# dislike

/dɪˈsɫaɪk/ (US) · /dɪslˈaɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dislike
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to not like

verb · CEFR B1

to have a feeling that you do not like someone or something.

For teachers: to experience a feeling of aversion or antipathy toward a person, object, or situation. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- I dislike the taste of olives, so I always ask for them to be removed from my pizza.
- Many residents dislike the new urban planning proposal, arguing that it prioritises commercial interests over community green spaces.

Usage: Commonly followed by a noun or a gerund (verb ending in -ing).

### 2. internet vote

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to click a button on a website to show you do not like a post or video.

For teachers: to register a negative reaction or vote of disapproval on a digital platform using a specific interface element.

- If you don't enjoy the video, you can dislike it or just leave a comment.
- The creator noticed that users began to dislike the video in large numbers following the controversial announcement.

### 3. a feeling of distaste

noun · CEFR B1

a feeling of not liking something.

For teachers: a feeling of distaste, aversion, or hostility toward something.

- He has a strong dislike of spicy food and never eats at Indian restaurants.
- Her intense dislike for bureaucratic inefficiency led her to resign from the civil service after only six months.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'of' or 'for'.

### 4. things you do not like

noun · CEFR B1

the specific things that a person does not enjoy.

For teachers: the specific objects or activities toward which an individual feels aversion; typically used in the plural 'likes and dislikes'.

- The dating app asks you to list your likes and dislikes to find a good match.
- When planning the menu, the chef took careful note of the guests' dietary dislikes to ensure everyone enjoyed the meal.

### 5. internet negative vote

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a vote on a website that shows people do not like a post.

For teachers: an instance of a negative vote or 'thumbs down' icon being selected on a social media platform.

- The video received thousands of dislikes within an hour of being posted.
- The platform decided to hide the total number of dislikes to protect creators from targeted harassment campaigns.

## Examples

- He has a strong dislike of spicy food.
- The manager's clear dislike for the new policy caused tension during the staff meeting.
- Her deep-seated dislike of public speaking stemmed from a childhood incident, yet she managed to deliver a compelling keynote address through sheer willpower.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.