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In English, the word like has a very flexible range of uses, ranging from conventional to non-standard. It can be used as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, particle, conjunction, hedge, filler, and quotative.
What is the real meaning of like?
Full Definition of like
(Entry 1 of 9) transitive verb. 1a : to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in : enjoy likes baseball. b : to feel toward : regard how would you like a change. 2 : to wish to have : want would like a drink.
What does like it mean?
—used to say that something is better or more pleasing.
What does liking someone mean?
preference, inclination, or favor: to show a liking for privacy. pleasure or taste: much to his liking. the state or feeling of a person who likes.
What does just like mean?
—used to say that another person has no chance of succeeding at something.
22 related questions found
What do you mean by I like you?
Indicates that the speaker likes the interlocutor.
What does like for likes mean?
figures that compare sales, financial results, etc. in one period with those for the previous period, taking into account exactly the same number of stores, businesses, activities, etc. with no new ones added: Their like-for-likes show a big improvement on last year.
What is the difference between like & love?
1. Love is an unconditional emotion, while like is a more watered-down version of love. 2. Loving someone means that he or she means everything to you, while liking someone means that you are simply happy being with that person.
How do you tell someone you like them?
How To Tell Someone You Like Them (And NOT Ruin The Friendship)
- Don’t make it a big deal. …
- Decide whether to do it in person or via text. …
- Pick your moment. …
- Do it ASAP. …
- Keep it to yourself. …
- Give yourself a confidence boost. …
- Just ask them out on a date first. …
- Make things clear, but don’t obsess over the precise words.
Is liking a person feeling?
Liking someone is usually a milder feeling. Love, however, is a deeper emotion that is more about acceptance and a deeper bond. You like the person you love as a whole individual but you may not necessarily love the person you like.
What does like mean in texting?
Answer. In iMessage (texting app for Apple iPhones and iPads) and some non-default Android texting applications, users have the option of «liking» texts, which will send recipients using Android Messages or Republic Anywhere a separate text message informing them that this action has been taken.
How do you use like or likes?
We can see that the noun «like», when used with pronouns, can be defined in singular and plural as:
- like = I, we, you, they («I like running», «We like running»… etc)
- likes = He, she, it («He likes running»… etc)
What does like mean in Facebook?
Clicking Like below a post on Facebook is a way to let people know that you enjoy it without leaving a comment. Just like a comment, anyone who can see the post can see that you liked it. For example, if you click Like below a friend’s video: People who can see the video will be able to see that you liked it.
Where do we use like?
In formal writing, like is used as a preposition, telling where, when or how the noun in the sentence is doing whatever it may be doing. As is used as a conjunction, joining two clauses.
Is like a slang word?
Let’s tackle the sometimes loved, sometimes hated word, “like.” Like, have you wondered if there’s a technical term for, like, sticking the word “like” like, throughout a sentence, like, like this? Here’s the gripping answer: it’s an interjectional word. Interjectional speech is often called “slang.”
Is like as a word?
Like is one of the words in the English language that can introduce a simile (a stylistic device comparing two dissimilar ideas). It can be used as a preposition, as in «He runs like a cheetah»; it can also be used as a suffix, as in «She acts very child-like».
How do you text someone that you like?
Try something like, “I like you. Let’s hang out sometime!” or, “I wanted to tell you that I have a crush on you. No pressure or anything. I just wanted to share my feelings.”
How do I say I like my crush?
Just be simple and direct. Say, «I wanted to tell you that I have a crush on you» or «I really like hanging out with you, and I want you to know that I have feelings for you.» When you tell your crush, look them in the eye and relax your body.
How tell someone you like her?
Take a deep breath and tell her how you feel.
- «I like you.»
- «I just wanted you to know that I like you.»
- «Maria, I can’t keep pretending that I don’t have feelings for you. You’re too amazing not to have feelings for.»
- «I love having you as my friend. But I’d like to make us more than friends.»
Can you like and love someone at the same time?
“You can absolutely fall in love with two people at the same time,” he says. … A second person might make you feel safe, loved and deeply connected, and you’ll also fall for that person. Suddenly, your brain is cranking out dopamine for both of them because they make you feel special and loved in different ways.”
