Suffix · forms adjectives
From Old Norse "líkr" (similar): forms adjectives meaning "resembling X" or "characteristic of X." Godlike, dreamlike, lifelike, warlike, childlike, ghostlike, wavelike, businesslike.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
-like comes from Old Norse "líkr" (similar, like) and forms adjectives meaning "resembling X," "having the character of X," or "suitable for X." godlike = resembling a god, divine in nature. dreamlike = having the quality of a dream. lifelike = resembling life, realistic. warlike = having the characteristics of war, aggressive. childlike = having the qualities of a child (innocence, openness — positive). businesslike = having the efficient character of business.
This is one of the most important vocabulary distinctions in English: "childlike" = having the POSITIVE qualities of a child: innocence, wonder, openness, purity. "childish" = having the NEGATIVE qualities of a child: immaturity, petulance, silliness. "She had a childlike wonder for the world." (POSITIVE) "His response was childish." (NEGATIVE) Same pattern: "womanly" vs. "womanish," "manly" vs. "mannish." The -like form nearly always carries a positive or neutral tone.
"godlike" is the most elevated -like adjective. In Homer's Iliad, Achilles is repeatedly called "godlike Achilles" (Greek: "dios Achilleus"). This use of -like to elevate a person to divine status is one of the oldest literary devices in the Indo-European tradition. "of godlike proportions," "godlike beauty," "godlike power." In Milton's Paradise Lost: "godlike shapes and forms" describes the angels. The -like suffix carries this ancient literary weight into Modern English.
Noun + like. Produces adjectives meaning "resembling X" or "characteristic of X."
Hyphenation varies: short, established compounds (godlike, dreamlike, childlike) are written solid. Longer or less-established ones use a hyphen (snail-like, robot-like). When in doubt, hyphenate.
-like/laɪk/ · rhymes with bike
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
"childlike" describes the positive qualities of childhood: wonder, innocence, openness. "childish" describes the negative qualities: immaturity, pettiness. "She had a childlike smile" (innocent, charming). "His tantrum was childish" (immature). This distinction is marked C1.
Short, established compounds write solid: godlike, dreamlike, childlike, lifelike, warlike. Longer or rarer ones hyphenate: snail-like, robot-like, computer-like. The more established the word, the more likely it is solid.
A trick to remember it
-like = resembling X / characteristic of X. Key: childlike (positive, innocent) vs. childish (negative, immature). Most elevated: godlike (Homer, Milton). Short established words: solid (dreamlike). Rare long words: hyphenated (snail-like).
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
"Childlike" and "childish" are...
Exercise 2 · Form the word
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
Which is written solid (no hyphen)?
The suffix -like from Old Norse "líkr" (similar): forms adjectives meaning "resembling X" or "characteristic of X." Godlike, dreamlike, lifelike, warlike, childlike, ghostlike, wavelike, businesslike. In Spanish it usually maps to -esco / -ino / parecido a.
The ending -like is pronounced /laɪk/ · rhymes with bike. For example, "godlike".
"god" becomes "godlike". It is a typical example of the -like suffix.
From the past participle of "bind": forms adjectives meaning "confined by," "heading toward," or "obligated by." Spellbound, earthbound, homebound, hidebound, snowbound, inbound.
From Italian "-esco": means "in the style of" or "reminiscent of". Kafkaesque, picturesque, grotesque.
Turns proper nouns into style or period adjectives: Orwellian = relating to Orwell's ideas of surveillance and totalitarianism.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.