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
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.
Banerjee's rise was forged in Bengal's combative political culture, where elections often resemble prolonged street wars - her supporters called her the "fire goddess".
From BBC • May 5, 2026
Musk recently has talked about shifting the company’s focus to AI, robotaxis and humanoid robots, but these all resemble pipe dreams.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
And if it needs to resemble your smartphone to keep you seated, so be it.
From Slate • May 3, 2026
Researchers believe this dramatic transformation helps it resemble the young leaves of rainforest plants, which often start out pink before turning green.
From Science Daily • May 2, 2026
You may be like your grandfather in this, I don’t know, but certainly both you and your father resemble him very much physically.
From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
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.
