Lick vs Sample

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Lick

Top 2,000 (common)

Sample

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

Most common: Sample

	Lick	Sample
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //lɪk// 🇺🇸 //lɪk//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɑːmpl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsæmpl/"]/
Meaning	To touch or move something with your tongue.	A small part of something used to show what the whole is like.
Example	The child began to lick the ice cream quickly.	He provided a sample of the product for us to test.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	B1
Part of speech		noun
Collocations	lick the spoon, lick someone's face, lick clean, lick the envelope	large, small, total, draw, select, comprise something, consist of something, size, survey, group, sample from, sample of, blood, faecal/​fecal, serum, collect, obtain, take, contain, show, sample of, free, book, sample of
Antonyms	leave, dry	whole, entirety
Common mistakes	Confused with 'like' in pronunciation, Using 'lick' as a noun only, Incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'licked' instead of 'lick')	Confusing 'sample' with 'exemplar' - they have different meanings., Using 'sampled' incorrectly as a verb form in past tense., Mixing up 'sample' as a noun and a verb.
Usage notes	Often used in both literal and figurative contexts. In informal settings, it might refer to doing something quickly.	Used in scientific, business, and educational contexts when referring to testing or showing examples. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing products or experiences.

See it in real clips

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

The swells heaved. You could lick salt from the air.

Lick

This is an audio sample. If he talks within range of any phone in the city...

and hat cases and sample cases.

This is an audio sample. If he talks within range of any phone in the city...

and hat cases and sample cases.

Sample

Frequently asked questions: Lick vs Sample

What's the difference between Lick and Sample?

Lick: To touch or move something with your tongue. Sample: A small part of something used to show what the whole is like.

Which is more common: Lick and Sample?

Sample is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Lick: The child began to lick the ice cream quickly. Sample: He provided a sample of the product for us to test.

Can I use Lick and Sample interchangeably?

Not always. Lick and Sample 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.