childlike

adjective

child·​like ˈchī(-ə)l(d)-ˌlīk 

: resembling, suggesting, or appropriate to a child or childhood

especially : marked by innocence, trust, and ingenuousness

childlike delight

childlikeness noun

Examples of childlike in a Sentence

a grown woman with a childlike face

We gazed at it in childlike wonder.

She took a childlike glee in describing every detail.

Recent Examples on the Web

Taylor-Joy brings the necessary confidence to her confidence woman, while still conveying the childlike fear inherent to a character who’s felt trapped her whole life. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Fun and games A childlike wonder informs many of the rooms too. — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026

Innocent, childlike ways to cope with a tragedy even most adults struggle to reckon with. — Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

For them, the love of art is a mission, at once sophisticated and childlike. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for childlike

• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich
• godlike
• hairlike
• homelike

Kids Definition

childlike

adjective

child·​like ˈchīl(d)-ˌlīk 

1

: resembling, suggesting, or suitable to a child or childhood

2

: showing the more pleasing qualities (as innocence or trustfulness) often thought to be those of children

childlike delight