Why do we like someone so much?
Love is connected with several hormones that make us feel warm and fuzzy. Dopamine is the reward hormone that is released when we do something that makes you feel good, such as spending time with loved ones and having sex. … Attraction is also associated with higher levels of serotonin, the happy hormone.
Can you like someone and not love them?
Is it possible to love someone you don’t even like? Apparently, this is actually quite common. No matter how much you love someone or how long you have been with them, there are times in everyone’s relationship when you just don’t like them very much.
Is a like-for-like?
used for describing something of the same value, quality, etc. that replaces a lost, stolen, or damaged possession: We will provide you with a like-for-like vehicle because we understand that if you are used to driving a high-performance car, you will not want to take a step downwards.
What is a like-for-like quote?
like-for-like in Retail
Like-for-like sales figures are based on a comparison with sales in the same period in another year.
What does W mean on Tik Tok?
When a fellow TikTok user comments with a ‘W,’ or somebody uses it in a video, it usually means ‘Win‘ as in that TikToker is winning at life, an argument or just in a good mood.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In English, the word like has a very flexible range of uses, ranging from conventional to non-standard. It can be used as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, particle, conjunction, hedge, filler, quotative, semi-suffix.
Uses[edit]
Comparisons[edit]
Like is one of the words in the English language that can introduce a simile (a stylistic device comparing two dissimilar ideas). It can be used as a preposition, as in «He runs like a cheetah»; it can also be used as a suffix, as in «She acts very child-like«. It can also be used in non-simile comparisons such as, «She has a dog like ours».[1]
As a conjunction[edit]
Like is often used in place of the subordinating conjunction as, or as if.[2] Examples:
- They look like they have been having fun.
- They look as if they have been having fun.
Many people became aware of the two options in 1954, when a famous ad campaign for Winston cigarettes introduced the slogan «Winston tastes good—like a cigarette should.» The slogan was criticized for its usage by prescriptivists, the «as» construction being considered more proper. Winston countered with another ad, featuring a woman with greying hair in a bun who insists that ought to be «Winston tastes good as a cigarette should» and is shouted down by happy cigarette smokers asking «What do you want—good grammar or good taste?»
The appropriateness of its usage as a conjunction is still disputed, however. In some circles, it is considered a faux pas to use like instead of as or as if, whereas in other circles as sounds stilted.
As a noun[edit]
Like can be used as a noun meaning «preference» or «kind». Examples:
- She had many likes and dislikes.
- We’ll never see the like again.
When used specifically on social media, it can refer to interactions with content posted by a user, commonly referred to as «likes» on websites such as Twitter or Instagram.
- That picture you posted got a lot of likes!
As a verb[edit]
As a verb, like generally refers to a fondness for something or someone.[1]
- I like riding my bicycle.
Like can be used to express a feeling of attraction between two people that is weaker than love. It does not necessarily imply a romantic attraction.[3][4] Example:
- Marc likes Denise.
- I’ve taken a liking to our new neighbors.
Like can also be used to indicate a wish for something in a polite manner.[1] Example:
- Would you like a cup of coffee?
As a colloquial adverb[edit]
In some regional dialects of English, like may be used as an adverbial colloquialism in the construction be + like + to infinitive, meaning «be likely to, be ready to, be on the verge of.» Examples:
- He was like to go back next time.
- He was like to go mad.
As the following attest, this construction has a long history in the English language.
- But Clarence had slumped to his knees before I had half-finished, and he was like to go out of his mind with fright. (Mark Twain, 1669, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court)
- He saw he was like to leave such an heir. (Cotton Mather, 1853, Magnalia Christi Americana)
- He was like to lose his life in the one [battle] and his liberty in the other [capture], but there was none of his money at stake in either. (Charles MacFarlane and Thomas Napier Thomson, 1792, Comprehensive History of England)
- He was in some fear that if he could not bring about the King’s desires, he was like to lose his favor. (Gilbert Burnet, 1679, History of the Reformation of the Church of England)
As a colloquial quotative[edit]
Like is sometimes used colloquially as a quotative to introduce a quotation or impersonation. This is also known as «quotation through simile». The word is often used to express that what follows is not an exact quotation but instead gives a general feel for what was said. In this usage, like functions in conjunction with a verb, generally be (but also say, think, etc.), as in the following examples:[5]
- He was like, «I’ll be there in five minutes.»
