stack up against

USAGE SUMMARY

This phrase is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is usually used to describe how something performs or measures up against something else. For example, you could say "How does this new car stack up against the other models on the market?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So how do Karpovsky's experiences stack up against Paul's?

The New Yorker

So how does the account stack up against the competition?

The Guardian - Money

So how does this stack up against the competition?

The Guardian - Money

How does Mr. Bush's lawsuit stack up against this standard?

The New York Times

How does our proposition stack up against others?

The Guardian

WAKIN How does this collaboration stack up against other joint efforts by visual and performing artists?

The New York Times - Arts

How does French productivity stack up against California alone?Fair enough.

The Economist

But how does any list of accomplishments stack up against that face?

The New York Times - Books

So how does Mr. Galv?stack up against his own agenda?

The New York Times

How do Hong Kong's protests stack up against other displays of people power?

The Economist

How do the U.S. states stack up against one another?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain consistency in tense when comparing; if you're discussing past performance, ensure the comparison is also in the past. Example: "How did their sales stack up against last year's figures?"

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions like "stack up to" or "stack up with." The correct and idiomatic preposition is "against."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stack up against" functions as a phrasal verb used to compare or evaluate something against a standard or another entity. As Ludwig AI explains, it helps determine how well something performs in relation to something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "stack up against" is a common and grammatically correct way to compare or evaluate something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in news, media, and scientific contexts to assess the relative merits or performance of different items. To ensure correct usage, remember that the preposition "against" is essential. While synonyms like "compare with" or "measure up to" exist, they may subtly shift the emphasis. This phrase helps writers clearly articulate how something fares in relation to a benchmark or competitor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

measure up to

Emphasizes meeting a certain standard or expectation.

be on a par with

Highlights equality or equivalence.

compare with

Focuses on identifying similarities and differences.

match

Focuses on direct correspondence or equivalence.

bear comparison with

Indicates the ability to be compared, often in a formal context.

equate to

Suggests equivalence in value or significance.

hold a candle to

Suggests inferiority in comparison.

rival

Implies competition and potential equality.

compete with

Implies an active contest for superiority.

outweigh

Suggests superiority in importance or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "stack up against" in a sentence?

You can use "stack up against" to compare the qualities or performance of different items. For example, "How does this new product "measure up to" its competitors?"

What's a synonym for "stack up against"?

Alternatives to "stack up against" include "compare with", "measure up to", or "be on a par with", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "stack up against" or "compare to"?

"Stack up against" implies a more comprehensive evaluation of merits, while "compare to" simply notes similarities or differences. The better choice depends on whether you want to assess overall value or just find commonalities.

What's the difference between "stack up against" and "compete with"?

"Stack up against" focuses on comparing attributes or performance, while "compete with" suggests an active contest for superiority. For example, one might say "How does their new model "stack up against" existing models?" versus "They "compete with" other companies for market share."