Phrase guide

comparative degree

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The degree of comparison of an adjective or adverb used when comparing two entities in terms of a certain property or a certain way of doing something. In English, the comparative of superiority is formed by adding the suffix -er or the word more (e.g. bigger, more fully); the comparative of equality, by adding the word as (e.g. as big, as fully); the comparative of inferiority, by adding the word less (e.g. less big, less fully).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: comparative

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: degree of comparison

2

noun

Meaning 2

the comparative form of an adjective or adverb

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'
  • `less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'
  • `more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: comparative

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: adjective, adverb

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.