- She was like, «You need to leave the room right now!»
Like can also be used to paraphrase an implicitly unspoken idea or sentiment:
- I was like, «Who do they think they are?»
The marking of past tense is often omitted (compare historical present):
- They told me all sorts of terrible things, and I’m like «Forget it then.»[6]
It is also sometimes used to introduce non-verbal mimetic performances, e.g., facial expressions, hand gestures, body movement, as well as sounds and noises:[7]
- I was like [speaker rolls eyes].
- The car was like, «vroom!»
The use of like as a quotative is known to have been around since at least the 1980s.[8]
As a discourse particle, filler or hedge[edit]
History[edit]
The word like has developed several non-traditional uses in informal speech. Especially since the late 20th century onward, it has appeared, in addition to its traditional uses, as a colloquialism across all dialects of spoken English, serving as a discourse particle, filler, hedge, speech disfluency, or other metalinguistic unit.[9] Although these particular colloquial uses of like appear to have become widespread rather recently, its use as a filler is a fairly old regional practice in Welsh English and in Scotland, it was used similarly at least as early as the 19th century. It is traditionally, though not quite every time, used to finish a sentence in the Northern English dialect Geordie.[10] It may also be used in a systemic format to allow individuals to introduce what they say, how they say and think.[11]
Despite such prevalence in modern-day spoken English, these colloquial usages of like rarely appear in writing (unless the writer is deliberately trying to replicate colloquial dialogue) and they have long been stigmatized in formal speech or in high cultural or high social settings. Furthermore, this use of like seems to appear most commonly, in particular, among natively English-speaking children and adolescents, while less so, or not at all, among middle-aged or elderly adults. One suggested explanation for this phenomenon is the argument that younger English speakers are still developing their linguistic competence, and, metalinguistically wishing to express ideas without sounding too confident, certain, or assertive, use like to fulfill this purpose.[9]
In pop culture, such colloquial applications of like (especially in verbal excess) are commonly and often comedically associated with Valley girls, as made famous through the song «Valley Girl» by Frank Zappa, released in 1982, and the film of the same name, released in the following year. The stereotyped «valley girl» language is an exaggeration of the variants of California English spoken by younger generations.
This non-traditional usage of the word has been around at least since the 1950s, introduced through beat (or beatnik) and jazz culture. The beatnik character Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) in the popular Dobie Gillis TV series of 1959-1963 brought the expression to prominence; this was reinforced in later decades by the character of Shaggy on Scooby-Doo (who was based on Krebs).
Very early use of this locution[citation needed] can be seen in a New Yorker cartoon of 15 September 1928, in which two young ladies are discussing a man’s workplace: «What’s he got – an awfice?» «No, he’s got like a loft.»
It is also used in the 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange by the narrator as part of his teenage slang and in the Top Cat cartoon series from 1961 to 1962 by the jazz beatnik type characters.
A common eye dialect spelling is lyk.
Examples[edit]
Like can be used in much the same way as «um…» or «er…» as a discourse particle. It has become common especially among North American teenagers to use the word «like» in this way, as in Valspeak. For example:
- I, like, don’t know what to do.
It is also becoming more often used (East Coast Scottish English, Northern England English, Hiberno-English and Welsh English in particular) at the end of a sentence, as an alternative to you know. This usage is sometimes considered to be a colloquial interjection and it implies a desire to remain calm and defuse tension:
- I didn’t say anything, like.
- Just be cool, like.
Use of like as a filler has a long history in Scots English, as in Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novel Kidnapped:
«What’ll like be your business, mannie?»
«What’s like wrong with him?» said she at last.
