like

English

/laɪk/

verb
Definitions
  • To enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of.
  • (transitive) To please.
  • (obsolete) To derive pleasure of, by or with someone or something.
  • To prefer and maintain (an action) as a regular habit or activity.
  • (obsolete) To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).
  • (archaic) To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly.
  • To find attractive; to prefer the company of; to have mild romantic feelings for.
  • (obsolete) To liken; to compare.
  • (Internet) To show support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet by marking it with a vote.
  • (with 'would' and in certain other phrases) To want, desire. See also would like.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English liken (like, please) inherited from Old English līcian (please, be like, be sufficient, be pleasing) inherited from Proto-Germanic *līkāną (please) derived from Proto-Indo-European *leyg- (shake, tremble, bounce, jump, play, spring, likeness, similarity, image, whirl) inherited from Middle English like (pleasure, will, like), liken (like, please).

Origin

Middle English

liken

Gloss

like, please

Concept
Semantic Field

Emotions and values

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

好

Emoji
👍️ 🫂

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms