equate

/ɪˈkweɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈkweɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈkwāt ˈē-ˌkwāt/ (ame, mw)

equate — verb

  • equatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • equateshe / she / it
  • equatedpast simple
  • equating-ing form

1. to think of two different people or things as being equal, or to describe them a

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to think of two different people or things as being equal, or to describe them as though they have the same value or importance

例句

Yuki equates having a lot of money with being truly happy, but most of his friends disagree.

equate + noun + with + noun

It is easy to equate smart clothing with professional success in a big law firm.

passive: be equated with

同義詞
  • liken

    more metaphorical — compares one thing to another in a vivid way, often using 'to' ('liken love to a rose'), while 'equate' suggests exact equality

  • compare

    broader — can highlight similarities or differences; 'equate' always treats things as equal

  • identify

    stronger — suggests the two things are actually the same, not just treated as such

反義詞
  • distinguish

    to point out or see the difference between two things

  • differentiate

    to show what makes two things different, the opposite of treating them as equal

文法句型

equate + noun + with + noun

equate + noun + to + noun

be equated + with + noun

be equated + to + noun

用法筆記

This sense is most often used with 'with'. Using 'to' is also correct but less common in everyday speech. Frequently occurs in the passive ('A is equated with B') in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌I equated the two numbers and found a difference.
✅I compared the two numbers and found a difference.
💡'Equate' in this sense means 'treat as the same', not 'check for differences'.
❌The price is equalled to the quality.
✅The price is equated with the quality.
💡'Equate' takes 'with' or 'to', not 'to' used as a preposition after 'equal'; also, 'equalled' is the past tense of the verb 'equal', not 'equate'.

2. to make two or more amounts, levels, or quantities exactly the same as each othe

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make two or more amounts, levels, or quantities exactly the same as each other

例句

The new law equates the pay of part-time workers with that of full-time staff in the same role.

equate + noun + with + noun (formal register)

Fatima equated the two measurements before she could complete the engineering drawing.

同義詞
  • equalize

    more common in everyday use for making levels or amounts the same

  • balance

    suggests bringing into equilibrium, often in financial or physical contexts

  • standardize

    means making things uniform according to a fixed rule, not just equal

反義詞
  • differentiate

    to make or treat things as different, the opposite of making them equal

  • vary

    to cause differences in amount or level

文法句型

equate + noun + and + noun

equate + noun + with + noun

用法筆記

This sense is more formal and technical than sense 1. It often appears in academic, financial, or statistical contexts. The object is typically a plural noun (e.g., 'equate the figures', 'equate the salaries').

常見錯誤

❌The machine equates hot water to cold water.
✅The machine mixes hot water with cold water.
💡'Equate' means to make equal in amount or level, not to physically combine.
❌I equated the two options in my mind.
✅I considered the two options equally.
💡For mental comparison, use sense 1 ('equate A with B'); sense 2 is for measurable quantities.