like
lahykpreposition, conjunction
SlangSoCalDifficulty 1 of 3: Widely known
Definition
A discourse marker used to approximate, to quote someone, or to pace a sentence.
In simple English: A filler word used while speaking.
Examples
It was like a two-hour wait.
And she was like, “I’m not doing that.”
Usage notes
Stereotyped as Valley Girl speech from 1980s Los Angeles, but now a documented feature of English worldwide. The quotative use — "she was like" to introduce speech — is the most distinctly Californian.
On video
At a glance
- Track
- Slang
- Region
- SoCal
- Part of speech
- preposition, conjunction