Alike | Definition, Meaning & Examples
Alike is an adjective meaning ‘similar’ and an adverb meaning ‘in a similar way’. The meaning of the word can vary in degree depending on the context – from saying two things are exactly the same to saying that they merely have something in common.
Scribbr’s Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using words like ‘alike’ correctly.
The twins seem to always dress alike.
The father and son are somewhat alike, but the father is more patient.
‘Lookalike’
Lookalike is a noun referring to a person or thing that looks like someone or something else. It can also be used as an adjective when it occurs before a noun. The plural noun is lookalikes. In US English, it’s more commonly written with a hyphen: look-alike, look-alikes.
Note that only the noun is written as one word; the words should not be joined when using ‘look alike’ as a verb: ‘They’re brothers, but they don’t look alike.’
The magician uses lookalikes in her tricks.
‘Great minds think alike’
Great minds think alike is a humorous expression used to acknowledge that two or more people share the same opinion or have reached the same conclusion at the same time. It’s typically used by one of the like-minded people to mean ‘we are very clever’.
We often ask the same questions at the meetings. It goes to show that great minds think alike.
‘Share and share alike’
Share and share alike is an idiom used to emphasise that each member of a group should receive an equal share of something. It’s often used in a legal context, such as in a will, to indicate that each individual should receive the same amount.
Paula is a very fair person. Her philosophy is ‘share and share alike‘.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a synonym for ‘alike’?
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There are numerous synonyms and near-synonyms for the two meanings of alike.
Similar (adjective) Similarly (adverb) Identical Correspondingly Indistinguishable Identically Interchangeable Likewise Matching The same The same Uniformly Undifferentiated Uniform - How do I use ‘alike’ in a sentence?
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Alike can be used as an adjective meaning ‘similar’ (e.g., ‘we’re alike in our beliefs’) and an adverb meaning ‘in a similar way’ (e.g., ‘the brothers think alike’).
Scribbr’s Grammar Checker can help you use words like ‘alike’ correctly in your writing.
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Ryan, E. (2024, November 07). Alike | Definition, Meaning & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 11 November 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/definition/alike-meaning/
