What does liking mean?
A liking is a feeling of fondness, enjoyment, or approval towards a person, place, activity, or thing. It is more specific than a general belief that something is good and often suggests a recurring attraction or preference: someone may have a liking for tea, a liking for a particular style of music, or a liking for a colleague. The phrase "take a liking to" is especially common when describing the beginning of an attachment, while "a liking for" refers to an established preference. In everyday English, liking is usually gentle and positive, though it can imply a more personal or distinctive preference than a simple approval. As a noun, it is often used in the pattern "a liking for" or "have a liking for," and it contrasts with dislike, aversion, and hostility.
nounA feeling of fondness or enjoyment towards someone or something. It can also refer to a particular preference or attraction.
- The feeling of fondness, enjoyment, or approval towards someone or something.
- A particular preference, attraction, or inclination.
- The act or state of liking someone or something.
"She has a strong liking for quiet mornings and long walks in the countryside."
"He has a real liking for old jazz recordings."
"The children developed an immediate liking for their new teacher."
The plural is used for separate preferences or attractions.
"Her broad likings include travel, music, and good food."
A liking can begin as a small preference and grow into one of the strongest forces in a person's daily choices.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does liking come from?
Liking is a modern English noun formed from the verb like by adding the suffix -ing. The verb like descends from Old English līcian, meaning to be pleased with or regard favourably. Its Germanic relatives and related English forms include likeness and likely, which preserve older senses connected with resemblance or suitability. The noun sense developed from the idea of pleasure or affection expressed by the activity of liking.
Related word forms
How liking is actually used
A liking is usually a noun meaning affection, fondness, or preference. In phrases such as "take a liking to," it describes a newly formed or developing fondness.
Easily confused with liking
Like is the verb or adjective meaning to enjoy or to be similar, while a liking is the resulting feeling of fondness or preference.