Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

like

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
adjective, adverb, conjunction, preposition American English pronunciation: like /laɪk/
Like can be used in the following ways:
as a preposition (followed by a noun): He looks like his father.
as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): She looked like she was about to cry.
as an adverb: I said, like, you can't do this to me.
as an adjective, especially in the phrase "of like mind"
 
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    similar or in a similar way
    1. a.
      similar to someone or something else, or in a similar way to someone or something else

      It was a small animal like a rat.

      I think she was like me, she didn't really want to get involved.

      No one could play the trumpet like he did.

      just like:

      I went and bought myself a new pen just like yours.

      That morning began just like any other.

      seem/look/sound/smell/taste/feel like:

      Doesn't he look like Mark?

      The cloth felt like silk against her skin.

      anything like (=at all similar):

      Was the office where you used to work anything like this one?

      nothing like (=not at all similar):

      I have to admit India was nothing like what I was expecting.

      like new:

      Once it's washed and ironed it'll be like new.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of like
    2. b.
      used for emphasizing a quality in the way that someone does something or in the way that something happens

      The news spread like wildfire.

      He smokes like a chimney.

      She was crying like a baby.

    3. c.
      in the same way as usual or as before

      Why don't you play with the other children, like you used to?

      I went to see my mother, like I always do on Tuesdays.

    4. d.
      used when the same statement applies to each of two things

      Other people's children, like other people's dogs, have never interested me.

  2. 2
    used for introducing an example of something or someone that you have just mentioned

    It eats small animals like birds and mice.

    An intelligent woman like you shouldn't have been fooled so easily.

  3. 3
    used for saying that a type of behavior is typical of a particular person
    it's just like someone:

    He didn't show up again. That's just like him.

    it's not like someone to do something:

    It's not like him to lie.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of like
  4. 4
    spoken used when saying that something appears to be true but may not be

    He sounded like he'd just woken up.

    Sam played with the children like he was one of them.

    It looks like he has his hair trimmed about three times a week.

  7. 7
    spoken used when asking someone to do something that they might not want to do

    I was wondering if I could, like, borrow the car this evening.

  8. 8
    spoken used when you are reporting what someone has said

    And I'm like, give me a chance, Simon.

phrases

See also

This is the American English definition of like. View British English definition of like.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

 

charticle

a news article that consists of a chart … and only has a small amount of text

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

tweet

the short high sound that a small bird makes

Open Dictionary

never event

an event that should never occur in a healthcare setting …

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog