I. dis ‧ like 1 /dɪsˈlaɪk/ BrE AmE verb [transitive not in progressive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ like ≠ ↑ dislike , ↑ liking ; verb : ↑ like ≠ ↑ dislike ; adjective : ↑ likeable ]
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.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say don’t like rather than dislike :
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Why don’t you like her?
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He doesn’t like being criticized.
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THESAURUS
▪ dislike 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.
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Chemistry was the only subject he disliked at school.
▪ not like :
Why did you invite Claire? You know I don’t like her.
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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.
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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.
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I worked with him for years and I didn’t think much of him.
▪ not be sb’s kind of thing ( also not be sb’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.
II. dis ‧ like 2 /dɪsˈlaɪk, ˈdɪslaɪk/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ like ≠ ↑ dislike , ↑ liking ; verb : ↑ like ≠ ↑ dislike ; adjective : ↑ likeable ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] a feeling of not liking someone or something OPP liking
dislike 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) .
2 . dislikes [plural] the things that you do not like:
A good hotel manager should know his regular guests’ likes and dislikes.