Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense likens, present participle likening, past tense, past participle likened
verb
If you liken one thing or person to another thing or person, you say that they are similar.
He once likened his job to fire-fighting. [V n to n/-ing]
The pain is often likened to being drilled through the side of the head. [beVERB-ed + to]
Synonyms: compare, match, relate, parallel More Synonyms of liken
liken in British English
(ˈlaɪkən)
verb
(transitive)
to see or represent as the same or similar; compare
Word origin
C14: from like1 (adj)
liken in American English
(ˈlaɪkən)
verb transitive
to represent or describe as being like, or similar; compare
Examples of 'liken' in a sentence
liken
The only dog to which it can be likened is one that's dead.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were often likened to the clergy in this regard.
Shubert, Adrian A Social History of Modern Spain (1991)
The process is often likened to moving through treacle.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And his catwalk shows have often been likened to performance art.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Just one per cent likened him to a lion.
The Sun (2014)
He likened the situation to a football club charging high ticket prices and then playing its reserve team.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One likened his performance to'a paranormal phenomena '.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Companies that care about the packaging often liken themselves to book publishers, who know a small number of people will pay a premium price for a hardback.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
liken
British English: liken VERB
If you liken one thing or person to another thing or person, you say that they are similar.
The process is likened by experts to tuning a television picture.
American English: liken
Brazilian Portuguese: comparar
Chinese: 比喻
European Spanish: comparar
French: comparer
German: vergleichen
Italian: assimilare
Japanese: なぞらえる
Korean: 견주다
European Portuguese: comparar
Latin American Spanish: comparar
(verb)
Definition
to compare
The pain is likened to being drilled through the head.