Dislike

/dɪsˈlaɪk/

verbBeginner📊CommonEmotion
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To have a feeling of not liking someone or something; to have an aversion to.

/dɪsˈlaɪk/

verbnegativeBeginner
Emotion

To feel aversion to or have no fondness for.

I dislike rainy days.

💡 Simply: Imagine your friend offers you broccoli, and you don't really want it. You *dislike* broccoli – it's not your favorite thing! It's like saying, 'I'm not a big fan of that!' For example: 'I dislike running in the cold weather.'

👶 For kids: When you don't like something or someone. Like, 'I dislike broccoli!'

More Examples

2

She dislikes loud noises.

3

He disliked the new policy.

How It's Used

General conversation

"I dislike spicy food."

2

A feeling of aversion or disapproval; an instance of not liking someone or something.

/dɪsˈlaɪk/

nounnegativeBeginner
Emotion

A feeling of aversion or disapproval.

Her dislike of spiders is quite intense.

💡 Simply: When something isn't your cup of tea, that feeling of not liking it is your *dislike*. Like, when you say, 'I have a dislike of scary movies.' It means you don't like them.

👶 For kids: When you don't like something. Like, 'I have a dislike for spinach!'

More Examples

2

I have a strong dislike for injustice.

3

He showed his dislike through his facial expressions.

How It's Used

General conversation

"He expressed his dislike for the new rules."

Tip:Think of 'dislike' as the *thing* you feel when you don't like something or someone.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

to take a dislike to

To start not liking someone or something.

"He took a dislike to the noisy neighbors."

From Middle English *disliken*, from Old English *dislīcian* ('to displease'), from *dis-* ('un-') + *līcian* ('to please').

The word 'dislike' has been used since the Middle Ages, originally as a verb. Its noun form emerged later.

Memory tip

Think of 'dis-' as 'not' and 'like' as feeling fondness. So, dislike means not liking.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"To displease (līcian - to please)"

strong dislikedeep dislikegeneral dislikeshow dislikeexpress dislike

Common misspellings

dislikeingdislikeddislikes

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written