If two things or people have a likenessto each other, they are similar to each other.
These myths have a startling likeness to one another. [+ to]
There might be a likeness between their features, but their eyes were totally dissimilar. [+ between]
Synonyms: resemblance, similarity, correspondence, affinity More Synonyms of likeness
2. countable noun [with poss]
A likenessof someone is a picture or sculpture of them.
The museum displays wax likenesses of every U.S. president. [+ of]
Synonyms: portrait, study, picture, model More Synonyms of likeness
3. countable noun [usually singular, usually adjective NOUN]
If you say that a picture of someone is a good likeness, you mean that it looks just like them.
She says the artist's impression is an excellent likeness of her abductor. [+ of]
More Synonyms of likeness
likeness in British English
(ˈlaɪknɪs)
noun
1.
the condition of being alike; similarity
2.
a painted, carved, moulded, or graphic image of a person or thing
3.
an imitative appearance; semblance
likeness in American English
(ˈlaɪknɪs)
noun
1.
the state or quality of being like; similarity
2.
(the same) form or shape; semblance
Jupiter appeared in the likeness of a swan
3.
something that is like; copy, portrait, etc.
SYNONYMY NOTE: likeness implies close correspondence in appearance, qualities, nature, etc. [his remarkable likeness to his brother]; similarity suggests only partial correspondence [your problem bears a certain similarity to mine]; resemblance usually implies correspondence in appearance or in superficial aspects [the resemblance between a diamond and zircon]; analogy refers to a correspondence between attributes or circumstances of things that arebasically unlike [the analogy between a calculating machine and the human brain]
OPPOSITES: unlikeness, difference
Examples of 'likeness' in a sentence
likeness
Naturally, their parents thought the photograph was the worst likeness they had seen.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Do you see any likeness in that to what occurred?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It's not about producing a good likeness but going over the motions.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is not very consoling to have one 's own likeness.
George Eliot Middlemarch (1872)
Do you see the likeness, my dear?
Patrick O'Brian Richard Temple
More than 50 works show his ability to capture a likeness.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Visitors will be shown how to build their own microscope that will allow them to see the creatures' likeness to bears.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He asked,'Can you see any likeness?
The Sun (2009)
She sent me photos but I can't see any likeness.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
likeness
British English: likeness NOUN
If two things or people have a likeness to each other, they are similar to each other.
These myths have a startling likeness to one another.
American English: likeness
Brazilian Portuguese: semelhança
Chinese: 相似之处
European Spanish: semejanza
French: ressemblance
German: Ähnlichkeit
Italian: somiglianza
Japanese: 類似
Korean: 비슷함
European Portuguese: semelhança
Latin American Spanish: semejanza
Chinese translation of 'likeness'
likeness
(ˈlaɪknɪs)
n(s)
(= similarity) 相似 (xiāngsì)
that's a good likeness (photo, portrait) 那活像本人 (nà huó xiàng běnrén)
1 (noun)
Definition
resemblance
These stories have a startling likeness to one another.
Synonyms
resemblance
There was a remarkable resemblance between them.
similarity
the astonishing similarity between my brother and my eldest son
correspondence
correspondences between Eastern religions and Christianity
affinity
The two plots share certain obvious affinities.
similitude
2 (noun)
Definition
portrait
The museum displays wax likenesses of every U.S. president.
Synonyms
portrait
oversize portraits of royal ancestors
study
picture
drawing a small picture with coloured chalks
model
an architect's model of a wooden house
image
The boy is the image of his father.
photograph
He wants to take some photographs of the house.
copy
Always keep a copy of everything in your own files.
counterpart
representation
a life-like representation of Christ
reproduction
a reproduction of a religious painting
replica
It was a replica, for display only.
depiction
The vase has a depiction of a man playing a lyre.
facsimile
This will be a genuine old copy, not a facsimile.
effigy
An effigy was being burned in the town square.
delineation
His razor-sharp delineation of ordinary life.
3 (noun)
Definition
an imitative appearance
a disservice in the likeness of a favour
Synonyms
appearance
They gave the appearance of being on both sides.
form
The rejoicing took the form of exuberant masquerades.
guise
He claimed the Devil had appeared to him in the guise of a goat.
semblance
They had nursed Peter back to some semblance of health.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affinity
Definition
a close similarity in appearance, structure, or quality
The two plots share certain obvious affinities.
