First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1like
verb \ˈlīk\
: to enjoy (something) : to get pleasure from (something)
: to regard (something) in a favorable way
: to feel affection for (someone) : to enjoy being with (someone)
likedlik·ing
Full Definition of LIKE
transitive verb
1
chiefly dialect : to be suitable or agreeable to <I like onions but they don't like me>
2
3
: to wish to have : want <would like a drink>
4
: to do well in <this plant likes dry soil> <my car does not like cold weather>
intransitive verb
1
dial : approve
See like defined for English-language learners
See like defined for kids
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Origin of LIKE
Middle English, from Old English līcian; akin to Old English gelīc alike
Related to LIKE
- Synonyms
- care (for), want, feel like
2like
noun
3like
adjective
: having the same or similar qualities
Full Definition of LIKE
1
a : the same or nearly the same (as in appearance, character, or quantity) <suits of like design> —formerly used with as, unto, of <it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren — Heb 2:17(Authorized 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>
See like defined for English-language learners
Origin of LIKE
Middle English, alteration of ilich, from Old English gelīc like, alike, from ge-, associative prefix + līc body; akin to Old High German gilīh like, alike, Lithuanian lygus like — more at co-
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to LIKE
- Synonyms
- akin, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto, alike, matching, parallel, resemblant, resembling, similar, such, suchlike
- Antonyms
- different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin, unlike
4like
preposition
: similar to (something or someone)
: typical of (someone)
: comparable to or close to (something)
Full Definition of LIKE
1
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>
See like defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of LIKE
13th century
5like
noun
Definition of LIKE
1
a : one that is similar : counterpart, equal <have … never seen the like before — Sir Winston Churchill> b : kind 4a —usually used with a preceding possessive <put him and his like to some job — J. R. R. Tolkien>
2
: one of many that are similar to each other —used chiefly in proverbial expressions <like breeds like>
— and the like
— the likes of also 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>
First Known Use of LIKE
13th century
6like
adverb
Definition of LIKE
1
archaic : equally
3
a : to some extent : rather, altogether <saunter over nonchalantly like — 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 measurement <it was, like, five feet long> <goes there every day, like>
— as like as not or like as not
: probably
See like defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of LIKE
14th century
Related to LIKE
- Synonyms
- enough, kindly [chiefly Southern], kind of, fairly, moderately, more or less, pretty, quite, rather, relatively, something, somewhat, sort of
7like
conjunction
: the way it would be if
: the way someone would do if
: the same as
Full Definition of LIKE
1
a : as if <middle-aged men who looked like they might be out for their one night of the year — 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>
3
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 speech <often stays up late, until like three in the morning>
See like defined for English-language learners
Usage Discussion of LIKE
Like has been used as a conjunction 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.
First Known Use of LIKE
14th century
8like
verbal auxiliary \ˈlīkt\
Definition of LIKE
chiefly dialect : came near : was near <so loud I like to fell out of bed — Helen Eustis>
Variants of LIKE
like or liked \ˈlīkt\
First Known Use of LIKE
15th century
LIKES Defined for Kids
1like
verb \ˈlīk\
likedlik·ing
Definition of LIKE for Kids
1
: enjoy 1 <My family likes games.>
2
: to feel toward : regard <How do you like this snow?>
2like
noun
Definition of LIKE for Kids
: liking, preference <His likes and dislikes are different from hers.>
3like
adjective
4like
preposition
Definition of LIKE for Kids
1
: similar or similarly to <They act like fools.>
2
: typical of <It is just like them to forget.>
3
: likely to <It looks like rain.>
4
: such as <Choose a color like red.>
5
: close to <The temperature reached something like 100 degrees.>
5like
noun
Definition of LIKE for Kids
: 3equal, counterpart <We never saw their like before.>
6like
conjunction
Definition of LIKE for Kids
1
: as if 1 <It looks like it might rain.>
2
: in the same way that : as <My sister sounds just like I do.>
3
: such as <She often forgets like she did yesterday.>
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