Difference Between Like and As (with Examples and Comparison Chart)

In English, the words like and as, are commonly interchanged and used synonymously. However, they are not similar in their meanings, as we use the word ‘like‘ to mean something we enjoy or prefer to do, or for someone you admire. On the other hand, the word ‘as‘ is used to refer to the occupation or character of a person.

Apart from these meaning, like and as can also refer to ‘in the same way’ which often confuses people with respect to their usage in sentences. Let’s look at the example to understand their difference:

Like your father, he wants you to succeed in your life.
As your father, he wants you to succeed in your life.

You might have noticed that, in the very first sentence, we’ve used ‘like’, which means that the person we’re talking about is not the father, but holds a similar position. In the next sentence, we’ve used ‘as’ which means the person is the father of the subject.

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Like	As
Meaning	The word 'like' is used to mean 'similar to' or 'the same as'. It can also be used to give some examples.	The word 'as' is used in sentences to highlight the job, appearance or function. It can also be used to mean 'in the same way.'
Parts of Speech	Noun, Adjective, Adverb, Preposition and Conjunction	Adverb, Preposition and Conjunction
When followed by noun	It refers to 'similar to or the same way as'.	It refers to 'in the role of'.
Comparison	Like is followed by a noun phrase.	As is followed by a clause.
Examples	Nick dances like Michael Jackson.	As I told you, I would be moving to Delhi, this week.
	Talking to you is like talking to a 3 year old baby.	She has been working as a cinematographer.
	I wish I could have a house like yours.	He is late for the class, as always.

Definition of Like

The word like is used in the sentences for someone or something that we enjoy, admire or feel positive about. It also indicates similarity, i.e. when someone or something resembles another, we use the word like in the sentence. Either it is used as a preposition, and followed by a noun/pronoun, or it is used as a conjunction, where a clause comes after it. Now let’s discuss the uses of like:

To admire something:
- Sophia likes dancing.
- Do you like being arrogant?
To show same features, qualities or traits:
- He is like a brother to me.
- Paul has a dog like Jane.
If like is followed by a noun, it implies ‘the same way as‘:
- You look like your mother.
- Monica is behaving like a celebrity.
To draw attention towards the kind of an action done:
- How could you talk to me like that?
As an adverb, it can be used to modify sentences:
- Just like her mother, Jimmy also wants to serve the nation.
It can also mean for example:
- There are many beautiful places in Delhi like Lotus Temple, Red Fort, Nehru Planetarium, India Gate, etc.

Definition of As

Basically, ‘as’ is used to make a comparison, to indicate the extent or degree of an object or an individual. It may also refer to an individual’s function, job or qualities. Moreover, ‘as’ can also be used in the context of ‘in the same way that’. Now, let’s have a look at the given points to understand, how we can use it in our sentences:

To refer to ‘in the same manner‘:
- You can use the new software as instructed in the manual.
- The event took place, as I planned.
To indicate a person’s occupation, character, position or role:
- As a teacher, I always love to teach new things, my students.
- It is your duty as an Auditor, to give a true and fair view, on the accounts.
To make a comparison between two entities:
- I am not as tall as Jane.
- Football is not as famous as cricket in India.
We use as when two things take place simultaneously:
- I looked at her, as she was going outside.
- As I grew older, I realized what is good for me or not.
- As I was going, the guests came.
To give reasons:
- As I was in a hurry, I didn’t notice the signboard on the road.
- As she was hungry, she ate everything; her mother made for her.

Key Differences Between Like and As

The difference between like and as is presented in the points given below:

‘Like’ is a term that we can use to denote some similarity in quality or characteristic or the way something is done. It can also be used to give examples or to indicate that we admire something. Conversely, ‘As’ is used to refer to ‘in the same manner’. It also describes the function, character, or job of a person. It also reflects comparison in the way something takes place.
‘Like’, can be used as a Noun, Adjective, Adverb, Preposition and Conjunction. However, ‘as’ can be used as a preposition, conjunction and adverb.
If the word ‘like’ is followed by a noun, it reflects something similar to or the same way as. On the other hand, as is succeeded by a noun, it means ‘in the role of’.
While making comparisons, ‘like’ is followed by a noun phrase. In contrast, ‘as’ precedes the clause in the case of comparison between two entities.
Examples:
- Complete the project as I suggested and not like you have decided.
- Veronica is as beautiful as Meera, but not like Divya.

Examples

Like

I don’t like wasting money unnecessarily.
He is like blaming me for the incident.
Why are you acting like a kid, when you are not?

Steve worked as a programmer, at the initial phase of his career.
As always, Peter scored 90% on his exams.
Could you please do it, as I directed you.

How to remember the difference

There are many differences between the two terms, specifically in their real meanings. Like means when we admire someone or something, whereas as reflects ‘in the role of’.