Cool MateAlike vs Resemble
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Alike
Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb
Resemble
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Alike | Resemble | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈlaɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈlaɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈzembl/","/rɪˈzemblz/","/rɪˈzembld/","/rɪˈzemblɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈzembl/","/rɪˈzemblz/","/rɪˈzembld/","/rɪˈzemblɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | similar or the same as something else | To look like someone or something. |
| Example | They tried to treat all their children alike. | She closely resembles her sister. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | verb |
| Collocations | look alike, feel alike, sound alike, think alike | closely, greatly, strongly, be designed to, tend to, in, anything resembling something, something resembling something |
| Antonyms | different, unlike | differ, contrast, depart |
| Common mistakes | 'Alike' used for more than two subjects (e.g., 'The three cars look alike' is correct, but 'The car and the bike are alike'.), Confusing 'alike' with 'like' in different sentence structures., 'Alike' often misused in the passive voice. | 'Resemble' is often confused with 'look like' despite being interchangeable in many contexts., Learners sometimes misuse 'resemble' with a preposition (e.g., 'resemble to'). It should be direct., Confusing the subject-verb agreement when using 'resemble' with plural nouns. |
| Usage notes | Use 'alike' to show similarity between two objects or subjects. Avoid in formal writing; 'similar' is preferred in those contexts. | Use 'resemble' when discussing physical appearance or characteristics. It's typically neutral, but avoid it in very formal writing. In informal contexts, 'look like' is more common. |
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Frequently asked questions: Alike vs Resemble
What's the difference between Alike and Resemble?
Alike: similar or the same as something else Resemble: To look like someone or something.
Are Alike and Resemble the same CEFR level?
Alike: C1, Resemble: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Alike and Resemble?
Alike: adverb, Resemble: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Alike: They tried to treat all their children alike. Resemble: She closely resembles her sister.
Can I use Alike and Resemble interchangeably?
Not always. Alike and Resemble are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.