homelike

[ hohm-lahyk ]

adjective

1. like or suggestive of home; familiar; warmly comfortable.

Other Words From

• homelikeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of homelike¹

First recorded in 1810–20; home + -like

Synonym Study

See homely.

Example Sentences

The Castle Hotel, where we stopped, was a very old inn, yet it proved unexpectedly homelike and comfortable.

From Project Gutenberg

He was pleasantly tired in mind and body, and the warm homelike room caressed his senses.

From Project Gutenberg

It was just such a tidy, rather vulgar and homelike room as no doubt Harvey would picture for his own home.

From Project Gutenberg

Already the place was assuming a homelike air, and the long room had contracted into intimacy.

From Project Gutenberg

Before night the study looked as homelike as the old room had at the preparatory school.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• comfortable
• comfy
• cozy
• delightful
• homey
• hospitable
• inviting
• pleasant
• restful
• snug
• welcoming

More About Homelike

What does homelike mean?

Homelike is used to describe places that feel like a home, especially one’s own home.

In many cases, it means the same thing as homey, which is used to describe a place as cozy, comfortable, and inviting.

A person might try to make their place (or a particular room in it) more homelike, typically by decorating it in a way that makes it cozier or more comfortable. Homelike can also be used to describe a place that’s not a home but that’s comfortable and inviting like your own home, such as a hotel room.

Example: The new fireplace makes the living room feel so homelike.

Where does homelike come from?

The first records of the word homelike come from the 1600s. The suffix -like is used to form adjectives. Homelike means “like a home,” but it especially means “like one’s own home.”

Everyone has a different idea of what makes a place homelike, and people have different ways of making their space homelike. This often involves adding things to make a space cozier, such as rugs, curtains, candles, artwork, and plants. However, a space can be made more homelike in other ways, such as by the presence of a loved one.

Homelike should not be confused with homely, which is most commonly used as a way to describe someone as unattractive.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for homelike?

• homey
• cozy
• lived-in

What are some words that share a root or word element with homelike? 

 

• home

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing homelike?

 

• comfortable
• warm
• inviting
• house
• apartment
• room
• space
• feel

What are some words homelike may be commonly confused with?

 

• homely

 

How is homelike used in real life?

Homelike is not that commonly used—it’s much more common to describe a space as homey. Both terms can be used to describe one’s own home, a room in it, or a space that feels as cozy or inviting as one’s own home.

My little flat is feeling much more homelike now that I’ve added a few things. Thanks @10streetsmarket @bestfriendvegas @choochoojoey

— Shaner is tired of waiting (@Shanerz) September 22, 2019

Smaller, more-homelike care facilities in the “Green House” model have often been dismissed as impractical. However, residents are five times as likely to be coronavirus-free as those who live in typical nursing homes. https://t.co/l1DlnegRXc

— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) November 4, 2020

My ma made my apartment feel more homelike in ten minutes than I did in two months

— izeah garcia (@isayugh) July 13, 2016

 

Try using homelike!

Which of the following words would be used to describe a space that’s considered homelike?

A. comfortable
B. inviting
C. warm
D. all of the above