resemble

resemble — verb

1. to share physical features, qualities, or characteristics with someone or someth

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to share physical features, qualities, or characteristics with someone or something else, so that the two appear alike.

Example

Valentina's son Emre strongly resembles his grandfather from old photographs.

resemble + noun phrase for family likeness

The new bridge in Taipei resembles a dragon's tail when viewed from above.

Common collocations
  • strongly resemble
  • closely resemble
  • vaguely resemble
  • somewhat resemble
  • resemble in appearance
  • resemble in character
Synonyms
  • look like

    more common in everyday speech; can be used with 'like' preposition

  • take after

    only used for family resemblance, especially appearance or personality

  • mirror

    stronger and more exact; suggests a very close likeness in form or behaviour

  • echo

    abstract similarity in style, ideas, or qualities rather than physical appearance

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

resemble + noun phrase

Usage Note

Only used transitively — 'resemble' always takes a direct object. Cannot be used in continuous/progressive tenses (❌ 'She is resembling her mother').

Common Mistakes

She resembles to her mother.
She resembles her mother.
'resemble' is a transitive verb and does not need a preposition.
This is resembling the old model.
This resembles the old model.
'resemble' is not used in continuous tenses.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Look like' is the most common and neutral choice in everyday conversation: 'He looks like his father.' 'Take after' is limited to family resemblance in appearance or personality: 'She takes after her grandmother.' 'Mirror' suggests a very close, often deliberate likeness: 'The new design mirrors the original.' 'Echo' is used for abstract resemblance in style or ideas: 'The building echoes traditional Japanese architecture.' 'Bear a resemblance to' is more formal and often used when the likeness is noticeable but not exact: 'The suspect bears a resemblance to the man in the photo.'

look liketake after ↗mirror ↗echo ↗bear a resemblance to

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • bear a resemblance to
  • resemble one another
  • closely resemble each other

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Resemble' entered English in the 1300s through Old French 'resembler', which combined 're-' (again, intensive) and 'sembler' (to appear, seem). 'Sembler' itself came from Latin 'simulare' (to make like, imitate), ultimately from 'similis' (like, similar). The word has maintained its core meaning of 'to be like' for over 700 years.