like

[ lahyk ]

/ laɪk /

See synonyms for: like / liked / likes / liking on Thesaurus.com

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!

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Idioms for 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

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

Definition for like (2 of 3)

like²

[ lahyk ]

/ laɪk /

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: 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

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

Definition for like (3 of 3)

-like

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. 2021

British Dictionary definitions for like (1 of 3)

like¹

/ (laɪk) /