Match vs. Connect — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 19, 2024
Matching involves pairing or grouping based on similarities, while connecting refers to establishing a relationship or link between entities.
Difference Between Match and Connect
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Matching focuses on finding similarities or correspondence between objects, ideas, or individuals, often used in contexts like matching clothes based on color or pattern. On the other hand, connecting is about creating a link or association, which can be physical, like connecting two pieces of a puzzle, or abstract, such as connecting ideas in an argument.
In matching, the emphasis is on the compatibility or likeness between entities, which can be seen in algorithms used by dating apps to match users with similar interests. Conversely, connecting involves the establishment of a relationship or communication between entities, crucial in networking and building social or professional relationships.
While matching can be a one-time process based on criteria at a specific moment, connecting often implies a more ongoing interaction or link, such as the connection between friends or devices connected over a network.
Matching is typically a selective process with a clear criterion for what makes a pair or group, aiming for a harmonious or suitable combination. In contrast, connecting might not require similarity but rather focuses on establishing a route or means of interaction, like connecting cities through transportation networks.
The outcomes of matching and connecting also differ; matching might result in a set of paired items or individuals, whereas connecting usually results in a network or system of relationships, highlighting the dynamic and often more complex nature of connections compared to matches.
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Similarities or compatibility
Establishment of a relationship or link
Context
Clothes, dating apps, puzzles
Networking, social relationships, devices
Emphasis
Compatibility, likeness
Relationship, communication
Process
Selective based on criteria
Ongoing interaction or link
Criteria
Clear compatibility or similarity
Can be varied, not always based on similarity
Outcome
Paired items or individuals
Network or system of relationships
Compare with Definitions
Match
To pair based on similarity.
The software matches resumes with job descriptions.
Connect
Forming social bonds.
Networking events help professionals connect.
Match
Finding an equivalent.
Match the synonym with the correct word.
Connect
To establish a link.
The bridge connects the two sections of the city.
Match
A suitable pairing.
They are a perfect match based on their interests.
Connect
A pathway or route.
The highway connects multiple towns.
Match
A process of selection.
Matching socks from a laundry pile is tedious.
Connect
A relationship between ideas.
She connects historical events to explain the present.
Match
A game or competition.
The tennis match drew a large audience.
Connect
Linking devices or systems.
Connect your phone to the Wi-Fi network.
Match
A match is a tool for starting a fire. Typically, matches are made of small wooden sticks or stiff paper.
Connect
Bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established
The electrodes were connected to a recording device
Match
One that is exactly like another or a counterpart to another
Is there a match for this glove in the drawer?.
Connect
Associate or relate (something) in some respect
Jobs connected with the environment
Employees are rewarded with bonuses connected to their firm's performance
Match
One that is like another in one or more specified qualities
He is John's match for bravery.
Connect
(of a blow) hit the intended target
The blow connected and he felt a burst of pain
Match
One that is able to compete equally with another
The boxer had met his match.
Connect
To join or fasten together
A bridge that connects the island with the mainland.
Match
One that closely resembles or harmonizes with another
The napkins were a nice match for the tablecloth.
Connect
To associate or consider as related
No reason to connect the two events.
Match
A pair, each one of which resembles or harmonizes with the other
The colors were a close match.
Connect
To join to or by means of a communications circuit
Please connect me to the number in San Diego. Her computer is connected to the internet.
Match
A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other
A soccer match.
Connect
To plug in (an electrical cord or device) to an outlet.
Match
A tennis contest won by the player or side that wins a specified number of sets, usually two out of three or three out of five.
Connect
To become joined or united
Two streams connecting to form a river.
Match
A marriage or an arrangement of marriage
A royal match.
Connect
To be scheduled so as to provide continuing service, as between airplanes or buses.
Match
A person viewed as a prospective marriage partner.
Connect
To establish a rapport or relationship; relate
The candidate failed to connect with the voters.
Match
A narrow piece of material, usually wood or cardboard, coated on one end with a compound that ignites when scratched against a rough or chemically treated surface.
Connect
(Sports) To hit or play a ball or puck successfully
The winger connected for two goals.
Match
An easily ignited cord or wick, formerly used to detonate powder charges or to fire cannons and muzzle-loading firearms.
Connect
To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.
I think this piece connects to that piece over there.
Match
To be like (another) or be a counterpart to
Does this sock match that one?.
Connect
To join: to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to each other.
Both roads have the same name, but they don't connect: they're on opposite sides of the river, and there's no bridge there.
Match
To resemble or harmonize with
The coat matches the dress.
Connect
To arrive at an intended target; to land.