Like can be used as hedge to indicate that the following phrase will be an approximation or exaggeration, or that the following words may not be quite right, but are close enough. It may indicate that the phrase in which it appears is to be taken metaphorically or as a hyperbole. This use of like is sometimes regarded as adverbial, as like is often synonymous here with adverbial phrases of approximation, such as «almost» or «more or less». Examples:
- I have, like, no money left.
- The restaurant is only, like, five miles from here.
- I, like, almost died!
Conversely, like may also be used to indicate a counterexpectation to the speaker, or to indicate certainty regarding the following phrase.[5] Examples:
- There was, like, a living kitten in the box!
- This is, like, the only way to solve the problem.
- I, like, know what I’m doing, okay?
In the UK reality television series Love Island the word ‘like’ has been used an average of 300 times per episode, much to the annoyance of viewers.[12]
See also[edit]
- Like button
Bibliography[edit]
- Andersen, Gisle. (1998). The pragmatic marker like from a relevance-theoretic perspective. In A. H. Jucker & Y. Ziv (Eds.) Discourse markers: Descriptions and Theory (pp. 147–70). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
- Andersen, Gisle. (2000). The role of the pragmatic marker like in utterance interpretation. In G. Andersen & T. Fretheim (Ed.), Pragmatic markers and propositional attitude: Pragmatics and beyond (pp. 79). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
- Barbieri, Federica. (2005). Quotative use in American English. A corpus-based, cross-register comparison. Journal of English Linguistics, 33, (3), 225-256.
- Barbieri, Federica. (2007). ‘Older men and younger women’: A corpus-based study of quotative use in American English. English World-Wide, 28, (1), 23-45.
- Blyth, Carl, Jr.; Recktenwald, Sigrid; & Wang, Jenny. (1990). I’m like, ‘Say what?!’: A new quotative in American oral narrative. American Speech, 65, 215-227.
- Cruse, A. (2000). Meaning in language. An introduction to semantics and pragmatics.
- Cukor-Avila, Patricia; (2002). She says, she goes, she is like: Verbs of quotation over time in African American Vernacular English. American Speech, 77 (1), 3-31.
- Dailey-O’Cain, Jennifer. (2000). The sociolinguistic distribution of and attitudes toward focuser like and quotative like. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 4, 60–80.
- D’Arcy, Alexandra. (2017). Discourse-pragmatic variation in context: Eight hundred years of LIKE. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
- Ferrara, Kathleen; & Bell, Barbara. (1995). Sociolinguistic variation and discourse function of constructed dialogue introducers: The case of be+like. American Speech, 70, 265-289.
- Fleischman, Suzanne. (1998). Des jumeaux du discours. La Linguistique, 34 (2), 31-47.
- Golato, Andrea; (2000). An innovative German quotative for reporting on embodied actions: Und ich so/und er so ‘and I’m like/and he’s like’. Journal of Pragmatics, 32, 29–54.
- Jones, Graham M. & Schieffelin, Bambi B. (2009). Enquoting Voices, Accomplishing Talk: Uses of Be+Like in Instant Messaging. Language & Communication, 29(1), 77-113.
- Jucker, Andreas H.; & Smith, Sara W. (1998). And people just you know like ‘wow’: Discourse markers as negotiating strategies. In A. H. Jucker & Y. Ziv (Eds.), Discourse markers: Descriptions and theory (pp. 171–201). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
- Mesthrie, R., Swann, J., Deumert, A., & Leap, W. (2009). Introducing sociolinguistics. Edinburgh University Press.
- Miller, Jim; Weinert, Regina. (1995). The function of like in dialogue. Journal of Pragmatics, 23, 365-93.
- Romaine, Suzanne; Lange, Deborah. (1991). The use of like as a marker of reported speech and thought: A case of grammaticalization in progress. American Speech, 66, 227-279.
- Ross, John R.; & Cooper, William E. (1979). Like syntax. In W. E. Cooper & E. C. T. Walker (Eds.), Sentence processing: Psycholinguistic studies presented to Merrill Garrett (pp. 343–418). New York: Erlbaum Associates.
