like

1 of 9

verb

ˈlīk

liked; liking

Synonyms of like next

transitive verb

: to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in : enjoy

likes baseball

: to feel toward : regard

how would you like a change

: to wish to have : want

would like a drink

: to do well in

this plant likes dry soil

my car does not like cold weather

: to electronically register one's approval of (something, such as an online post or comment) for others to see (as by clicking on an icon designed for that purpose)

[Brittany] Bunker then thanked the 477,000 people who had liked her post for their support …—

Natalie Cornish

How he picked out this seemingly random user and went ahead and liked the tweet is really surprising …—

Zach Pereles

chiefly dialectal : to be suitable or agreeable to

I like onions but they don't like me

intransitive verb

: to feel inclined : choose, prefer

leave any time you like

dialect : approve

2 of 9

noun (1)

: liking, preference

: something that one likes

: the act or an instance of liking (see like entry 1 sense 4) an online comment, post, etc.

Her post got thousands of likes.

3 of 9

adjective

: the same or nearly the same (as in appearance, character, or quantity)

suits of like design

—formerly used with as, unto, of

it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren—

Hebrews 2:17 (King James Version)

chiefly British : closely resembling the subject or original

the portrait is very like

: likely

the importance of statistics as the one discipline like to give accuracy of mind—

H. J. Laski

4 of 9

preposition

: having the characteristics of : similar to

his house is like a barn

it's like when we were kids

: typical of

was like him to do that

: comparable to : approximating

costs something like fifty cents

: in the manner of : similarly to

acts like a fool

: as though there would be

looks like rain

: such as

a subject like physics

—used to form intensive or ironic phrases

fought like helllike fun he didlaughed like anything

5 of 9

noun (2)

: one that is similar : counterpart, equal

have … never seen the like before—

Sir Winston Churchill

: kind sense 1a

—usually used with a preceding possessive

put him and his like to some job—

J. R. R. Tolkien

: one of many that are similar to each other

—used chiefly in proverbial expressions

like breeds like

6 of 9

adverb

archaic : equally

: likely, probably

you'll try it, some day, like enough—

Mark Twain

: to some extent : rather, altogether

saunter over nonchalantly like—

Walter Karig

—used interjectionally in informal speech often to emphasize a word or phrase (as in "He was, like, gorgeous") or for an apologetic, vague, or unassertive effect (as in "I need to, like, borrow some money")

: nearly, approximately

the actual interest is more like 18 percent

—used interjectionally in informal speech with expressions of measurement

it was, like, five feet longgoes there every day, like

7 of 9

conjunction

: as if

middle-aged men who looked like they might be out for their one night of the year—

Norman Mailer

—used in intensive phrases

drove like madhurts like crazy

: in the same way that : as

they raven down scenery like children do sweetmeats—

John Keats

: in the way or manner that

the violin sounds like an old masterpiece should

did it like you told me

—used interjectionally in informal speech often with the verb be to introduce a quotation, paraphrase, or thought expressed by or imputed to the subject of the verb, or with it's to report a generally held opinion

so I'm like, "Give me a break"it's like, "Who cares what he thinks?"

: such as

a bag like a doctor carries

when your car has trouble—like when it won't start

—used interjectionally in informal speech

often stays up late, until like three in the morning

Like vs. as: Usage Guide

Like has been used as a conjunction in ways similar to as since the 14th century. In the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries it was used in serious literature, but not often; in the 17th and 18th centuries it grew more frequent but less literary. It became markedly more frequent in literary use again in the 19th century. By mid-century it was coming under critical fire, but not from grammarians, oddly enough, who were wrangling over whether it could be called a preposition or not. There is no doubt that, after 600 years of use, conjunctive like is firmly established. It has been used by many prestigious literary figures of the past, though perhaps not in their most elevated works; in modern use it may be found in literature, journalism, and scholarly writing. While the present objection to it is perhaps more heated than rational, someone writing in a formal prose style may well prefer to use as, as if, such as, or an entirely different construction instead.

8 of 9

auxiliary verb

ˈlīkt

variants or liked

chiefly dialectal

: came near : was near

so loud I like to fell out of bed—

Helen Eustis

-like

9 of 9

adjective combining form

: resembling or characteristic of

bell-like

ladylike

Phrases

and the like

: et cetera

the likes of or less commonly the like of

: such people as : such things as

reads the likes of Austen and Browning

: such a one as and perhaps others similar to

—usually used with disparaging overtones

have no use for the likes of you

: the kind or sort of

a fantastic celebration the likes of which had never been seen before—

Joseph Heller

as like as not or like as not

: probably

Example Sentences

Verb He likes baseball, but he loves football. Do you like Mexican food? I liked the movie a lot more than I thought I would. I don't know what it is about that guy, but I just don't like him. They were political allies who truly liked each other. What is it that you like or dislike about him most? She says she likes him as a friend but she's not attracted to him. My boss was a tough guy, but I liked him for his honesty. Adjective you're not talking about like things when you compare football and golf Preposition The house looks like a barn. It's like when we were kids. She's not at all like her sister. The baby is more like his mother than his father. “Who is he like?” “He's not like anyone I've ever met before.” Adverb the cat would curl up, tightly like, and just go to sleep the distance is more like 500 miles Conjunction it looks like it's going to rain at any moment See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

