C1verb2K

Resemble

UK /["/rɪˈzembl/","/rɪˈzemblz/","/rɪˈzembld/","/rɪˈzemblɪŋ/"]/US /["/rɪˈzembl/","/rɪˈzemblz/","/rɪˈzembld/","/rɪˈzemblɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to look like or be similar to another person or thing

In simple words: To look like someone or something.

Examples

  • She closely resembles her sister.
  • So many hotels resemble each other.
  • The plant resembles grass in appearance.
  • He very much resembles a friend of mine.
  • I have never seen anything remotely resembling the horrors of that day.
  • Neither achieved anything resembling their former success.
  • The house was designed to resemble a church.
  • The meat resembles chicken in flavour.
  • a fight for something resembling justice

Usage notes

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.

Grammar pattern

resemble + object

Memory hint

Think of 'resembles' like 're-similar' — it means being similar again.

Collocations

  • closely
  • greatly
  • strongly
  • be designed to
  • tend to
  • in
  • anything resembling something
  • something resembling something

Synonyms

  • look like
  • appear like
  • bear a resemblance to
  • take after

Antonyms

  • differ
  • contrast
  • depart

Common mistakes

  • '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.