Similar vs. Like — What's the Difference?

Resembling without being identical.

Enjoying or approving of.

Comparable in many respects.

In the same manner or form as.

Sharing qualities but not identical.

Indicating possibility or likeness.

Having a likeness or resemblance, especially in a general way.

Resembling or similar to.

Almost the same as something else.

Such as; for example.

Having a resemblance in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical

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.

A person or thing similar to another

Having the same characteristics or qualities as; similar to

A substance that produces effects resembling the symptoms of particular diseases (the basis of homeopathic treatment)

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

Having a resemblance in appearance or nature; alike though not identical.

Such as; for example

(Mathematics) Having corresponding angles equal and corresponding line segments proportional. Used of geometric figures

In the same way that; as

Having traits or characteristics in common; alike, comparable.

As though; as if

(mathematics) Of geometrical figures including triangles, squares, ellipses, arcs and more complex figures, having the same shape but possibly different size, rotational orientation, and position; in particular, having corresponding angles equal and corresponding line segments proportional; such that one can be had from the other using a sequence of rotations, translations and scalings.

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

Of two square matrices; being such that a conjugation sends one matrix to the other.

The things one likes or prefers

That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.

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

(homeopathy) A material that produces an effect that resembles the symptoms of a particular disease.

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

Exactly corresponding; resembling in all respects; precisely like.

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

Nearly corresponding; resembling in many respects; somewhat like; having a general likeness.

In the manner of

Homogenous; uniform.

Find agreeable, enjoyable, or satisfactory

That which is similar to, or resembles, something else, as in quality, form, etc.

Wish for; want

Marked by correspondence or resemblance;

To find pleasant or attractive; enjoy

Having the same or similar characteristics;

To want to have

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

To prefer

(of words) expressing closely related meanings

To feel about; regard

Capable of replacing or changing places with something else;

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

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

(Archaic) To be pleasing to.

To have an inclination or a preference

(Scots) To be pleased.

Something that is liked; a preference

One similar to or like another. Used with the

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

Possessing the characteristics of; resembling closely; similar to

In the typical manner of

In the same way as

Inclined or disposed to

As if the probability exists for

Such as; for example

Possessing the same or almost the same characteristics; similar

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

(Informal) Probably; likely

Nearly; approximately

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

In the same way that; as

As if

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

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.

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.

To accept as an input.

To be likely.

Something that a person likes (prefers).

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

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

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

Similar.

Likely; probable.

Inclined (to), prone (to).

Likely.

In a like or similar manner.

(colloquial) As, the way.

As if; as though.

Similar to, reminiscent of

Typical of

Approximating

In the manner of, similarly to

Such as

As if there would be

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

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.

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

Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely.

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

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

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;

It can be used as a verb, as in "I like pizza," indicating personal preference or approval.

It acts as an adjective, modifying nouns and usually paired with "to" to describe resemblance in qualities.

Yes, both can be part of idiomatic expressions. For instance, "similar to" is less common in idioms but used in formal comparisons, whereas "like" appears in many idioms, such as "like pulling teeth" or "like shooting fish in a barrel."

While they both indicate resemblances, their usage depends on the context; "similar" is more formal and specific, whereas "like" is broader and used more casually.

"Similar to" should be used when you want to emphasize a comparison based on characteristics or qualities, especially in more formal or technical contexts. "Like" is more appropriate for everyday speech and casual comparisons.

"Like" can serve as a preposition, verb, or adjective, making it versatile in indicating similarity, enjoyment, or example.

A common mistake is omitting "to" after "similar" when making comparisons.

The usage of "like" is quite similar in both dialects, but in informal speech, particularly in American English, "like" is often used as a filler or a quotative, saying "like" before quoting someone, which is less common in British English.

"Like" can introduce a noun or a clause, but when introducing clauses, it is generally informal. For example, "like we discussed yesterday" is informal and might be replaced with "as we discussed" in formal writing.

For "similar," synonyms include "akin," "analogous," "resembling," or "comparable." For "like," alternatives might be "such as," "resembling," or "akin to," depending on the context.