dislike1 verbdislike2 noun
dislikedis‧like1 /dɪsˈlaɪk/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 
to think someone or something is unpleasant and not like them OPP like: 
Why do you dislike her so much?dislike doing something I dislike being the centre of attention.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say don’t like rather than dislike:· Why don’t you like her?· He doesn’t like being criticized.GRAMMARPatterns with dislikeDislike is used with an -ing form, not an infinitive. You dislike doing something: · I dislike eating dinner alone. ✗Don’t say: I dislike to eat dinner alone.Using the progressiveDislike is not used in the progressive. You say: · Tell us what you dislike about it. ✗Don’t say: Tell us what you are disliking about it.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSdislike to not like someone or something. Dislike is stronger than not like, and is used especially in written English: · She disliked him as soon as she met him.· Chemistry was the only subject he disliked at school.not like: · Why did you invite Claire? You know I don’t like her.· I don’t really like getting up in the morning when it’s dark.not be very keen on something informal (also not be very fond of something) especially British English used to say that you do not like something, but in a polite or gentle way: · I’m not very keen on Chinese food.· She’s never been very fond of his books.not think much of somebody/something to not like someone or something because you do not have a good opinion of them: · We’ve tried that restaurant twice and we don’t think much of it.· I worked with him for years and I didn’t think much of him.not be somebody’s kind of thing (also not be somebody’s cup of tea) informal to not be the kind of thing you enjoy – used about activities, films, books etc: · Detective stories aren’t really my kind of thing.go off somebody/something British English informal to stop liking someone or something that you used to like: · Dan and I went out together for six months and then I just went off him.put somebody off somebody/something British English to make you stop liking someone or something: · I was terrible at sport at school and it totally put me off doing any kind of exercise.dislike1 verbdislike2 noun
dislikedis‧like2 /dɪsˈlaɪk, ˈdɪslaɪk/ ●●○ noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Churchhill was said to have a dislike for unnecessary formality.
- My intense dislike for him seemed to grow day by day.
- She could not hide her personal dislike of the man.
- An interviewer who happens to be very short may take an instant dislike to having a general manager who is much taller.
- They took an immediate dislike to one another.
- This is when likes and dislikes of others are first expressed.
- Your dislike for Maman was handed down to me, wasn't it?
Longman Language Activatorto not like something or someone
· John doesn't like garlic.· Why did you invite Claire? You know I don't like her.not like doing something · My girlfriend doesn't like camping.· I don't like walking home alone at night.not like something/somebody very much · Mum didn't like Mark very much when she first met him.
written to think someone or something is very unpleasant: · Eldridge was a quiet man who disliked social occasions.· She now seriously disliked her former friend.dislike doing something: · I dislike having to get up so early in the morning.dislike somebody/something intensely (=dislike them very much): · Muriel disliked Paul intensely.
spoken to think that something is not very good or that someone is not very good at something: · You don't think much of Carol, do you?· The hotel was okay, though I didn't think much of the food.· I don't think much of The Beatles, to be quite honest.
British informal to not like something, although you do not think it is very bad or very unpleasant: · Actually, I'm not very keen on modern art.· George had never been particularly fond of small children.
if someone is not your type , they are not the kind of person you usually like or enjoy being with: · Rob isn't her type at all.· "What do you think of Michael?" "He looks a bit rough - he's not really my type."
also not be somebody's cup of tea British informal to not be the kind of thing that you enjoy - use this about activities, films, books etc: · Tennis is not my thing.· Horror films aren't really my cup of tea.
use this to say that something is not the type of thing that you like or that you think is good: · It seems that the music wasn't exactly to his taste.· The food wasn't really to my liking - it all tasted rather salty.
to dislike a person, their attitude, or their behaviour and have no respect for them: · I've no time for that kind of attitude.· My father had no time for complainers.· He has no time for players who aren't completely dedicated.
to be unwilling to accept a particular situation, suggestion, or type of behaviour, because you think it is annoying: · Nancy doesn't take kindly to being corrected.· He didn't take very kindly to being disturbed in the middle of the night.
to not like someone because of something they have done to dislike someone for a particular reason, although the reason is not clear: · Sam has something against me.· Your brother's got something against me. God knows what.· She probably has something against men.
informal if someone has it in for you, they dislike you and are always looking for ways to hurt you, especially because of something you have done in the past: · I don't know why anybody would have it in for Eddy. He's a really nice guy.· Sometimes I think my supervisor has it in for me.
