noun · verb · 40 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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/mæt͡ʃ/
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US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
A competitive sporting event such as a boxing meet (commonly called a "bout"), a baseball game, or a cricket match.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
Examples
My local team are playing in a match against their arch-rivals today.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Any contest or trial of strength or skill, or to determine superiority.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Someone with a measure of an attribute equaling or exceeding the object of comparison.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He knew he had met his match.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A marriage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Suitability.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
Equivalence; a state of correspondence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
Equality of conditions in contest or competition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
A pair of items or entities with mutually suitable characteristics.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The carpet and curtains are a match.
a match made in heaven
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
An agreement or compact.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly embedded when a mould is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mould.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
A small wooden stick specially treated with chemicals to produce flame upon contact with another chemical, from the frictional heat produced by striking it against a surface, or both; other similar items made from chemically-treated paper, cardboard, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He struck a match and lit his pipe.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: light, lucifer, spunk
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
Synonym of taper, a thin stick used to transfer flame, as from tender to a candle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: taper
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
Synonym of fuse, a long wick used to transfer flame to an explosive device.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fuse
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To agree; to be equal; to correspond.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
Their interests didn't match, so it took a long time to agree what to do together.
These two copies are supposed to be identical, but they don't match.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: comport
Antonyms: none provided
16
verb
Meaning 16
To agree with; to be equal to; to correspond to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
His interests didn't match her interests.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
verb
Meaning 17
To equal or exceed in achievement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
She matched him at every turn: anything he could do, she could do as well or better.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
verb
Meaning 18
To make a successful match or pairing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
They found out about his color-blindness when he couldn't match socks properly.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
verb
Meaning 19
To unite in marriage, to mate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
verb
Meaning 20
To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and groove at the edges.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
to match boards
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
verb
Meaning 21
To be an example of a rule or regex.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Narrower terms: consist, look, answer, coincide, align, correlate, parallel, twin, duplicate, square, corroborate, underpin, bear out, support, resemble, meet, fit, conform to, homologize, befit, suit, beseem, harmonize, harmonise, consort, accord, concord, fit in, agree, pattern, adhere, rhyme, rime
40
verb
Meaning 40
be equal to in quality or ability
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Nothing can rival cotton for durability
Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: equal, touch, rival
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: compete, vie, contend
History
Etymology
From Middle English macche, mecche, from Old English mæċċa, ġemæċċa (“companion, mate, wife, one suited to another”), from Proto-West Germanic *makkjō, *gamakkjō (“partner, equal”), from Proto-Germanic *makô, from Proto-Indo-European *mag- (“to knead, work”). Compare Danish mage (“mate”), Icelandic maki (“spouse”).
Etymology tree Ancient Greek μύξα (múxa)bor. Latin myxa? Vulgar Latin micca Old French meschebor. Middle English mecche English match From Middle English macche, mecche (“wick (of a candle)”), from Old French mesche, meische, from Vulgar Latin micca (compare Catalan metxa, Spanish mecha, Italian miccia), which in turn is probably from Latin myxa (“nozzle, curved part of a lamp”), from Ancient Greek μύξα (múxa, “lamp wick”).
From Middle English macchen (“to marry; be paired with”), from the noun (see above).
Across languages
Translations
494 source translations are retained for this English entry.