Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /kəmˈpɛr.ə.tɪv/Category:Entries with IPA pronunciation
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /kəmˈpær.ə.tɪv/Category:Entries with IPA pronunciation

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (US)

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  Category:Entries with audio pronunciation
• Hyphenation: com‧par‧a‧tiveCategory:4-syllable words

Adjective

1. You use comparative to show that something is not great but is better than something else.

   They lived in the comparative comfort of her uncle's house.

2. You use comparative to show that someone or something is not quite a beginner, etc., but almost the same as one.

   The absent father was a comparative stranger to the son.

3. Comparative study is a form of study that looks at how things are alike and different.

   The study of how the anatomy of animals are alike and different is called comparative anatomy.

Noun

1. (countable)Category:Countable nouns A comparative is a form of a comparable adjective. You use it to show that something is "more big", "more good", etc.

   For example:

   • Big is a comparable adjective and bigger is the comparative.
   • Intelligent is a comparable adjective. Its comparative is more intelligent.

   My students always forget the -er in comparatives.