# unlike

/ənˈɫaɪk/ (US) · /ʌnlˈaɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unlike
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. in contrast to

preposition · CEFR B1

different from another person or thing.

For teachers: used to highlight a contrast between the subject and another entity.

- Unlike her sister, who loves the city, Sarah prefers living in the countryside.
- Unlike the previous administration, which prioritised short-term growth, the current cabinet has focused on long-term environmental sustainability.

### 2. not typical of someone

preposition · CEFR B2

not typical of a person's usual character or behaviour.

For teachers: indicates that a specific behaviour is uncharacteristic of the individual in question.

- It was unlike him to be late for such an important meeting.
- It is quite unlike the CEO to remain silent during a crisis, leading many to suspect she was unaware of the situation.

### 3. not similar

adjective · CEFR B2

not looking or acting the same as something else.

For teachers: dissimilar in nature, quality, or appearance.

- The two brothers have very unlike personalities despite their similar looks.
- The researchers found that the two chemical compounds reacted in completely unlike ways when exposed to high temperatures.

### 4. social media action

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to remove a 'like' you previously gave to a post on social media.

For teachers: to retract a previous 'like' interaction on a digital platform.

- I accidentally liked my ex's photo, so I had to quickly unlike it.
- Users often unlike pages when the content becomes repetitive or no longer aligns with their personal interests.

### 5. the act of unliking

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the act of removing a 'like' from a social media post.

For teachers: the specific instance or action of withdrawing a digital 'like'.

- The celebrity noticed a sudden wave of unlikes after his controversial comment.
- The marketing team tracked the number of unlikes to determine which advertising campaigns were alienating their core audience.

## Examples

- Unlike her sister, she loves spicy food.
- Unlike the previous model, this new smartphone features a waterproof casing and a significantly longer battery life.
- Unlike many of his contemporaries who embraced the rapid industrialisation of the era, the poet remained deeply suspicious of urban expansion and its effect on the rural landscape.

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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.