- Schourup, L. (1985). Common discourse particles: «Like», «well», «y’know». New York: Garland.
- Siegel, Muffy E. A. (2002). Like: The discourse particle and semantics. Journal of Semantics, 19 (1), 35-71.
- Taglimonte, Sali; & Hudson, Rachel. (1999). Be like et al. beyond America: The quotative system in British and Canadian youth. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 3 (2), 147-172.
- Tagliamonte, Sali, and Alexandra D’Arcy. (2004). He’s like, she’s like: The quotative system in Canadian youth. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 8 (4), 493-514.
- Underhill, Robert; (1988). Like is like, focus. American Speech, 63, 234-246.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c «Like». Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ «As or like?». Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ Seltzer, Leon F (March 7, 2017). «‘I Have Feelings for You,’ Its Eight Different Meanings». Psychology Today. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ Tigar, Lindsay (January 19, 2016). «How to Say ‘I Like You’ When You’re Not Ready for ‘I Love You’«. Bustle. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ a b McWhorter, John (November 25, 2016). «The Evolution of ‘Like’«. The Atlantic. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ Quoted from: Daniel P. Cullen, «I’m Learning as I Go, and I Don’t Like That»: Urban Community College Students’ College Literacy, ProQuest, 2008, p. 210.
- ^ «Linguists are like, ‘Get used to it!’«. The Boston Globe.
- ^ Blyth, Carl; Recktenwald, Sigrid; Wang, Jenny (1990). «I’m like, «Say What?!»: A New Quotative in American Oral Narrative». American Speech. 65 (3): 215–227. doi:10.2307/455910. JSTOR 455910.
- ^ a b Andersen, Gisle; Thorstein Fretheim, eds. (2000). Pragmatic Markers and Propositional Attitude. John Benjamins Publishing. pp. 31–3. ISBN 9027250987.
- ^ Wolfson, Sam (15 May 2022). «Why do people, like, say, ‘like’ so much?». The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
But there are more uses than that, for example the Geordie tradition of finishing sentences with a like.
- ^ Mesthrie, R., Swann, J., Deumert, A., & Leap, W. (2009). Introducing sociolinguistics. Edinburgh University Press.
- ^ Griffiths, Sian; Julie Henry (June 16, 2019). «Like it or not, they can’t stop saying it on Love Island». The Times. London.
External links[edit]
Look up like in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
- See Fleischman (1998) (JSTOR 30249153) for a parallel discussion of like and the similar discourse particle genre in French.
Other forms: liked; likes; liking; likest
If you like your new shoes, you are glad you bought them. If you are like your mother, you are similar to her in more ways than you probably want to admit.
The meaning of like has to do with being similar: maybe you sound just like your sister when you answer the phone. Or, in giving an example, like is the go-to word to introduce it: «We enjoy sports like hockey.» Like also can mean «enjoy» or «favor.» We can see this in the word’s origin, the Old English lician, meaning “be pleasing.” The speech pattern of saying «like» incessantly doesn’t, like, mean anything.
Definitions of like
-
adjective
having the same or similar characteristics
-
adjective
resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination
“suits of
like design”“a limited circle of
like minds”“members of the cat family have
like dispositions”“as
like as two peas in a pod”-
synonyms:
similar
-
like-minded
of the same turn of mind
-
look-alike
resembling closely
-
suchlike
of the same kind
-
same
closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree
-
like-minded
-
adjective
equal in amount or value
“like amounts”
“gave one six blows and the other a
like number”-
synonyms:
same
-
equal
having the same quantity, value, or measure as another
-
equal
-
adjective
conforming in every respect
“the
like period of the preceding year”-
synonyms:
comparable, corresponding
-
same
closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree
-
same
-
“»dogs, foxes, and the
like«, «we don’t want the likes of you around here”-
synonyms:
the like, the likes of
-
verb
find enjoyable or agreeable
“I
like jogging”“She
likes to read Russian novels” -
verb
prefer or wish to do something
“Would you
like to come along to the movies?”-
synonyms:
care, wish
-
verb
feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard
“How did you
like the President’s speech last night?” -
“We’ll not see his
like again”-
synonyms:
ilk
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘like’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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In the summer, his street corn is elevated from Good to God-like.
