Skip to main content

Agree vs Concur vs Coincide

Agree, Concur and Coincide are comparable when they mean to come into or to be in harmony regarding a matter of opinion or a policy.

Agree implies unison in thought or a complete accord: even if the context suggests previous discussion, the word usually indicates that argument is ended.

  • this is a point upon which all persons agree
  • agree upon a price

Concur usually implies reference to a specific or definite agreement or suggests a thinking, acting, or functioning cooperatively or harmoniously toward a given end or for a particular purpose.

  • for the creation of a masterwork of literature two powers must concur, the power of the man and the power of the moment
    Arnold

Coincide implies an agreement amounting to complete identity of opinion. Only occasionally is it used of persons; more frequently opinions, judgments, wishes, or interests coincide.

  • I had hoped that our sentiments coincided
    Austen
  • private groups whose interests did not coincide with national defense
    T. W. Arnold

Often coincide implies an agreement in time of occurrence and therefore frequently stresses synchronousness of events.

  • less often an agreement in place occupied
  • the fall of Granada and the discovery of America coincided

See coincident under CONTEMPORARY