| compare to | compare with |
| Definition:
Both compare to and compare with mean to assess: (1) the similarity of two things or (2) the relationship between two things, but, according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, compare with "often implies a greater element of formal analysis." |
| Example:
(1) I compared my dictionary to his. (2) I compared my dictionary with his. Note: To my ear both of the above mean exactly the same thing. |