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

The girls would spend hours filming TikToks, turning mundane daily moments into something playful and childlike. —Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026

But the other half, thanks to an image filter, saw a younger, childlike version of themselves. —Utkarsh Gupta, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026

This doesn’t mean gem nails have to be childlike or loud, though; today’s styles feature daintier stones that shine brightly and are more refined than bulky, costume gems. —Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 8 Apr. 2026

But obviously there is a part of me, there’s a part of all of us, that is very childlike and innocent and has hope. —Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 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