tell the difference

phrase

: 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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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.
LLMs cannot reliably tell the difference between information they are meant to read and instructions they are meant to follow, which means an AI can follow hidden commands without notifying the user. — Arthur Azizov, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The goal is to help consumers tell the difference between a date that refers to food quality and one that is intended to promote food safety. — Leeann Weintraub, Oc Register, 25 July 2026 On some level, most can tell the difference between what applies to us and is a reasonable measure for our kids’ safety and what is not. — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 By watching and analyzing how the soft fingers deformed, the AI could tell the difference between touching sand and touching the pen, estimate the pen’s location, and guide the gripper to lift it out. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tell the difference

Rhymes for tell the difference

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Browse Nearby Words

telltale
tell the difference
tell the time
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Cite this Entry

“Tell the difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20the%20difference. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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