Like vs. Follow — What's the Difference?

In English, the word like has a very flexible range of uses, ranging from conventional to non-standard. It can be used as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, particle, conjunction, hedge, filler, and quotative.

Go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); move or travel behind

Having the same characteristics or qualities as; similar to

Come after in time or order

Used to draw attention to the nature of an action or event

Act according to (an instruction or precept)

Such as; for example

Pay close attention to

In the same way that; as

Practise (a trade or profession).

As though; as if

To come or go after; proceed behind

Used with reference to a person or thing of the same kind as another

To go after in pursuit

The things one likes or prefers

To keep under surveillance

(of a person or thing) having similar qualities or characteristics to another person or thing

To move along the course of; take

Used in speech as a meaningless filler or to signify the speaker's uncertainty about an expression just used

To move in the direction of; be guided by

Used to convey a person's reported attitude or feelings in the form of direct speech (whether or not representing an actual quotation)

To lie in the same path as

In the manner of

To be parallel to

Find agreeable, enjoyable, or satisfactory

To accept the guidance, command, or leadership of

Wish for; want

To adhere to; practice

To find pleasant or attractive; enjoy

To take as a model or precedent; imitate

To want to have

To act in agreement or compliance with; obey

To prefer

To keep to or stick to

To feel about; regard

To engage in (a trade or occupation); work at.

To believe or predict that (a certain competitor) will win a contest

To come after in order, time, or position

To perform well under (a given condition) or using (a given feature)

To bring something about at a later time than or as a consequence of

(Archaic) To be pleasing to.

To occur or be evident as a consequence of

To have an inclination or a preference

To watch or observe closely

(Scots) To be pleased.

To be attentive to; pay close heed to

Something that is liked; a preference

To keep oneself informed of the course, progress, or fortunes of

One similar to or like another. Used with the

To grasp the meaning or logic of; understand

Often likes(Informal) An equivalent or similar person or thing; an equal or match

To come, move, or take place after another person or thing in order or time.

Possessing the characteristics of; resembling closely; similar to

To occur or be evident as a consequence; result

In the typical manner of

To grasp the meaning or reasoning of something; understand.

In the same way as

(Games) A billiards shot in which the cue ball is struck above center so that it follows the path of the object ball after impact.

Inclined or disposed to

(ambitransitive) To go after; to pursue; to move behind in the same path or direction, especially with the intent of catching.

As if the probability exists for

(ambitransitive) To go or come after in a sequence.

Such as; for example

(transitive) To carry out (orders, instructions, etc.).

Possessing the same or almost the same characteristics; similar

(transitive) To live one's life according to (religion, teachings, etc).

In the manner of being; as if. Used as an intensifier of action

(transitive) To understand, to pay attention to.

(Informal) Probably; likely

(transitive) To watch, to keep track of (reports of) some event or person.

Nearly; approximately

To subscribe to see content from an account on a social media platform.

(Nonstandard) Used to provide emphasis or to focus attention on something

(ambitransitive) To be a logical consequence of something.

In the same way that; as

(transitive) To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling.

As if

In billiards and similar games, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it.

To enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of.

(social media) The act of following another user's online activity.

To please.

To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or direction; hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to accompany; to attend.

(obsolete) To derive pleasure of, by or with someone or something.

To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to pursue; to prosecute.

To prefer and maintain (an action) as a regular habit or activity.

To accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey; to yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow good advice.

(obsolete) To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).

To copy after; to take as an example.

(archaic) To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly.

To succeed in order of time, rank, or office.

To find attractive; to prefer the company of; to have mild romantic feelings for.

To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference from a premise.

(obsolete) To liken; to compare.

To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed upon while in motion; to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech, musical performance, etc.; also, to keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or force of, as of a course of thought or argument.

To show support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet by marking it with a vote.

To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling.

(with 'would' and in certain other phrases) To want, desire. See also would like.

To go or come after; - used in the various senses of the transitive verb: To pursue; to attend; to accompany; to be a result; to imitate.

To accept as an input.

The art or process of following; specif., in some games, as billiards, a stroke causing a ball to follow another ball after hitting it. Also used adjectively; as, follow shot.

To be likely.

To travel behind, go after, come after;

Something that a person likes (prefers).

Be later in time;

(internet) An individual vote showing support for, approval of, or enjoyment of, something posted on the Internet.

Come as a logical consequence; follow logically;

(sometimes as the likes of) Someone similar to a given person, or something similar to a given object; a comparative; a type; a sort.

Travel along a certain course;

(golf) The stroke that equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side.

Act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes;

Similar.

Come after in time, as a result;

Likely; probable.

Behave in accordance or in agreement with;

Inclined (to), prone (to).

Be next;

Likely.

Choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans;

In a like or similar manner.

To bring something about at a later time than;

(colloquial) As, the way.

Imitate in behavior; take as a model;

As if; as though.

Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something;

Similar to, reminiscent of

Follow with the eyes or the mind;

Typical of

Be the successor (of);

Approximating

Perform an accompaniment to;

In the manner of, similarly to

Keep informed;

Such as

To be the product or result;

As if there would be

Accept and follow the leadership or command or guidance of;

Used to ask for a description or opinion of someone or something

Adhere to or practice;

Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; - often with in and the particulars of the resemblance; as, they are like each other in features, complexion, and many traits of character.

Work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function;

Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent.

Keep under surveillance;

Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely.

Follow in or as if in pursuit;

Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a walk.

Grasp the meaning;

That which is equal or similar to another; the counterpart; an exact resemblance; a copy.

Keep to;

A liking; a preference; inclination; - usually in pl.; as, we all have likes and dislikes.

The stroke which equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side; as, to play the like.

In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as, do not act like him.

In a like or similar manner.

Likely; probably.

To suit; to please; to be agreeable to.

To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy.

To liken; to compare.

To be pleased; to choose.

To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).

Prefer or wish to do something;

Find enjoyable or agreeable;

Be fond of;

Feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard;

Want to have;

Resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination;

Equal in amount or value;

Having the same or similar characteristics;

Conforming in every respect;