liked; liking
1
2
: to wish to have : want
would like a drink
3
: to do well in
this plant likes dry soil
my car does not like cold weather
4
: 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
Natalie CornishHow he picked out this seemingly random user and went ahead and liked the tweet is really surprising …—Zach Pereles
Zach Pereles5
chiefly dialectal
: to be suitable or agreeable to
I like onions but they don't like me
1
: liking, preference
2
: something that one likes
3
: the act or an instance of liking (see like entry 1 sense 4) an online comment, post, etc.
Her post got thousands of likes.
1
a
: the same or nearly the same (as in appearance, character, or quantity)
suits of like design
—formerly used with as, unto, ofit behoved him to be made like unto his brethren—Hebrews 2:17 (King James Version)
Hebrews 2:17 (King James Version)
b
chiefly British
: closely resembling the subject or original
the portrait is very like
2
: likely
the importance of statistics as the one discipline like to give accuracy of mind—H. J. Laski
H. J. Laski1
a
: having the characteristics of : similar to
his house is like a barn
it's like when we were kids
b
: typical of
was like him to do that
c
: comparable to : approximating
costs something like fifty cents
2
: in the manner of : similarly to
acts like a fool
3
: as though there would be
looks like rain
4
: such as
a subject like physics
5
—used to form intensive or ironic phrases
fought like hell
like fun he did
laughed like anything
1
a
: one that is similar : counterpart, equal
have … never seen the like before—Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill
b
: kind sense 1a
—usually used with a preceding possessive
put him and his like to some job—J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien2
: one of many that are similar to each other
—used chiefly in proverbial expressions
like breeds like
1
archaic
: equally
3
a
: to some extent : rather, altogether
saunter over nonchalantly like—Walter Karig
Walter Karig
b
—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")
4
: nearly, approximately
the actual interest is more like 18 percent
—used interjectionally in informal speech with expressions of measurementit was, like, five feet long
goes there every day, like
1
a
: as if
middle-aged men who looked like they might be out for their one night of the year—Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
b
—used in intensive phrases
drove like mad
hurts like crazy
2
: in the same way that : as
they raven down scenery like children do sweetmeats—John Keats
John Keats3
a
: in the way or manner that
the violin sounds like an old masterpiece should
did it like you told me
b
—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?"
4
: such as
a bag like a doctor carries
when your car has trouble—like when it won't start
—used interjectionally in informal speechoften 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.
variants
or liked
chiefly dialectal
: came near : was near
so loud I like to fell out of bed—Helen Eustis
Helen Eustis
: resembling or characteristic of
bell-like
ladylike
Phrases
and the like
the likes of
or less commonly the like of
1
: such people as : such things as
reads the likes of Austen and Browning
2
: such a one as and perhaps others similar to
—usually used with disparaging overtones
have no use for the likes of you
3
: the kind or sort of
a fantastic celebration the likes of which had never been seen before—Joseph Heller
Joseph Heller
: probably
Examples of like in a Sentence
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.
Noun (1)
she thought her new boyfriend was unusually interested in her likes and dislikes
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.”
Noun (2)
you can never trust his like, because they'll always let you down
we'd never seen its like in any other shop in town
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 May 2025
That was followed by being too busy (17.8%), and not liking the candidates or campaign issues (14.7%).
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
If you’re headed to a farmer’s market or a park picnic, keep it casual with denim shorts that feel like sweatshorts and sneakers.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 May 2025
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 2 May 2025
The group have also managed to snare high-profile support slots for the likes of Harry Styles and the Foo Fighters in stadiums around the world in recent years.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 2 May 2025
Katie Bain, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2025
Mapping the Milky Way like never before — Goodnight, Gaia!
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for like
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
But with Ingram, Barnes, Barrett and Quickley, there are many players who already like to play with the ball in their hands.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 May 2025
That was followed by being too busy (17.8%), and not liking the candidates or campaign issues (14.7%).
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Preposition
Some law firms negotiated with Trump either after being targeted or to avoid being targeted, while others, like Perkins Coie, challenged the orders in court.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
If you’re headed to a farmer’s market or a park picnic, keep it casual with denim shorts that feel like sweatshorts and sneakers.
—Isabel Garcia, People.com, 3 May 2025
Noun
The likes of Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, and Young M.A. have all taken a spin at their own versions of the song in their respective careers.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 2 May 2025
The group have also managed to snare high-profile support slots for the likes of Harry Styles and the Foo Fighters in stadiums around the world in recent years.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 2 May 2025
Adverb
There were like, eight people sitting at the dinner table having drinks and looking at the plans.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2025
Mapping the Milky Way like never before — Goodnight, Gaia!
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for like
Cite this Entry
“Like.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/like. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
like
1 of 9 verb
liked; liking
1
: to have a liking for : enjoy
likes baseball
2
: to feel toward : regard
how do you like this weather?
3
: to wish to have : want
would like a drink
4
: to feel inclined : choose
you can leave any time you like
5
: to indicate approval of (as an online post) for others to see (as by clicking on an icon designed for that purpose)
like
2 of 9 noun1
: liking, preference
my likes and dislikes
2
: an instance of liking an online post
like
3 of 9 adjective
: being the same or very nearly the same
two like magnetic poles
suits of like design
like
4 of 9 preposition1
a
: similar to
the house looks like a barn
b
: typical of
it would be just like you to do that
2
: similarly to
acting like a fool
blow it up like a balloon
3
: likely to
looks like rain
4
: such as
a subject like physics
like
5 of 9 noun
: equal entry 2 sense 1
may never see its like again
like
6 of 9 adverb1
: likely entry 2, probably
like as not the cat's under the porch
3
: close to : within a little : nearer
the rate is more like 18 percent
like
8 of 9 helping verb
variants
or liked
chiefly dialect
: came near : was near
I like to have died laughing
-like
9 of 9 adjective combining formˌlīk
: resembling or characteristic of
bell-like
ladylike
Etymology
Verb
Old English līcian "to take pleasure in"
Adjective
Old English gelīc "alike"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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