alike

American  

[uh-lahyk] / əˈlaɪk /

adverb

1. in the same manner or form; similarly.

   They treated all customers alike.

   Antonyms:

   differently

2. to the same degree; equally.

   All three were guilty alike.

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adjective

1. having resemblance or similarity; having or showing no marked or important difference.

   He thinks all politicians are alike.

   Synonyms:

   akin, similar

alike British  

/ əˈlaɪk /

adjective

1. possessing the same or similar characteristics

   they all look alike to me

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adverb

1. in the same or a similar manner, way, or degree

   they walk alike

Other Word Forms

• alikeness noun
• half-alike adjective
• unalike adjective

Etymology

Origin of alike

First recorded before 950; Middle English alyke, from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse ālīkr, cognate with Old English onlīc, Old High German analīh; replacing Middle English ilich, Old English gelīc, cognate with Old Saxon gilīk, Old High German gilīh ( German gleich ), Gothic galeiks, Old Norse (g)līkr; like ¹

Example Sentences

Since the war began roughly six weeks ago, monitoring the president’s shifting ultimatums and social-media pronouncements have become a part of the job for Wall Street pros and individual traders alike.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

"It truly emphasized how alike we are, how the same thing keeps every single person on planet Earth alive."

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Conservative and liberal judges alike questioned the arguments of Solicitor Gen. John Sauer, who represented the administration, saying he relied on “some pretty obscure sources,” including precedents that dated back to Roman law.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

He insisted the event was real, sparking both disbelief and amusement among peers and online observers alike.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

The two men, who looked too alike not to be related, hurried ahead of us.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• identical