semblance of life

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'semblance of life' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that appears to be alive, but is actually not. For example, "The robots were eerily lifelike, with only a faint semblance of life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It is magical in a way, but it also awaits a magician; it is organized lifelessness full of a strange semblance of life.

The New Yorker

The game took almost an hour to spring into any semblance of life but somehow Watford ended it with two golden moments.

The Guardian - Sport

Another was even more poetic, declaring that "the deserted yet still standing city resembles the corpse whose breath had fled, but which still retains the semblance of life".

The New York Times - Travel

The vision vanishes almost as soon as it appears: "The whole elusive sight was a Fata Morgana, an example of the strange make-believe of matter which had created a semblance of life".

The New Yorker

The photographer Macduff Everton has recently published an image of Mount St. Helen's in 1980: countless trees skittled in every direction, the entire hillside scorched free of any semblance of life.

The New York Times

"If animals are going to be killed for food," said Wayne Pacelle, the president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States, "the least we can do is treat them with decency and give them a semblance of life".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

It's very important when people are living in dire conditions to have some semblance of ordinary life, of what life used to be like," she said.

Unicef

The children living in the stadium are resuming some semblance of normal life.

Unicef

But on a deeper level the movie is really a meditation on the frustrating experience of living under a state of siege and the difficulty of carrying on the semblance of normal life in such circumstances.

The New York Times

A semblance of normal life has returned.

The Economist

Some semblance of orderly life worked wonders.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "semblance of life" to describe situations where something appears to be alive or functioning but lacks genuine vitality or normal characteristics associated with life. This could apply to objects, places, or even organizations.

Common error

Avoid using "semblance of life" in purely abstract or metaphorical contexts where the concept of 'life' is not directly relevant. It is more effective when there's a tangible or visual aspect of life being imitated or suggested.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "semblance of life" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It describes the quality of something appearing to be alive without possessing genuine life.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "semblance of life" effectively describes something that appears alive but lacks true vitality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, consider the nuance you wish to convey, choosing related phrases like "hint of vitality" for subtler suggestions or "superficial appearance of being alive" for emphasis on the facade. Avoid using it in purely abstract scenarios; reserve it for situations where a tangible aspect of life is being imitated or suggested.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

superficial appearance of being alive

Emphasizes that the life-like quality is only on the surface.

artificial impression of life

Indicates a fabricated or constructed semblance, rather than a natural one.

hint of vitality

This suggests a very slight, almost imperceptible presence of life.

outward display of vitality

Similar to "superficial appearance", but specifies the vitality aspect.

faint trace of existence

Highlights the minimal and almost disappearing aspect of being.

shadow of animation

Indicates a weak or faint representation of life.

mere show of animation

Focuses on the external display rather than genuine liveliness.

simulacrum of existence

Implies the existence is only a superficial likeness or imitation.

imitation of living

Highlights that what is observed is not authentic life, but a copy.

mimicry of life

Suggests an act of copying or imitating real life.

FAQs

How can I use "semblance of life" in a sentence?

You can use "semblance of life" to describe something that appears alive but isn't truly living, like "The abandoned city retained a "semblance of life", with its buildings still standing but empty."

What are some alternatives to "semblance of life"?

Some alternatives include "hint of vitality", "faint trace of existence", or "superficial appearance of being alive", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "semblance of life" instead of "sign of life"?

"Semblance of life" is used when something only appears to be alive, while "sign of life" indicates actual, though perhaps faint, evidence of life. A robot might have a "semblance of life", but a barely conscious patient shows a "sign of life".

Is "semblance of life" a formal or informal expression?

"Semblance of life" is a relatively neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the subject matter than the setting.