Synonyms
similarity,
relationship,
relation,
connection,
alliance,
correspondence,
analogy,
resemblance,
closeness,
likeness,
compatibility,
kinship
in the sense of copy
Definition
a thing made to look exactly like another
Always keep a copy of everything in your own files.
Synonyms
reproduction,
duplicate,
photocopy,
carbon copy (old-fashioned),
image,
print,
fax (old-fashioned),
representation,
fake,
replica,
imitation,
forgery,
counterfeit,
Xerox (old-fashioned),
transcription,
likeness,
replication,
facsimile,
Photostat (old-fashioned)
in the sense of correspondence
Definition
relationship or similarity
correspondences between Eastern religions and Christianity
Synonyms
relation,
match,
agreement,
fitness,
comparison,
harmony,
coincidence,
similarity,
analogy,
correlation,
conformity,
comparability,
concurrence,
congruity
Synonyms of 'likeness'
likeness
Explore 'likeness' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of delineation
His razor-sharp delineation of ordinary life.
Synonyms
outline,
description,
account,
drawing,
picture,
chart,
tracing,
portrait,
representation,
diagram,
portrayal,
depiction
in the sense of depiction
The vase has a depiction of a man playing a lyre.
Synonyms
picture,
drawing,
image,
outline,
illustration,
sketch,
likeness,
delineation
in the sense of effigy
Definition
a crude representation of someone, used as a focus for contempt
An effigy was being burned in the town square.
Synonyms
likeness,
figure,
image,
model,
guy,
carving,
representation,
statue,
icon,
idol,
dummy,
statuette
in the sense of facsimile
Definition
an exact copy
This will be a genuine old copy, not a facsimile.
Synonyms
copy,
print,
carbon,
reproduction,
replica,
transcript,
duplicate,
photocopy,
Xerox (old-fashioned),
carbon copy (old-fashioned),
Photostat (old-fashioned),
fax
in the sense of form
Definition
the particular mode in which a thing or person appears
The rejoicing took the form of exuberant masquerades.
Synonyms
mode,
character,
shape,
appearance,
arrangement,
manifestation,
guise,
semblance,
design
in the sense of guise
Definition
general appearance or form
He claimed the Devil had appeared to him in the guise of a goat.
Synonyms
form,
appearance,
dress,
fashion,
shape,
aspect,
mode,
semblance
in the sense of image
Definition
a person or thing that resembles another closely
The boy is the image of his father.
Synonyms
replica,
copy,
reproduction,
counterpart,
spit (informal, British),
clone,
facsimile,
spitting image (informal),
similitude,
Doppelgänger,
(dead) ringer (slang),
double,
chip off the old block (informal)
in the sense of model
Definition
a three-dimensional representation, usually on a smaller scale, of a device or structure
an architect's model of a wooden house
Synonyms
representation,
image,
copy,
miniature,
dummy,
replica,
imitation,
duplicate,
lookalike,
facsimile,
mock-up
in the sense of photograph
Definition
a picture made by the chemical action of light on sensitive film
He wants to take some photographs of the house.
Synonyms
picture,
photo (informal),
shot,
image,
print,
slide,
snap (informal),
snapshot,
selfie (informal),
transparency,
likeness,
JPEG,
thumbnail,
avatar
in the sense of picture
Definition
a visual representation produced on a surface, such as in a photograph or painting
drawing a small picture with coloured chalks
Synonyms
representation,
drawing,
painting,
portrait,
image,
print,
illustration,
sketch,
portrayal,
engraving,
likeness,
effigy,
delineation,
similitude,
avatar
Additional synonyms
in the sense of replica
Definition
an exact copy
It was a replica, for display only.
Synonyms
reproduction,
model,
copy,
imitation,
facsimile,
carbon copy
in the sense of representation
Definition
anything that represents, such as a pictorial portrait
a life-like representation of Christ
Synonyms
picture,
model,
image,
portrait,
illustration,
sketch,
resemblance,
likeness
in the sense of reproduction
Definition
a copy of a work of art
a reproduction of a religious painting
Synonyms
copy,
picture,
print,
replica,
imitation,
duplicate,
reprint,
xerox,
facsimile,
carbon copy
in the sense of semblance
Definition
outward or superficial appearance
They had nursed Peter back to some semblance of health.
Synonyms
appearance,
show,
form,
air,
figure,
front,
image,
bearing,
aspect,
mask,
similarity,
resemblance,
guise,
façade,
pretence,
veneer,
likeness,
mien (literary)
in the sense of similarity
the astonishing similarity between my brother and my eldest son