From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlikelike1 /laɪk/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 similarLIKE/SIMILAR similar to something else, or happening in the same way Her hair is dark brown like mine. A club should be like a big family. He eats like a pig!look/sound/feel/taste/seem like The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier. My experience is very much like that described in the book. He’s very like his brother. Sometimes you sound just like (=exactly like) my mum! He’s growing more like his father every day. He looked nothing like (=not at all like) the man in the police photograph.2 → what is somebody/something like?3 exampleEXAMPLE for example Things like glass, paper, and plastic can all be recycled. Try to avoid fatty foods like cakes and biscuits.RegisterIn written English, people usually use for example, for instance, or such as rather than like:packaging materials, for instance paper, glass, and plasticTry to avoid fatty foods such as cakes and biscuits.4 typicalTYPICAL typical of a particular personbe like somebody to do something It’s not like Steven to be late. It’s just like her to run away from her responsibilities!5 → like this/that/so6 → just like that7 → something like8 → nothing like9 → there’s nothing like10 → more like11 → that’s more like it/this is more like it12 → more like it13 → what are you like!
Examples from the Corpus
like• The lamp was round, like a ball.• This superb almost-flourless chocolate cake is something like a brownie for grownups.• It looks a bit like a cactus.• She laughed like a child and played with her hair.• You're treating him like a child.• He stood bolt upright, like a soldier.• I'd love to be able to sing like Ella Fitzgerald.• It's not like Emily to lie.• She moves and talks exactly like her mother.• He moves and talks just like his father.• Life at college was nothing like I expected.• Like many women her age, she struggled to find a balance between her career and her children.• Huge trees had snapped like matchsticks in the hurricane-force winds.• Fruits like oranges and kiwis have lots of vitamin C.• We could cook something easy, like pasta.• This is such beautiful material - it feels like silk.• The houses here are like the ones in northern France.• They were all waving their arms around, like this.• We still haven't settled a number of problems, like who is going to be in charge here while I'm away.• My mother has a car like yours.look/sound/feel/taste/seem like• Indeed, Louisiana once looked like a good opportunity for Gramm to pick up an early win.• He didn't look like a tycoon.• The handset looks like an elongated remote control and weighs only 1 pound.• I tried it once and burnt my mouth so badly I looked like I'd been kissing superglue.• This means the taxpayer can arrange to pay his taxes when he feels like it or when it is most advantageous.• It looked like just a fight between two kids.• Listener: It sounds like you felt it went very well.Things like• Malcolm taught me things as well. Things like how not to mouth off about any ideas you might have.• And another was his talon-like toenails. Things like that can make even the best marriage lose its lustre.• He didn't stay for Ken's thanks. Things like that were not forgotten in a hurry.• Does your dad use pesticides? Things like that.• He chants his songs in public. Things like that.• Papering the hall because she wanted it brightening up. Things like that. be like somebody to do something• Brooklands was like paradise to 19 year old Jack.• It was like Tolonen not to abuse the Pass Laws; not to grant permissions for his family or friends.• The Malibu campus was like home to him.• While he was alive, Heathcliff was like a brother to Hindley and me.• A country is like a business to me.• Those radios were like magic boxes to me.• For me, initially, it was like learning how to play patty-cake without a partner.• It was like a chorus to the technical debate.likelike2 ●●● S1 W1 verb [transitive] 1 LIKE oR somethingthink something is nice to enjoy something or think that it is nice or good → love OPP dislike I like your jacket. I don’t really like classical music. Do you like this colour? I like my coffee quite weak. I don’t like it when you get angry. How do you like living in London (=how much do you like it)?like doing something I don’t like talking in public.like to do something I like to see people enjoying themselves. I quite like their new album. We really liked the film. The time I like best (=like most of all) is the evening when it’s cool.like something about somebody/something One of the things I like about John is his sense of humour. I didn’t like the idea of being a single parent.2 LIKE somebody OR somethinglike a person to think that someone is nice or enjoy being with them Jessica’s really nice, but I don’t like her boyfriend. You’ll like my brother. I really like Sam. She’s a lovely girl and I like her very much. In time, I got to like her (=began to like her).3 PREFERapprove of something to approve of something and think that it is good or right I don’t like dishonesty. I don’t like the way he shouts at the children.like doing something He’s never liked talking about people behind their backs.like somebody doing something I don’t like