SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
parallel
noun
A meaningful similarity or correspondence between separate things.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Meaningful similarity
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA parallel identifies a useful correspondence; it does not establish that the two cases are identical in every respect.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See parallel in use
The essay draws a parallel between the two communities' responses to change.
A parallel between two messengers' difficult choices helped readers compare loyalty to a family with responsibility to a wider community.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license