to continue to dislike someone and feel angry with them, because you believe they harmed you in the past and you have not forgiven them: · She bore a grudge for a long time.· It isn't in that woman's nature to bear grudges.bear a grudge against: · He bore a grudge against my father for years.
if there is no love lost between two people, they dislike each other and do not have a friendly relationship: · Sounds like there's not a lot of love lost between the two of you.· It is clear from these letters that there was no love lost between the Princess and her stepmother.
to stop liking something or someone British spoken use this to say that you have stopped liking someone or something that you used to like: · I used to drink tea all the time, but I've gone off it lately.· Many women go off coffee and alcohol during pregnancy.· I used to think he was really funny, but now I've gone off him.
to make someone stop liking a person, thing, or activity informal to stop someone from liking or being interested in someone or something: · Don't let her put you off, it's a really good movie.· When you know an artist used to abuse his wife and children it does tend to put you off his work.· That weekend put me off camping for the rest of my life!· When she told me she worked in an abattoir it rather put me off her.
to deliberately change someone's feelings, so that they stop liking someone that they used to like: · My ex-wife is trying to turn the children against me.· Brenda even tried to turn my sister against me.
a feeling of not liking someone or something a feeling of not liking someone or something: dislike for/of: · She could not hide her personal dislike of the man.· Churchill was said to have a dislike for unnecessary formality.intense dislike (=very strong dislike): · My intense dislike for him seemed to grow day by day.
a feeling of dislike that you have for someone or something because you think they are very unpleasant or offensive: · Oliver looked with distaste at my clothes.· Gina moved away from me with a look of distaste on her face.
a strong, sometimes unreasonable, dislike of something: have an aversion to something: · Most people have a natural aversion to anything associated with death or dying.
something that you like all the things you like and do not like: · She never lets her personal likes and dislikes affect the way she treats people.· Employees were asked about their likes and dislikes, and also about how they felt about their working conditions.
something that you are deeply interested in and which you like so much that you are always excited about it: · Donna's latest passion is cooking and eating Mexican food. somebody's great/first love: · My father's great love was fishing.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They took an instant dislike to each other (=they disliked each other immediately). A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=very strong dislike) His colleagues regarded him with intense dislike.
His colleagues regarded him with intense dislike. They took an instant dislike to each other (=they disliked each other immediately). A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes.· He had taken an intense dislike to Robert.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Second, he shows an intense dislike of his new position, and a continuing desire to resign.
· All his personal dislike of Mosley was reanimated.· It was merely an expression of her own personal dislike.· I allowed my personal dislike of the man to surface when I should have remained detached.
· She was swamped by a wave of impotent anger at and violent dislike for the man whose dogged persistence bordered on persecution.· But, you see, I had taken a violent dislike to the short man.· Although Mr Utterson could not see his face, he felt a strong, almost violent, dislike for the stranger.
VERB· However, Kingfisher's shareholders are known to have expressed dislike of a demerger, particularly with stock markets falling.· Bronson liked Marcus best, and expressed a dislike for Carroll.· He, rightly in my view, expresses his dislike for the constant advertisements.· Simon was not reticent in expressing his dislike for the Jaguar-driving members who had previously snubbed him.· Hernandez and Ruelas were just sounding boards for the fans to express a dislike for De La Hoya.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- It was a happy day when it dawned on me that there was no actual impediment to my cordially disliking both lots.
- Don't let personal likes and dislikes get in the way of the job.
- Art can be created by groups, producing output that is a synthesis of their likes and dislikes.
- As children grow older they will become more consciously aware of the likes and dislikes of those who care for them.
- Employees were asked about their likes and dislikes, about general working conditions, and about their feelings toward supervisors.
- There are only subjective likes and dislikes, and one should not speak of value at all.
- These are all factors that are essentially personal, and we are all different in our likes and dislikes.
- This column takes a look at local cooks, their culinary likes and dislikes and favorite recipes.
- This is when likes and dislikes of others are first expressed.
- We all have different likes and dislikes, different tastes in food, music, films and clothes.
WORD FAMILYnounlike ≠ dislikelikingadjectivelikeableverblike ≠ dislike
1[countable, uncountable] a feeling of not liking someone or something OPP likingdislike of She shared her mother’s dislike of housework.dislike for Truman had a strong dislike for communism.intense/acute/violent etc dislike (=very strong dislike) His colleagues regarded him with intense dislike. They took an instant dislike to each other (=they disliked each other immediately).2dislikes [plural] the things that you do not like: A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes.