What to use instead of the word like

Other words for LIKE and why you need to use them.

Avoid using the same words over and over again. Boost your English vocabulary and improve your speaking and writing skills.

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Harry

Harry

Harry is a native English teacher with over 10 years of experience both online and in face-to-face lessons. With his extensive experience in business, he specialises in Business English lessons but happily teaches ESL students with any English learning needs. 

other words for like in english

Other words for Like in English. Different ways to say I like it in English. Study advanced English. Online English lessons on Zoom or Skype at www.englishlessonviaskype.com #learnenglish #englishlessons #EnglishTeacher #vocabulary

The word LIKE is a very popular word in the English language.

We use LIKE as an adjective, a verb and even a noun.

The only bad thing about the verb LIKE is that we use it way too often.

Some students may wonder whether we have any other words for LIKE in English?

In fact, there are many, many ways to say instead of LIKE. So here are some English words and phrases that you can use as alternatives to I LIKE.

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We use I LIKE to express our feeling about somebody or something. For example:

I like ice cream.
I like Mathew.

Of course, we could add various English adverbs to give more meaning to it. For example:

I really like ice cream.
I really like Mathew.

I genuinely like Mathew.
I totally like her.

But it can be a little boring to always use the same words or expressions so here are some suitable alternative words you can use instead of LIKE.

Other Ways to Say I like it in English

I love

Love indicates something a bit stronger than “like”.

Example:

👱‍♂️ Would you like a cup of tea? 

👩 I would love a cup of tea.

I am fond of

Fond of indicates a strong liking for someone or something but not as strong as “love”.

Example:

Kathy is very fond of her Aunt Jane, she always looks forward to her visits.

I adore

Like ‘love’,  ‘adore’ always gives a deeper meaning than ‘like’.

Example:

James adores his new job. He has always wanted to work in the city and this gives him the chance to do that.

I am partial to

A very British English expression. To be partial to something means you prefer it over some other choice.

Example:

Daniel was always partial to homemade cakes. He enjoyed the cakes in the local bakery but a homemade cake was his favourite every time.

Some more informal ways of saying LIKE include the following:

to dig something

This is a very 1960’s or 1970’s expression. People used to ‘dig’ the new music by The Beatles. So this is really something related to the hippy years.

Example:

I dig your outfit.

I am into 

Very informal and almost slang expression. This is used frequently to tell someone what you like.

Example:

The teacher asked Kevin what music he liked, ‘I am really into U2, they get it right every time.

I cannot get enough

Again more informal meaning you just want more of what you like.

Example:

👨‍🦳 Do you like that new brand of coffee?

👱‍♀️ Oh yes, certainly, I just cannot get enough of it!

Or as Depeche Mode sing I just can’t get enough

Other Words for Like in English

So here are the words we can use instead of LIKE, let’s go through them one more time:

  • I love
  • I am fond of
  • I adore
  • I am partial to
  • I dig
  • I am into
  • I cannot get enough

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Table of Contents

  1. Why you shouldn’t use the word like?
  2. Why do I say like a lot?
  3. Why does everyone say kind of?
  4. What word can I use instead of as?
  5. What’s a stronger word than I love you?
  6. What emotion is higher than love?
  7. Is there a word in between like and love?
  8. Why do people say like every other word?
  9. Is but a filler word?
  10. What can I say instead of for example?
  11. Why do Californians say like a lot?
  12. Is using like bad?
  • adore,
  • delight (in),
  • dig,
  • enjoy,
  • fancy,
  • groove (on),
  • love,
  • relish,

What word can I use instead of like?

enjoy love
adore appreciate
fancy relish
savorUS be fond of
embrace admire

How do I get rid of saying like?

  1. 1 Tap your leg every time you say “like.”
  2. 2 Record yourself speaking.
  3. 3 Listen to yourself as you talk.
  4. 4 Pause and take a breath.
  5. 5 Use approximations instead of “like.”
  6. 6 Try “said” instead of “like” before a quote.
  7. 7 Don’t modify adjectives and adverbs.
  8. 8 Expand your vocabulary.

What is a stronger word than like?

Fond can be considered as more than like and less than love. ( Used as be fond of) Having a strong liking, inclination, or affection: fond of ballet; fond of my nieces and nephews. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fond. Though, it might depend on the context and it can be synonymous to like also.