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This past week, Twitter also began regulating the circulation and engagement of links to Substack, a newsletter platform, after the startup unveiled a Twitter-like service.
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The faux flowers of today use a variety of life-like materials and shading patterns to give them an incredibly realistic appearance.
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All the while, Leon worked with the likes of Suzanne Vega, Joan Armatrading, the Police, Squeeze and Supertramp, among many more.
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Compound Gallery would go on to drop collaborations with the likes of Nike, Adidas and Stussy.
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Home shoppers instantly liked the simple floor plan with a showoff picture window in the living room, space-saving galley kitchen and cluster of bedrooms, plus extra space to add on a family room.
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Perhaps your dog would like them all!
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Monica Lewinsky would like a word.
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—Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2023
Scientists would like to know more about creatures living at extreme depths, but cost is the constraint, Jamieson said, adding that each lander alone costs them $200,000 to assemble and operate.
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘like.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective, (Poetic) lik·er, lik·est.
of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.: I cannot remember a like instance.
corresponding or agreeing in general or in some noticeable respect; similar; analogous: drawing, painting, and like arts.
bearing resemblance.
Dialect. likely or probable: ‘Tis like that he’s gone mad.
Dialect. about; almost ready, as to perform some action: The poor chap seemed like to run away.
preposition
in like manner with; similarly to; in the manner characteristic of: He works like a beaver.
resembling (someone or something): He is just like his father. Your necklace is just like mine.
characteristic of: It would be like him to forget our appointment.
as if there is promise of; indicative of: It looks like rain.
as if someone or something gives promise of being: She looks like a good prospect for the job.
disposed or inclined to (usually preceded by feel): to feel like going to bed.
similar or comparable to: There is nothing like a cold drink of water when one is thirsty. What was he like?
(used correlatively to indicate similarity through relationship): like father, like son.
(used to establish an intensifying, often facetious, comparison): Last night I slept like a log.They ran like hell down the street.
as; such as: There are numerous hobbies you might enjoy, like photography or painting.
adverb
nearly; closely; approximately: The house is more like 40 than 20 years old.
Informal. likely or probably: Like enough he’ll come with us. Like as not her leg is broken.
Nonstandard.
- as it were; in a way; somehow: I did it like wrong.
- to a degree; more or less: The guy was standing against the wall, looking very tough like.
conjunction
in the same way as; just as; as: It happened like you might expect it would.
as if: He acted like he was afraid. The car runs like new.
noun
a similar or comparable person or thing, or like persons or things; counterpart, match, or equal (usually preceded by a possessive adjective or the): No one has seen his like in a long time. Like attracts like.
kind; sort; type; ilk (usually preceded by a possessive adjective): I despise moochers and their like.
the like, something of a similar nature: They grow oranges, lemons, and the like.
interjection
Informal. (used in speech, often nonvolitionally or habitually, to preface a sentence, to fill a pause, to express uncertainty, or to intensify or neutralize a following adjective): So, like, why didn’t you call me? The music was, like, really great, you know?I’m not going out—it’s like 10 degrees out there!
QUIZ
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There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
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Idioms about like
be like, Informal. to say, declare, think, or feel (usually used to introduce reported speech or thought): She’s like, “I don’t believe it,” and I’m like, “No, it’s true!”
like anything, Informal. very much; extremely; with great intensity: He wanted like anything to win.
like to, South Midland and Southern U.S. was on the verge of or came close to (doing something): The poor kid like to froze.Also liked to.
something like, Informal. something approaching or approximating: It looked something like this.
the like / likes of, someone or something similar to; the equal of: I’ve never seen the like of it anywhere.
