matches

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "matches" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to items or elements that correspond or are in agreement with each other. Example: "The color of the curtains matches the sofa perfectly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Derided as a buffoonish figure of fun for attempting to keep dry while his England team failed to qualify for Euro 2008, McClaren is currently attracting far less media attention for steering Derby County to fourth from 14th in the Championship after a run of just two defeats in 15 matches since he replaced Nigel Clough in September.

The Guardian - Sport

Members of a well-known London football dynasty that also numbers Les, Dennis, Bradley and Clive among its members, the pair will conduct the draw at approximately 2pm, with five different third-round matches either ongoing or still to begin.

The Guardian - Sport

"If someone else goes down – and it could happen because we have the Cup final and these [post-season friendly] matches being played all over the world – then we would have to bring someone else in," said the England manager.

The Guardian - Sport

By the 1960s Ian Nairn could call Manchester a place of "rained-off Test matches and forbidding hotels".

The Guardian

First-round opponent: [15] Kevin Anderson (RSA) Smyczek skipped the European clay-court season entirely, opting to stay in the US and play some matches on the Har-Tru Challenger circuit in the southern US.

The Guardian - Sport

Dominguez Lino, 34, has played in just one WTA Tour main draw this year, but has lifted her ranking up close to the top 100 again by winning a lot of matches at smaller tournaments.

The Guardian - Sport

Davis's diminutive size kind of makes her the underdog in most of her matches, but underestimate her at your peril.

The Guardian - Sport

"I think our supporters have always been behind us, we've had ups and downs in the last few years, but since the return leg against Ukraine we've felt an enthusiasm behind the team and noticed a rekindled love in practice matches [in the lead up to the World Cup]," Lloris said.

The Guardian - Sport

So far, each of Ireland, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan have acquitted themselves wonderfully, with Ireland beating West Indies, and the two best contested and closest matches coming between Ireland and UAE and Scotland and Afghanistan.

The Guardian - Sport

Goals win matches, and Immobile knows how to get them.

The Guardian - Sport

England had won the second Ashes Test by 347 runs and lead by 2-0 withreeree Tests to go, the first time they have won the opening two matches of an Ashes series at home.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "matches" to describe similarity, ensure that the context clearly specifies the criteria or aspect in which the items correspond. For example, "His account of the event matches hers in every key detail."

Common error

Avoid using "matches" vaguely. Instead of saying "Their personalities match", specify the aspects: "Their senses of humor match perfectly", providing more clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The word "matches" primarily functions as a noun (plural of "match", referring to sporting events or objects used to start a fire) or as a verb (the third-person singular present tense of "match", indicating agreement or correspondence). Examples in Ludwig show both usages, aligning with the Ludwig AI assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "matches" is a versatile word functioning as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it denotes events or objects; as a verb, it signifies correspondence or similarity. Its usage spans diverse contexts but appears most frequently in News & Media sources. The word is grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, and has several synonyms such as "corresponds" or "aligns" that can add variety to writing. When using "matches", it's helpful to specify the particular aspects in which things correspond to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

corresponds

Focuses on a direct equivalence or similarity in specific details.

aligns

Suggests a fitting or agreement, often in a figurative sense like aligning with goals.

agrees

Highlights a point of concordance or harmony between items or ideas.

tallies

Implies an exact counting or comparison that results in an equal sum.

equals

Denotes a state of being identical or equivalent in value, amount, or meaning.

fits

Indicates a harmonious relationship, often suggesting suitability or compatibility.

harmonizes

Emphasizes a pleasing or aesthetically consistent relationship.

resembles

Focuses on surface-level similarity or likeness in appearance or quality.

is analogous to

Suggests a deeper, more structural comparison where parallel roles or functions exist.

is akin to

Emphasizes a shared nature or quality, often implying a weaker or more distant connection.

FAQs

How is "matches" used in a sentence?

"Matches" can be used as a verb, meaning to be similar or equal, or as a noun, referring to games or contests. For example, "Her description of the event "matches" mine" (verb) or "We watched several football "matches"" (noun).

What are synonyms for "matches"?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "matches" include "corresponds", "aligns", "agrees", or "tallies". For example, instead of saying "Her story matches his", you could say "Her story "corresponds" with his".

When should I use "matches" vs. "match"?

"Match" is singular, while "matches" is plural or the third-person singular present tense of the verb. Use "match" when referring to a single instance (e.g., "That was a great match"), and "matches" for multiple instances or when the subject is he/she/it (e.g., "She always wins her matches" or "It matches perfectly").

What is the difference between "matches" and "matching"?

"Matches" is the plural form of the noun "match" or the third-person singular present tense of the verb "to match." "Matching" is the present participle or gerund form of the verb. For instance, "She wears "matching" shoes and bag," versus "She always "matches" her accessories carefully."