Like

The word "like" has a variety of meanings and functions in English, depending on how it is used.

As a verb

• To feel attraction toward or enjoy: "I like the way you talk".

• To wish for or want: "I would like a drink".

• To do well with: "This plant likes dry soil".

• To express approval online: "She thanked everyone who liked her post". 

As a preposition

• Similar to or in the same way as: "She looks just like her mother".

• Used with a noun or pronoun to introduce an example: "They sell hats, scarves, and the like".

• Characteristic of or typical of: "It was just like you to say that". 

As a conjunction

• Used to introduce a clause in an informal way, meaning "as if" or "as though": "He acted like he didn't know me". 

As an adjective

• Having similar characteristics: "It's good to be surrounded by people with like minds". 

As a noun

• A preference or enjoyment: "She was unusually interested in her likes and dislikes".

• A form of interaction on social media: "That picture you posted got a lot of likes". 

In informal speech

• For hedging or approximation: In informal conversation, "like" can be used as a discourse marker to add emphasis, introduce an example, or soften a statement. For example, "It was, like, the best movie ever."