LIKE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does like mean? 

• LIKE (noun)
  The noun LIKE has 2 senses:

1. a similar kind

2. a kind of person

  Familiarity information: LIKE used as a noun is rare.

• LIKE (adjective)
  The adjective LIKE has 4 senses:

1. resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination

2. equal in amount or value

3. having the same or similar characteristics

4. conforming in every respect

  Familiarity information: LIKE used as an adjective is uncommon.

• LIKE (verb)
  The verb LIKE has 5 senses:

1. prefer or wish to do something

2. find enjoyable or agreeable

3. be fond of

4. feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard

5. want to have

  Familiarity information: LIKE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIKE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A similar kind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

like; the like; the likes of

Context example:

we don't want the likes of you around here

Hypernyms ("like" is a kind of...):

form; kind; sort; variety (a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A kind of person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

ilk; like

Context example:

I can't tolerate people of his ilk

Hypernyms ("like" is a kind of...):

form; kind; sort; variety (a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality)

• LIKE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination

Synonyms:

like; similar

Context example:

a dreamlike quality

Similar:

like-minded (of the same turn of mind)

look-alike (resembling closely)

suchlike (of the same kind)

Also:

same (closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree)

Antonym:

unlike (marked by dissimilarity)

Derivation:

likeness (similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Equal in amount or value

Synonyms:

like; same

Context example:

the same number

Also:

equal (having the same quantity, value, or measure as another)

Antonym:

unlike (not equal in amount)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having the same or similar characteristics

Synonyms:

alike; like; similar

Context example:

friends are generally alike in background and taste

Attribute:

alikeness; likeness; similitude (similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things)

Derivation:

likeness (similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Conforming in every respect

Synonyms:

comparable; corresponding; like

Context example:

the like period of the preceding year

Similar:

same (closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree)

Derivation:

likeness (similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things)

• LIKE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they like    ... he / she / it likes   
Past simple: liked   
Past participle: liked   
-ing form: liking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Prefer or wish to do something

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

care; like; wish

Context example:

Would you like to come along to the movies?

Hypernyms (to "like" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "like"):

please (be the will of or have the will (to))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They like him to write the letter

Sense 2

Meaning:

Find enjoyable or agreeable

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

She likes to read Russian novels

"Like" entails doing...:

approve (judge to be right or commendable; think well of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "like"):

cotton (take a liking to)

prefer (like better; value more highly)

care for (have a liking, fondness, or taste (for))

enjoy; love (get pleasure from)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue like the movie

Antonym:

dislike (have or feel a dislike or distaste for)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be fond of

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

I like my nephews

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot like Sue

Derivation:

likable (easy to like; agreeable)

likable ((of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings)

likeable (easy to like; agreeable)

likeable ((of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

How did you like the President's speech last night?

Hypernyms (to "like" is one way to...):

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Want to have

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

I'd like a beer now!

Hypernyms (to "like" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Her purity smote him like a blow.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I like your nice manners and refined ways of speaking, when you don't try to be elegant.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“I'll take it, if you like.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He was perfectly cool and made no resistance, but gave me one look, so ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He faced me presently with what looked like a very tattered sketch-book in his hand.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A type of cancer that contains two types of cells: squamous cells (thin, flat cells that line certain organs) and gland-like cells.

(Adenosquamous carcinoma, NCI Dictionary)

The interaction of lymphocytes with other cell types like vascular endothelial cells requires transmembrane adhesion molecules like VLA-4, LFA-1, CD44, CD31 and L-selectin.

(Adhesion Molecules on Lymphocyte Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

MyD88 is involved in interleukin 1 receptor (IL1R) and toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling.

(Adenovector-transduced AP1903-inducible MyD88/CD40-expressing Autologous PSMA-specific Prostate Cancer Vaccine BPX-201, NCI Thesaurus)

I was like a wild beast then that had tasted blood.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The day was like all the days.

(White Fang, by Jack London)