resemble
Americanverb (used with object)
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to be like or similar to.
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Archaic. to liken or compare.
verb
Other Word Forms
- preresemble verb
- resembler noun
- resemblingly adverb
- unresembling adjective
Etymology
Origin of resemble
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English resemblen, from Middle French resembler, Old French, from re- re- + sembler “to seem, be like” (from Latin similāre, derivative of similis “like”; see similar)
Explanation
Have you noticed that many pet owners resemble their pets? Or is it that pets resemble their owners? Either way, it’s downright strange how they often look alike. Derived from the old French word sembler, “to appear,” the verb resemble can imply a whole spectrum of likeness. For example, you might closely resemble your schnauzer or, hopefully, only vaguely resemble each other. It’s not just about appearance, either. This concept can include all kinds of characteristics. Two companies can resemble each other and the same could be said of two philosophies.
Vocabulary lists containing resemble
List 2
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"The Ravine," Vocabulary from the short story
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Holes
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For the superrich, divorce can resemble a high-stakes corporate liquidation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
These flexible, low-cost devices produce electrical signals that closely resemble those generated by living neurons, allowing them to activate biological brain tissue.
From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026
What emerged didn’t resemble the traditional teen drama playbook.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Looking ahead, they expect the business conditions and economic environment in which they operate to resemble the past year.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
“It doesn’t resemble a pyramid in the least.”
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
