Dictionary

likable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈlaɪkəbl̩/

Etymology

Etymology tree English like Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English likable From like + -able.

Meanings

1. (US, often) Of a person, having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable.
   • Rendezvous of ’37. He was sashaying around nice as you please. A little green. But the likablest sort of fellow you’d ever want to see. 1959, John Harris, Margaret Harris, chapter 2, in Chant of the Hawk, New York, N.Y.: Popular Library, published 1962pages=24–25, →LCCN, →OCLC:
   • “[…] Seeing as you ain’t from farming stock I won’t tell what you done, […] but if it turns out you ain’t likable I’ll tell, so you just better be someone I can like.” / “Yes, ma’am. Most folks say I’m the likablest boy they ever met.” 1983, Greg Matthews, “Captured by Injuns—Amazing Revelations—[…]”, in The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, New York, N.Y.: Crown Publishers, →ISBN, page 191:
   • From the very moment that Judge Payne was introduced to his party he proved himself a likabler guide[.] 1938 February 24, “Judge Paine^([sic]) of Nebraska Supreme Court Addresses Dorchester Folks”, in The Dorchester Star, volume LIX, number 20, Dorchester, Neb., →OCLC, page [3], column 3:
   • She's a naturally likable person, with lots of friends.
2. (US, often) Capable of, or suitable for, being liked.
   • I often struggle the most when trying to decide on what to wear because I wanted people to like me. I believed that if the shirt was not likable by others then I was not likeable^([sic]). 2010, Grant Garris, Under the Red Velvet Cover, page 170:

Forms

Antonyms

unlikable

Deriveds

likably · likableness

Relateds

likability

Synonyms

well liked · amiable

Translations (55)

hu szimpatikus (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · pl sympatyczny (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · cmn 招人喜歡 /招人喜欢 (capable of being liked) · fr aimable (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh симпатичан (capable of being liked) · ro amabil (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ru прия́тный (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ja 好まれる (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · cmn 招人喜歡 /招人喜欢 (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · hi प्रिय (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · hu rokonszenves (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · hu kedvelhető (capable of being liked) · hi प्रिय (capable of being liked) · it piacevole (capable of being liked) · sh љубазан (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · eo simpatia (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · gd tlachdmhor (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sa गूर्त (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh симпатичан (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · fi miellyttävä (capable of being liked) · sh допадљив (capable of being liked) · fr sympathique (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · nb likendes (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · nn likandes (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh dopadljiv (capable of being liked) · bg приятен (capable of being liked) · gd tlachdmhor (capable of being liked) · bg привлекателен (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · hu szeretetre méltó (capable of being liked) · pt agradável (capable of being liked) · fi miellyttävä (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · bg приятен (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ro plăcut (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · it simpatico (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ga taitneamhach (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh ljubazan (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh допадљив (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · nn omgjengeleg (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · de liebenswert (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh simpatičan (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ru привлека́тельный (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ru располага́ющий (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh simpatičan (capable of being liked) · ro simpatic (capable of being liked) · ja 好かれる (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ro simpatic (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ru ми́лый (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · fr sympa (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · sh dopadljiv (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ru симпати́чный (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · es agradable (capable of being liked) · bg харесван (capable of being liked) · nb omgjengelig (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · uk симпати́чний (having qualities tending to result in being liked; friendly, personable) · ro plăcut (capable of being liked)