Definition

1. Preposition:

   • Having similar characteristics or qualities to something else: Used to indicate resemblance or similarity between two entities.
   • In the manner of; characteristic of: Used to indicate a typical action or behavior associated with someone or something.

2. Verb:

   • To find agreeable, enjoyable, or satisfactory: To have a positive feeling or preference for someone or something.
   • To want or wish for: Used to express a desire, often in the conditional form "would like."

3. Noun:

   • A person or thing of the same kind or group: Used to refer to a similar type or category.
   • Preferences; things one enjoys: Often used in the plural form "likes" to indicate things one finds pleasing.

4. Adjective:

   • Similar; alike: Having the same characteristics or qualities.
   • Equal or corresponding in quantity, value, or degree.

5. Adverb (Informal):

   • In a like manner; similarly. Often used informally in speech.
   • As if; nearly. Used informally for approximation or comparison.

6. Conjunction (Informal):

   • In the same way that; as. Used informally in place of "as" or "as if."

Usage Examples

• Preposition:

  • She sings like a professional. (She sings in a manner similar to a professional.)
  • He looks like his father. (He has a similar appearance to his father.)

• Verb:

  • I like chocolate ice cream. (I find chocolate ice cream enjoyable.)
  • Would you like some coffee? (Do you want some coffee?)

• Noun:

  • I've never met his like before. (I've never met a person similar to him before.)
  • We discussed music, art, and the like. (We discussed music, art, and similar things.)

• Adjective:

  • They are of like mind on this issue. (They have similar opinions on this issue.)
  • Each contestant received a like amount of prize money. (Each contestant received an equal amount.)

• Adverb (Informal):

  • She ran like the wind. (She ran very fast, in a manner similar to the wind.)
  • It's, like, really cold outside. (It is approximately or really cold outside.)

• Conjunction (Informal):

  • Do it like I showed you. (Do it in the same way that I showed you.)

Advanced Usage

• "The likes of": Used to refer to a person or group of a particular type, often with a negative or dismissive connotation.

  • We don't want the likes of him in our club. (We don't want people of his type in our club.)

• "Like it or not": Used to introduce a fact or situation that must be accepted, regardless of one's feelings.

  • Like it or not, we have to finish this project today. (Whether we want to or not, we must finish it.)

• "Something like": Approximately; roughly.

  • It will cost something like fifty dollars. (It will cost approximately fifty dollars.)

Variants and Related Words

• Alike (adj/adv): Similar to each other. (e.g., )
• Likeness (n): The fact or quality of being alike; a picture or representation.
• Likely (adj/adv): Probable; probably.
• Unlike (prep/adj): Different from; not like.

Synonyms

• Preposition: Similar to, resembling.
• Verb: Enjoy, appreciate, fancy, desire, want.
• Noun: Equal, counterpart, type, kind.
• Adjective: Similar, comparable, equivalent, identical.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Feel like: To have a desire or inclination for something.

  • I feel like going for a walk. (I have a desire to go for a walk.)

• Look like: To have an appearance that suggests; to seem.

  • It looks like it's going to rain. (It seems that it is going to rain.)

Related Idioms

• Like father, like son: A son's character or behavior is similar to his father's.

  • He's also an engineer? Well, like father, like son. (His father is an engineer too, so the son is similar.)

• Like a fish out of water: Feeling uncomfortable or awkward in an unfamiliar situation.

  • At the formal party, he felt like a fish out of water. (He felt very uncomfortable.)

• Like clockwork: With perfect regularity and precision.

  • The train arrives like clockwork every morning at eight. (It arrives very precisely and regularly.)

Adjective

1. conforming in every respect
   • boxes with corresponding dimensions
   • the like period of the preceding year
2. having the same or similar characteristics
   • all politicians are alike
   • they looked utterly alike
   • friends are generally alike in background and taste
3. equal in amount or value
   • like amounts
   • equivalent amounts
   • the same amount
   • gave one six blows and the other a like number
   • the same number
4. resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination
   • suits of like design
   • a limited circle of like minds
   • members of the cat family have like dispositions
   • as like as two peas in a pod
   • doglike devotion
   • a dreamlike quality

Verb

1. want to have
   • I'd like a beer now!
2. feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard
   • How did you like the President's speech last night?
3. be fond of
   • I like my nephews
4. find enjoyable or agreeable
   • I like jogging
   • She likes to read Russian novels
5. prefer or wish to do something
   • Do you care to try this dish?
   • Would you like to come along to the movies?

Noun

1. a kind of person
   • We'll not see his like again
   • I can't tolerate people of his ilk
2. a similar kind
   • dogs, foxes, and the like, we don't want the likes of you around here