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?

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 like (2 of 3)

like ²

[ 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: You can do exactly as you like while you are a guest here.

Digital Technology. (sometimes initial capital letter) 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.

Digital Technology. (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.

adjective

Digital Technology. (sometimes initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a feature used to like specific website content: a Like button; like boxes.

Origin of like

before 900; Middle English liken, Old English līcian; cognate with Dutch lijken, Old Norse līka; see like¹

Definition for like (3 of 3)

-like

a suffixal use of like¹ in the formation of adjectives (childlike; lifelike), sometimes hyphenated.

British Dictionary definitions for like (1 of 3)

like ¹

/ (laɪk) /

adjective

(prenominal) similar; resembling

preposition

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

adverb

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

be like … informal used to introduce direct speech or nonverbal communication I was like, ‘You're kidding!’

conjunction

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

noun

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

the like similar things dogs, foxes, and the like

the likes of or the like of people or things similar to (someone or something specified) we don't want the likes of you around here

Word Origin for like

shortened from Old English gelīc; compare Old Norse glīkr and līkr like

usage for like

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)

British Dictionary definitions for like (2 of 3)

like ²

/ (laɪk) /

verb

(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

(tr) archaic to please; agree with it likes me not to go

noun

(usually plural) a favourable feeling, desire, preference, etc (esp in the phrase likes and dislikes)

Word Origin for like

Old English līcian; related to Old Norse līka, Dutch lijken

British Dictionary definitions for like (3 of 3)

-like

suffix forming adjectives

resembling or similar to lifelike; springlike

having the characteristics of childlike; ladylike

Word Origin for -like

from like 1 (prep)

Idioms and Phrases with like

In addition to the idioms beginning with 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
like a drowned rat
like a fish out of water
like a house afire
like a lamb to the slaughter
like anything
like a shot
like as not
like as two peas in a pod
like a ton of bricks
like clockwork
like crazy
like death warmed over
like father, like son
like fun
like gangbusters
like greased lightning
like hell
like hot cakes, go
like it or lump it
likely as not
like mad
like nobody's business
like nothing on earth
like pigs in clover
like pulling teeth
like rolling off a log
like shooting fish in a barrel
likes of, the
like something the cat dragged in
like that
like to
like water off a duck's back

also see:

and the like
avoid like the plague
come up (smelling like) roses
crazy like a fox
drink like a fish
drop like flies
Dutch uncle, talk to like a
eat like a bird
feel like
(like a) fish out of water
fit like a glove
fly on the wall, would like to be a
get on (like a house afire)
go out (like a light)
go over (like a lead balloon)
grin like a Cheshire cat
(drop like a) hot potato
just like that
know like a book
live like a king
look like a million dollars
look like death
look like something the cat dragged in
look like the cat that ate the canary
make out like a bandit
manna from heaven, like
mind like a steel trap
need like a hole in the head
no fool like an old fool
not anything like
no time like the present
out like a light
packed in like sardines
sleep like a log
something like
spread like wildfire
stick out (like a sore thumb)
swear like a trooper
take to (like a duck to water)
tell it like it is
treat like dirt
turn up like a bad penny
wail like a banshee
watch like a hawk
work like a beaver
work like a charm

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

like

adjective, (Poetic) lik·er, lik·est.

preposition

adverb

conjunction

noun

interjection

Idioms for like

Origin of like

usage note for like

OTHER WORDS FROM like

Words nearby like

Definition for like (2 of 3)

verb (used with object), liked, lik·ing.

verb (used without object), liked, lik·ing.

noun

adjective

Origin of like

Definition for like (3 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for like (1 of 3)

adjective

preposition

adverb

conjunction

noun

Word Origin for like

usage for like

British Dictionary definitions for like (2 of 3)

verb

noun

Word Origin for like

British Dictionary definitions for like (3 of 3)

suffix forming adjectives

Word Origin for -like

Idioms and Phrases with like

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

like

adjective, (Poetic) lik·er, lik·est.

preposition

adverb

conjunction

noun

interjection

Idioms for like

Origin of like

usage note for like

OTHER WORDS FROM like

Words nearby like

Definition for like (2 of 3)

verb (used with object), liked, lik·ing.

verb (used without object), liked, lik·ing.

noun

adjective

Origin of like

Definition for like (3 of 3)

Content related to like

Words related to like

British Dictionary definitions for like (1 of 3)

adjective

preposition

adverb

conjunction

noun

Word Origin for like

usage for like

British Dictionary definitions for like (2 of 3)

verb

noun

Word Origin for like

British Dictionary definitions for like (3 of 3)

suffix forming adjectives

Word Origin for -like

Idioms and Phrases with like