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
Recent Examples on the Web
The internet can't tell the difference between Walmart's new and old logos.
—
Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Customers can tell the difference between engaged and disengaged telephone representatives, sales people, support staff, and other front-line workers.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Here's how to tell the difference What are common symptoms of norovirus?
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 30 Dec. 2024
This pause helped Laura calm down and tell the difference between useful feedback and simple resistance to change.
—Melody Wilding, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tell the difference 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Customers can tell the difference between engaged and disengaged telephone representatives, sales people, support staff, and other front-line workers.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Here's how to tell the difference What are common symptoms of norovirus?
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 30 Dec. 2024
This pause helped Laura calm down and tell the difference between useful feedback and simple resistance to change.
—Melody Wilding, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tell the difference
Dictionary Entries Near 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 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share