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Alike

Alike as an adjective​

Alike as an adjective means ‘the same’ or ‘similar’:

  • They are not sisters but their clothes are alike, aren’t they?
  • All the shops are alike, and it’s hard to find something different.
warning

As an adjective, alike is only used after a verb such as be, seem, look, but not before a noun (predicatively):

  • The two women, who looked alike, sat silently in the corner.
  • Not: The two alike women sat silently…
See also
  • Adjectives

Alike as an adverb​

As an adverb alike means ‘in the same way’:

  • I don’t think you treat both children alike.
warning

Alike is not used as a preposition. Like is used instead:

  • She’s just like her mother.
  • Not: She’s just alike her mother.
See also
  • Like