likeverb [ T ]
uk/laɪk/us/laɪk/like verb [ T ] (ENJOY)
A1 to enjoy or approve of something or someone:
I like your new haircut.
Do you like fish?
I like it when a book is so good that you can't put it down.
I quite like wine but I could live without it.
He's very well-liked (= popular) at work.
I like the way he just assumes we'll listen to him when he doesn't take in a word anyone else says! (= I don't like it and it annoys me.)
[ + -ing verb ] I don't like upsetting people.
[ + to infinitive ] He likes to spend his evenings in front of the television.
[ + past participle ] He likes his steak well-done.
to show that you think something is good on a social networking website by clicking on a symbol or the word 'like':
Like us on Facebook!
More than 200 people liked my post.
More examples
- "Did you like the film?" "I thought it was brilliant."
- I'm one of the few people who doesn't actually like champagne.
- He used to like spending Friday nights with the boys.
- It's just as well you're not here - you wouldn't like the noise.
- I like films with a lot of action.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Liking
- affection
- attached
- be a glutton for sth idiom
- be a hit with sb idiom
- be big on sth idiom
- grow
- grow on sb
- have a lot of time for sb idiom
- have a thing about sth/sb idiom
- heart
- lick your lips idiom
- liking
- smitten
- soft corner
- soft spot
- take a shine to sb idiom
- take to sb/sth
- taste
- thing
- warm
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like verb [ T ] (WANT)
would like or formal should like...
More examples
- I'll sing the verses and I'd like you all to join in the chorus.
- I'd like a black coffee , please.
- In conclusion, I would like to thank our guest speaker.
- I've run out of milk - would you like some creamer instead?
- Would you like an aisle seat or would you prefer to be by the window?
A1 used to say politely that you want something:
I think I'd like the soup for my starter.
I'd like to go to Moscow.
I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who's helped to make our wedding such a special occasion!
A1 used in requests:
I'd like one of the round loaves, please.
[ + to infinitive ] I'd like to book a seat for tonight's performance.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] I'd like you to send this for me, please.
[ + past participle ] I would like the whole lot finished by the weekend.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Wanting things
- ache for sth
- acquisitive
- ambitious
- angle
- angle for sth
- aspirant
- fancy
- finger
- hang the cost/expense idiom
- hanker after/for sth
- have your eye on sth idiom
- hunger
- hunger after/for sth
- pine
- set your sights on sth idiom
- shook
- sight
- sth is calling you idiom
- straw
- tempt
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Making appeals & requests
Idiom(s)
how do you like...?
how would you like...?
I'd like to see...
if you like
like it or lump it
what's not to like?
would you like...?
likepreposition, conjunction
uk/laɪk/us/laɪk/like preposition, conjunction (SIMILAR TO)
A2 similar to; in the same way or manner as:
He looks like his brother.
She's very much like her mother (= she is similar in appearance or character).
Is Japanese food like Chinese?
I've got a sweater just like that.
Her hair was so soft it was like silk.
You're acting like a complete idiot!
She sings like an angel!
Like I said (= as I have already said), I don't wear perfume.
Like most people (= as most people would), I'd prefer to have enough money not to work.
It feels/seems like (= it seems to me) ages since we last spoke.
There's nothing like a good cup of coffee (= it's better than anything)!
More examples
- The youngest boys are so close in age they look like twins.
- Sam's been prowling about like a caged animal all morning.
- The blackbird, like most birds, breeds in the spring.
- She's behaving like a spoilt brat.
- "What was the weather like?" "It rained all week."
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Similar and the same
- a level playing field idiom
- affinity
- akin
- alike
- allied
- approach
- clock
- constant
- equal
- every inch idiom
- firm
- homogeneous
- homogenous
- identical
- inch
- resemblance
- Rome
- same
- same difference idiom
- same old same old idiom
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like preposition, conjunction (AS IF)
B1 in a way that suggests:
It looks like I'm going to be in the office until late tonight.
It looks like rain (= I think it is going to rain).
It sounds to me like you ought to change jobs.
You look like you've just got out of bed!
not standard She acts like she's stupid!
More examples
- It seems like they've got lost.
- It looks like we'll be late.
- He looks like he never washes.
- It seems like she's always angry.
- It looks like he'll pass the exam after all.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Similar and the same
- a level playing field idiom
- affinity
- akin
- alike
- allied
- approach
- clock
- constant
- equal
- every inch idiom
- firm
- homogeneous
- homogenous
- identical
- inch
- resemblance
- Rome
- same
- same difference idiom
- same old same old idiom
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Idiom(s)
like a dog with two tails
like two peas in a pod
like you care!/like you'd know!/like he'd ask!
what are you like?
what is sb/sth like?
likepreposition
uk/laɪk/us/laɪk/like preposition (TYPICAL OF)
B2 typical or characteristic of:
That's just like Maisie to turn up half an hour late to her own party!