Origin of like
1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English lic, lik, from Old Norse līkr; replacing Old English gelīc, cognate with Dutch gelijk, German gleich, Old Norse glīkr, Gothic galeiks “like,” literally, “of the same body or form”; see y-, lich
usage note for like
Like1 as a conjunction meaning “as, in the same way as” ( Many shoppers study the food ads like brokers study market reports ) or “as if” ( It looks like it will rain ) has been used for nearly 500 years and by many distinguished literary and intellectual figures. Since the mid-19th century there have been objections, often vehement, to these uses. Nevertheless, such uses are almost universal today in all but the most formal speech and writing. In extremely careful speech and in much formal writing, as, as if, and as though are more commonly used than like : The commanding general accepted full responsibility for the incident, as any professional soldier would. Many of the Greenwich Village bohemians lived as if (or as though ) there were no tomorrow.
The strong strictures against the use of like as a conjunction have resulted in the occasional hypercorrect use of as as a preposition where like is idiomatic: She looks as a sympathetic person.
Like meaning “as if” is also standard in informal speech and writing with a small number of adjectives: The crew worked like crazy (or like mad ) to finish the job on time. See also as.
OTHER WORDS FROM like
liker, noun
Words nearby like
Ligurian Sea, ligustrum, Li Hung-chang, likable, Likasi, like, like a bat out of hell, like a bump on a log, like a cat on hot bricks, like a champ, like a chicken with its head cut off
Other definitions for like (2 of 3)
verb (used with object), liked, lik·ing.
to take pleasure in; find agreeable or congenial: We all liked the concert.
to regard with favor; have a kindly or friendly feeling for (a person, group, etc.); find attractive: His parents like me and I like them.
to wish or prefer: I’d like a piece of cake, please.I like my coffee with milk and sugar.
Digital Technology. to indicate one’s enjoyment of, agreement with, or interest in (website content, especially in social media): Share your posts so your friends can like them or leave a comment.Like us on Facebook to get a free sample.
verb (used without object), liked, lik·ing.
to feel inclined; wish; want: We’ll have lunch whenever you like.
Archaic. to suit the tastes or wishes; please.
noun
Usually likes . the things a person likes: a long list of likes and dislikes.
(sometimes initial capital letter)Digital Technology.
- an instance of indicating one’s liking of specific website content: I see my comment got lots of likes.
- a feature or option, usually a button, that enables this: I installed a Like on my blog so you can subscribe to updates.
adjective
(sometimes initial capital letter)Digital Technology. noting or pertaining to a feature used to like specific website content: a Like button;like boxes.
Origin of like
2
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb liken, Old English līcian; cognate with Dutch lijken, Old Norse līka; from the same Germanic root as like1
Other definitions for like (3 of 3)
a suffixal use of like1 in the formation of adjectives (childlike; lifelike), sometimes hyphenated.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to like
alike, comparable, related, admire, appreciate, go for, love, feel like, please, prefer, want, as, agnate, allied, approximating, close, cognate, conforming, congeneric, consonant
How to use like in a sentence
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They included brands like Lundberg Family Farms, Hain, and Chico-San.
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Apples, to me, can be diced like onions, and popcorn eaten one kernel at a time.
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Snowflake on Wednesday went public in the largest software IPO of all time, and then kept running like the Energizer Bunny on speed.
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Up until recently, CBD and marijuana brands could not advertise on Google or Facebook, and networks like Taboola and Outbrain wouldn’t sell them traffic either.
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I still like playing it down because I don’t want to create a panic.
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So I just patted him kind-like on the shoulder and sat down.
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Where these laser-like missiles are falling out of the sky onto a city and you have to stop each of them from hitting the targets?
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It got so bad, that the school resorted to “Groupon-like services” to fill seats.
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Though not in production yet, the high-end heels will be sold through a Tesla-like model.
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He was kept in a dorm-like building, which has also been reported in other allegations.
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May looked along at the dimpled grace, And then at the saint-like, fair old face, “How funny!”
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His strong legs and his broad, spade-like feet helped to make him a fine swimmer.
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The wave-like movement of these animals is particularly graceful and cleverly done.
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These dreamy, Madonna-like beauties are the result of the most severe and protracted study.
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Rarely, sodium urate occurs in crystalline form—slender prisms, arranged in fan- or sheaf-like structures (Fig. 32).