One woman, who like many others in this story asked not to be named, claims she was warned her benefits may be cut because her son sold a video game on Marktplaats, the Dutch equivalent of eBay. —

Matt Burgess, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2023 For those who like a competitive edge with their lunch, there’s even a haggis eating contest that pits eight hungry visitors against each other to see who can eat a pound of the local delicacy quickest. —

Joe Minihane, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023 Perfect for full-throttle travelers who like to retire somewhere plush after adventuring, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is an ideal slope-side home base with direct access to Northstar California and a posh spa. —

Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2023 Cushioning throughout the heel, sole, and toe helps absorb impacts for those who like to go hard with their workouts. —

Mike Richard, Men's Health, 3 Mar. 2023 This option is ideal for busy households, garage cleanups, those who like dabbling in messy DIY projects, and anyone with pets. —

Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2023 But those who’d like to give it a try can do so at more than 2,500 locations nationwide. —

Tony Briscoestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2023 There are some, maybe 10 or so of my friends who really like cars. —

Donald Osborne, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2023 Well, in the great tradition of the ball challenge, there are occasionally some seamstress queens who like to help out with those who might be struggling — did anyone come to your aid during this challenge? —

Stephen Daw, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2023

Adjective

The Nitro Cold Brew features Starbucks’s slow-steeped, small-batch cold brew infused with nitrogen to produce a sweet flavor (without the sugar) and a crema that blends throughout the beverage to create that signature velvet-like texture. —

Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2023 Some of kratom’s mood-altering responses are possibly from compounds that aren’t opiate-like at all, McCurdy said. —

Helen Freund And Kirby Wilson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2023 In June 2021, Witherspoon opened up to Interview magazine about what it's been like to watch her two kids grow up. —

Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2023 While promoting their new film 80 for Brady in late January, the two joined cast mates Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno for a quiz show-like segment about various topics. —

Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 2 Mar. 2023 Root-like, the other members of Childs’ trio — Dan Chmielinski on bass and Christian Euman on drums — reached out in their solos, engaging in a contrapuntal sense with various Delirium players. —

Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2023 In pairing Copetti with 2022 team goal-scoring leader Karol Swiderski, Charlotte is aiming for an Austin FC-like sophomore season surge. —

Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2023 What's that experience been like to be working with those troops from other parts of the world? —

Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2023 Humorous and caricature-like, the oversized figures comment on topical issues. —

Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023

Noun

In some cases, glass hair can almost look liquid-like. —

Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 9 Mar. 2023 The village-like Old Harbor has Victorian bed-and-breakfasts, quirky boutiques, and the island's few grocery stores (there's not a chain to be found). —

Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2023 Men are increasingly seeking surgery to achieve what some see as the ideal jawline—chiseled, angular, and Batman-like. —

Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 8 Mar. 2023 Called lokum in Persian, these tiny bites come in a variety of flavors and textures, from jelly-like to marshmallow soft. —

Manal Aman, Woman's Day, 27 Feb. 2023 The Stelvio QF mates the Giulia QF sedan's nimbleness and power with all-wheel-drive traction and wagon-like practicality and begets an SUV that makes your heart pound. —

Car and Driver, 22 Feb. 2023 Stage 1: Runners The first type of infection is the most human-like of the stages and occurs anywhere from 24-48 hours after infection. —

Brooke Lamantia, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Feb. 2023 And sure, that may feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re used to the likes of TikTok. —

WIRED, 17 Feb. 2023 With the big-city marathon, our generation is handing over to his something truly remarkable, a cultural event the like of which the world has never seen. —

Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2020

Auxiliary verb

Photograph: Yakobchuk Olena/Getty Images Jeff Ayars didn’t like his therapist. —

Grace Browne, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2023 Some patients don't like their current method of birth control and want their partner to have a vasectomy but don't know how to start the process. —

Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023 Some people like to sleep on a harder surface, others on one that’s soft. —

Isabella Ubaldi, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2023 Unionist politicians in Northern Ireland didn’t like how the territory was treated in the original Brexit deal, negotiated by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2020. —

William Booth, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023 And there is certainly a lot to like in this easy-handling 18-volt saw from Ryobi, a power tool priced for homeowners and hobbyists but capable of doing very smooth, straight and accurate cuts. —

Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023 Some of her patients like to do an Epsom salt soak using warm water and plain Epsom salt (no fragrance!). —

Alexis Jones, Women's Health, 24 Feb. 2023 Our minds like to interpret the world through stories, meaning explanatory narratives that link cause and effect in a clear and simple manner. —

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023 Some faculty members didn’t like all that scholarship money going to athletes. —

Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 23 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'like.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English līcian; akin to Old English gelīc alike

Adjective

Middle English, alteration of ilich, from Old English gelīc like, alike, from ge-, associative prefix + līc body; akin to Old High German gilīh like, alike, Lithuanian lygus like — more at co-

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5

Noun (1)

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Preposition

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adverb