ENGLISH
REFERENCE

resemblance

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɹiˈzɛmbɫəns// UK //ɹɪsˈɛmbləns// re·sem·blance

n. a way in which two people or things look or act like each other. You use this when you notice that someone looks like their parents or a friend.

n. the state of being similar or alike, especially in appearance. Often used to compare physical traits between family members or the shared characteristics of two objects.


SIMPLE

There is a strong resemblance between the two brothers.

CONTEXTUAL

The new model bears a striking resemblance to the original design from the 1960s.

COMPLEX

While the two theories share a superficial resemblance, a closer examination of their core principles reveals fundamental differences in how they approach economic growth.

Origin

From Anglo-Norman resemblance, from Old French (compare French ressemblance). Morphologically resemble + -ance.

Usage

Often follows the verbs 'bear', 'have', or 'show'. Frequently paired with the preposition 'between' or 'to'.

Pitfall

The resemblance with his father is clear.The resemblance to his father is clear.While 'between' is used for two things, 'to' is the standard preposition when comparing one person or thing to another.

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