likewise

American  

[lahyk-wahyz] / ˈlaɪkˌwaɪz /

adverb

1. moreover; in addition; also; too.

   She is likewise a fine lawyer.

2. in like manner; in the same way; similarly.

   I'm tempted to do likewise.

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likewise British  

/ ˈlaɪkˌwaɪz /

adverb

1. in addition; moreover; also

2. in like manner; similarly

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Usage

What does likewise mean? Likewise can mean also, in addition, moreover, similarly, or in the same way. Likewise can also be used to mean something like “me too” or “the same thing you just said.” When used this way, it’s typically used by itself as a one-word response to a statement. For example, if someone says, “It was nice you meet you,” you could simply reply, “Likewise!”Example: I think we work well together, and I hope you feel likewise.

Etymology

Origin of likewise

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; earlier in like wise “in a like way;” like ¹, wise ²

Explanation

Likewise means "similarly." Your attempt to bypass security with a fake ID was unsuccessful, and your guise as a pizza deliverer was likewise ineffective. Likewise is an adverb with three different senses. One is "similarly." You were unimpressed with your brother's poetry, and likewise unimpressed with his taste in music. Likewise can also mean "in addition," and "equally." Your new t-shirts sold well at the beach boutique, and likewise they sold well on line. If you want to tell someone you feel the way he does, say, "I feel likewise."

Example Sentences

"These synthetically produced molecules are constructed similarly to the building blocks of our genetic material and likewise to that of viruses," explains Dr. Mara Klöhn from Ruhr University Bochum.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron likewise condemned the move and said it came in the context of "the worrying increase in violations of the status of the Holy Places in Jerusalem".

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

He likewise argues that ETFs focused on low volatility and high-quality metrics like cash flow, which also outperformed before the war, should resume their rally after a ceasefire, particularly given ongoing AI and economic worries.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The writer Thomas Mann, “a conservative and a patriot,” chose exile, becoming a scathing critic of those who didn’t do likewise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

So was the plum pudding, which melted in one’s mouth, likewise the jellies, in which Amy reveled like a fly in a honeypot.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott