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.
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 byfeel ).
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): They ran like hell down the street.
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.
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.
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.
a similar or comparable person or thing, or like persons or things; counterpart, match, or equal (usually preceded by a possessive adjective orthe ).
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.
like to, was on the verge of or came close to (doing something): Also liked to.
The poor kid like to froze.
be like, 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, very much; extremely; with great intensity.
He wanted like anything to win.
the like / likes of, someone or something similar to; the equal of.
I've never seen the like of it anywhere.
something like, something approaching or approximating.
It looked something like this.
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 like my coffee with milk and sugar.
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.
Usually likes the things a person likes.
a long list of likes and dislikes.
(sometimes initial capital letter)
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.
similar to; similarly to; in the manner of
acting like a maniac
he's so like his father
used correlatively to express similarity in certain proverbs
like mother, like daughter
such as
there are lots of ways you might amuse yourself — like taking a long walk, for instance
a dialect word for likely
not_standard as it were: often used as a parenthetic filler
there was this policeman just staring at us, like
informal used to introduce direct speech or nonverbal communication
I was like, ‘You're kidding!’
not_standard as though; as if
you look like you've just seen a ghost
in the same way as; in the same way that
she doesn't dance like you do
the equal or counterpart of a person or thing, esp one respected or prized
compare like with like
her like will never be seen again
similar things
dogs, foxes, and the like
people or things similar to (someone or something specified)
we don't want the likes of you around here
(tr) to find (something) enjoyable or agreeable or find it enjoyable or agreeable (to do something)
he likes boxing
he likes to hear music
(tr) to be fond of
(tr) to prefer or wish (to do something)
we would like you to go
(tr) to feel towards; consider; regard
how did she like it?
(intr) to feel disposed or inclined; choose; wish
archaic (tr) to please; agree with
it likes me not to go
resembling or similar to
lifelike
springlike
having the characteristics of
childlike
ladylike
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.
The use of like to mean such as was formerly thought to be undesirable in formal writing, but has now become acceptable. It was also thought that as rather than like should be used to mean in the same way that , but now both as and like are acceptable: they hunt and catch fish as/like their ancestors used to. The use of look like and seem like before a clause, although very common, is thought by many people to be incorrect or non-standard: it looks as though he won't come (not it looks like he won't come )
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
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb liken, Old English līcian; cognate with Dutch lijken, Old Norse līka; from the same Germanic root as like 1
If you like your new shoes, you are glad you bought them. If you are like your mother, you are similar to her in more ways than you probably want to admit. The meaning of like has to do with being similar: maybe you sound just like your sister when you answer the phone. Or, in giving an example, like is the go-to word to introduce it: "We enjoy sports like hockey." Like also can mean "enjoy" or "favor." We can see this in the word's origin, the Old English lician, meaning “be pleasing.” The speech pattern of saying "like" incessantly doesn't, like, mean anything.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There, rows of whirring white tanks filled with seawater host creatures like coral, giant clams and clownfish in what are meticulously controlled to resemble natural marine environments.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
From the shelves of bougie Los Angeles grocer Erewhon to private events at clubs like Casa Cipriani, Loonen water has become the chosen hydration of the chic, affluent and health-conscious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
According to Prince-Bythewood, helming “The Woman King” felt like the thing she’d been working toward her entire career.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“You really have somebody that is like a head coach in that room,” Riley said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
The news hits Father Monaghan like a thunderbolt—a paralyzing awareness that the Philippines is in instant, terrible danger.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Critics have described the group as "cult -like".
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2025
Searches for Ms. Yue’s name were blocked on the Twitter -like Weibo microblogging platform.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2018
"There’s no road to where I was collecting. You had to take a plane and land on a grass strip on a mountain. It’s very Jurassic Park -like."
From Washington Post ● Jul. 27, 2016
And usually, the event is already sold out or in a far-off location -like Justin Timberlake’s upcoming Aug. 24 concert in Iceland.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 1, 2014
The cub gave a low, warning ‘Uff!’ -like his mother used to when she wanted them back in the Den now.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Hayes explained that this type of segmentation could be used to develop tailored products that account for the specific "sour liker" taste profile.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 2024
But I was a very active liker of “A Ghost Story,” which, as with “The Green Knight,” seems to unfold in some eerie netherworld between life and death.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2021
Only once did I go on a date with a sarcasm liker — she included it to warn people she’s found who get offended, especially in the Midwest.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 8, 2018
He’s not doing anything inappropriate or otherwise creepy, and he’s not sending you inappropriate messages—he’s just an inveterate liker.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2016
Nay, ye have other minions, in the other end of the town, Where ye were liker to catch such a blow, Than anywhere else, as far as I know!
From Gammer Gurton's Needle by Art, Mr. S. Mr. of
Mercy, Shakespeare wrote, "Earthly power doth then show likest God's/ When mercy seasons justice."
From Time ● Jan. 17, 2012
If thou likest him more than me, I'll travel away from thee, I'll travel away from thee.
From Black Forest Village Stories by Auerbach, Berthold
Why then do we not recognize this the chief homogenic substance of the earth, likest of substances to its inner nature and closest allied to its very marrow?
From On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments by Gilbert, William
Dwell in some idle brain, 5 And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess, As thick and numberless As the gay motes that people the sun-beams, Or likest hovering dreams, The fickle pensioners of Morpheus’ train.
From Minor Poems by Milton by Milton, John
Make vs to loue him next thee, either as likest our selues, or as thy childe, and therefore our brother, or as one ordayned to bee a member of one selfe same countrie with vs.
From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall
Miller noted that high-quality but lower-cost competition from China is a problem for the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic, but he thinks Alphabet is far better positioned.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
In 2025, models made by the likes of Google and OpenAI reached gold-level scores for the first time -- but could not match the abilities of five human contestants who got 100 percent.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Earlier, Blackstone and Google said they plan to create an AI cloud company to rival the likes of CoreWeave using Google’s specialized chips.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
With the likes of the United States, China and major European nations not part of the Commonwealths, some athletes favour other, more competitive events.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Part of me likes that Mom named me after someone who obviously has so much to say, someone people want to listen to.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
The physicists liked physical models, and economists liked linear models, so machine learning didn’t fit cleanly into either camp and was viewed with suspicion.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Where he once liked to hit the clubs, Araki now mostly stays home with his boyfriend of some 14 years and two small dogs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Padilla, who describes himself as a natural introvert, says he liked the Lakehouse session on networking, something the firm says will be even more important for younger employees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
"What I really liked in this announcement is they are recognising we need to look at a fairer tax system so we can all contribute to society," Bott told the BBC.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
“After you realized that you—that you liked me?”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Kennedy ended up liking the look more than the open-air setup they had planned.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
At one point his security guards moved in protectively as the scrum moved a little too close for their liking, but the King survived the close encounter unharmed.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
Jessie has been trying all summer to help Bonnie make friends, but none of the neighborhood kids seem to take a liking to her.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
Why, then, does not liking Olive Garden feel incompatible with being a foodie — and so incompatible that it shouldn’t even be mentioned by name?
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026
When she had straightened the bed to his liking the big Greek inclined his head so deliberately that the gesture seemed one of benediction rather than a simple nod of thanks.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
