[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/like.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / like [← L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/L/) # like «like» in Mova's school dictionary: **to enjoy it or think it is good** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech verb (like, likes, liked, liking); preposition (like); conjunction (like — informal); noun (likes); adverb and filler (like — casual) ### meaning for a pupil 1) To like something is to enjoy it or think it is good. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m1) 2) «Would like» is a polite way to say you want something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m2) 3) Like (preposition) means similar to or the same as: she sings like a bird. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m3) 4) Like means for example: fruit like apples and pears. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m4) 5) A like is a click that shows you enjoy a post online. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m5) 6) (casual) Like is a filler word that fills a pause or softens: «it was, like, huge». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m6) 7) (casual) Like means about or roughly before a number: «like 20 people came» means about 20. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m7) 8) (casual) «Be like» reports what someone said or did: «and she's like, no way». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m8) 9) (rough, UK) «Like» at the end of a sentence just adds weight: «I was only joking, like.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m9) 10) (formal) «Akin to», «in the manner of» and «would wish to» are stiff ways to say like. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#m10) ### sense in the lessons In maths it comes in surveys («how many like apples») that sort groups to add or compare, and in «like terms» in algebra. «Would like» names what is wanted, not what is had. In everyday life: «What is it like?» asks for a description; «look like», «feel like», «likes and dislikes». In stories it makes comparisons (similes): as quiet as a mouse, ran like the wind. In casual talk «like 20» is an estimate, not an exact number. In the exam voice: «Determine the number of respondents expressing a preference for apples.» Phrases: «feel like», «look like», «would like», «like this», «and the like». ### examples - 12 pupils like apples and 8 like pears. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x1) - How many more like apples? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x2) - She would like 3 more stickers. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x3) - He has as many cards as Tom, like his brother. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x4) - I like reading comics in bed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x5) - What would you like for lunch? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x6) - The cloud looks like a dragon. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x7) - Bring things like hats and sunscreen to the beach. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x8) - there was like 20 kids at the party, it was, like, mad (casual) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x9) - and she's like «give me 3 back» and i'm like «no way» (casual) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x10) - I don't like your attitude, so shut it. (rough) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x11) - Of the 20 respondents, 12 expressed a preference for apples; state the number who did not. (formal exam) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x12) - Would you like to hear it? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/#x13) ### note «Like» + -ing or «to»: I like swimming, I like to swim. Do not say «I am liking it» for a lasting taste. «What is he like?» asks about his character; «What does he like?» asks about his tastes. In speech «like» is often a filler word (it was, like, huge) and means nothing. Maths trap: «like» never means add on its own; «would like» is a wish, not an amount owned. Trap: casual «like 20» means about 20 — if an exact answer is needed, look for the exact number. «She's like…» reports speech, not a comparison. Formal «expressed a preference for» = liked. ### In the corpora - [While a parent is unemployed the family may claim benefits and cut spending; free fun like parks and libraries helps.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/4-when-work-goes-wrong/9/) - [Some families pay children for extra jobs, like washing the car, but tidying your own room is just part of living together.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/5-where-money-comes-from/9/) - [Child benefit is a small regular payment from the government to families with children, to help with things like shoes and food.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/5-where-money-comes-from/12/) - [Most adults have some, like a mortgage or a car loan, and planned debt can be fine.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/8-borrowing-and-debt/1/) - [A food bank is a charity that gives free food parcels, usually after a referral from someone like a school or a doctor.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/9-when-money-is-tight/17/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «like» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/like/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.