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completely different — totally not the same

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

Used to say that two or more things are not alike in any way.

Say it like a native

Textbook These two are entirely dissimilar in every respect.

Native They're completely different.

'Entirely dissimilar in every respect' is stiff and redundant; 'completely different' says it all.

Pattern: be + completely different (from/to)

In use

  • The two sisters have completely different personalities.daily life
  • In my opinion, studying abroad is a completely different experience compared to learning in your home country.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ Now it's completely different with last year.

✓ Now it's completely different from last year.

'Different FROM' (BrE also 'to') — not 'different with'.

Common collocations

  • completely different — from, story, approach, ballgame

Don't confuse it

'Completely different' is much stronger than 'a bit different' or just 'different'.

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