Pair — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈper/

Meaning & Definition of Pair

Pair (noun)

  1. two corresponding things designed for use together
  2. two corresponding bodily parts or members
  3. something made up of two corresponding pieces

Pair (verb)

  1. to make a pair of —often used with off or up
  2. to cause to be a member of a pair
  3. to arrange a voting pair between

Pair (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together

    "a pair of blue socks"

    "the singer and the piano player make quite a pair together"

    similar: brace, couple, couplet, duo, dyad, twain, twosome
    related: span, yoke, partnership, team, companion, complement, doublet, fellow, half, match, mate, twin, coordinate, counterpart, equal, equivalent, like, parallel, peer, rival

Pair (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in combine, fit

    similar: amalgamate, blend, combine, connect, consolidate, correlate, dovetail, fit, fuse, integrate, join, match, merge, mix, orchestrate, square, suit, synchronize, synthesize, unify, unite, codify, marshal, methodize, organize, systematize, systemize, adapt, tune, align, arrange, array, balance, equalize, even, order, proportion, regularize, standardize, accommodate, attune, conciliate, conform, coordinate, harmonize, key, reconcile
    opposite: confuse, disarray, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, skew, upset, disharmonize

Related Entry: Pairs (noun)

Pairs is a different word from Pair. The synonyms below are for pairs, not for pair.

  1. two things of the same or similar kind that match or are considered together

    "a pair of blue socks"

    "the singer and the piano player make quite a pair together"

    similar: braces, couples, couplets, duos, dyads, twosomes
    related: spans, yokes, partnerships, teams, companions, complements, doublets, fellows, halves, matches, mates, twins, coordinates, counterparts, equals, equivalents, likes, parallels, peers, rivals

Related Entry: Pair off (verb)

Pair off is a different word from Pair. The synonyms below are for pair off, not for pair.

  1. as in remarry

    similar: remarry, couple, mate, marry, wed
    opposite: divorce, separate

Related Entry: Au pair (noun)

Au pair is a different word from Pair. The synonyms below are for au pair, not for pair.

  1. as in bonne

    similar: bonne, amah, ayah, mammy, babysitter, dry nurse, nanny, nurse, nursemaid, nurser, sitter, duenna, fraulein, governess, mademoiselle

Related Entry: Compass (noun)

Compass is a different word from Pair. The synonyms below are for compass, not for pair.

  1. a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

    "a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune"

    similar: cynosure, direction, focus, lodestar, polestar
    related: benchmark, criterion, grade, mark, measure, par, standard, touchstone, yardstick, aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal, intention, object, objective, purpose, target

  2. an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends

    "within the compass of my voice"

    similar: ambit, amplitude, breadth, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width
    related: gamut, spectrum, spread, bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain, frontier, horizon, panorama

  3. the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something

    "within the compass of the city walls"

    similar: border, borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, confines, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge
    related: ambit, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, ceiling, maximum, demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination, borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage, lap, shore
    near: center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within

Related Entry: Compasses (noun)

Compasses is a different word from Pair. The synonyms below are for compasses, not for pair.

  1. a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

    "a young go-getter who lost his moral compass in the course of his quest for fame and fortune"

    similar: cynosures, directions, foci, lodestars, polestars
    related: benchmarks, criteria, grades, marks, measures, pars, standards, touchstones, yardsticks, aims, ambitions, aspirations, dreams, goals, intentions, objectives, objects, purposes, targets

  2. an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends

    "within the compass of my voice"

    similar: ambits, amplitudes, breadths, confines, dimensions, extents, ranges, reaches, realms, scopes, sweeps, widths
    related: gamuts, spectra, spreads, bailiwicks, circles, demesnes, departments, disciplines, domains, elements, fiefdoms, fiefs, fields, provinces, regions, specialties, spheres, terrains, frontiers, horizons, panoramas

  3. the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something

    "within the compass of the city walls"

    similar: borderlines, borders, boundaries, bounds, brims, circumferences, confines, edges, edgings, ends, frames, fringes, hems, margins, perimeters, peripheries, rims, skirtings, skirts, verges
    related: ambits, brinks, crests, curbs, cusps, lips, ceilings, maxima, demarcations, extents, limitations, measures, meres, restrictions, terminations, borderlands, frontiers, marches, outskirts, pales, selvages, laps, shores
    near: centers, cores, hearts, inners, insides, interiors, middles, withins

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pair

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pair:

brace, couple, couplet, duo, dyad, twain, twosome, amalgamate, blend, combine, connect, consolidate, correlate, dovetail, fit, fuse, integrate, join, match, merge, mix, orchestrate, square, suit, synchronize, synthesize, unify, unite, codify, marshal, methodize, organize, systematize, systemize, adapt, tune, align, arrange, array, balance

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pair

Words with the opposite meaning of Pair:

confuse, disarray, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, skew, upset, disharmonize

Related Words for Pair

span, yoke, partnership, team, companion, complement, doublet, fellow, half, mate, twin, counterpart, equal, equivalent, like, parallel, peer, rival

Word Forms of Pair

Inflections: pairs, paired, pairing

Origin & Etymology of Pair

Middle English paire, from Anglo-French, from Latin paria equal things, from neuter plural of par equal

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pair

Words & Phrases Containing Pair

pair-bond, pair of compasses, pair of virginals, pair production, pair off, pair of hands, pair (someone) up with (someone), pair up

Frequently Asked Questions about Pair

What does "Pair" mean?

"Pair" means two corresponding things designed for use together. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: two corresponding things designed for use together. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pair"?

Other words for "Pair" include brace, couple, couplet, duo, dyad, twain, twosome and amalgamate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pair" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pair"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pair". Common alternatives include brace, couple, couplet, duo, dyad, twain, twosome, amalgamate, blend and combine.

What is the opposite of "Pair"?

Antonyms of "Pair" include confuse, disarray, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, skew and upset.

How do you use "Pair" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pair" in a sentence: "a pair of blue socks"; "the singer and the piano player make quite a pair together".

Is "Pair" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pair" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Pair" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Pair" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Pair"?

"Pair" is pronounced /ˈper/.