Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easy to like; agreeable; pleasant: A person or thing that is "likeable" has qualities that make them pleasant, friendly, and easy to like.
   • Evoking empathy or sympathy: In literature or drama, a "likeable" character is one that the audience can relate to and feel sympathy for.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a person's character:
  • He is a genuinely likeable person who makes friends easily.
  • Her likeable nature made her very popular at the new school.
• Describing a character in a story:
  • The author created a likeable protagonist that readers could root for.
  • Despite his flaws, the character remained likeable throughout the film.

Advanced Usage

• "Find someone likeable": To perceive someone as pleasant or agreeable.
  • I found her very likeable from the moment we met.
• "Inherently likeable": Possessing a naturally pleasant quality.
  • The actor has an inherently likeable screen presence.

Variants and Related Words

• Likeability (noun): The quality of being likeable.
  • The politician's likeability was a key factor in the election.
• Like (verb): To find agreeable or enjoyable. (Note: This is the root verb from which "likeable" is derived.)

Synonyms

• Pleasant: Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.
• Agreeable: Enjoyable and pleasurable; pleasant.
• Charming: Very pleasant or attractive.
• Amiable: Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
• Sympathetic: (In the context of characters) Arousing feelings of pity or sorrow.

Antonyms

• Unlikeable: Not pleasant or easy to like.
• Disagreeable: Unpleasant or unenjoyable.
• Repellent: Causing disgust or distaste.

Notes on Usage

• The spelling likable is also correct and common, especially in American English. Both "likeable" and "likable" are acceptable.
• "Likeable" is primarily used to describe people and fictional characters. It can sometimes be used informally to describe objects or ideas that are appealing (e.g., ), but this is less common.

Adjective

1. easy to like; agreeable
   • an attractive and likable young man
2. (of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings
   • the sympathetic characters in the play