Added 8 October 2026

liken

/ˈlaɪk(ə)n/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about liken at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Followed by to or (archaic) unto: to regard or state that (someone or something) is like another person or thing; to compare.
The physics teacher likened the effect of mass on space to an indentation in a sheet of rubber.
Followed by to or (archaic) unto: to regard or state that (someone or something) is like another person or thing; to compare.
The physics teacher likened the effect of mass on space to an indentation in a sheet of rubber.
Chiefly followed by to: to make (oneself, someone, or something) resemble another person or thing.

From Middle English liknen (“to be comparable; to compare (often disparagingly); to make (someone) equal to another person; to regard (something) as equal to another thing; to regard (something) as likely; to resemble; to take (something) as a substitute; to apply, be adapted or suitable; to tend (to sin)”) [and other forms], from liken (“to be comparable; to compare; to be appropriate; to form”), from lik (“alike, analogous, similar; appropriate, suitable; equal; homogeneous; identical, the same; indicative; likely (to be or do something), probable; possible; simultaneous; more or most like (?)”) + -en (suffix forming infinitives of verbs).