likens

Likens is the third-person singular present tense of the verb liken. The base form liken means to compare one thing with another to show similarity or resemblance. The present participle is likening, and the past tense and past participle are likened.

In use, liken is typically followed by to or, less commonly, with: to liken A to B means to describe A as similar to B. For example, a writer might liken a bustling city to a living organism, emphasizing dynamic movement and growth. The word is often found in literary criticism, rhetoric, journalism, and formal prose, where explicit comparisons help convey imagery or argument.

Grammatical notes: likens is used with a singular subject (he, she, it), as in "She likens the experience to a trial." The construction to liken X to Y is distinct from simply “liking” something; it carries evaluative force by drawing a parallel between two entities. The verb’s other forms are liken, liking, and likened.

Nuance and usage: liken is a precise, sometimes emphatic way to establish similarities, often to illuminate a point, contrast, or theme. It is not typically used for loose or casual comparisons; writers often reserve it for deliberate, often metaphoric, comparisons. Related concepts include analogy, metaphor, and simile, though liken emphasizes explicit, direct comparison rather than figurative language alone.