liked; liking
1
2
: to wish to have : want
would like a drink
3
: to do well in
this plant likes dry soil
my car does not like cold weather
4
: to electronically register one's approval of (something, such as an online post or comment) for others to see (as by clicking on an icon designed for that purpose)
[Brittany] Bunker then thanked the 477,000 people who had liked her post for their support …—
Natalie Cornish
Natalie CornishHow he picked out this seemingly random user and went ahead and liked the tweet is really surprising …—Zach Pereles
Zach Pereles5
chiefly dialectal
: to be suitable or agreeable to
I like onions but they don't like me
1
: liking, preference
2
: something that one likes
3
: the act or an instance of liking (see like entry 1 sense 4) an online comment, post, etc.
Her post got thousands of likes.
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 …—Hebrews 2:17 (King James Version)
Hebrews 2:17 (King James Version)
b
chiefly British
: closely resembling the subject or original
the portrait is very like
2
: likely
… was like to burst with pride when his daughter-in-law … was returned to the House of Commons …—Time
Time1
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
1
a
: one that is similar : counterpart, equal
We may never see his like again.
b
: kind sense 1a
—usually used with a preceding possessive
… put him and his like to some job …—J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien2
: one of many that are similar to each other
—used chiefly in proverbial expressions
like breeds like
see also and the like, the likes of
1
archaic
: equally
3
a
: to some extent : rather, altogether
… saunter over nonchalantly like.—Walter Karig
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 measurementit was, like, five feet long
goes there every day, like
see also as like as not
1
a
informal
: as if
… middle-aged men who looked like they might be out for their one night of the year.—Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
b
informal
—used in intensive phrases
drove like mad
hurts like crazy
2
informal
: in the same way that : as
… they raven down scenery like children do sweetmeats.—John Keats
John Keats3
a
informal
: in the way or manner that
the violin sounds like an old masterpiece should
did it like you told me
b
informal
—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
informal
: such as
a bag like a doctor carries
when your car has trouble—like when it won't start
—used interjectionally in informal speechoften stays up late, until like three in the morning
Like vs. as: Usage Guide
Like has been used as a conjunction in ways similar to as since the 14th century. Although uses such as "Life isn't really like it is in the movies," "It looks like it's going to rain," and "shoes like a dancer wears" still draw criticism, there is no doubt that, after 600 years of use, conjunctive like is firmly established. In modern use it may be found in literature, journalism, and scholarly works as well as informal speech and writing. Nevertheless, when writing in a formal prose style, you may prefer to use constructions such as "Life isn't really as it is in the movies," "It looks as if it's going to rain," and "shoes such as a dancer wears" to avoid possible criticism.
variants
or liked
chiefly dialectal
: came near : was near
… have had four quarrels, and like to have fought one.—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare'… He used to say that hurt him more'n anythin' ever happened in his life. It liked to kill me. …'—John Dos Passos
John Dos Passos
: resembling or characteristic of
bell-like
ladylike
Examples of like in a Sentence
Verb
He likes baseball, but he loves football.
Do you like Mexican food?
I liked the movie a lot more than I thought I would.
I don't know what it is about that guy, but I just don't like him.
They were political allies who truly liked each other.
What is it that you like or dislike about him most?
She says she likes him as a friend but she's not attracted to him.
My boss was a tough guy, but I liked him for his honesty.
Noun (1)
she thought her new boyfriend was unusually interested in her likes and dislikes
Adjective
you're not talking about like things when you compare football and golf
Preposition
The house looks like a barn.
It's like when we were kids.
She's not at all like her sister.
The baby is more like his mother than his father.
“Who is he like?” “He's not like anyone I've ever met before.”
Noun (2)
you can never trust his like, because they'll always let you down
we'd never seen its like in any other shop in town
Adverb
the cat would curl up, tightly like, and just go to sleep
the distance is more like 500 miles
Conjunction
it looks like it's going to rain at any moment
Recent Examples on the Web
Nur Hikmah Md Ali, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
His elder brother John, a retired Catholic-school principal, confirmed that Leo was a White Sox fan and liked the thin-crust pizza at Aurelio’s; Sox fans started showing up at home games dressed in papal garb, and Aurelio’s introduced a pie called the Poperoni.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
The newcomer is alongside the likes of heavy hitters like Emma Stone, Amanda Seyfried, Renate Reinsve, Rose Byrne, and Jessie Buckley in her category.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026
Gabriela Vidal, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Five diamonds seems like a big gamble on this weak a suit, while five hearts might not be right if partner turns out to have a moderate six-card suit.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025
What else would Konik like to see?
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for like
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
The company likes a 40/60 portfolio for the new year, which is good for investors focusing on the short-to-medium term, said Roger Aliaga-Díaz, Vanguard's global head of portfolio construction and chief economist, Americas.
—Nur Hikmah Md Ali, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
His elder brother John, a retired Catholic-school principal, confirmed that Leo was a White Sox fan and liked the thin-crust pizza at Aurelio’s; Sox fans started showing up at home games dressed in papal garb, and Aurelio’s introduced a pie called the Poperoni.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Opened in 2015, this 120,000-square-foot space houses rotating exhibits of art from the likes of artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Cindy Sherman.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
The newcomer is alongside the likes of heavy hitters like Emma Stone, Amanda Seyfried, Renate Reinsve, Rose Byrne, and Jessie Buckley in her category.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026
Preposition
But at places like Cribs to Crayons Childcare, parents are not being turned away.
—Gabriela Vidal, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Five diamonds seems like a big gamble on this weak a suit, while five hearts might not be right if partner turns out to have a moderate six-card suit.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
Adverb
So what seed types do birds like best?
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025
What else would Konik like to see?
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for like
Cite this Entry
“Like.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/like. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
like
1 of 9 verb
liked; liking
1
: to have a liking for : enjoy
likes baseball
2
: to feel toward : regard
how do you like this weather?
3
: to wish to have : want
would like a drink
4
: to feel inclined : choose
you can leave any time you like
5
: to indicate approval of (as an online post) for others to see (as by clicking on an icon designed for that purpose)
like
2 of 9 noun1
: liking, preference
my likes and dislikes
2
: an instance of liking an online post
like
3 of 9 adjective
: being the same or very nearly the same
two like magnetic poles
suits of like design
like
4 of 9 preposition1
a
: similar to
the house looks like a barn
b
: typical of
it would be just like you to do that
2
: similarly to
acting like a fool
blow it up like a balloon
3
: likely to
looks like rain
4
: such as
a subject like physics
like
5 of 9 noun
: equal entry 2 sense 1
may never see its like again
like
6 of 9 adverb1
: likely entry 2, probably
like as not the cat's under the porch
3
: close to : within a little : nearer
the rate is more like 18 percent
like
8 of 9 helping verb
variants
or liked
chiefly dialect
: came near : was near
I like to have died laughing
-like
9 of 9 adjective combining formˌlīk
: resembling or characteristic of
bell-like
ladylike
Etymology
Verb
Old English līcian "to take pleasure in"
Adjective
Old English gelīc "alike"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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