him taking all the credit when he didn’t do any of the work.like to do something She doesn’t like to swear in front of the children.4 ENJOY/LIKE DOING somethingdo something regularly to try to do something regularly or make something happen regularlylike to do something I like to get up early and get a bit of work done before breakfast.like somebody to do something We like our students to take part in college sports activities.5 → would like6 → whatever/wherever/anything etc you like7 → as long as you like/as much as you like etc8 → (whether you) like it or not9 → I’d like to think/believe (that)10 Facebook to click a Facebook ‘like’ button on a webpage to show that you like or agree with somethingSPOKEN PHRASES11 → if you like12 romantic to think someone is sexually attractive → love Do you think Alex likes me?13 → I’d like to see you/him do something14 → how would you like sth?15 → I like that!16 → like it or lump itGrammarPatterns with like• You like someone or something: I like my teacher.She likes tennis. • You like doing something: She likes playing tennis.• You like to do something: She likes to play tennis at weekends. ✗Don’t say: She likes play tennis.• Like doing something and like to do something both mean the same thing. You use like to do especially when saying that someone does something regularly or often.Using the progressive• Like is not usually used in the progressive. You say: I like animals. She liked to make cakes. ✗Don’t say: I am liking animals. | She was liking to make cakes.• In spoken English, people sometimes say I’m liking to describe their present feelings about something that is happening right now or that they have just seen or heard about: I’m liking this music – what is it?THESAURUSlike to think that someone or something is niceI like your dress – it’s a beautiful colour.Do you like spaghetti?What did you like about the movie?I like travelling by train.I like to see the children enjoying themselves.Everybody liked Mr Schofield.be fond of somebody/something especially British English to like someone or something, especially something that you have liked for a long time or someone who you have known for a long timeConnie had always been fond of animals.Over the years, I’ve become quite fond of him.He had always been fond of drinking at lunchtime, perhaps too fond.be keen on somebody/something spoken to like someone or something – often used in negative sentencesI like Maria but I’m not keen on her husband.Our English teacher was very keen on Shakespeare, but I couldn’t stand him.I was keen on all sports at school.I know he’s keen on opera. Let’s take him to see ‘La Traviata’.I’m quite keen on the idea of having a fancy dress party. be into something informal to like doing a particular activity or be interested in a particular subject – used especially by young peopleShe’s really into music at the moment.What kind of films are you into?have a thing about somebody/something informal to like someone or something, especially something surprising or unusualI’ve always had a thing about wolves. He has this thing about tall women.be partial to something formal to like to have something – often used humorouslyHe’s partial to the occasional glass of wine. something grows on you used when saying that you begin to like something, especially something that you did not like beforeI didn’t like the colour of the room at first, but it’s growing on me.to like something very muchlove/adore to like something very much. Adore is stronger than love but is less commonI love the smell of coffee.The children absolutely adore her books.be crazy about something (also be mad about something British English informal) to be extremely interested in an activity and spend a lot of time doing it or watching itJonah’s crazy about basketball.She’s always been mad about horses.have a passion for something to like an activity very much, because it gives you a lot of pleasure or excitementFrom a very early age he had a passion for fast cars.To be a great performer, you have to work very hard and have a passion for the music you play.be addicted to something to like doing something so much that you spend all your free time doing itMy son’s addicted to computer games – he hardly ever comes out of his room.I started watching the show out of curiosity, but now I’m addicted! → See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
like• Mixed in with most of the words in Englishand very likely every other language-is some taint of liking or disliking.• What did you like about the movie?• In accepting both what I like and don't like in her, I can more readily accept both aspects in myself.• He doesn't like gossip, our Jack.• I liked her, but I was afraid to ask her to go out with me.• I never really like her - she was always a bit stuck-up and condescending.• My daughter doesn't like lima beans.• We liked living abroad. It was a wonderful experience.• I think Roy likes living alone.• I don't think Professor Riker likes me.• I don't like meetings, especially if they go on for too long.• Everybody liked Mr. Schofield, but he wasn't a very good teacher.• I've always liked Sally - she's a lot of fun.• I'd really like some breakfast.• Do you like spaghetti?• I like the way she interacts with children.• So you can hate them, or like them, or love them.