unlike

1.adjectiveB1

Definition

Different in appearance, quality, or nature when compared with another person or thing — for example, two paintings that share no style or colour, or two siblings with opposite personalities.

Example

The twins are so unlike that strangers never guess they are sisters.

be + unlike + so / very / quite

Chidi's cooking style is completely unlike his mother's traditional methods.

completely unlike + noun

Common collocations

completely unlike
quite unlike
totally unlike
very unlike
so unlike

Synonyms

dissimilar
more formal; preferred in academic or technical writing
different
more general and far more common; unlike emphasises contrast more strongly
distinct
focuses on separateness and clear difference rather than lack of resemblance

Antonyms

similar
direct opposite in meaning
alike
used especially for two things that share features

Grammar Patterns

unlike + noun (comparing two things)

be + unlike

very / quite / completely / totally + unlike

Usage Note

Often used with intensifying adverbs such as very, quite, completely, and totally. Common in both attributive (an unlike pair) and predicative positions (the two are unlike).

Common Mistakes

The two plans are unlike to each other.

The two plans are unlike each other.

Unlike does not take 'to' when used as a predicative adjective; use 'different from' instead.

2.adjectiveC1

Definition

Describing opposite ends or charges that differ in nature and attract each other, especially in the context of magnets or electricity — for instance, the two opposite tips of a bar magnet.

Example

In the school lab, Cyrus held two bar magnets close, and their unlike ends snapped together with a sharp click.

unlike + magnetic poles (technical domain)

In physics class, Jiwoo learned that unlike poles pull toward one another.

Common collocations

unlike poles
unlike ends
unlike charges
unlike magnetic poles

Synonyms

opposite
more general; unlike is the precise technical term in magnetism
contrary
formal; less common in scientific writing

Antonyms

like
in magnetism: like poles repel, unlike poles attract

Grammar Patterns

unlike + noun (technical: poles, charges)

Usage Note

Primarily a technical term in physics. The opposite concept is like (like poles repel). This sense appears almost always in attributive position before a noun like poles, ends, or charges.

1.prepositionA2

Definition

Used to say that one person, thing, or situation is not the same as another in a noticeable way — for example, saying that one city is unlike another because of its culture or climate.

Example

Unlike his brother, Walid prefers reading to playing team sports.

unlike + noun phrase, contrasting two people

This phone model is quite unlike the previous version in its design.

Common collocations

unlike + noun phrase (people, things, situations)
quite unlike
unlike anything / anyone / anywhere

Synonyms

different from
can be used in the same positions but is slightly less concise
in contrast to
more formal; often introduces a longer comparison

Antonyms

like
direct opposite; similar to
similar to
formal alternative to 'like'

Grammar Patterns

unlike + noun / pronoun / noun phrase

Common Mistakes

Unlike of his brother.

Unlike his brother.

Unlike is a preposition and takes a noun phrase directly, without 'of.'

2.prepositionB1

Definition

Not matching the usual behaviour, character, or qualities of a particular person — used when someone acts in a way that surprises you because it does not fit what you know about them.

Example

It is so unlike Mayumi to arrive late without sending a message.

it is unlike + person + to-infinitive

Tomás's sudden angry outburst was unlike the calm person we knew.

Common collocations

unlike + person + to-infinitive
so unlike
seems unlike
unlike someone who

Synonyms

uncharacteristic of
more formal; used in writing
atypical of
formal; used in analysis or evaluation

Antonyms

characteristic of
direct opposite; typical of
typical of
common opposite in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

unlike + person / pronoun

it is unlike + person + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Commonly used in the pattern 'it is unlike [someone] to [do something],' which expresses surprise at behaviour that contradicts what you expect. The subject is usually a personal pronoun or a person's name.

Common Mistakes

It is untypical for him to be late.' (correct but less natural).

It is unlike him to be late.

This is the standard idiomatic pattern for commenting on unexpected behaviour.

3.prepositionB2

Definition

Focusing on the particular method, style, or approach someone uses when doing something, showing that it differs from the way another person or thing acts — used to compare how actions are performed or processes unfold, rather than to state that two things are simply different in nature.

Example

Élise played the sonata unlike every other pianist in the competition.

unlike + noun phrase (comparing manner)

The new pastry chef prepared the croissants unlike her predecessor, using a slow overnight fermentation method.

Common collocations

unlike + noun (manner comparison)
unlike any ... had + past participle

Synonyms

differently from
more common in everyday speech; unlike is more concise
in a different way from
more explicit and less formal

Antonyms

like
in the same manner as
similarly to
in a comparable way

Grammar Patterns

unlike + noun phrase (manner comparison)

Usage Note

This sense overlaps with the conjunction use but takes a noun phrase rather than a full clause. It emphasises the manner or method of an action, distinguishing it from preposition sense 1 (which simply states that two things are different).

Word family

unlikely
adjectiveB1
unlikeness
nounC1
unlikable
adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: preposition/1

Unlike, different from, distinct from, and in contrast to all indicate that two things are not the same, but they differ in typical contexts. Unlike is the most concise and conversational: it sits naturally at the start of a sentence ('Unlike her sister…'). Different from is the most neutral and widely accepted in both speech and writing, though some speakers use 'different than' in American English. Distinct from emphasises clear separation — two things are not merely different but belong to separate categories. In contrast to is the most formal and signals a deliberate, often rhetorical comparison, common in academic essays and speeches. For everyday contrast, unlike is the smoothest choice; for precise classification, use distinct from; for formal written comparisons, choose in contrast to.

unlike ↗different fromdistinct fromin contrast to

Common collocations

Nouns

poles
ends
charges
posts
comments
photos

Adverbs

Phrases

unlike anything
unlike anyone
unlike any other

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Unlike comes from Old English ungelīc, a compound of the prefix un- (meaning 'not') and gelīc (meaning 'like, similar'). The prefix un- has Germanic origins and is one of the most productive negating prefixes in English. The root gelīc descends from Proto-Germanic *galīkaz ('having the same form') and is related to Old Norse líkr, Dutch gelijk, and German gleich. The modern social-media verb sense (meaning 'to remove a like') is a much more recent coinage from the early 2000s, formed by adding un- to the noun/verb like as used on platforms such as Facebook.

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unlike

unlike — adjective

1. Different in appearance, quality, or nature when compared with another person or

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. Describing opposite ends or charges that differ in nature and attract each other

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

unlike — conjunction

1. Introducing a full clause to indicate that the way something happens or the resu

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

unlike — preposition

1. Used to say that one person, thing, or situation is not the same as another in a

Grammar Patterns

Common Mistakes

2. Not matching the usual behaviour, character, or qualities of a particular person

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. Focusing on the particular method, style, or approach someone uses when doing so

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

unlike — verb

1. To undo your positive reaction to a post, photo, or comment on a social-networki

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Etymology

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