English Dictionary

Definition of “like

1like1 (laɪkPronunciation 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

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

2like2 (laɪkPronunciation 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, 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 likefrom 1 (prep) (prep)

Quotations

  • "Like breeds like"

Translations

  • British English: like Pronunciation for like If things or people are like each other, they are almost the same.He's very funny, like my uncle.laɪk PREPOSITION He's very funny, like my uncle.
  • Spanish: como Pronunciation for como prep
  • French: comme Pronunciation for comme prep
  • German: wie Pronunciation for wie prep
  • Chinese: 如同Pronunciation for 如同 prep
  • Arabic: مِثْلُPronunciation for مِثْلُ prep
  • Portuguese: comoPronunciation for como prep
  • Russian: какPronunciation for как prep
  • Croatian: kaoPronunciation for kao prep
  • Czech: jakoPronunciation for jako conj
  • Danish: somPronunciation for som prep
  • Dutch: alsPronunciation for als prep
  • Finnish: kuinPronunciation for kuin prep
  • Greek: σανPronunciation for σαν prep
  • Italian: comePronunciation for come prep
  • Japanese: ・・・のようなPronunciation for ・・・のような prep
  • Korean: ...과 같이Pronunciation for ...과 같이 prep
  • Norwegian: somPronunciation for som prep
  • Polish: jakPronunciation for jak prep
  • Brazilian Portuguese: comoPronunciation for como prep
  • European Spanish: como Pronunciation for como prep
  • Swedish: somPronunciation for som prep
  • Thai: เช่นPronunciation for เช่น prep
  • Turkish: gibiPronunciation for gibi prep
  • Vietnamese: giống nhưPronunciation for giống như prep

  • British English: like Pronunciation for like If you like something, you think it is nice or interesting.Do you like swimming?laɪk VERB Do you like swimming?
  • Spanish: gustar Pronunciation for gustar v
  • French: aimer Pronunciation for aimer vt
  • German: mögen Pronunciation for mögen v
  • Chinese: 喜欢Pronunciation for 喜欢 v
  • Arabic: يُحِبُّPronunciation for يُحِبُّ vt
  • Portuguese: gostarPronunciation for gostar v
  • Russian: нравитьсяPronunciation for нравиться v
  • Croatian: voljetiPronunciation for voljeti v
  • Czech: mít rádPronunciation for mít rád v
  • Danish: lidePronunciation for lide v
  • Dutch: verkiezenPronunciation for verkiezen v
  • Finnish: pitää (jostakin)Pronunciation for pitää (jostakin) v
  • Greek: συμπαθώPronunciation for συμπαθώ v
  • Italian: piacerePronunciation for piacere v
  • Japanese: 好むPronunciation for 好む v
  • Korean: 좋아하다Pronunciation for 좋아하다 v
  • Norwegian: likePronunciation for like v
  • Polish: polubićPronunciation for polubić v lubić
  • Brazilian Portuguese: gostarPronunciation for gostar v
  • European Spanish: gustar Pronunciation for gustar v
  • Swedish: tycka omPronunciation for tycka om v
  • Thai: ชอบPronunciation for ชอบ v
  • Turkish: hoşlanmakPronunciation for hoşlanmak v
  • Vietnamese: thíchPronunciation for thích v

  • British English: like What something or someone is like is how they seem to you.`What was the party like?' – `Oh it was great!'laɪk ADJECTIVE `What was the party like?' – `Oh it was great!'
  • French: sembler vi
  • Arabic: كَيْفَ adv
  • Brazilian Portuguese: como adv

Usage examples

  • She had very dark blue eyes that were almost black, like Marianne's.
    Hugo Wilcken, THE EXECUTION (2002)
  • All we need is the weather to comply, which looks like it might just come off.
    Country Life (2004)
  • says Val Donoghue who previously worked for high-profile trainers like Jenny Pitman.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • FRIDAY Thinking about my niece, it occurred to me that her generation are dreadfully like the flappers of the early twenties.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • The Morning Pigeon is calling --- Bird, its voice like the speech of those clans, people who talk like birds.
    James Cowan, ABORIGINE DREAMING: Introduction to the Wisdom and Thought of the Aboriginal Traditions of Australia (2002)

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