What context can I use each word in?

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

winnow

Example

The farmer used a fan to winnow the wheat and separate the chaff. [winnow: verb]

Example

She had to winnow through the pile of resumes to find the most qualified candidates. [winnow: phrasal verb]

filter

Example

The coffee was filtered to remove any grounds or sediment. [filter: verb]

Example

I filtered my search results to only show articles from the past year. [filter: verb]

Definitions of winnow and filter

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Key differences and similarities of winnow and filter

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Good things to know

Which word is more common?

Filter is more commonly used than winnow in everyday language. Filter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while winnow is less common and refers to a specific process of separating grain or seeds.

What’s the difference in the tone of formality between winnow and filter?

While winnow is typically associated with a formal or technical tone, filter is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.