Noun / Verb A2 — Elementary /mætʃ/

Match — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

A contest, an equal, or the act of going together — one small word with many meanings.

Quick Definition

Match (noun): a contest or competition between two people or teams; a person or thing that equals or corresponds to another; a suitable pairing.

Match (verb): to be the same as or similar to something else; to combine well with something; to find or place things together because they are alike.

What Does Match Mean?

Match is one of the most versatile words in English, functioning as both a noun and a verb with several closely related senses. Its core idea in every sense is equality or correspondence — two things that fit together, look the same, or meet on equal terms.

As a noun, match most commonly refers to a competitive event in sport: a football match, a tennis match, a boxing match. It also describes a person or thing that is equal to another (she met her match) or a good pairing (the colours are a perfect match).

As a verb, match describes the relationship between two things that correspond or go together: the shoes match the bag, match the word to its definition, his actions don't match his words. It is used widely in education, particularly in matching exercises where learners connect pairs of related items.

Etymology note: The competitive sense of match comes from Old English gemæcca, meaning “companion, equal” — someone of the same rank or standing. By the 14th century this had evolved into the sense of a sporting contest between two equals. The unrelated meaning of a fire-lighting stick derives from Old French mesche (a wick), arriving in English in the 15th century. Despite sharing the same spelling, the two words are etymologically distinct.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevel & note
Match each word in the left column to its definition on the right. A2 — verb in classroom instruction
We watched the football match on Saturday afternoon. B1 — noun: sporting contest
Does this scarf match my coat, or does it look strange? B1 — verb: to go well together (colour/style)
The company struggled to find a candidate whose skills matched the requirements of the role. B2 — verb: to correspond to, professional context
No rival has yet been able to match the precision and consistency of her technique. C1 — verb: to equal or rival, formal register

Collocations

CollocationExample
football matchThe football match was cancelled due to heavy rain.
tennis matchShe won the tennis match in straight sets.
boxing matchThe boxing match lasted twelve rounds.
perfect matchThose two colours are a perfect match.
good matchThe new hire turned out to be a good match for the team.
exact matchThe search engine found an exact match for your query.
match a descriptionThe suspect matched the description given by witnesses.
meet your matchHe finally met his match when he played the chess champion.
no match forOur defence was no match for their attacking pace.
match expectationsThe film failed to match the expectations raised by the trailer.

Usage Notes

British English Usage

Match vs. game: In British English, match is strongly preferred for single competitive sporting events: a cricket match, a rugby match, a chess match. American English tends to use game in these contexts. Use match in British or international English to sound natural.

Match vs. suit vs. fit: These three verbs are often confused. Match means two things are the same or similar (same colour, pattern, or type). Suit means something is appropriate or flattering for a person. Fit refers to size or physical dimensions. Compare: The red tie matches his shirt (same colour family). Red suits him (flattering for his complexion). The jacket fits perfectly (correct size).

Transitive and intransitive: Match can be used both with an object (Match the words to the pictures) and without (These socks don't match). Both are correct.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

These colours are matching. (overuse of continuous form for a state)

These colours match. (stative use — present simple is correct)

The results are not matching with our expectations.

The results do not match our expectations. (no preposition needed in British English)

We saw a match of football yesterday.

We watched a football match yesterday. (sport comes before match as a modifier)

Related Words

ability suit fit correspond equal compare contest compete tournament mismatch

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “match”

What does match mean in English?
Match has two main uses. As a noun it means (1) a contest between two players or teams ('a football match') and (2) something or someone that is equal to or goes well with another ('the colours are a good match'). As a verb it means to be the same as, or to go well with, something ('the shoes match the bag').
How do you use match as a verb?
As a verb, match is followed directly by an object: 'Match each word to its definition.' It can also be used without an object: 'These socks don't match.' In British English, avoid adding 'with' after match when describing correspondence — 'the curtains match the carpet' is more natural than 'match with the carpet'.
What is the difference between match and suit?
Match means two things are the same or very similar (same colour, pattern, style). Suit means something is appropriate or flattering for a particular person or situation. Blue shoes might match a blue handbag (same colour), but a bold print dress might suit your personality (appropriate for you personally).
What are common collocations with match?
Common collocations include: football match, tennis match, chess match, boxing match (noun — sport); perfect match, good match, exact match (noun — similarity); match a description, match an expectation, match a colour (verb — to correspond); no match for (idiom — inferior to). The phrase 'meet your match' means to encounter someone equally strong or skilled.
What is the difference between match and game?
In British English, match is the preferred word for a single competitive event between two sides, especially in sport: 'a cricket match', 'a rugby match'. Game is used more broadly and can refer to a type of activity played for fun or competition. In American English, game is often used where British English uses match.
Can match be a noun and a verb?
Yes, match is both a noun and a verb. As a noun: 'The match starts at three o'clock.' As a verb: 'These socks don't match.' It can also be a noun meaning a small stick used to light a fire ('a box of matches'), though this is a separate but related meaning — both senses share an underlying idea of correspondence or pairing.
What is the origin of the word match?
The noun sense meaning a contest comes from Old English 'gemæcca' meaning 'companion' or 'equal'. The verb sense meaning to correspond or pair developed from this. The unrelated sense of a fire-lighting stick comes from Old French 'mesche' (wick). By the 16th century both meanings were established in English.
What does 'no match for' mean?
The idiom 'no match for' means to be clearly inferior to someone or something: 'Our team was no match for the champions.' It suggests the difference in skill or power is so great that a fair contest is impossible. The opposite idiom is 'meet your match', meaning to find someone of equal ability.
How do you spell the plural of match?
The plural is matches — add -es because the word ends in -ch. Examples: 'three football matches this week', 'a box of matches'. The third-person singular verb form follows the same rule: 'she matches', 'it matches'.
How can I practise using match in English?
LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise is ideal for practising match in context. The Flash Cards tool will help you learn match alongside related words such as suit, fit, correspond and compare. Matching exercises — where you connect words to definitions — are themselves a great way to internalise the word's meaning through active use.