like
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to enjoy something or find it pleasant.
v.to find agreeable, enjoyable, or satisfactory. Transitive — requires a direct object or an infinitive/gerund complement.
Simple“I really like the new Italian restaurant in the city centre.”
In context“Most residents seem to like the proposed changes to the park, though a vocal minority remains concerned about the cost.”
PitfallI am liking this music. I like this music.As a stative verb, 'like' is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form in standard English.
Synonyms - 02 A2 Elementary
v.to show you support or agree with a post on the internet by clicking a button.
v.to indicate approval of digital content via a specific interface action.
Simple“Don't forget to like and subscribe if you enjoyed the video.”
In context“The post was liked by thousands of users within minutes of being published on the platform.”
- 03 A1 Beginner
prep.similar to something or someone else.
prep.having the same or nearly the same characteristics as another entity.
Simple“She looks just like her mother when she smiles.”
In context“The fabric feels like silk, but it is actually a highly sophisticated synthetic blend designed for durability.”
PitfallYour phone is the same like mine. Your phone is the same as mine.Use 'the same as' for identity, but 'like' for similarity.
Synonymssimilar toresemblingAntonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
prep.used to give examples of something.
prep.introducing a specific instance or instances of a broader category.
Simple“I prefer bright colours, like yellow and orange.”
In context“The course covers various European languages, like French, German, and Spanish, focusing on conversational skills.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
n.the things that you enjoy or prefer.
n.the things that a person finds pleasing or prefers; usually used in the plural.
Simple“We discussed our likes and dislikes regarding the new office design.”
In context“Understanding the likes of your target audience is essential for any successful marketing campaign.”
SynonymspreferencesfavouritesAntonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person or thing that is similar to another.
n.a person or thing of the same kind or class as one mentioned.
Simple“We shall never see his like again.”
In context“The museum houses ancient coins, pottery, and the like, all recovered from the local excavation site.”
Synonyms - 07 B1 Intermediate
conj.in the same way that something else happens.
conj.used to introduce a clause describing a manner or state; often substituted for 'as' in informal speech.
Simple“No one makes chocolate cake like my grandmother does.”
In context“He behaves like he owns the place, which irritates the rest of the staff.”
Synonymsasthe way - 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having the same qualities.
adj.possessing the same or similar characteristics; often used in the phrase 'of like mind'.
Simple“The two companies have like interests in the energy sector.”
In context“The project brought together people of like mind who were all committed to environmental conservation.”
Antonyms - 09 C1 Advanced
part.a word used when you are thinking or to emphasize something.
part.a discourse marker used as a filler, to indicate a paraphrase, or to signal a focus on new information.
Simple“I was, like, so surprised when she told me the news.”
In context“He was like, 'I can't believe we missed the train,' and I was just standing there in shock.”
UsageCommonly used in speech to fill pauses or before quoting someone.
Teacher's tipLearners should avoid using this in formal writing or professional presentations as it can sound unprofessional.
Usage like to send · like to travel · like the one
For Mandarin speakers Mandarin lacks a final /k/ plosive; speakers often release the sound with an extra vowel or omit it entirely, resulting in /laɪkə/ or /laɪ/.
Mandarin marks comparison through the particle 像 (xiàng) or 跟 (gēn)...一样 (yīyàng) without changing verb structure, which leads learners to omit the auxiliary 'do' in questions, producing 'You like me?' instead of 'Do you like me?' or 'You like what?' for 'What do you like?'.
The Mandarin verb 喜欢 (xǐ huān) covers both 'like' and 'be fond of' and frequently takes a bare verb as an object; this produces 'I like play football' instead of using the gerund 'playing' or the infinitive 'to play'.
For Japanese speakers Japanese phonology lacks the /l/ and /ɹ/ distinction, using a single alveolar flap /ɾ/ instead. Speakers often replace the initial liquid in 'like' /laɪk/ with this flap, resulting in /ɾaikɯ/.
Japanese verbs such as 好き (suki) function as quasi-adjectives requiring the particle が (ga) for the object. This often causes learners to use 'like' with 'is' or 'to' (e.g., 'I am like tea' or 'I like to tea') by transferring the L1 adjectival structure.
The Japanese phrase 気に入る (ki ni iru), meaning to like or be pleased with, literally translates to 'enter the feelings'. This can lead to the non-standard collocation 'like in my heart' or 'take a liking in' when expressing new-found preference.