When that roundhouse kick connected with his temple it sent him flying across the room.
Match
To adapt or suit so that a balanced or harmonious result is achieved; cause to correspond
You should match your deeds to your beliefs.
Connect
To join (two other objects), or to join (one object) to (another object): to be a link between two objects, thereby attaching them to each other.
The new railroad will connect the northern part of the state to the southern part.
Match
To find or produce a counterpart to
It's difficult to match the color of old paint.
Connect
To join (two other objects), or to join (one object) to (another object): to take one object and attach it to another.
I connected the printer to the computer, but I couldn't get it work.
Match
To pair (someone) with another in a romantic relationship or marriage
She was hoping to match her cousin with her neighbor.
Connect
To join an electrical or telephone line to a circuit or network.
When the technician connects my house, I'll be able to access the internet.
Match
To place in opposition or competition; pit
She matched her skill against all comers.
Connect
To associate; to establish a relation between.
I didn't connect my lost jewelry with the news of an area cat burglar until the police contacted me.
Match
To provide with an adversary or competitor
The tournament matches the best offensive team with the best defensive team.
Connect
To make a travel connection; to switch from one means of transport to another as part of the same trip.
I'm flying to London where I connect with a flight heading to Hungary.
Match
To do as well as or better than in competition; equal
She easily matches me in bicycle racing.
Connect
(slang) A drug dealer.
Match
To set in comparison; compare
Beauty that could never be matched.
Connect
To join, or fasten together, as by something intervening; to associate; to combine; to unite or link together; to establish a bond or relation between.
He fills, he bounds, connects and equals all.
A man must see the connection of each intermediate idea with those that it connects before he can use it in a syllogism.
Match
To provide funds so as to equal or complement
The government will match all private donations to the museum.
Connect
To associate (a person or thing, or one's self) with another person, thing, business, or affair.
Match
To flip or toss (coins) and compare the sides that land face up.
Connect
To establish a communication link; - used with with; as, his telephone didn't answer, so I connected with him by email.
Match
To couple (electric circuits) by means of a transformer.
Connect
To electronically or mechanically link (a device) to another device, or to link a device to a common communication line; - used with with; as, the installer connected our telephones on Monday; I connected my VCR to the TV set by myself; the plumber connected a shut-off valve to my gas line.
Match
To be exactly like another; correspond exactly
Do the two socks match?.
Connect
To join, unite, or cohere; to have a close relation; as, one line of railroad connects with another; one argument connects with another.
Match
To harmonize with another
My shirt and my tie match.
Connect
Connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces;
Can you connect the two loudspeakers?
Tie the ropes together
Link arms
Match
(sports) A competitive sporting event such as a boxing meet, a baseball game, or a cricket match.
My local team are playing in a match against their arch-rivals today.
Connect
Make a logical or causal connection;
I cannot connect these two pieces of evidence in my mind
Colligate these facts
I cannot relate these events at all
Match
Any contest or trial of strength or skill, or to determine superiority.
Connect
Be or become joined or united or linked;
The two streets connect to become a highway
Our paths joined
The travelers linked up again at the airport
Match
Someone with a measure of an attribute equaling or exceeding the object of comparison.
He knew he had met his match.
Connect
Join by means of communication equipment;
The telephone company finally put in lines to connect the towns in this area
Match
A marriage.
Connect
Land on or hit solidly;
The brick connected on her head, knocking her out
Match
A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage.
Connect
Join for the purpose of communication;
Operator, could you connect me to the Raffles in Singapore?
Match
Suitability.
Connect
Be scheduled so as to provide continuing service, as in transportation;
The local train does not connect with the Amtrak train
The planes don't connect and you will have to wait for four hours
Match
Equivalence; a state of correspondence.
Connect
Establish a rapport or relationship;
The President of this university really connects with the faculty
Match
Equality of conditions in contest or competition.
Connect
Establish communication with someone;
Did you finally connect with your long-lost cousin?
Match
A pair of items or entities with mutually suitable characteristics.
The carpet and curtains are a match.
A match made in heaven
Connect
Plug into an outlet;
Please plug in the toaster!
Connect the TV so we can watch the football game tonight
Match
An agreement or compact.
Connect
Hit or play a ball successfully;
The batter connected for a home run
Match
(metalworking) A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly embedded when a mould is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mould.
Match
A device made of wood or paper, at the tip coated with chemicals that ignite with the friction of being dragged (struck) against a rough dry surface.
He struck a match and lit his cigarette.
Match
(intransitive) To agree; to be equal; to correspond.
Their interests didn't match, so it took a long time to agree what to do together.
