Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Resembling or characteristic of a boy: Having the qualities, appearance, or behavior typically associated with a young male child or adolescent.
   • Suitable for a boy: Befitting a boy in nature or manner.

2. Adverb:

   • In a boyish manner: Acting or behaving in a way that is characteristic of a boy.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Her boylike enthusiasm for the game was contagious.
  • He had a boylike curiosity about how things worked.

• Adverb:

  • She ran boylike through the field, full of energy.
  • He grinned boylike at the simple pleasure.

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe enduring youthful traits in adults: Often applied to describe adults (of any gender) who retain an appealing, youthful, or innocent quality reminiscent of a boy.
  • Despite his age, he retained a boylike wonder about the world.

Variants and Related Words

• Boyish (adj): The more common synonym for the adjective form, meaning having the characteristics of a boy.
  • He has a boyish charm.
• Boyishly (adv): The more common synonym for the adverbial form.
  • He smiled boyishly.

Synonyms

• Boyish: Characteristic of a boy.
• Youthful: Having the appearance or qualities of youth.
• Juvenile: Characteristic of youth or young people.

Antonyms

• Girllike: Characteristic of a girl.
• Womanly: Having qualities traditionally associated with a woman.
• Manly: Having qualities traditionally associated with a man.

Notes on Usage

• The term "boylike" is less frequent than its synonym "boyish." It is often used for stylistic variation or in more descriptive, literary contexts.
• When used as an adverb, it is considered somewhat informal or literary.

Adjective

1. befitting or characteristic of a young boy
   • a boyish grin
   • schoolboyish pranks

Adverb

1. like a boy
   • he smiled boyishly at his fiancee