Unlike: Meaning, Usage, and Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：different from (unlike)

unlike 🔊

/ʌnˈlaɪk/

prep.

not the same as or similar to another person or thing.

Red apple and yellow banana side by side showing unlike contrast

different from 🔊

➕

/ˈdɪf.ər.ənt frʌm/

prep.

Used to indicate that two people or things are not the same or not similar.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

un- (not) + like (similar to)

💡 Mnemonic

UN- means not + LIKE means similar; so UNLIKE = not similar.

📖 Example

Unlike her sister, Sarah enjoys hiking in the mountains. 🔊 Unlike her sister, Sarah enjoys hiking in the mountains.

🔗 Collocations

be unlike any other – be completely different from everything else

unlike in nature – having a different essential quality

unlike her usual self – not behaving in the way she normally does

🔄 Synonyms

different from (prep.) – not the same as

contrasting with (prep.) – showing a marked difference compared to

distinct from (prep.) – clearly different and separate from

🚫 Antonyms

like (prep.) – similar to; in the same way as

similar to (prep.) – resembling; having qualities in common with

same as (prep.) – identical to; not different from

🌱 Derivatives

unlikeness (n.) – the quality of being different or dissimilar

unlikely (adj.) – not probable; not likely to happen

📖 Cultural Story

From Old English ungelic, where un- means 'not' and lic means 'body, shape' (source of like). It has been used since the 12th century to express contrast.