Cool MateAdmire vs Like
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Admire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Like
High-frequency chunkA1preposition
| Admire | Like | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmaɪə(r)/","/ədˈmaɪəz/","/ədˈmaɪəd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmaɪər/","/ədˈmaɪərz/","/ədˈmaɪərd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/laɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/laɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. | to enjoy or be pleased by something |
| Example | I really admire her dedication to her work. | I like chocolate ice cream. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | B1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | preposition |
| Collocations | deeply, enormously, greatly, have to, about, for, be generally admired, be widely admired, can’t help admiring, pause to, stop to, stand back to | like to eat, like a friend, like doing, like music, like the weather |
| Antonyms | despise, disdain, scorn | dislike, hate, detest |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'admiration' as a verb., Incorrectly using 'admire' without an object., Using 'admire' inappropriately in casual contexts. | Omitting the object, e.g. 'I like' instead of 'I like pizza'., Using 'like' in place of 'such as' when giving examples., Confusing 'like' with 'as' in comparative sentences. |
| Usage notes | Use 'admire' when you want to express respect or approval for someone or something. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English, but might come across as less common in very casual conversations. | Used to express enjoyment or preference. Can be informal in casual conversations, but it's also suitable for formal situations. Avoid using in very formal writing or speeches. |
Frequently asked questions: Admire vs Like
What's the difference between Admire and Like?
Admire: To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. Like: to enjoy or be pleased by something
Are Admire and Like the same CEFR level?
Admire: B1, Like: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Admire and Like interchangeably?
Not always. Admire and Like are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.