resemble

verb

re·​sem·​ble ri-ˈzem-bəl 

resembled; resembling ri-ˈzem-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to be like or similar to

he resembles his father

2

archaic : to represent as like

Examples of resemble in a Sentence

He strongly resembles his father in appearance and in temperament.

Terrier dogs closely resemble each other.

Recent Examples on the Web

The company’s ev1 resembles a power wheelchair but operates like an autonomous vehicle, with 360-degree sensors that provide proactive collision avoidance and smart driving capabilities. — Matt Alderton, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Creating Fake Marble With Paint Painting countertops to resemble marble is often considered an easier and less expensive alternative to countertop replacement. — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026

At times, this buzzy stretch of Sunset Boulevard between Hyperion and Lucile resembles a catwalk. — Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Instead, too much of the process resembles making peace with your past and developing marine communication powers akin to Aquaman. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English resemblen, rasemblen "to be like, compare," borrowed from Anglo-French resembler, rasembler "to be like, appear to be, compare (to)" (also continental Old French), from re- re- + sembler "to look like, seem to be" — more at semblance

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for resemble

• semble
• tremble
• assemble
• dissemble
• disassemble
• reassemble

Kids Definition

resemble

verb

re·​sem·​ble ri-ˈzem-bəl 

resembled; resembling -b(ə-)liŋ 

: to be like or similar to

he resembles his father