Why you shouldn’t use the word like?

While there are many grammatically appropriate ways to use “like” in a sentence, many young people, and a few older ones as well, use the word as filler in sentences, cluttering up their speech and making them sound unsure and possible even uneducated. If you’re a habitual “like” user, you’re not alone.

Why do I say like a lot?

Basically, that means that they’re giving the conversation they’re having with you their full attention and are considering what they have to say very carefully, rather than tuning you out. They might even have a lot more to say than you, too.

Why does everyone say kind of?

Using “kind of/sort of” allows a speaker to moderate their statements and build in some vagueness and wiggle room. It’s a way to hedge one’s bets should someone take offense or question what’s been said.

since because
seeing whereas
forasmuch being
cause considering that
inasmuch as seeing as

What’s a stronger word than I love you?

Cherish – I cherish my time with you. This is stronger than the word ‘love’ in that it shows just how much you value spending time with them.

What emotion is higher than love?

Is there anything greater than love? In a simple answer, yes there is. Gratitude. To have gratitude for someone means to have no judgment of them, or you.

Is there a word in between like and love?

There’s an Awesome Stage Between “Like” and “Love,” and This Is What It’s Called. … “Well,” I said, “I think I am in pre-love.” It’s a stage of a relationship we don’t have accurate language for, because it’s often brief. You’re hovering on the edge, trying to pin down how you really feel and guessing what might happen.

Why do people say like every other word?

Why Americans throw ‘like’ in the middle of sentences. … It’s so versatile and can be used in almost any sentence. The word was first popularized by the Beatniks in the 1950s as a sign of being cool. The word only reached mainstream popularity in the 1980s after the song “Valley Girl” became widely recognized.

Is but a filler word?

But. “But” is a conjunction that joins phrases within a single sentence together. The word can be used to start a sentence – a use usually reserved for informal writing – but it isn’t needed. The advice also applies to other conjunctions such as “and” and “yet” as well as words like “however.”

What can I say instead of for example?

  • “For instance …” “For example” and “for instance” can be used interchangeably. …
  • “To give you an idea …” Use this phrase to introduce a use case or example. …
  • “As proof …” …
  • “Suppose that …” …
  • “To illustrate …” …
  • “Imagine …” …
  • “Pretend that …” …
  • “To show you what I mean …”

Why do Californians say like a lot?

Perhaps one of the most distinctive and divisive words on this list, the use of the word “hella” is an immediate indication that the speaker is from northern California. Derived from “hell of a” or “hell of a lot,” the word is generally used in place of “really,” “a lot,” or “very.”

Is using like bad?

“Like” isn’t altogether useless. It can be used for anything from pausing without dead air to purposefully lightening a statement. “Like 500 attendees,” for example, feels like a softer expectation than “500 attendees.” Thankfully, there are plenty of filler words you can use without the stigma.

What is a better word to use instead of like?

2. Try New Filler Words. In place of “like,” try, “for example,” “say,” “nearly,” or “about.” Eventually, you may want to correct for additional words altogether, but for now, use these words as a crutch to stop using “like.”

What to say instead of I would like?

Synonyms for Would like

  • want. v.
  • wish. v.
  • wish for. v.
  • would do. v.
  • would love.
  • choose. v.
  • desire. v.
  • prefer. v.

What is the same meaning of like?

As + noun means ‘in the role of’, like + noun means ‘similar to’ or ‘in the same way as’. … Like means ‘similar to’. We often use it with verbs of the senses such as look, sound, feel, taste, seem: … Like as a conjunction. In informal contexts, we can use like as a conjunction instead of as.

What’s a bigger word for love?

SYNONYMS FOR love 1 tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 2 liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15 like. 16 adore, adulate, worship.

What are 5 synonyms for like?

like

  • adore,
  • delight (in),
  • dig,
  • enjoy,
  • fancy,
  • groove (on),
  • love,
  • relish,

What is it called when you give an example?

Prepositional phrase. (conjunctive) To give an example. Conjunction. For example.

What are good examples?

1. good example – something to be imitated; “an exemplar of success”; “a model of clarity”; “he is the very model of a modern major general” exemplar, example, model. ideal – the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain.

What is example mean?

(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated a good example. 2 : a punishment inflicted on someone as a warning to others also : an individual so punished. 3 : one that is representative of all of a group or type.

