32+ Other Ways to Say “Like” (with 110+ Examples)

The word like shows up everywhere, from texting friends about a new song to describing your favorite hobbies in a job interview. But when you use it for everything you enjoy, your sentences start to sound bland. Knowing the right synonyms helps you match your tone to the moment, whether you need something casual, professional, or vivid. A thesaurus lists options, but it won’t tell you which word fits a heartfelt compliment versus a casual text; this guide does exactly that.

In this guide, you’ll find 25 handpicked alternatives to “like,” each with a clear definition and an example sentence. Use them to sound sharper in conversations, essays, emails, and social posts. You can also explore the synonym finder on infospebble.com for even more word choices across dozens of topics.

In this guide

1. Casual ways to say “like”
2. Formal and professional alternatives
3. Vivid and descriptive words
4. Quick comparison: which word should you use?
5. Frequently Asked Questions

Casual ways to say “like”

• 1. Enjoy, to take pleasure in something. I enjoy a good book on a rainy afternoon.
• 2. Love, to like something very much. She loves hiking on the weekends.
• 3. Dig, an informal way to say you enjoy or approve of something. I really dig their new album.
• 4. Be fond of, to have a warm, easy affection for something. He is very fond of old black-and-white movies.
• 5. Be keen on, to be eager or enthusiastic about something. She is keen on baking sourdough every week.
• 6. Go for, to like or be attracted to something. I could really go for a cold drink right now.
• 7. Fancy, to like or feel attracted to something. Do you fancy a walk along the river?
• 8. Get a kick out of, to find something amusing or enjoyable. He gets a kick out of teaching magic tricks to kids.

Formal and professional alternatives

• 9. Appreciate, to value or recognize the good qualities of something. I appreciate the craftsmanship of this watch.
• 10. Admire, to respect or have a high opinion of someone or something. Many people admire her dedication to the cause.
• 11. Relish, to enjoy something with great pleasure. He relishes the chance to debate new ideas.
• 12. Prefer, to like one thing more than another. I prefer coffee to tea in the morning.
• 13. Favor, to approve of or prefer one option. The committee favors the first proposal.
• 14. Cherish, to value or love something deeply. I cherish the memories of our trip together.
• 15. Esteem, to regard with respect and warm approval. He is esteemed by everyone in the department.
• 16. Treasure, to value or love something highly. She treasures the letters her grandmother wrote.

Vivid and descriptive words

• 17. Adore, to love or like someone or something very much. She adores her grandchildren and spoils them rotten.
• 18. Revel in, to take great delight in an experience. She revels in her role as team manager.
• 19. Delight in, to take pleasure in something, sometimes mischievously. He delights in surprising his friends with gifts.
• 20. Savor, to enjoy something slowly and completely. She savored every bite of the chocolate cake.
• 21. Dote on, to show a lot of fondness, often excessively. They dote on their first grandchild constantly.
• 22. Lap up, to eagerly accept praise or attention. He lapped up all the attention they gave him.
• 23. Be partial to, to have a particular liking for something. She is partial to dark chocolate over milk.
• 24. Bask in, to enjoy something warmly and contentedly. After the win, the team basked in the fans’ applause.
• 25. Indulge in, to allow yourself to enjoy something fully. On Sundays, she indulges in a long bubble bath.

Quick comparison: which word should you use?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best formal synonym for “like” in a business email?

“Appreciate” and “favor” are the safest formal choices for business writing. For example, you might write “I appreciate your quick response” instead of “I like how fast you replied.” “Prefer” works best when you are comparing options, such as “we prefer the revised timeline.” These terms sound polished without changing your meaning.

What is the difference between “enjoy” and “like”?

“Like” is a general feeling of pleasure, while “enjoy” usually refers to the pleasure you get from an activity or experience. A dictionary definition of like covers both the feeling and the sense of similarity, but “enjoy” is narrower: you enjoy a meal, a concert, or a hobby. When describing an experience, “enjoy” is the sharper choice.

Can “like” mean similar to?

Yes. “Like” is also a preposition meaning similar to, as in “she is like her mother.” None of the enjoyment synonyms in this guide work for that meaning. For the similarity sense, use “similar to,” “resemble,” “akin to,” or “comparable to” instead.

Final thoughts

The right synonym for “like” depends on your audience and tone. Keep casual words like “dig” and “go for” for conversation, lean on “appreciate” and “prefer” in professional writing, and save vivid picks like “adore” and “revel in” for moments that deserve emotion. If you liked this guide, explore our articles on other ways to say “little” and other ways to say “include” to keep building your vocabulary. Bookmark the infospebble.com homepage to find more word guides that keep your writing fresh and precise.