Cool MateLook like vs Resemble
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Look like
Top 1,000 (very common)
Resemble
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Look like
| Look like | Resemble | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lʊk laɪk//🇺🇸 //lʊk laɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈzembl/","/rɪˈzemblz/","/rɪˈzembld/","/rɪˈzemblɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈzembl/","/rɪˈzemblz/","/rɪˈzembld/","/rɪˈzemblɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to seem or appear similar to something | To look like someone or something. |
| Example | She looks like her mother. | She closely resembles her sister. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | look like someone, look like something, look a bit like | closely, greatly, strongly, be designed to, tend to, in, anything resembling something, something resembling something |
| Antonyms | differ, contrast | differ, contrast, depart |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'look alike', which means two things are very similar., Using it incorrectly with non-human subjects, like 'It looks like they.', Omitting 'like' and saying 'look' alone. | '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 | Used to describe appearance. Common in everyday conversation but avoid in highly formal writing. | 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: Look like vs Resemble
What's the difference between Look like and Resemble?
Look like: to seem or appear similar to something Resemble: To look like someone or something.
Which is more common: Look like and Resemble?
Look like is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Look like: She looks like her mother. Resemble: She closely resembles her sister.
Can I use Look like and Resemble interchangeably?
Not always. Look like 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.