How do you give an example?

Without further ado, here are 13 different ways to say “for example.”…

  1. “For instance …”
  2. “To give you an idea …”
  3. “As proof …”
  4. “Suppose that …”
  5. “To illustrate …”
  6. “Imagine …”
  7. “Pretend that …”
  8. “To show you what I mean …”

How do you say for example in writing?

The abbreviation “e.g.” stands for the Latin exempli gratia, which means “for example” or “for the sake of example.” The abbreviation “i.e.” stands for the Latin phrase id est, which means “that is to say” or “in other words.” When writing, we often use these terms like examples (e.g.) to emphasize a point or use (i.e. …

Can you say for example?

i.e. is the customary abbreviation for “that is.” It is derived from the Latin term “id est.” e.g. is the customary abbreviation for “for example.” It is derived from the Latin phrase “exempli gratia.”

What is etc mean?

et cetera

What does EI mean?

Eat It

Who is eligible for EI?

You will need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment based on the unemployment rate in your area during the qualifying period to qualify for regular benefits: Once you have determined the unemployment rate in your area, see the table below for the number of hours required.

Is EI a valid word?

EI is not a valid scrabble word.

What does EI stand for in school?

EI Education Abbreviation

29 EI Early Intervention Special Education, Medical, School
1 EI Educational Institutions Educational, Institution, University
1 EI Educational Innovation Teaching, Science, Innovation
1 EI Effective Implementation Development, Science, Technology
1 EI Eligible Individual

What does school stand for?

SCHOOL. Sincerity, Capacity, Honesty, Orderliness, Obedience, and Learning.

What do the letters teacher stand for?

TEACHER. Tolerant, Energetic, Awesome, Caring, Helper, Excellent, & Responsible. Community » Educational.

What does N stand for in education?

N. Neither. Development, Study, Learning.

Who invented school?

Horace Mann

What does homework stand for Tiktok?

Half of My Energy Wasted

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Instead of using «like» all the time, you can replace it with one of the words on the list to make your writing or speech more memorable.

Verb Preposition or Adjective
accept akin
acclaim alike
admire analogous
adore approximate
adulate approximating
advocate close
applaud coextensive
appreciate comparable
apprize cognate
approve conform
attracted to congeneric
awed by congenerous
back consistent
besotted with consonant
bewitched by correspond
biased toward counterpart
big on equal
burn for equivalent
cannot resist homologous
captivated by identical
cherish kindred
commend uniform
crazy about matching
crazy for not unlike
crazy over related
delight in resemble
derive pleasure from same
derive satisfaction from similar
desire such as
devoted to undifferentiated
dig
dote on
drawn to
drool over
embrace
enamored of
enchanted by
endorse
enjoy
entertained by
enthralled by
entranced by
esteem
exalt
extol
fall for

fall head over heels in love with

fall in love with
fancy
fascinated with
favor
feel affection for
find pleasure in
find satisfaction in
fond of
get a kick from
get a kick out of
glorify
gratified by
gravitate toward
have a great liking for
have a high opinion of
have a high regard for
have a liking for
have a passion for
have a penchant for
have a predilection for
have a preference for
have a proclivity to
have a soft spot for
have a taste for
have a thing about
have a thing for
have a weakness for
have the hots for
hold dear
hold in high esteem
hold in high regard
hold in the highest regard
honor
hooked on
idolize
in awe of
in favor of
in love with
infatuated with
interested in
into
keen on
laud
lean toward
love
mad about
mad for
moon over
nuts about
partial to
passionate about
pleased with
potty about
prefer
prize
rate highly
regard highly
relish
respect
revel in
revere
savor
smitten with
soft on
stuck on
sweet on
swept off one’s feet by
take a liking to
taken with
think highly of
think the world of
think well of
thoroughly enjoy
treasure
value
wild about
worship


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If you can’t stop saying the word “like,” you’re not alone. Unfortunately, overusing that word can cause your friends and coworkers to make unfair assumptions about your education or intelligence levels. Thankfully, there are some solid ways you can stop saying the word “like” to sound smarter and keep your audience engaged for longer. Read through these tricks to change the way you speak for the better.

