English Dictionary

Definition of “like”

like1 (laɪk Pronunciation for like1

Definitions

adjective

  1. prenominal similar; resembling

preposition

  1. similar to; similarly to; in the manner of ⇒ acting like a maniac, he's so like his father
  2. used correlatively to express similarity in certain proverbs ⇒ like mother, like daughter
  3. such as ⇒ there are lots of ways you might amuse yourself — like taking a long walk, for instance

adverb

  1. a dialect word for likely
  2. (not standard) as it were: often used as a parenthetic filler ⇒ there was this policeman just staring at us, like
  3. See be like …

conjunction

  1. (not standard) as though; as if ⇒ you look like you've just seen a ghost
  2. in the same way as; in the same way that ⇒ she doesn't dance like you do

noun

  1. the equal or counterpart of a person or thing, esp one respected or prized ⇒ compare like with like, her like will never be seen again
  2. See the like

  3. See the likes of

The use of like to mean such as was formerly thought to be undesirable in formal writing, but has now become acceptable. It was also thought that as rather than like should be used to mean in the same way that, but now both as and like are acceptable: they hunt and catch fish as/like their ancestors used to. The use of look like and seem like before a clause, although very common, is thought by many people to be incorrect or non-standard: it looks as though he won't come (not it looks like he won't come)

Word Origin

shortened from Old English gelīc; compare Old Norse glīkr and līkr like

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= similar to, same as, allied to, equivalent to, parallel to, resembling, identical to, alike, corresponding to, comparable to, akin to, approximating, analogous to, cognate to,

Quotations including 'like'

  • "Like breeds like"

like2 (laɪk Pronunciation for like2

Definitions

verb

  1. tr to find (something) enjoyable or agreeable or find it enjoyable or agreeable (to do something) ⇒ he likes boxing, he likes to hear music
  2. tr to be fond of
  3. tr to prefer or wish (to do something) ⇒ we would like you to go
  4. tr to feel towards; consider; regard ⇒ how did she like it?
  5. intr to feel disposed or inclined; choose; wish
  6. tr (archaic) to please; agree with ⇒ it likes me not to go

noun

  1. usually plural a favourable feeling, desire, preference, etc (esp in the phrase likes and dislikes)

Word Origin

Old English līcian; related to Old Norse līka, Dutch lijken

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= enjoy, love, adore, delight in, go for, dig, relish, savour, revel in, be fond of, be keen on, be partial to, have a preference for, have a weakness for,
= admire, approve of, appreciate, prize, take to, esteem, cherish, hold dear, take a shine to, think well of,
= wish, want, choose, prefer, desire, select, fancy, care, feel inclined
= wish, regard, feel about, consider

-like

Definitions

suffix forming adjectives

  1. resembling or similar to ⇒ lifelike, springlike
  2. having the characteristics of ⇒ childlike, ladylike

Word Origin

from like1 (prep)

Translations for 'like'

  • British English: likePronunciation for like If things or people are like each other, they are almost the same.He's very funny, like my uncle.laɪk PREPOSITION
  • Arabic: مِثْلُPronunciation for مِثْلُ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: comoPronunciation for como
  • Chinese: 如同Pronunciation for 如同
  • Croatian: kaoPronunciation for kao
  • Czech: jakoPronunciation for jako
  • Danish: somPronunciation for som
  • Dutch: alsPronunciation for als
  • European Spanish: comoPronunciation for como
  • Finnish: kuinPronunciation for kuinkuten
  • French: commePronunciation for comme
  • German: wiePronunciation for wie
  • Greek: σανPronunciation for σαν
  • Italian: comePronunciation for come
  • Japanese: ・・・のようなPronunciation for ・・・のような
  • Korean: 비슷한Pronunciation for 비슷한
  • Norwegian: somPronunciation for som
  • Polish: jakPronunciation for jak
  • Portuguese: comoPronunciation for como
  • Romanian: ca
  • Russian: какPronunciation for как
  • Spanish: comoPronunciation for como
  • Swedish: somPronunciation for som
  • Thai: เหมือนกันPronunciation for เหมือนกัน
  • Turkish: gibiPronunciation for gibi
  • Ukrainian: як
  • Vietnamese: giốngPronunciation for giống
  • British English: likePronunciation for like If you like something, you think it is nice or interesting.Do you like swimming?laɪk VERBenjoy
  • Arabic: يُحِبُّPronunciation for يُحِبُّ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: gostarPronunciation for gostar
  • Chinese: 喜欢Pronunciation for 喜欢
  • Croatian: voljetiPronunciation for voljeti
  • Czech: mít rádPronunciation for mít rád
  • Danish: lidePronunciation for lide
  • Dutch: houden vanPronunciation for houden vanhouden van
  • European Spanish: gustarPronunciation for gustar
  • Finnish: pitää (jostakin)Pronunciation for pitää (jostakin)
  • French: aimerPronunciation for aimer
  • German: mögenPronunciation for mögen
  • Greek: συμπαθώPronunciation for συμπαθώ
  • Italian: piacerePronunciation for piacere
  • Japanese: 好むPronunciation for 好む
  • Korean: 좋아하다Pronunciation for 좋아하다
  • Norwegian: likePronunciation for like
  • Polish: polubićPronunciation for polubić lubić
  • Portuguese: gostarPronunciation for gostar
  • Romanian: a plăcea
  • Russian: нравитьсяPronunciation for нравиться
  • Spanish: gustarPronunciation for gustar
  • Swedish: tycka omPronunciation for tycka om
  • Thai: ชอบPronunciation for ชอบ
  • Turkish: hoşlanmakPronunciation for hoşlanmak
  • Ukrainian: подобатися сподобатися
  • Vietnamese: thíchPronunciation for thích
  • British English: likelaɪk What something or someone is like is how they seem to you.`What was the party like?' — `Oh it was great!' ADJECTIVEbe
  • Arabic: كَيْفَ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: como
  • Chinese: 是…样的
  • Croatian: kakav
  • Czech: jaký
  • Danish: synes om
  • Dutch: hoe
  • European Spanish: parecer
  • Finnish: millainen
  • French: sembler
  • German: wie
  • Greek: φαίνομαι
  • Italian: come
  • Japanese: ・・・のような
  • Korean: 어떠하다
  • Norwegian: hvordan
  • Polish: jak
  • Portuguese: ser como
  • Romanian: cum
  • Russian: кажется
  • Spanish: gustarparecer
  • Swedish: hur
  • Thai: ดัง
  • Turkish: benzemek
  • Ukrainian: схожий
  • Vietnamese: như thế nào

Example Sentences Including 'like'

"Yes, he adds, Arab money could have been use to rehouse refugee families like his decades ago.
Irish Times (2002)
A champion like Istabraq is not the one likely to break the mould.
Irish Times (2002)
A few 100 metres on a row of houses is like a diamond flashing smile, with a gap where a householder has decided not to join in.
Country Life (2004)
I must have said something like : I don't want Marianne to find her lover like this.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
I must have said something like: I don't want Marianne to find her lover like this.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
It is like an armed savage who attempts to get that by force which a civilised man would get by stratagem.
Jim Leavesley, George Biro THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
It seemed almost brutal, like a weapon to be used against me.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
It was like there was a tremendous injunction in her against forming really meaningful relationships.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
They were intellectuals and they were dissidents - exactly the kind of people who might expect to end their days in places like Dachau.
Glasgow Herald (2001)

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