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Definition of liken

liken

/ˈlaɪ.kən/
Past Simple:likened
•
Past Participle:likened
•
Present Participle:likening
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liken Lexical Profile

liken Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To point out the resemblance of someone or something to another person or thing; to compare.

Example

"Critics often liken her spare, evocative prose to that of Ernest Hemingway."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for liken
Antonyms
View all antonyms for liken

Word Nuance & Usage

The verb 'liken' requires the preposition 'to' (as in 'liken A to B') and is also a homophone of 'lichen', a symbiotic organism that grows on rocks and trees.

• Rhymes for liken

• Nearby Words

likelihood
likeliness
likely
liken
likeness
liker
likewise

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the adjective 'like' (from Old English 'gelic', meaning having the same form) combined with the verbal suffix '-en'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Liken. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/liken
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