like
gb/lˈaɪk/ us/lˈaɪk/
A1
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
state
1
to enjoy or approve of
To think something or someone is good or nice.
Usage pattern:
to like [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'like' with 'would like'. 'Like' means you enjoy something in general, while 'would like' means you want something now or in the future.
Synonyms
enjoy (Emphasizes getting pleasure from an activity or thing.)
|
appreciate (Implies recognizing value or quality, sometimes in a more thoughtful way.)
Antonyms
dislike (Means to not enjoy or approve of something.)
Collocations
really like
|like very much
|like a lot
|like doing
|like the idea
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I really like this restaurant.
- She likes going for long walks.
- Do you like your new job?
- He likes the way you think.
- They like spending time together.
Learner examples
- I like pizza.
- She likes cats.
- Do you like music?
- We like our teacher.
- He likes playing football.
Verb
A2
state
2
to prefer in a certain way
To want something to be a certain way.
Usage pattern:
to like [something] [a certain way]
Synonyms
prefer (More formal and often used for choices between options.)
Antonyms
dislike (Means to not prefer or not want something in that way.)
Collocations
like my coffee black
|like it hot
|like things neat
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I like my tea without sugar.
- She likes her steak well-done.
- They like the room to be warm in winter.
Learner examples
- I like my coffee with milk.
- She likes her eggs boiled.
- They like the house clean.
preposition
A1
relation
3
similar to
Similar to something or someone.
Usage pattern:
[something/someone] like [something/someone else]
Synonyms
similar to (Formal equivalent expressing likeness.)
Antonyms
different from (Indicates dissimilarity instead of similarity.)
Collocations
look like
|act like
|sounds like
Themes
description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She sings like a professional.
- This fabric feels like silk.
- He runs like an athlete.
Learner examples
- This tastes like chicken.
- She looks like her sister.
- He runs like a dog.
Noun
B2
entity
4
similar kind of people/things
People or things that are the same type as something mentioned.
Synonyms
type (General category; less personal.)
|
sort (Informal for category; often interchangeable.)
Collocations
and the like
|his like
|their like
Themes
description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He has no equal; there is no one of his like.
- We discussed politics, sports, and the like.
- Artists of her like are rare these days.
Learner examples
- We talked about games, music, and the like.
- People of his like are kind.
- I have never seen his like before.
conjunction
informal
B1
relation
5
in the same way as
Used to say that something happens in the same way as another thing.
Common mistake:
'Like' as a conjunction is informal and sometimes not considered correct in formal writing. Learners might overuse it instead of 'as' or 'as if'.
Synonyms
as if ('As if' can be more formal and hypothetical.)
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It looks like it’s going to rain.
- She talks like she knows everything.
- He acts like he owns the place.
Learner examples
- It looks like he is sick.
- She sings like she is happy.
- He runs like he is late.
Verb
informal
A2
action
6
approve on social media
To click a button on a website to show you enjoy something there.
Usage pattern:
to like [a post/photo/comment]
Synonyms
upvote (Used on some platforms; may emphasize ranking rather than enjoyment.)
Antonyms
unlike (To remove a previous indication of approval on social media.)
Collocations
like a post
|like a comment
|like a photo
Themes
technology
|social media
|communication
Examples
- I liked your photo on Instagram.
- She likes all his posts.
- They liked the video within seconds.
Learner examples
- I liked your picture online.
- She likes my post.
- He likes the video.
Grammar
Dictionary form
like
IPA
GB/lˈaɪk/
US/lˈaɪk/
Syllables & stress
like (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (like)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: like
- 3rd Person Singular: likes
- Present Participle: liking
- Past: liked
Word family
Expressions
'like' crazy
1/lˈaɪk kɹˈeɪzi/
idiom
informal
with great intensity/speed
Very fast, hard, or much.
Examples
- It was raining like crazy.
- She’s been studying like crazy for exams.
be like
1/bˈi lˈaɪk/
fixed phrase
to have similar qualities/behavior as something else
To be similar in qualities or behavior to someone or something else.
Examples
- He’s just like his father.
- This place is like home to me.
feel like (doing something)
1/fˈil lˈaɪk dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
to want to do something now
To want to do something right now.
Examples
- I feel like going for a walk.
- She doesn’t feel like cooking tonight.
look like
1/lˈʊk lˈaɪk/
fixed phrase
to have similar appearance to something else
To be similar in appearance to someone or something else.
Examples
- You look like your brother.
- That cloud looks like a rabbit.
just like that
1/d͡ʒˈʌst lˈaɪk ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
informal
suddenly and easily without warning
Happening suddenly and without effort or warning.
Examples
- He quit his job, just like that.
- She solved the problem, just like that.
- The problem was solved, just like that.
just like that
2/d͡ʒˈʌst lˈaɪk ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
informal
suddenly and easily
Happening very quickly and without effort or warning.
Examples
- He quit his job just like that.
- The problem was solved just like that.