resemble
B2Neutral to formal. Common in all registers but less frequent in highly informal speech.
Definition
Meaning
To have a similar appearance or qualities to someone or something else.
To correspond to or be analogous to in nature, structure, or form.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Stative verb; not typically used in progressive/continuous forms. Focuses on static similarity, not imitation. Requires an object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling remains the same.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + resemble + object (NP)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like two peas in a pod (implies strong resemblance)”
- “Spitting image of (especially for people)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to compare business models, market conditions, or performance trends.
Academic
Common in scientific writing to compare data sets, species, or theoretical models.
Everyday
Primarily used for physical appearance of people, animals, or objects.
Technical
Used in computer vision (e.g., pattern matching), biology (e.g., morphology), and engineering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The twins resemble each other uncannily.
- This year's budget crisis closely resembles the one in 2008.
American English
- The new model resembles the old one in many ways.
- The climate here resembles that of Northern California.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form.)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjective form. Use 'resemblant' is extremely rare/archaic.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adjective form. Use 'similar'.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I resemble my father.
- The dog resembles a small wolf.
- This situation resembles one we faced last year.
- The two paintings resemble each other in style.
- The political landscape closely resembles that of the 1990s.
- The software's interface intentionally resembles its main competitor's.
- The nascent democracy's constitution resembles the French model in its emphasis on secularism.
- The geological formations here are said to resemble those found on Mars.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-SEMBLE: Think 'seems like again' (re- = again, semble from Latin 'similis' = similar).
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMILARITY IS PROXIMITY (e.g., 'closely resemble'), SIMILARITY IS A VISUAL IMAGE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not reflexive like 'похож на себя'. It's simply 'X resembles Y'.
- Do not confuse with 'to assemble' ('собирать').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She is resembling her mother.' (Correct: 'She resembles her mother.')
- Incorrect: 'He resembles to his brother.' (Correct: 'He resembles his brother.')
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'resemble' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'resemble' is a stative verb describing a state of similarity, not an action. Use simple tenses: 'He resembles his brother,' not 'He is resembling his brother.'
No preposition is used. 'Resemble' is a transitive verb followed directly by its object: 'X resembles Y.'
The noun is 'resemblance,' as in 'There is a strong resemblance between them.'
It is usually countable (e.g., 'a strong resemblance,' 'some resemblances'), but can be uncountable in more abstract contexts (e.g., 'a point of resemblance').