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.
The difference became much more noticeable under conditions designed to resemble the human intestine.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
Ptilotus senarius is a delicate shrub with purple pink flowers that resemble small feathered fireworks.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
Dow Industrials trading near the very round 50,000 level is beginning to resemble a potential double top relative to the February peak.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
YouTube may also find itself in a sort of uncanny valley with buyers as elements of its business increasingly resemble traditional media but remain different in key ways.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
The northeastern shore of Honshu, often called the Sanriku Coast, zigzags in and out, forming jagged shapes that resemble the teeth of a saw.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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.
