like

¹

[ lahyk ]

adjective

, (Poetic) lik·er, lik·est.

1. of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.:

   I cannot remember a like instance.

2. corresponding or agreeing in general or in some noticeable respect; similar; analogous:

   drawing, painting, and like arts.

3. bearing resemblance.
4. Dialect. likely or probable:

   'Tis like that he's gone mad.

5. Dialect. about; almost ready, as to perform some action:

   The poor chap seemed like to run away.

preposition

1. in like manner with; similarly to; in the manner characteristic of:

   He works like a beaver.

2. resembling (someone or something):

   He is just like his father. Your necklace is just like mine.

3. characteristic of:

   It would be like him to forget our appointment.

4. as if there is promise of; indicative of:

   It looks like rain.

5. as if someone or something gives promise of being:

   She looks like a good prospect for the job.

6. disposed or inclined to (usually preceded by feel ):

   to feel like going to bed.

7. similar or comparable to:

   There is nothing like a cold drink of water when one is thirsty. What was he like?

8. (used correlatively to indicate similarity through relationship):

   like father, like son.

9. (used to establish an intensifying, often facetious, comparison): They ran like hell down the street.

   Last night I slept like a log.

   They ran like hell down the street.

10. as; such as:

    There are numerous hobbies you might enjoy, like photography or painting.

adverb

1. nearly; closely; approximately:

   The house is more like 40 than 20 years old.

2. Informal. likely or probably:

   Like enough he'll come with us. Like as not her leg is broken.

3. Nonstandard.
   1. as it were; in a way; somehow:

      I did it like wrong.

   2. to a degree; more or less:

      The guy was standing against the wall, looking very tough like.

conjunction

1. in the same way as; just as; as:

   It happened like you might expect it would.

2. as if:

   He acted like he was afraid. The car runs like new.

noun

1. a similar or comparable person or thing, or like persons or things; counterpart, match, or equal (usually preceded by a possessive adjective or the ):

   No one has seen his like in a long time. Like attracts like.

2. kind; sort; type; ilk (usually preceded by a possessive adjective):

   I despise moochers and their like.

3. the like, something of a similar nature:

   They grow oranges, lemons, and the like.

interjection

1. Informal. (used in speech, often nonvolitionally or habitually, to preface a sentence, to fill a pause, to express uncertainty, or to intensify or neutralize a following adjective):

   So, like, why didn't you call me?

   The music was, like, really great, you know?

   I'm not going out—it's like 10 degrees out there!

like

²

[ lahyk ]

verb (used with object)

, liked, lik·ing.

1. to take pleasure in; find agreeable or congenial:

   We all liked the concert.

2. to regard with favor; have a kindly or friendly feeling for (a person, group, etc.); find attractive:

   His parents like me and I like them.

3. to wish or prefer: I like my coffee with milk and sugar.

   I'd like a piece of cake, please.

   I like my coffee with milk and sugar.

4. Digital Technology. to indicate one’s enjoyment of, agreement with, or interest in (website content, especially in social media):

   Share your posts so your friends can like them or leave a comment.

   Like us on Facebook to get a free sample.

verb (used without object)

, liked, lik·ing.

1. to feel inclined; wish; want:

   We'll have lunch whenever you like.

2. Archaic. to suit the tastes or wishes; please.

noun

1. Usually likes. the things a person likes:

   a long list of likes and dislikes.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) Digital Technology.
   1. an instance of indicating one’s liking of specific website content:

      I see my comment got lots of likes.

   2. a feature or option, usually a button, that enables this:

      I installed a Like on my blog so you can subscribe to updates.

adjective

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) Digital Technology. noting or pertaining to a feature used to like specific website content:

   a Like button;

   like boxes.

-like

³

1. a suffixal use of like ¹ in the formation of adjectives ( childlike; lifelike ), sometimes hyphenated.

-like

¹

suffix forming adjectives

1. resembling or similar to

   lifelike

   springlike

2. having the characteristics of

   ladylike

   childlike

like

²

/ laɪk /

adjective

1. prenominal similar; resembling

preposition

1. similar to; similarly to; in the manner of

   he's so like his father

   acting like a maniac

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. be like … informal.
   used to introduce direct speech or nonverbal communication

   I was like, ‘You're kidding!’

