semblance
gb/sˈɛmbləns/ us/sˈɛmbləns/
C1
Angličtina
~ 8300
Významy
0 významů
Podstatné jméno
formal
C1
entity
1
outward appearance, possibly misleading
The way something looks from the outside, especially when this look is not fully real or true.
Vzorec užití:
a semblance of [something]
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes use "semblance" when they only mean a simple or neutral "appearance". "Semblance" usually suggests that the appearance is only partial, not fully real, or may hide something different. For neutral situations, "appearance" is often better.
Synonyma
appearance (More general and neutral; does not always suggest that the appearance may be false or incomplete.)
|
façade (Usually stronger; clearly suggests a false or carefully built front that hides an unpleasant reality.)
|
pretense (Focuses more on deliberate pretending than on visual or surface appearance.)
Antonyma
reality (Emphasizes what is actually true, in contrast with how something merely seems.)
|
substance (Stresses the real, important part of something, rather than its surface look.)
Kolokace
a semblance of order
|a semblance of normalcy
|a semblance of control
|give the semblance of
|maintain a semblance of
|retain some semblance of
Témata
perception
|society
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- The polished lobby gave the crumbling building a semblance of luxury.
- His calm voice created a semblance of confidence, even though he was terrified inside.
- The government’s careful messaging preserved a semblance of unity despite deep internal conflicts.
- The handwritten signs and candles gave the protest a semblance of ceremony.
- Her smile lent a semblance of warmth to an otherwise cold meeting.
Učební příklady
- The lights and music gave the small party a semblance of glamour.
- He tried to keep a semblance of calm, but his hands were shaking.
- The clean front room gave the house a semblance of order, though the back rooms were a mess.
- The company website gives a semblance of success, but they are losing money.
- The friendly posters gave the office a semblance of welcome.
Podstatné jméno
formal
C1
quantity
2
small, basic amount of something
A small amount of something, just enough so you can still say it is that thing.
Vzorec užití:
a semblance of [abstract noun]
Častá chyba:
Learners may confuse "semblance" with words like "sample" or "symbol" because of similar sounds. Also, some use it for countable things (e.g. *"a semblance of apples"*), but it normally goes with abstract nouns like "order", "stability", or "normalcy".
Synonyma
trace (Emphasizes a very tiny amount; does not carry the same formal tone as "semblance".)
|
shred (Informal and vivid; often used for emotions or abstract things (e.g. "a shred of hope").)
|
hint (Suggests a light sign of something, often weaker and less formal than "semblance".)
Antonyma
abundance (Opposite in amount; suggests a large quantity instead of a small or minimal one.)
|
lack (Emphasizes the complete absence of the quality, while "semblance" implies that at least a little of it remains.)
Kolokace
a semblance of order
|a semblance of normal life
|a semblance of stability
|restore a semblance of
|any semblance of
|lose any semblance of
Témata
quantity
|society
|work
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- The new manager finally brought a semblance of order to the chaotic office.
- After months of war, people were desperate for any semblance of normal life.
- Extra funding gave the project a semblance of stability.
- Strict routines helped her recover a semblance of control over her days.
- The compromise restored a semblance of peace between the two communities.
Učební příklady
- The teacher tried to create a semblance of calm in the noisy class.
- After the storm, they worked to bring a semblance of normal life back to the town.
- The rules gave the group a semblance of order.
- Her new job gave her a semblance of financial security.
- The schedule gave his days a semblance of structure.
Podstatné jméno
formal
C2
property
3
similarity or resemblance in appearance
The way two things look or seem alike.
Vzorec užití:
[something] bears a semblance to [something]
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes use "semblance" by itself to mean "likeness" (e.g. *"There is a semblance between them"*). In this sense, it is more natural in fixed patterns like "bears a semblance to" or to use the more common word "resemblance".
Synonyma
resemblance (Very close in meaning; more common and slightly less formal than "semblance" in this sense.)
|
similarity (Broader and more general; not limited to appearance.)
Antonyma
difference (Neutral opposite; simply states that things are not alike.)
|
dissimilarity (More formal opposite; stresses the lack of likeness.)
Kolokace
bear a semblance to
|some semblance to
|little semblance to
|no semblance to
|any semblance to
Témata
perception
|comparison
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- The two reports bear only a faint semblance to each other.
- Her sketch bears a clear semblance to the finished painting.
- These cheap copies have little semblance to the original design.
- The film bears some semblance to the book but changes many key details.
- Their plan bears no semblance to what we agreed on.
Učební příklady
- The boy’s face bears a strong semblance to his father’s.
- This copy has little semblance to the real painting.
- The story in the movie bears some semblance to the real event.
- His drawing bears a clear semblance to the photo.
- Their idea bears no semblance to our first plan.
Gramatika
Slovníkový tvar
semblance
IPA
GB/sˈɛmbləns/
US/sˈɛmbləns/
Slabiky a přízvuk
semb - lance (2 slabiky)
Stress on 1st syllable (semb)
Tvary slova
Noun
- Base: semblance
- Plural: semblances
Příbuzná slova
Forms
semblances
noun
Core family
resemble
verb B1
resemblance
noun B1
Výrazy
a semblance of normalcy
1/ə sˈɛmbləns əv nˈɔɹməlsi/
fixed phrase
formal
a limited return to normal life
A small or early return to usual daily life after something bad or strange has happened.
Příklady
- Schools reopening gave the town a semblance of normalcy after the flood.
- The routine of work provided a semblance of normalcy following the crisis.
a semblance of normality
1/ə sˈɛmbləns əv nˌɔɹmˈæləti/
fixed phrase
formal
a limited amount of normal conditions
A small return to usual life or usual conditions after they were changed or broken.
Příklady
- Police patrols helped restore a semblance of normality in the streets.
- Families tried to create a semblance of normality for their children during the conflict.
a semblance of order
1/ə sˈɛmbləns əv ˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
a limited sense of order
A small or basic level of order in a place or situation that is mostly not organized.
Příklady
- It took hours to bring a semblance of order to the disaster site.
- Extra staff were called in to keep a semblance of order during the sale.
any semblance of
1/ˈɛni sˈɛmbləns əv/
fixed phrase
formal
any recognizable sign of something
Any clear sign or small amount of a quality, usually used to say that even this small sign is missing.
Příklady
- The argument quickly lost any semblance of politeness.
- The movie has no story and lacks any semblance of logic.
bear a semblance to
1/bˈɛɹ ə sˈɛmbləns tə/
fixed phrase
formal
be somewhat similar to
To look or seem a bit like something else.
Příklady
- The new logo bears a strong semblance to the old one.
- His early work bears little semblance to his later, more experimental films.
maintain a semblance of
1/meɪntˈeɪn ə sˈɛmbləns əv/
fixed phrase
formal
keep a small sign of something
To keep at least a small or basic amount of something, so it does not seem to disappear completely.
Příklady
- They worked hard to maintain a semblance of democracy during the emergency.
- Even during the merger, she tried to maintain a semblance of routine for her team.
without any semblance of
1/wɪðˈaʊt ˈɛni sˈɛmbləns əv/
fixed phrase
formal
with no sign of something
With no clear sign or amount of a quality at all.
Příklady
- The decision was taken without any semblance of consultation.
- He shouted at the staff without any semblance of respect.