  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 3

    Pair the word with an action so you can catch it faster. If you’re talking and you say “like,” quickly tap yourself on the thigh or pinch yourself on the wrist. The more you notice it, the more you can break the habit.[1]

    • Keep the movement small so that it doesn’t distract you from what you’re saying.
    • You can also pull on a hair tie around your wrist or flick yourself in the leg.
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  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 4

    Try to count the number of times you say “like” in 1 minute. Then, record yourself again, and try super hard not to say the word “like” at all. Try doing this a couple of times per day until you get into the habit of checking yourself on your own.[2]

    • You can also download an app like LikeSo to automatically count the number of times you say “like” for you.
  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 1

    Think about what you say before you say it. If you’re talking quickly or you’re in a fast-paced conversation, you might be thinking about what to say next instead of what’s coming out of your mouth. Try to really slow down and contemplate every sentence before you say it to avoid saying “like.”[3]

    • If you hear yourself say the word “like,” that’s okay! Just make a note of it and try not to say it again in the same conversation.
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  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 2

    Do this instead of saying “like” in between phrases. When you say a sentence and you come to a moment when you’d normally say “like,” just stop. Take a deep breath and let the silence fill the space in your sentence.[4]

    • This can also help you avoid other filler words like “um” or “ah.”
  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 5

    You can use “roughly,” “approximately,” and “around.” These words are helpful in sentences where you’re trying to convey an approximate amount, like money spent or time wasted. Make your sentences sound more specific by saying things:[5]

    • “We spent around $500 at the mall today.”
    • “I wasted roughly 30 minutes driving back and forth.”
    • “We’ve used approximately 60% of our inventory.”
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  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 6

    You could also use “yelled,” “whispered,” or “shouted.” Saying “like” before a quote is a super common way this word gets misused, and it’s probably where you’ll hear yourself using it the most. Instead, try getting super specific with your descriptor.[6]

    • Instead of saying, “I was like, ‘no way!’” say, “I thought to myself, ‘no way!’”
    • Instead of saying, “He was like, ‘I’m not interested.’” say, “He said, ‘I’m not interested.’”
  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 7

    You don’t need the word “like” to emphasize your point. By omitting the word “like,” you can actually strengthen your sentences and speech. Stick to words like “very” or “incredibly” to make your sentence stronger.[7]

    • For example, instead of saying, “He was, like, so angry,” say, “He was very angry.”
    • Instead of saying, «The sky was, like, so blue,» say, «The sky was a deep blue color.»
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  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 8

    The more words you know, the easier time you’ll have. Try reading new books, playing word games like Scrabble, or keeping a thesaurus handy to look up synonyms. If you can think of something else to say besides “like,” you’re already halfway there! You could try phrases such as “for example,” “nearly,” or “about.”[8]

    • You can also download apps like Word of the Day to get new words sent directly to you.
  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 9

    Use it when you’re expressing enjoyment or comparing 2 things. You could say “I really like chocolate” or “He acts like his father.” If you keep the definition in mind, you can tell when you’re using “like” the right way and when you’re using it as a filler word.[9]

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  1. Image titled Stop Saying the Word "Like" Step 10

    “Um,” “ah,” and “er” can also get repetitive. As you cut down on your use of the word “like,” be careful you’re not replacing it with something else! When in doubt, just don’t say anything.[10]

    • You might also find yourself saying “you know,” “well,” and “okay.”

Add New Question

  • Question

    My friend is almost addicted to saying «like.» He will say it in every sentence. How can I tell him and help him without sounding rude?

    wikiHow Staff Editor

    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

    wikiHow Staff Editor

    wikiHow Staff Editor

    Staff Answer

    You could pretend that you’re working on cutting down the number of times you say «like» yourself. Have him record you and count how many times you say it in 1 minute. Then, ask him if he wants to try, and record him next. You can gently point out how many times he’s saying it without being mean or talking down to him.

  • Question

    What other words can I use for like? I have to many «likes» in my paragraph.

    Community Answer

    You can use «similar to» in the sense of «The noodles were like rubber.» When using the word «like» to express approval, as in «I like pie,» you can say «I enjoy pie» or «I love pie» or «Pie is awesome.» If you’re using the word «like» as a filler word, the way this article is talking about, just remove it entirely.

  • Question

    What form of speech is «like» considered?

    Community Answer

    As a term of enjoyment, like is used as a verb, or an action word. When saying it as a term of similarity of comparison, it is a preposition.

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