find acceptable.
Ari wore a different outfit to the interview — bright yellow shoes and a red suit.
different outfit + to: unusual choice for the setting
Nellie's room looks different — I never saw curtains on a ceiling.
Cyrus has a different sense of humor — he laughs at things nobody else finds funny.
The soup tastes different tonight — did you add something unusual to it?
Heather said my cooking was 'different' — I think she meant she did not like it.
文法句型
be + a bit/little/rather + different
that's + different (in exclamatory use)
用法筆記
When the goal is to express clear disapproval, words like 'odd', 'strange', or 'unusual' are more direct. Using 'different' for this sense often softens the criticism — the listener may need context to know whether the speaker means it positively or negatively.
常見錯誤
different — adverb
1. in a way that is not the same as something else or not the same as before; used
in a way that is not the same as something else or not the same as before; used informally in place of the standard adverb 'differently', especially in everyday speech.
The children did things different when their parents were not at home.
do + things + different: informal adverbial pattern
Alessia sees things different from the rest of her team, but her ideas are good.
see + things + different from: viewpoint contrast
Eitan drives different from his wife — he takes things much slower on the road.
Owen baked the cake different this time, and the result was much better.
Things turned out different from what the weather report had said earlier.
- differently
the standard, formal adverb form
- otherwise
implies a completely opposite or alternative way
- the same
in an identical manner
文法句型
do/act/see + things/things + different
different + from + noun
用法筆記
In formal writing and most exams, 'differently' is the standard adverb form. Using 'different' as an adverb is common in informal American speech but is often marked as incorrect in careful English. Compare: 'She did it differently' (standard) vs 'She did it different' (informal).