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.

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.

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

• cheat someone out of something
• cheat someone out of sth
• check
• checkable
• checkbook
• checkbooks
• check box
• checkbox
• check-box
• check card
• check-card
• check check into
• check check into something
• check check into sth
• check digit
• check-digit
• checkdown
• checked
• checked-baggage
• checked baggage
• checked luggage
• checked-swing
• checked swing
• checker
• checkerboard