• More worried now than she liked to admit, Piper extended her search for the Base Administrator to the refectory.• I should like to call again soon to take a drive to some other point in the country.• I like to put lots of ketchup on my fries.• Nick likes to relax and read a book in the evenings.• You have your friends; the faculty likes you; you play on teams.• I like your dress - it's a beautiful colour.• I like your new car.• How do you like your steak cooked?like it• A detective chief super should immerse himself in bumf until the last trump sounds and like it.• But you didn't have to like it.• It was incredible, and until today she'd never experienced anything remotely like it.• She had clung terrified to her hiding-place as it was carried and dropped with several others just like it.• The simpler the design, the better he liked it.• Nothing quite like it had been seen on the Allied side hitherto.• Nobody asked you if you liked it or not.• My heart felt like it was wrapped in barbed wire.• Linda doesn't like it when we talk about politics.got to like• He was the only one of Hubert's friends I really got to like.• He's a big guy, but he seemed to have got to like crying.• The more I grew up, the more I got to like her.• Have we got to like it?• Piers said, have I got to like it?• When she realized I was a good thief and knew how to use a knife, she got to like me. like the way• In the Pittsburgh-Bills game, I have to like the way Buffalo is playing.• She liked the way he talked.• She liked the way she had not openly offered reconciliation yet had managed to imply that forgiveness would not be unreasonably withheld.• Pearl did not like the way she was directed.• I like the way some one like Laurie Anderson crosses over from the art world to the mainstream.• He likes the way you ride them.• I like the way you show the Khmer people.like to do something• Please contact Rita as soon as possible if you would like to attend.• Eva Luz might like to come.• Again, there is more than we would like to do, and more that in time we will do.• If you would like to know more, just call our office at 555-121 3.• I know people who like to lean over the edge of observation towers or ride the tallest roller coasters without holding on.• Gregory liked to portray tax as unwarranted and unjust.• Well Miss Seles and the reader who wrote in defence of you, I would like to say this.• At the end of the first day, Blue decided he'd like to take the trees home and plant them.likelike3 ●●● W3 noun 1 → somebody’s likes and dislikes2 → and the like/and such like3 → the likes of somebody/something4 → the like of somebody/somethingExamples from the Corpus
like• Beyond the talk of coalitions, alphabetic organizations, and the like, there are at length real people.• Despite the expensive-looking Baroque decor and the pianist, this place serves cheap pizzas and the like.likelike4 ●●● S1 conjunction 1 SAMEin the same way as. Some people consider this use to be incorrect No one else can score goals like he can! Don’t talk to me like you talk to a child.2 → like I say/said3 WAY/MANNER informal as if. Some people think that this use is not correct English He looked at me like I was mad. It looks like it’s going to rain. This meat smells like it’s gone bad.Examples from the Corpus
like• He acted like he owned the place.• I don't want him treating me like Jim treated me.likelike5 ●●○ S3 adverb spoken 1 XXused in speech to fill a pause while you are thinking what to say next The water was, like, really cold. I was just, like, standing there.2 → I’m/he’s/she’s like ...3 → as like as not/like enoughExamples from the Corpus
like• It was like 9 o'clock when I got home.• Like by, like by the seven eleven.• Do you think you could, like, not tell anyone what happened?• It was like this is this is the look of puzzlement.• That is a scary intersection. Like yesterday I saw two cars go straight through a red light.likelike6 adjective formal 1 LIKE/SIMILAR[only before noun] similar in some way The second dispute was sorted out in a like manner. They get on well together because they are of like mind. Try to buy two fish of like size.► see thesaurus at similar2 → be like to do somethingExamples from the Corpus
like• By saying they're like bus queues, you've made lots of assumptions.• It sort of migrated upward, like cream rising to the top.• The problem is that religion delivered as a sound bite is sort of like pate from a drive-through window.• It's like poetry, Tom Rigby says, when they're working well.of like mind• The people of the village are of like mind. 5.• A belief in criticism was an affirmation to be made in earnest assemblies of like minds.• She says that it's the bringing together of like minds.• We found women of like mind.• The Vicosinos were of like mind and thus Supported the project to purchase the land and liberate these families from serfdom.-like-like /laɪk/ suffix [in adjectives] SAMEused after a noun to say that something is similar to or typical of the noun a jelly-like substance childlike simplicity ladylike behaviourOrigin -like → LIKE6 like1 (1300-1400) → LIKE6 like2 Old English lician like3 1. (1800-1900) → LIKE22. (1200-1300) → LIKE6 like4 (1700-1800) → LIKE1 like5 (1400-1500) → LIKE1 like6 Old English gelic 