Look like means to resemble someone or something in appearance: She looks like her father. Its second common meaning is “it seems that”: It looks like it's going to rain. In this second meaning the phrase is conversational; in an essay, It seems that is more usual.
Want to use look like in conversation?
Write a sentence — we'll show the mistakes right away and suggest how to say it more naturally.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
look like + person/noun; it looks like + clause; look + adjective (no like)
- You look like your brother, especially when you smile.
- From the outside, the new library looks like a giant glass box.
- It looks like the train is running late again, so let's grab a coffee.
What changed
First versionYou look like tired after the night shift.
RevisionYou look tired after the night shift.
An adjective comes straight after look, with no like: look tired, look happy, look expensive. Like is needed before a noun (look like a student) or before a whole clause (It looks like it's going to rain). The mistake happens when look like is learnt as a fixed way to say how someone appears and then used everywhere. The correction simply removes like.
Like without look means to be fond of someone or something: She likes her sister means she is fond of her sister. She looks like her sister means they look similar. Another pair: What does he look like? asks about appearance (He's tall, with a beard), while What is he like? asks about character (He's calm and funny).
Your turn
“What does your new flatmate ___?” “She's tall, with short red hair and glasses.”
Show the answer
look like — The reply describes appearance: height, hair, glasses. That answers the question What does she look like? What does she like? means “what does she enjoy?”, and a description of her appearance does not answer it.
Describe a relative or friend you look like. Name the person and one feature of appearance you share.
People often say I look like my older sister because we both have dark curly hair.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.