likable

adjective

lik·​able ˈlī-kə-bəl How to pronounce likable (audio)
variants or likeable
: having qualities that bring about a favorable regard : pleasant, agreeable
the most likable character in the play
likability noun
likableness noun

Examples of likable in a Sentence

Detective Grant is the most likeable character in the novel. She seems like a friendly, likable young woman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Thanks to its gentle tone, gorgeous Canadian landscapes, and likable characters who actually care about each other’s feelings, director and co-writer Sherren Lee’s loose adaptation of Kate Marchant’s novel is easily the best Wattpad movie. Josh Bell, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 Husk’s investigation pits him against Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult again, in an equally wonderful—and against-type—performance), the impossibly likable leader of a neo-Nazi group known as The Order. Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024 Known as one of the most likable players in the NBA, Bridges uses competitive banter to energize himself, and that energy is contagious for his teammates. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024 The humor is more sly and subtle than, say, Only Murders in the Building, but Bodkin is nonetheless a quirky gem of a series, with a colorful setting filled with likable, eccentric characters. Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for likable 

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of likable was in 1730

Dictionary Entries Near likable

Cite this Entry

“Likable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/likable. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

likable

adjective
lik·​able
variants or likeable
: easily liked
likableness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!