It's not like you to be so quiet - are you all right, my love?
More examples
- It's not like you to behave like this, Alice - I'm surprised at you !
- I'm worried about your sister - it isn't like her to be so late.
- "They had even arranged a car to collect us from the airport." "Isn't that just like them? They're so thoughtful!"
- "The boys had eaten all the food before we arrived." "That sounds just like them - what pigs!"
- It wouldn't be like Mum to go out without her handbag.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Typifying, illustrating and exemplifying
- analogy
- archetype
- be sb all over idiom
- betoken
- by way of idiom
- genre
- hold
- mirror
- Mr
- Mrs
- quintessential
- representative
- stand
- trademark
- translate
- true
- trust
- trust sb (to do sth)! idiom
- typical
- typically
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like preposition (SUCH AS)
B1 such as:
She looks best in bright, vibrant colours, like red and pink.
More examples
- Expenses like office phone bills are tax deductible .
- I prefer hard cheeses, like Cheddar.
- We were always told that cholesterol, in foods like eggs, was a major cause of heart disease.
- It can sometimes be difficult to give a verbal description of things like colours and sounds.
- It's unusual to have adult conversation like that with such a young child.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Typifying, illustrating and exemplifying
- analogy
- archetype
- be sb all over idiom
- betoken
- by way of idiom
- genre
- hold
- mirror
- Mr
- Mrs
- quintessential
- representative
- stand
- trademark
- translate
- true
- trust
- trust sb (to do sth)! idiom
- typical
- typically
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likeadverb
uk/laɪk/us/laɪk/informallike adverb (FEELINGS/SPEECH)
used before you describe how you were feeling or what you said when something happened to you:
Then I saw how late it was and I'm like, so upset.
He started shouting at me and I'm like, "What's your problem? I'm on your side!"
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: interjections
- (well) what do you know! idiom
- aiyo
- alas
- aw shucks
- awesomesauce
- bam
- bless
- boo
- charming
- good show idiom
- goodness
- heck
- hot dog! idiom
- talk
- use your loaf idiom
- voilà
- wake up! idiom
- watch out
- what an idea! idiom
- yes
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like adverb (PAUSE)
used in conversation as a pause or to emphasize an adjective:
He's, like, really friendly - someone you can talk to.
If there's nothing you can do to change the situation, it's like - why bother?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: very & extreme
- abject
- awful
- badly
- beyond
- classic
- classical
- devastating
- drop dead! idiom
- eminently
- esp
- especially
- heartily
- impossibly
- rather
- sheer
- specially
- supremely
- thoroughly
- whole
- wide
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likenoun
uk/laɪk/us/laɪk/the like of sb/sth; sb's/sth's like
also the likes of sb/sth a person, thing, or group similar in character or quality to the one mentioned:
Boxing hasn't seen the likes of Muhammad Ali since he retired.
He was a very great actor - we won't see his like again.
He described a superlative meal, the like of which he'd never eaten before.
They're competing with the likes of Microsoft.
and such like also and the like informal
and similar things:
There's a big sports hall for tennis and badminton and such like.
likes B2 [ plural ]
the things that someone enjoys:
The star lists his likes as "my new Porsche, my girlfriend, and staying up all night."
They can't expect me to accommodate all their silly little likes and dislikes.
not for the likes of sb also like informal
not for the type of people mentioned:
First-class travel is for rich people - it's not for the likes of us.
[ C ] (on a page on a social networking website) an act of showing that you think something is good by clicking a button:
My new profile picture got 100 likes.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Describing people with the same qualities
- a chip off the old block idiom
- a meeting of minds idiom
- be cast in the same mould idiom
- be of like mind idiom
- be of the same mind idiom
- birds of a feather flock together idiom
- birds of a feather idiom
- cast
- chip
- dead ringer
- doppelgänger
- it takes a thief to catch a thief idiom
- match
- meeting
- mind
- soulmate
- step
- take after sb
- thief
- wavelength
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Also, extra, and in addition
Liking
Categories and varieties
likeadjective
uk/laɪk/us/laɪk/be like to do sth old use
to be likely to do something
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Possible and probable
- always
- anything's possible idiom
- arguably
- as never before idiom
- avenue
- lean
- lean towards sth
- liable
- likelihood
- likely
- maybe
- realm
- sporting chance
- stand
- strange
- stranger things have happened idiom
- strong
- ten
- ten to one idiom
- vista
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Idiom(s)
be of like mind