like
verb/laɪk/
/laɪk/
not usually used in the progressive tensesVerb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they like | /laɪk/ /laɪk/ |
| he / she / it likes | /laɪks/ /laɪks/ |
| past simple liked | /laɪkt/ /laɪkt/ |
| past participle liked | /laɪkt/ /laɪkt/ |
| -ing form liking | /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/ /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to find somebody/something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard; to enjoy something
- like somebody/something She's nice. I like her.
- I really like him.
- Do you like their new house?
- Which tie do you like best?
- How did you like Japan (= did you find it pleasant)?
- She's never liked swimming.
- I don't like the way he's looking at me.
- She liked the idea of being her own boss.
- The company didn't like the fact that I'd taken maternity leave.
- You've got to go to school, whether you like it or not.
- like doing something We like having people to stay.
- like somebody/something doing something I didn't like him taking all the credit.
- (formal) I didn't like his taking all the credit.
- like to do something I like to see them enjoying themselves.
- like it when… I like it when you do that.
Grammar Point want / like / love / hate / thinkwant / like / love / hate / think- These verbs belong to a group known as stative verbs because they describe a state rather than an action (although think can describe either an action or a state). Stative verbs are not usually used in the progressive tenses. However, it is becoming more common for some stative verbs to be used with progressive tenses. Stative verbs such as want, like, love, hate and think are sometimes used in informal language to describe a state at a particular moment, or a state that continues for a period of time:
- Why are you wanting a new phone when your current one works perfectly well?
- What shall we do tonight? I’m thinking bowling.
- I’m loving the weather today!
Synonyms likelikelove ▪ be fond of ▪ be keen on something ▪ adoreThese words all mean to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard, or to enjoy something.like to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard; to enjoy something:- Do you like their new house?
- I like to see them enjoying themselves.
- He loved the way she smiled.
- We were fond of the house and didn’t want to leave.
- I’m not keen on spicy food.
- She’s not keen on being told what to do.
- She adores working with children.
- to like/love/be fond of/be keen on/adore doing something
- to like/love to do something
- to like/love something very much
- I like/love/adore it here/there/when…
- to like/love/adore the way somebody does something
- to really like/love/adore somebody/something
- to be really fond of/keen on something
Synonyms lovelovelike ▪ be fond of somebody ▪ adore ▪ be devoted to somebody ▪ care for somebody ▪ dote on somebodyThese words all mean to have feelings of liking or caring for somebody.love to have strong feelings of caring for somebody:- I love you.
- She’s nice. I like her.
- I’ve always been very fond of your mother.
- It’s obvious that she adores him.
- They are devoted to their children.
- He cared for her more than she realized.
- He dotes on his children.
- to really love/like/adore/care for/dote on somebody
- to be really/genuinely fond of/devoted to somebody
- to love/like/care for somebody very much
Extra ExamplesTopics Preferences and decisionsa1- I don't like the sound of that.
- ‘I don't like the look of him,’ Christopher whispered to Joseph.
- Everyone she met instantly liked her and wanted to be friends.
- He pretended to like her for Tony's sake.
- She works hard and is well liked by her colleagues.
- I have always liked Sue and I don't intend to stop now.
- I hope you will get to like our town.
- I liked him enormously and was sorry when he left.
- I personally liked this song a lot.
- I really like that restaurant.
- I tried to like her because it would be for the best.
- I wanted to like the movie because of its message.
- I'm learning to like spinach.
- She guessed that he secretly liked her.
- Which story do you like best?
- a man who was universally liked
- He never did like me much, did he?
- I like it in Spain.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- enormously
- especially
- genuinely
- …
- appear to
- seem to
- begin to
- …
- be universally liked
- be well liked
- [transitive, intransitive] used with would or should as a polite way to say what you want or to ask what somebody wants
- like something Would you like a cup of coffee?
- like to do something I'd like to think it over.
- I would like to thank you all for coming tonight.
- Would you like to come with us?
- (formal) We would like to apologize for the delay.
- Would you like to see the rest of the house?
- How can they afford it? That's what I'd like to know.
- like somebody/something to do something We'd like you to come and visit us.
- like for somebody to do something (North American English) I'd like for us to work together.
More About offers and invitationsoffers and invitations- Would you like…? is the most usual polite question form for offers and invitations, especially in British English:
- Would you like a cup of coffee?
- Do you want…? is less formal and more direct. It is more common in North American English than in British English:
- We’re going to a club tonight. Do you want to come with us?
- Would you care…? is very formal and now sounds old-fashioned.
Express Yourself Asking for somethingAsking for somethingWhether you are in shops or restaurants or in somebody's home, you can use polite questions to get what you want:- Could I have a glass of water, please?
- Do you have any decaffeinated coffee?
- I'd like tea with sugar, please.
- I'll have the pasta with salad, please.
- Certainly.
- I'm sorry, we don't have any left.
- Yes, of course. Here you are/go.
- [transitive, no passive] to prefer to do something; to prefer something to be made or to happen in a particular way
- like to do something At weekends I like to sleep late.
- like something + adj. I like my coffee strong.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- enormously
- especially
- genuinely
- …
- appear to
- seem to
- begin to
- …
- be universally liked
- be well liked
- [transitive] used in negative sentences to mean ‘to be unwilling to do something’
- not like to do something I didn't like to disturb you.
- not like doing something He doesn't like asking his parents for help.
- [transitive, no passive] what/whatever somebody likes to want
- Do what you like—I don't care.
- You can dye your hair whatever colour you like.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- enormously
- especially
- genuinely
- …
- appear to
- seem to
- begin to
- …
- be universally liked
- be well liked
- like something if you like something on social media, a news website, a blog, etc. you show that you agree with it or that you think it is good by clicking a special button
- By the next morning, over twenty of my friends had liked my new profile picture.
- Over seven hundred Facebook users have already liked the company’s website.
Word Originverb Old English līcian ‘be pleasing’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lijken.
Idioms
See like in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee like in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishhow would you like it?
- used to emphasize that something bad has happened to you and you want some sympathy
- How would you like it if someone called you a liar?
if you like (informal)
- used to politely agree to something or to suggest something
- ‘Shall we stop now?’ ‘If you like.’
- If you like, we could go out this evening.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb1- ‘Let's go and see a film tonight.' 'OK, if you like.’
- You can come too if you like.
- used when you express something in a new way or when you are not confident about something
- It was, if you like, the dawn of a new era.
I like that!
- (old-fashioned, informal) used to protest that something that has been said is not true or fair
- ‘She called you a cheat.’ ‘Well, I like that!’
I/I’d like to think
- used to say that you hope or believe that something is true
- I like to think I'm broad-minded.
- I’d like to think that you were helping me because you wanted to, not because you felt you had to.
what’s not to like?
- (informal, humorous) used to say that something is very good or you enjoy it
- You get paid to eat chocolate. So what's not to like?
- I love a good bagel—what’s not to like?
Check pronunciation:
like