like

like¹

—liker, n.

/luyk/, adj., (Poetic) liker, likest, prep., adv., conj., n., v., liked, liking, interj.

adj.

1. of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.: I cannot remember a like instance.

2. corresponding or agreeing in general or in some noticeable respect; similar; analogous: drawing, painting, and like arts.

3. bearing resemblance.

4. Dial. likely: 'Tis like that he's gone mad.

5. Dial. about: The poor chap seemed like to run away.

6. something like, Informal. something approaching or approximating: It looked something like this.

prep.

7. in like manner with; similarly to; in the manner characteristic of: He works like a beaver.

8. resembling (someone or something): He is just like his father. Your necklace is just like mine.

9. characteristic of: It would be like him to forget our appointment.

10. as if there is promise of; indicative of: It looks like rain.

11. as if someone or something gives promise of being: She looks like a good prospect for the job.

12. disposed or inclined to (usually prec. by feel): to feel like going to bed.

13. similar or comparable to: There is nothing like a cold drink of water when one is thirsty. What was he like?

14. (used correlatively to indicate similarity through relationship): like father, like son.

15. (used to establish an intensifying, often facetious, comparison): sleeping like a log.

16. as; such as: There are numerous hobbies you might enjoy, like photography or painting.

17. like anything, Informal. very much; extremely; with great intensity: He wanted like anything to win.

adv.

18. nearly; closely; approximately: The house is more like 40 than 20 years old.

19. Informal. likely or probably: Like enough he'll come with us. Like as not her leg is broken.

20. Nonstandard.

a. as it were; in a way; somehow.

b. to a degree; more or less: standing against the wall, looking very tough like.

conj.

21. in the same way as; just as; as: It happened like you might expect it would.

22. as if: He acted like he was afraid. The car runs like new.

23. Informal. (used esp. after forms of be to introduce reported speech or thought): She's like, 'I don't believe it,' and I'm like, 'No, it's true!'

n.

24. a similar or comparable person or thing, or like persons or things; counterpart, match, or equal (usually prec. by a possessive adjective or the): No one has seen his like in a long time. Like attracts like.

25. kind; sort; type; ilk (usually prec. by a possessive adjective): I despise moochers and their like.

26. the like, something of a similar nature: They grow oranges, lemons, and the like.

27. the like or likes of, someone or something similar to; the equal of: I've never seen the like of it anywhere.

v.i.

28. like to or liked to, South Midland and Southern U.S. was on the verge of or came close to (doing something): The poor kid like to froze.

interj.

29. Informal. (used esp. in speech, often nonvolitionally or habitually, to preface a sentence, to fill a pause, to express uncertainty, or to intensify or neutralize a following adjective): Like, why didn't you write to me? The music was, like, really great, you know?

[1150-1200; ME lic, lik < ON likr; r. OE gelic, c. D gelijk, G gleich, ON glikr, Goth galeiks like, lit., of the same body or form. See Y-, LICH]

Usage. LIKE¹ as a conjunction meaning "as, in the same way as" (Many shoppers study the food ads like brokers study market reports) or "as if" (It looks like it will rain) has been used for nearly 500 years and by many distinguished literary and intellectual figures.

Since the mid-19th century there have been objections, often vehement, to these uses. Nevertheless, such uses are almost universal today in all but the most formal speech and writing. In extremely careful speech and in much formal writing, as, as if, and as though are more commonly used than LIKE: The commanding general accepted full responsibility for the incident, as any professional soldier would. Many of the Greenwich Village bohemians lived as if (or as though) there were no tomorrow.

The strong strictures against the use of LIKE as a conjunction have resulted in the occasional hypercorrect use of as as a preposition where LIKE is idiomatic: She looks as a sympathetic person.

LIKE meaning "as if" is also standard in informal speech and writing with a small number of adjectives: The crew worked like crazy (or like mad) to finish the job on time. See also as.

like²

/luyk/, v., liked, liking, n.

v.t.

1. to take pleasure in; find agreeable or congenial: We all liked the concert.

2. to regard with favor; have a kindly or friendly feeling for (a person, group, etc.); find attractive: His parents like me and I like them.

3. to wish or prefer: You can do exactly as you like while you are a guest here.

v.i.

4. to feel inclined; wish: We'll have lunch whenever you like.

5. Archaic. to suit the tastes or wishes; please.

6. would like. See would (def. 10).

n.

7. Usually, likes. the things a person likes: a long list of likes and dislikes.

[bef. 900; ME liken, OE lician; c. D lijken, ON lika; see LIKE¹]

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