# likeable

/ˈɫaɪkəbəɫ/ (US) · /lˈaɪkəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/likeable
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

pleasant and easy to like. You use this to describe someone who has a nice personality that makes people feel comfortable.

For teachers: having qualities that inspire affection or pleasant feelings in others. Often used to describe a person's temperament or a fictional character's appeal.

## Examples

- He is a very likeable person with a great smile.
- Even though the protagonist makes several mistakes, his honest nature makes him a likeable character.
- The candidate's success was attributed less to her specific policy proposals and more to her likeable public persona, which resonated with a broad demographic of voters.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is a likable man" but "He is a likeable man" — While 'likable' is the standard American spelling, British English learners often forget the 'e' when using the British variant 'likeable'.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem' or 'be'.

---

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.