like

[ lahyk ]

/ laɪk /

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): sleeping like a log.

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: 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.

Informal. (used especially after forms of be to introduce reported speech or thought): She's like, "I don't believe it," and I'm like, "No, it's true!"

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 especially 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): Like, why didn't you write to me? The music was, like, really great, you know?

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anchorite

a granular metamorphic rock.

a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.

a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.

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Idioms for like

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

1150–1200; Middle English lic, lik < 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

lik·er, noun

Words nearby like

ligurian republic, ligurian sea, ligustrum, 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

Definition for feel like (2 of 2)

feel

[ feel ]

/ fil /

verb (used with object), felt, feel·ing.

to perceive or examine by touch.

to have a sensation of (something), other than by sight, hearing, taste, or smell: to feel a toothache.

to find or pursue (one's way) by touching, groping, or cautious moves.

to be or become conscious of.

to be emotionally affected by: to feel one's disgrace keenly.

to experience the effects of: The whole region felt the storm.

to have a particular sensation or impression of (often used reflexively and usually followed by an adjunct or complement): to feel oneself slighted.

to have a general or thorough conviction of; think; believe: I feel he's guilty.

verb (used without object), felt, feel·ing.

to have perception by touch or by any nerves of sensation other than those of sight, hearing, taste, and smell.

to make examination by touch; grope.

to perceive a state of mind or a condition of body: to feel happy; to feel well.

to have a sensation of being: to feel warm.

to make itself perceived or apparent; seem: How does it feel to be rich?

noun

a quality of an object that is perceived by feeling or touching: the soft feel of cotton.

a sensation of something felt; a vague mental impression or feeling: a feel of winter; a feel of sadness in the air.

the sense of touch: soft to the feel.

native ability or acquired sensitivity: to have a feel for what is right.

Informal. an act or instance of touching with the hand or fingers.

Slang: Vulgar. an act or instance of feeling up.

feels, Informal. strong, often positive feelings: That song gives me feels.I have so many feels right now.

Verb Phrases

feel for,

to feel sympathy for or compassion toward; empathize with: I know you're disappointed and upset, and I feel for you.
Southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. to have a liking or desire for: If you feel for more pie, just help yourself.

feel out, to attempt to ascertain (the nature of a situation, someone's attitude, etc.) by indirect or subtle means: Why not feel out the other neighbors' opinions before you make a complaint.

feel up, Slang: Vulgar. to fondle or touch (someone) in a sexual manner.

feel up to, Informal. to feel or be able to; be capable of: He didn't feel up to going to the theater so soon after his recent illness.

Origin of feel

before 900; Middle English felen, Old English fēlan; cognate with Old Saxon fōlian, German fühlen; akin to Old Norse falma to grope. See fumble

usage note for feel

When the verb feel is used in the sense "to think or believe," it typically implies believing or having an opinion on the basis of emotion or intuition, even in circumstances unsupported by much real evidence. Although some usage experts object, such use is well established in English and can be traced as far back as Middle English. When feel is used specifically to express a subjective impression, it is often used with as if, as though, or that and followed by a full sentence: I felt as if my world had come to an end. He feels as though it is always raining. I feel that things will get better now. More informally, feel can be used without as if/as though/that : I feel he's guilty. And a full sentence does not have to follow: I felt his answer to be impolite. In the same sense of "to think or believe," an alternative phrase feel like is found in informal or casual speech. This use of feel like typically expresses an opinion or emotional sentiment with a softened or tentative tone: I feel like nothing is getting done here. I feel like he is just too arrogant. Though increasingly common, use of the phrase feel like has been criticized as lazy thinking that ignores real evidence, while avoiding confrontation and debate.

OTHER WORDS FROM feel

o·ver·feel, verb, o·ver·felt, o·ver·feel·ing.re·feel, verb, re·felt, re·feel·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for feel like (1 of 3)

feel

/ (fiːl) /

verb feels, feeling or felt (fɛlt)

to perceive (something) by touching

to have a physical or emotional sensation of (something)to feel heat; to feel anger

(tr) to examine (something) by touch

(tr) to find (one's way) by testing or cautious exploration

(copula) to seem or appear in respect of the sensation givenI feel tired; it feels warm

to have an indistinct, esp emotional conviction; sense (esp in the phrase feel in one's bones)

(intr foll by for) to show sympathy or compassion (towards)I feel for you in your sorrow

to believe, think, or be of the opinion (that)he feels he must resign

(tr often foll by up) slang to pass one's hands over the sexual organs of

feel like to have an inclination (for something or doing something)I don't feel like going to the pictures

feel oneself or feel quite oneself to be fit and sure of oneself

feel up to (usually used with a negative or in a question) to be fit enough for (something or doing something)I don't feel up to going out tonight

noun

the act or an instance of feeling, esp by touching

the quality of or an impression from something perceived through feelingthe house has a homely feel about it

the sense of touchthe fabric is rough to the feel

an instinctive aptitude; knackshe's got a feel for this sort of work

Word Origin for feel

Old English fēlan; related to Old High German fuolen, Old Norse fālma to grope, Latin palma palm 1

British Dictionary definitions for feel like (2 of 3)

like¹

/ (laɪk) /