dislike
dihs-LYK
Dislike (verb) means to not like something or someone; to feel aversion toward. Example: “Most cats dislike getting their paws wet, so they avoid puddles.”
verb
1
To not like something or someone; to feel aversion toward.
"Most cats dislike getting their paws wet, so they avoid puddles."
"I dislike loud parties, so I usually leave early."
"She dislikes being interrupted while she's working."
noun
1
A feeling of not liking something, or the thing that isn't liked.
"Her dislike of spicy food was obvious from the face she pulled."
"My biggest dislikes are cold showers and slow internet."
"His dislike of crowds meant he avoided big concerts."
How to use dislike
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mild-to-moderate negative feeling toward something — weaker than "hate."
Common pairings
dislike intensely
strong dislike
likes and dislikes
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Word forms
- Plural
- dislikes
- Third person singular
- dislikes
- Past tense
- disliked
- Archaic forms
- dislikest, dislikedst, disliketh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Most cats _____ getting their paws wet, so they avoid puddles.
Etymology
From dis- + like, forming the natural opposite of "like."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dislike
See all rhymes for dislike →Frequently asked questions
What does “dislike” mean?
The word “dislike” means to not like something or someone; to feel aversion toward. In plain terms, a mild-to-moderate negative feeling toward something — weaker than "hate.".
How do you pronounce “dislike”?
“Dislike” is pronounced dihs-LYK (/dɪsˈlaɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “dislike” in a sentence?
Here is “dislike” used in a sentence: “I dislike loud parties, so I usually leave early.”
What is another word for “dislike”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dislike” include disrecommend, mislike, disrelish, mind, misrelish and object to.
What is the opposite of “dislike”?
The opposite of “dislike” — its antonyms — is like.
What part of speech is “dislike”?
Depending on how it is used, “dislike” can be a verb and a noun.
Is “dislike” a common word?
“Dislike” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “dislike” have?
“Dislike” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to not like something or someone; to feel aversion toward.
What is the difference between "dislike" and "hate"?
"Dislike" is a mild feeling of aversion, while "hate" is much stronger and more emotional. Saying you dislike a food means you would rather avoid it, whereas hating it suggests a powerful, intense rejection.
Do you say "a dislike of" or "a dislike for"?
Both are correct for the noun: "a dislike of" and "a dislike for" are both used to name what someone dislikes, as in "a dislike of / for crowds," with "of" being slightly more common in formal writing. As a verb, "dislike" needs no preposition, as in "I dislike crowds."
What is the opposite of "dislike"?
The direct opposite of "dislike" is "like." "Dislike" means to feel aversion toward someone or something, while "like" means to find them pleasant or agreeable. Stronger opposites include "love" and "adore."
Should you say "dislike doing" or "dislike to do" something?
In standard modern English, "dislike" is normally followed by an -ing form, as in "I dislike waiting," rather than "I dislike to wait." The pattern "dislike doing something" is the natural choice.
