Liken

Quick meaning: Liken is a verb meaning Followed by to or (archaic) unto: to regard or state that (someone or something) is like another person or thing; to compare.

Meaning

Followed by to or (archaic) unto: to regard or state that (someone or something) is like another person or thing; to compare.

More Meanings

1. Chiefly followed by to: to make (oneself, someone, or something) resemble another person or thing.
2. To represent or symbolize (something).
3. (intransitive, obsolete) Followed by to: to be like or resemble; also, to become like.

Example Sentences

[T]he Prince broke thy head for lik'ning him to a ſinging man of VVindſor; […]

The physics teacher likened the effect of mass on space to an indentation in a sheet of rubber.

[T]he Rebel King / Doubl'd that ſin in Bethel and in Dan, / Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox, […]

Me thinkes therefore, that of all of the Græcian Captaines I can liken none ſo vvell vnto him, as Eumenes the Cardian.

Word Forms

• likens
• likening
• likened
• likenest
• likenedst
• likeneth

Synonyms for liken

Depending on context, synonyms include equate, compare.

Antonyms for liken

Common opposites include contrast, unliken.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include compare, equate, internalize, conflate, absorb, digest.

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