If one thing is unlike another thing, the two things have different qualities or characteristics from eachother.
This was a foreign country, so unlike San Jose.
She was unlike him in every way except for her coal black eyes.
Synonyms: different from, dissimilar to, not resembling, far from More Synonyms of unlike
2. preposition
You can use unlike to contrast two people, things, or situations, and show how they are different.
Unlike aerobics, walking entails no expensive fees for classes or clubs.
Synonyms: contrasted with, not like, in contradiction to, in contrast with or to More Synonyms of unlike
3. preposition
If you describe something that a particular person has done as being unlike them, you mean that you are surprised by it because it is not typical of their character or normal behaviour.
It was so unlike him to say something like that, with such intensity, that I wasastonished.
'We'll all be arrested!' Thomas yelled, which was most unlike him.
More Synonyms of unlike
unlike in British English
(ʌnˈlaɪk)
adjective
1.
not alike; dissimilar or unequal; different
2. archaic
unlikely
preposition
3.
not like; not typical of
unlike his father, he lacks intelligence
Derived forms
unlikeness (unˈlikeness)
noun
unlike in American English
(ʌnˈlaɪk)
adjective
1.
having little or no resemblance; not alike; different; dissimilar
2. Chiefly Dialectal
unlikely
preposition
3.
not like; different from
a case unlike any other
4.
not characteristic of
it's unlike him to give up
Derived forms
unlikeness (unˈlikeness)
noun
Word origin
ME unliche: see un- & like1
Examples of 'unlike' in a sentence
unlike
Unlike many of their colleagues, they were not just working in ivory towers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But unlike many others, he pretended he did.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Unlike many, he wore his learning lightly, with great modesty.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Unlike many in the world of football, their relationship hasn't been rocked by a cheating scandal.
The Sun (2016)
The only problem is, not unlike many government announcements, the claim has a hint of smoke and mirrors.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Unlike so many murder stories that deal exclusively with the'who?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Unlike many properties, you can hold stag or hen parties here but no fireworks are allowed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Unlike many other prescription masks, they are the same distance from the eyes as normal specs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Unlike many hotels, most health resorts are very conscientious about putting lone visitors at ease.
Sedgbeer, Sandra The A-Z of Beauty Treatment (1994)
Unlike many other vitamins, B12 is rarely found in fruit and veg.
The Sun (2012)
This time, unlike so many others, they were of joy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For them, unlike many of us, father does not have good connotations.
Christianity Today (2000)
But unlike many of its rivals, the company has always ensured off-road capability is a key feature.
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
unlike
British English: unlike /ʌnˈlaɪk/ PREPOSITION
If one thing is unlike another thing, the two things are different.
You're so unlike your father!
American English: unlike
Arabic: مُخْتَلِفٌ عَنْ
Brazilian Portuguese: ao contrário de
Chinese: 和...不同
Croatian: za razliku od
Czech: na rozdíl od
Danish: til forskel fra
Dutch: in tegenstelling tot
European Spanish: diferente de
Finnish: toisin kuin
French: contrairement à
German: anders als
Greek: διαφορετικός
Italian: diverso da
Japanese: ･･･と違って
Korean: ...과는 다른
Norwegian: i motsetning til
Polish: w odróżnieniu od
European Portuguese: ao contrário de
Romanian: diferit
Russian: в отличие от
Latin American Spanish: diferente de
Swedish: olik
Thai: ไม่เหมือน
Turkish: farklı olarak
Ukrainian: на відміну від
Vietnamese: không giống
Chinese translation of 'unlike'
unlike
(ʌnˈlaɪk)
adj
(= not alike) 不相似的 (bù xiāngsì de)
prep
(= in contrast to) 与(與) ... 相反 (yǔ ... xiāngfǎn)
(= different from) 不同于(於) (bùtóng yú)
(= not typical of) 无(無) ... 的特征(徵) (wú ... de tèzhēng)
1 (preposition)
Definition
not like or typical of
She was unlike him in every way except her eyes.
Synonyms
different from
dissimilar to
not resembling
far from
not like
distinct from
incompatible with
unrelated to
distant from
unequal to
far apart from
divergent from
not similar to
as different as chalk and cheese from (informal)
Opposites
similar to
,
like
,
related to
,
equal to
,
matched with
,
compatible with
2 (preposition)
Definition
not like or typical of
Unlike aerobics, walking entails no expensive fees.