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

So, in a childlike way, ‘Rowing the Boat’ is all not looking at our differences. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026

Images of shape-shifting witches and cursed doors blur the lines between reality and the twins’ childlike imagination. — Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 22 July 2026

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

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