resemble

verb

re·​sem·​ble ri-ˈzem-bəl How to pronounce resemble (audio)
resembled; resembling ri-ˈzem-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce resemble (audio)
Synonyms of resemble

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Drummer Mike Palmer will sit inside a massive plexiglass and aluminum enclosure that resembles a spaceship. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 The details in the case closely resemble charges that have been made against the children of German art dealer Serop Simonian, the eighty-three-year-old alleged leader of a trafficking ring specializing in Egyptian antiquities. — News Desk, Artforum, 26 Aug. 2026 Rose, the glitter-breathing dragon, resembles some of the more feminine-presenting mascots to appear in recent seasons, including Ellie (Liberty), Violet (Valkyries) and Skye (Sky). — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 In a sequencer that resembled a large fridge, millions of short nucleic-acid fragments would be identified in the span of ten hours. — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for resemble

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of resemble was in the 14th century

Rhymes for resemble

See All Rhymes for resemble

Browse Nearby Words

resemblant
resemble
resembler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Resemble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resemble. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

resemble

verb
re·​sem·​ble ri-ˈzem-bəl How to pronounce resemble (audio)
resembled; resembling -b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce resemble (audio)
: to be like or similar to
he resembles his father

More from Merriam-Webster on resemble

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for resemble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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