Resemble and reassemble are two words that look and sound similar, but have very different meanings. We will look at the definitions of the words resemble and reassemble, where the terms come from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Resemble means to have the same appearance as something else, to have the same qualities as something else. Resemble is a transitive verb which is a verb that takes an object, related words are resembles, resembled, resembling, resemblance. The word resemble is derived from the Old French word resembler, which means be like.
Reassemble means to put together again, to gather together again. Reassemble is also a transitive verb, related words are reassembles, reassembled, reassembling, reassembly. The word reassemble is a combination of the word assemble, derived from the Old French word assembler which means to join together, and the prefix re- which means back to the original place or once more. Remember, resemble means having the same appearance or qualities, reassemble means to assemble again.
Examples
Wollongong Harbour could come to resemble the trendy Salamanca Place in Hobart, said Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery. (Illawarra Mercury)
“If he wants to resemble a mini warrior then that’s his decision, if he wants to wear a tutu then I’m sure he’ll pull it off fantastically.” (The Telegraph)
For Skeleton Tree, it sounds like he blew up his previous album — and then tried to reassemble the melodies, rhythms and lyrics in an effort to deal with the loss of his 15-year-old son. (The Vancouver Sun)
When the project was ‘stalled’ the team was split-up and took time to reassemble when it was ‘unstalled’ again. (The Derby Telegraph)