like
like
/laɪk/
1 similar to somebody/something
She's wearing a dress like mine.
He's very like his father.
She looks nothing like (= not at all like) her mother.
That sounds like (= I think I can hear) him coming now.
It tastes rather like chicken.
2 used to ask somebody’s opinion of somebody/something
What's it like studying in Spain?
This new girlfriend of his—what's she like?
3 in the same way as somebody/something
Students were angry at being treated like children.
He ran like the wind (= very fast).
You do it like this.
I, like everyone else, had read these stories in the press.
Don't look at me like that.
(informal) The candles are arranged like so (= in this way).
The dark wood shone like glass.
Stop acting like a spoilt child.
4 for example
anti-utopian novels like ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘1984’
5 used to show what is usual or typical for somebody
It's just like her to tell everyone about it.
Idioms
like
/laɪk/
not usually used in the progressive tenses
1 transitive to find somebody/something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard; to enjoy something like somebody/something She's nice. I like her.
I really like him.
Do you like their new house?
Which tie do you like best?
How did you like Japan (= did you find it pleasant)?
She's never liked swimming.
I don't like the way he's looking at me.
She liked the idea of being her own boss.
The company didn't like the fact that I'd taken maternity leave.
You've got to go to school, whether you like it or not.
like doing something We like having people to stay.
like somebody/something doing something I didn't like him taking all the credit.
(formal) I didn't like his taking all the credit.
like to do something I like to see them enjoying themselves.
like it when… I like it when you do that.
I don't like the sound of that.
‘I don't like the look of him,’ Christopher whispered to Joseph.
Everyone he met instantly liked him and wanted to be friends.
He pretended to like her for Tony's sake.
He works hard and is well liked by his colleagues.
I have always liked Sue and I don't intend to stop now.
I hope you will get to like our town.
I liked him enormously and was sorry when he left.
I personally liked this song a lot.
I really like that restaurant.
I tried to like her because it would be for the best.
I wanted to like the movie because of its message.
I'm learning to like spinach.
She guessed that he secretly liked wearing skirts.
Which story do you like best?
a man who was universally liked
He never did like me much, did he?
I like it in Spain.
Like is not usually used in the progressive tenses. However, in informal English, it is becoming more common to say I'm liking something when you mean that you are currently enjoying it (informal) be liking somethingI'm liking this song. • be liking doing somethingI'm liking having some time for myself.
Collocations
adverb
verb + like
appear to
seem to
begin to…
phrases
be universally liked
be well liked
like something Would you like a drink?
like to do something I'd like to think it over.
I would like to thank you all for coming tonight.
Would you like to come with us?
(formal) We would like to apologize for the delay.
Would you like to see the rest of the house?
How can they afford it? That's what I'd like to know.
like somebody/something to do something We'd like you to come and visit us.
like for somebody to do something (North American English) I'd like for us to work together.
3 transitive, no passive to prefer to do something; to prefer something to be made or to happen in a particular way like to do something At weekends I like to sleep late.
like something + adj. I like my coffee strong.
4 transitive used in negative sentences to mean ‘to be unwilling to do something’ not like to do something I didn't like to disturb you.
not like doing something He doesn't like asking his parents for help.
Do what you like—I don't care.
You can dye your hair whatever colour you like.
6 like something if you like something on social media, a news website, a blog, etc. you show that you agree with it or that you think it is good by clicking a special button
By the next morning, over twenty of my friends had liked my new profile picture.
Over seven hundred Facebook users have already liked the company’s website.
Idioms
like
/laɪk/
1 likes plural the things that you like We all have different likes and dislikes.
He is more than happy to discuss his life, his likes and his career.
She is very cosmopolitan in her likes and attitudes.
2 singular a person or thing that is similar to another jazz, rock and the like (= similar types of music)
I let the apartment to students, backpackers and such like.
a man whose like we shall not see again
They experienced a period of expansion the like of which the world had rarely seen.
You're not comparing like with like.
3 countable if something on social media, a news website, a blog, etc. receives a like, it means that somebody has shown that they agree with it or think it is good by clicking a special button The band now has thousands of likes.
Idioms
like
/laɪk/
(informal)
1 in the same way as
No one sings the blues like she did.
It didn't turn out like I intended.
Like I said (= as I said before), you're always welcome to stay.
2 as if
She acts like she owns the place.
You will find more information about this use of like at the entries for the verbs act, behave, feel, look and sound and in the note at as.
like
/laɪk/
having similar qualities to another person or thing
a chance to meet people of like mind (= with similar interests and opinions)
She responded in like manner.
like
/laɪk/
1 used in very informal speech, for example when you are thinking what to say next, explaining something, or giving an example of something
It was, like, weird.
It was kind of scary, like.
It's really hard. Like I have no time for my own work.
2 used in very informal speech to show that what you are saying may not be exactly right but is nearly so
I'm leaving in like twenty minutes.
It's going to cost like a hundred dollars.
3 I’m, he’s, she’s, etc. like used in very informal speech, to mean ‘I say’, ‘he/she says’, etc.
And then I'm like ‘No Way!’
4 used in informal speech instead of as to say that something happens in the same way
There was silence, but not like before.
Idioms
Word Origin
preposition ,Middle English: from Old Norse líkr; related to alike.
verb Old English līcian ‘be pleasing’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lijken.
noun sense 1 Old English līcian ‘be pleasing’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lijken. noun senses 2 to 3 Middle English: from Old Norse líkr; related to alike.
conjugation Middle English: from Old Norse líkr; related to alike.
adjective Middle English: from Old Norse líkr; related to alike.
adverb Middle English: from Old Norse líkr; related to alike.