resemble
gb/ɹɪzˈɛmbəl/ us/ɹɪzˈɛmbəl/
B1
English
~ 6200
hasonlít
VERB
B1
1
hasonlít
A2
Usage pattern:
to resemble [someone/something]
She closely resembles her mother, especially around the eyes.
Nagyon hasonlít az anyjára, különösen a szeme táján.
From a distance, the hotel resembles a giant ship.
Távolról a szálloda egy óriási hajóra hasonlít.
The twins resemble each other so much that even their teachers get confused.
The new logo resembles the old one but with brighter colors.
With his beard and glasses, he now resembles a university professor.
Learner examples
My son resembles his grandfather.
A fiam hasonlít a nagyapjára.
This building resembles a castle.
Ez az épület egy várra hasonlít.
The two boys resemble each other.
That drawing resembles a real person.
You resemble your sister when you smile.
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"resemble to"* or *"resemble with"*. The verb **resemble** takes no preposition: say **"She resembles her mother"**, not *"She resembles to her mother"*. Another mistake is using the -ing form for appearance: we normally say **"He resembles his father"**, not *"He is resembling his father"*.
Meaning
look like someone or something
Collocations
closely resemble
|strongly resemble
|resemble his father
|resemble one another
|resemble the original
Synonyms
look like (More informal and very common in everyday speech; focuses strongly on visual appearance.)
Antonyms
differ from (Emphasizes being not the same in appearance or features.)
Themes
appearance
|family
|comparison
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To look like someone or something.
To have a similar appearance to someone or something, especially in face, body, or general look.
VERB
B2
2
hasonlít
A2
Usage pattern:
to resemble [something] in [way/aspect]
Their business model closely resembles a classic pyramid scheme.
Az üzleti modelljük nagyon hasonlít egy klasszikus piramisjátékra.
The new law resembles previous legislation but gives the government more control.
Az új törvény hasonlít a korábbi jogszabályokra, de nagyobb ellenőrzési jogkört ad a kormánynak.
Our relationship now resembles more of a friendship than a romance.
The company’s structure resembles that of a start‑up, even though it is very large.
His leadership style resembles that of a coach rather than a traditional boss.
Learner examples
This plan resembles the one we used last year.
Ez a terv hasonlít arra, amelyet tavaly használtunk.
Her teaching style resembles his in many ways.
A tanítási stílusa sok szempontból hasonlít az övére.
The game resembles chess but is easier.
Their system resembles a family, with older members helping younger ones.
The project now resembles real work, not just practice.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think **resemble** can only be used for physical looks. It is also correct for character, style, or structure, as in **"Their system resembles a school"**. The grammar is the same as for appearance: do not add a preposition (*not* *"resembles to"*).
Meaning
be similar in nature or style
Collocations
resemble in many ways
|resemble a family
|resemble a partnership
|resemble a pyramid scheme
|resemble a game
Synonyms
be similar to (Very close in meaning but slightly more general and less formal; can refer to any type of similarity.)
Antonyms
contrast with (Stresses a clear difference in nature or qualities instead of similarity.)
Themes
comparison
|description
|analysis
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be like someone or something in the way it acts, is made, or is organized.
To be like someone or something in character, structure, style, or general nature, not only in physical appearance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
resemble
IPA
GB/ɹɪzˈɛmbəl/
US/ɹɪzˈɛmbəl/
Syllables & stress
re - semble (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (semble)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: resemble
- 3rd Person Singular: resembles
- Present Participle: resembling
- Past: resembled
Word family
Forms
resembles
verb
resembling
verb
resembled
verb
Core family
resemblance
noun B1
Related words
Advanced or less common
likeness
noun B1
Expressions
resemble nothing so much as
1/ɹɪzˈɛmbəl nˈʌθɪŋ sˈoʊ mˈʌt͡ʃ ˈæz/
idiom
literary
seem almost exactly like something
Used to say that something is very, very similar to one particular thing, especially in appearance or general feeling.
Examples
- At night the empty mall resembles nothing so much as an abandoned spaceship.
- The meeting resembled nothing so much as a poorly organized school play.
- On rainy days, the city resembles nothing so much as a giant gray sponge.