dislike

verb

/dɪsˈlaɪk/

(rather formal)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they dislike	/dɪsˈlaɪk/ /dɪsˈlaɪk/
he / she / it dislikes	/dɪsˈlaɪks/ /dɪsˈlaɪks/
past simple disliked	/dɪsˈlaɪkt/ /dɪsˈlaɪkt/
past participle disliked	/dɪsˈlaɪkt/ /dɪsˈlaɪkt/
-ing form disliking	/dɪsˈlaɪkɪŋ/ /dɪsˈlaɪkɪŋ/

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to not like somebody/something
- dislike somebody/something Why do you dislike him so much?
- She disliked her boss intensely.
- There are very few foods that I actively dislike.
- dislike doing something I dislike being away from my family.
- Much as she disliked going to funerals (= although she did not like it at all), she knew she had to be there.
- dislike somebody/something doing something He disliked her staying away from home.
- dislike it when… He disliked it when she behaved badly in front of his mother.
- dislike something about somebody/something What did you dislike about the movie?
Synonyms hate
hate
- dislike
- can’t stand
- despise
- can’t bear
- loathe
- detest
These words all mean to have a strong feeling of dislike for somebody/something.
- hate to have a strong feeling of dislike for somebody/something. Although hate is generally a very strong verb, it is also commonly used in spoken or informal English to talk about people or things that you dislike in a less important way, for example a particular type of food: He hates violence in any form. • I’ve always hated cabbage.
- dislike (rather formal) to not like somebody/something. Dislike is a rather formal word; it is less formal, and more usual, to say that you don't like somebody/something, especially in spoken English: I don’t like it when you phone me so late at night.
- can’t stand (rather informal) used to emphasize that you really do not like somebody/something:
  I can’t stand his brother.
  She couldn’t stand being kept waiting.
- despise to dislike and have no respect for somebody/something:
  He despised himself for being so cowardly.
- can’t bear used to say that you dislike something so much that you cannot accept or deal with it:
  I can’t bear having cats in the house.
can’t stand or can’t bear?In many cases you can use either word, but can’t bear is slightly stronger and slightly more formal than can’t stand.
- loathe to hate somebody/something very much:
  They loathe each other.
  Loathe is generally an even stronger verb than hate, but it can also be used more informally to talk about less important things, meaning ‘really don’t like’: Whether you love or loathe their music, you can’t deny their talent.
- detest (rather formal) to hate somebody/something very much:
  They absolutely detest each other.
Patterns
- I hate/dislike/can’t stand/can’t bear/loathe/detest doing something.
- I hate/can’t bear to do something.
- I hate/dislike/can’t stand/can’t bear it when…
- I really hate/dislike/can’t stand/despise/can’t bear/detest somebody/something.
- I absolutely hate/can’t stand/loathe/detest somebody/something.
opposite like
Extra Examples
- The new teacher was widely disliked.
- The new regime is universally disliked.
- If anyone really dislikes this colour, please tell me.
- He was disliked by most of his contemporaries.
- Though he seemed charming, the girl instinctively disliked him.
- Not only would she rather not go swimming, she actively dislikes it.
- He simply disliked working with committees and avoided it whenever possible.
- Most people dislike going to the dentist.
- Much as she disliked asking for help, she knew she had to.
- He disliked it when she phoned him so late at night.
Topics Preferences and decisionsb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- cordially
- greatly
- heartily
- …
phrases
- be generally disliked
- be universally disliked
- be widely disliked
- …
See full entry

dislike

noun

/dɪsˈlaɪk/

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[uncountable, singular] a feeling of not liking somebody/something
- dislike of somebody/something He did not try to hide his dislike of his boss.
- dislike for somebody/something They could barely conceal their dislike for each other.
- dislike to somebody/something She took an instant dislike to the house and the neighbourhood.
Extra Examples
- My father has a great dislike of long hair on boys.
- Several committee members expressed their intense dislike of the chairman.
- their dislike of central government
- Her husband developed a strong dislike for the dog.
- She had a deep dislike for Robert's wife.
- I took an instant dislike to my new colleague.
- He glanced at her with cold dislike.
- In spite of their mutual dislike and hostility, they often worked together.
- She felt dislike rather than sympathy as he told his story.
- She threw him a look of active dislike.
- Sonia stared at me with dislike and distrust.
Topics Preferences and decisionsb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- deep
- extreme
- great
- …
verb + dislike
- feel
- harbour/harbor
- have
- …
preposition
- with dislike
- dislike for
- dislike of
- …
phrases
- a feeling of dislike
- a look of dislike
- take a dislike to somebody
- …
See full entry
[countable, usually plural] a thing that you do not like
- I've told you all my likes and dislikes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
phrases
- somebody’s likes and dislikes
See full entry