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. the like
   similar things

   dogs, foxes, and the like

3. the likes of or the like of
   people or things similar to (someone or something specified)

   we don't want the likes of you around here

like

³

/ laɪk /

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. archaic.
   tr 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 )

Usage Note

Like1 as a conjunction meaning “as, in the same way as” ( Many shoppers study the food ads like brokers study market reports ) or “as if ” ( It looks like it will rain ) has been used for nearly 500 years and by many distinguished literary and intellectual figures. Since the mid-19th century there have been objections, often vehement, to these uses. Nevertheless, such uses are almost universal today in all but the most formal speech and writing. In extremely careful speech and in much formal writing, as, as if, and as though are more commonly used than like : The commanding general accepted full responsibility for the incident, as any professional soldier would. Many of the Greenwich Village bohemians lived as if (or as though ) there were no tomorrow. The strong strictures against the use of like as a conjunction have resulted in the occasional hypercorrect use of as as a preposition where like is idiomatic: She looks as a sympathetic person. Like meaning “as if ” is also standard in informal speech and writing with a small number of adjectives: The crew worked like crazy (or like mad ) to finish the job on time. as.

Usage

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 )

Other Words From

• lik·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of like¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English lic, lik, from Old Norse līkr; replacing Old English gelīc, cognate with Dutch gelijk, German gleich, Old Norse glīkr, Gothic galeiks “like,” literally, “of the same body or form”; y-, lich

Origin of like²

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb liken, Old English līcian; cognate with Dutch lijken, Old Norse līka; from the same Germanic root as like ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of like¹

from like ¹(prep)

Origin of like²

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

Origin of like³

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be like, Informal. to say, declare, think, or feel (usually used to introduce reported speech or thought):

   She's like, “I don't believe it,” and I'm like, “No, it's true!”

2. like anything, Informal. very much; extremely; with great intensity:

   He wanted like anything to win.

3. like to, South Midland and Southern U.S. was on the verge of or came close to (doing something): Also liked to.

   The poor kid like to froze.

4. something like, Informal. something approaching or approximating:

   It looked something like this.

5. the like / likes of, someone or something similar to; the equal of:

   I've never seen the like of it anywhere.

6. would like. would ¹( def 10 ).

More idioms and phrases containing like

• and the like
• avoid like the plague
• come up (smelling like) roses
• crazy like a fox
• drink like a fish
• drop like flies
• Dutch uncle, talk to like a
• eat like a bird
• feel like
• (like a) fish out of water
• fit like a glove
• fly on the wall, would like to be a
• get on (like a house afire)
• go out (like a light)
• go over (like a lead balloon)
• grin like a Cheshire cat
• (drop like a) hot potato
• just like that
• know like a book
• live like a king
• look like a million dollars
• look like death
• look like something the cat dragged in
• look like the cat that ate the canary
• make out like a bandit
• manna from heaven, like
• mind like a steel trap
• need like a hole in the head
• no fool like an old fool
• not anything like
• no time like the present
• out like a light
• packed in like sardines
• sleep like a log
• something like
• spread like wildfire
• stick out (like a sore thumb)
• swear like a trooper
• take to (like a duck to water)
• tell it like it is
• treat like dirt
• turn up like a bad penny
• wail like a banshee
• watch like a hawk
• work like a beaver
• work like a charm

Example Sentences

If DNA damage is not properly repaired, mutations can occur, which may result in diseases like cancer.

From Science Daily

They start to secrete renin and substances that trigger other changes: New nerves grow like weeds; immature smooth muscle cells build up; scars form around the tiny blood vessels, called arterioles; and inflammatory cells infiltrate.

From Science Daily

Using advanced imaging techniques like atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering, the team characterized the unique shapes and arrangement patterns of these synthetic chlorophyll assemblies.

From Science Daily

In a non-polar solvent like methylcyclohexane, chlorophyll derivatives with smaller second-generation dendrons were stacked into helical fibers, while those with bulkier, third-generation dendrons remained in smaller, disc-shaped aggregates.

From Science Daily

The findings also present an opportunity to mitigate the side effects of drugs like entacapone.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• as

Words That Use -like

What does -like mean?

The suffix –like means “like,” in the sense “of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.” It is often used in a variety of technical and everyday terms. In some instances, –like is used with a hyphen, as in animal-like.

The suffix –like comes from Middle English lik and is closely related to the suffix –ly.

Examples of -like

An example of a word you may have encountered that features –like is businesslike, “conforming to, attending to, or characteristic of business.”

The element business– here means, naturally, “business.” The suffix –like means “of a character.” Businesslike literally means “in the character of a business” or, put another way, “professional.”

What are some words that use the combining form –like?

• catlike
• doglike
• homelike
• jawlike
• machinelike
• manlike (using the equivalent form of –like in Middle English)
• starlike

What are some other forms that –like may be commonly confused with?

• -ling
• -lith

Break it down!

Given the meaning of the suffix –like, what does machinelike mean?