These two copies are supposed to be identical, but they don't match.
Match
(transitive) To agree with; to be equal to; to correspond to.
His interests didn't match her interests.
Match
(transitive) To make a successful match or pairing.
They found out about his color-blindness when he couldn't match socks properly.
Match
(transitive) To equal or exceed in achievement.
She matched him at every turn: anything he could do, she could do as well or better.
Match
(obsolete) To unite in marriage, to mate.
Match
To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and groove at the edges.
To match boards
Match
(programming) To be an example of a rule or regex.
The behavior matched one or more rules and was rejected by an edit filter.
Match
Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood or cardboard dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.
Match
A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate.
Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects.
Match
A bringing together of two parties suited to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest, or the like
A solemn match was made; he lost the prize.
Match
A matrimonial union; a marriage.
Match
An agreement, compact, etc.
Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making.
Match
A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage.
Match
Equality of conditions in contest or competition, or one who provides equal competition to another in a contest; as, he had no match as a swordsman within the city.
It were no match, your nail against his horn.
Match
Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match.
Match
A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mold.
Match
To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal.
No settled senses of the world can matchThe pleasure of that madness.
Match
To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal.
No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct.
Match
To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against.
Eternal mightTo match with their inventions they presumedSo easy, and of his thunder made a scorn.
Match
To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth.
Match
To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).
Let poets match their subject to their strength.
Match
To marry; to give in marriage.
A senator of Rome survived,Would not have matched his daughter with a king.
Match
To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.
Match
To be united in marriage; to mate.
I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.
Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep.
Match
To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match.
Match
Lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction;
He always carries matches to light his pipe
Match
A formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete
Match
A burning piece of wood or cardboard;
If you drop a match in there the whole place will explode
Match
An exact duplicate;
When a match is found an entry is made in the notebook
Match
The score needed to win a match
Match
A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
Match
A person who is of equal standing with another in a group
Match
A pair of people who live together;
A married couple from Chicago
Match
Something that resembles or harmonizes with;
That tie makes a good match with your jacket
Match
Be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics;
The two stories don't agree in many details
The handwriting checks with the signature on the check
The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun
Match
Provide funds complementary to;
The company matched the employees' contributions
Match
Bring two objects, ideas, or people together;
This fact is coupled to the other one
Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?
The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project
Match
Be equal to in quality or ability;
Nothing can rival cotton for durability
Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
Match
Make correspond or harmonize;
Match my sweater
Match
Satisfy or fulfill;
Meet a need
This job doesn't match my dreams
Match
Give or join in marriage
Match
Set into opposition or rivalry;
Let them match their best athletes against ours
Pit a chess player against the Russian champion
He plays his two children off against each other
Match
Be equal or harmonize;
The two pieces match
Match
Make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching;
Let's equalize the duties among all employees in this office
The company matched the discount policy of its competitors
Common Curiosities
Is matching more common in certain contexts than connecting?
Matching is often emphasized in contexts requiring selection based on criteria, like fashion or databases, while connecting is crucial in networking and establishing systems.
Can something be matched and connected at the same time?
Yes, entities can be matched based on similarities and also connected in a relationship or network.
What role does technology play in matching and connecting?
Technology facilitates both by using algorithms for matching and networks for connecting, enhancing efficiency and scope.
What is an example of a physical connection?
A bridge serving as a physical link between two land masses is an example of a physical connection.
What is the main difference between match and connect?
Matching is about finding similarities, while connecting involves establishing a relationship or link.
What is a key factor in making a successful connection?
Communication, shared goals, or interests can be key factors in establishing a successful connection.
Can matching lead to connecting?
Yes, matching based on similarities can be the first step toward establishing a deeper connection.
How do social media platforms utilize matching and connecting?
Social media platforms use matching to suggest friends or content and connecting to build social networks.
How do matching algorithms work?
Matching algorithms compare data points to find similarities or compatibility between entities, like in dating apps.
How do you improve your ability to match or connect?
Improving observation, communication skills, and being open to new experiences can enhance both matching and connecting abilities.
Can connections exist without similarities?
Yes, connections can be based on factors other than similarity, such as mutual benefit or necessity.
What is the importance of connecting in business?
In business, connecting is crucial for networking, partnerships, and customer relationships.
What challenges exist in matching and connecting?
Challenges include misinterpretation of data or intentions, and the complexity of human relationships.
How does matching affect decision-making?
Matching provides a basis for decision-making by filtering options based on compatibility or similarity.
How can matching and connecting impact learning?
They can enhance learning by pairing students with suitable materials or mentors and connecting them with peers and resources.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