British Dictionary definitions for like (1 of 3)
adjective
(prenominal) similar; resembling
preposition
similar to; similarly to; in the manner ofacting like a maniac; he’s so like his father
used correlatively to express similarity in certain proverbslike mother, like daughter
such asthere are lots of ways you might amuse yourself — like taking a long walk, for instance
adverb
a dialect word for likely
not standard as it were: often used as a parenthetic fillerthere was this policeman just staring at us, like
be like … informal used to introduce direct speech or nonverbal communicationI was like, ‘You’re kidding!’
conjunction
not standard as though; as ifyou look like you’ve just seen a ghost
in the same way as; in the same way thatshe doesn’t dance like you do
noun
the equal or counterpart of a person or thing, esp one respected or prizedcompare like with like; her like will never be seen again
the like similar thingsdogs, foxes, and the like
the likes of or the like of people or things similar to (someone or something specified)we don’t want the likes of you around here
Word Origin for like
shortened from Old English gelīc; compare Old Norse glīkr and līkr like
usage for like
The use of like to mean such as was formerly thought to be undesirable in formal writing, but has now become acceptable. It was also thought that as rather than like should be used to mean in the same way that, but now both as and like are acceptable: they hunt and catch fish as/like their ancestors used to. The use of look like and seem like before a clause, although very common, is thought by many people to be incorrect or non-standard: it looks as though he won’t come (not it looks like he won’t come)
British Dictionary definitions for like (2 of 3)
verb
(tr) to find (something) enjoyable or agreeable or find it enjoyable or agreeable (to do something)he likes boxing; he likes to hear music
(tr) to be fond of
(tr) to prefer or wish (to do something)we would like you to go
(tr) to feel towards; consider; regardhow did she like it?
(intr) to feel disposed or inclined; choose; wish
(tr) archaic to please; agree withit likes me not to go
noun
(usually plural) a favourable feeling, desire, preference, etc (esp in the phrase likes and dislikes)
Word Origin for like
Old English līcian; related to Old Norse līka, Dutch lijken
British Dictionary definitions for like (3 of 3)
suffix forming adjectives
resembling or similar tolifelike; springlike
having the characteristics ofchildlike; ladylike
Word Origin for -like
from like 1 (prep)
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with like
In addition to the idioms beginning with like
- like a bat out of hell
- like a bump on a log
- like a cat on hot bricks
- like a champ
- like a chicken with its head cut off
- like a drowned rat
- like a fish out of water
- like a house afire
- like a lamb to the slaughter
- like anything
- like a shot
- like as not
- like as two peas in a pod
- like a ton of bricks
- like clockwork
- like crazy
- like death warmed over
- like father, like son
- like fun
- like gangbusters
- like greased lightning
- like hell
- like hot cakes, go
- like it or lump it
- likely as not
- like mad
- like nobody’s business
- like nothing on earth
- like pigs in clover
- like pulling teeth
- like rolling off a log
- like shooting fish in a barrel
- likes of, the
- like something the cat dragged in
- like that
- like to
- like water off a duck’s back
also see:
- and the like
- avoid like the plague
- come up (smelling like) roses
- crazy like a fox
- drink like a fish
- drop like flies
- Dutch uncle, talk to like a
- eat like a bird
- feel like
- (like a) fish out of water
- fit like a glove
- fly on the wall, would like to be a
- get on (like a house afire)
- go out (like a light)
- go over (like a lead balloon)
- grin like a Cheshire cat
- (drop like a) hot potato
- just like that
- know like a book
- live like a king
- look like a million dollars
- look like death
- look like something the cat dragged in
- look like the cat that ate the canary
- make out like a bandit
- manna from heaven, like
- mind like a steel trap
- need like a hole in the head
- no fool like an old fool
- not anything like
- no time like the present
- out like a light
- packed in like sardines
- sleep like a log
- something like
- spread like wildfire
- stick out (like a sore thumb)
- swear like a trooper
- take to (like a duck to water)
- tell it like it is
- treat like dirt
- turn up like a bad penny
- wail like a banshee
- watch like a hawk
- work like a beaver
- work like a charm
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.