tell the difference
idiom
: to see how two or more people or things are unlike each other
It's hard to tell the difference between one action movie and another.
The new version is supposed to be much better than the old one, but I can't tell the difference (between them).
Examples of tell the difference in a Sentence
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Frequently Asked Questions Can doctors tell the difference between alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver?
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Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 31 May 2025
Can the two tell the difference between playacting and following their hearts?
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
No staff member — not even the pizza king himself — could tell the difference.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
People hardly tell the difference between facial filters or people’s natural complexion.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
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Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 31 May 2025
Can the two tell the difference between playacting and following their hearts?
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
No staff member — not even the pizza king himself — could tell the difference.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
People hardly tell the difference between facial filters or people’s natural complexion.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
Cite this Entry
“Tell the difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20the%20difference. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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