Difference Between Like vs Love

Human nature is such that it craves both to appreciate and to be appreciated. How we do this, and how intense it is can be seen in the difference between like and love. These terms of affection have been used interchangeably by a lot of people, but this does not mean they have the same meaning, even though those meanings are indeed similar.

It is understandable when people use these terms interchangeably because your attraction to a thing or a person can grow from a mild one to a full-blown and strong feeling. Going on, we will take a look at the definitions of these terms as well as their characteristics. We will also explain how they are different from one another.

Definition of Like

“Like” can be defined as a mild feeling of attraction towards a person or a thing that fosters a sense of agreement and satisfaction. When you like a thing or a person, it is usually based on a reason. You can like someone or something as a result of physical appearance, benefits, and other tangible qualities. In other words, it takes a reason to like.

While there is no particular duration that liking something is expected to last, it is usually temporal. This is one of the most obvious variations in love vs like comparison. It may last for a really short while, maybe only hours or minutes; and it can last for years; so long as the reason for that fondness persists between the two parties.

If you like long hair, for instance, you may, one day, stop liking long hair, probably because it is not in vogue. In this case, the reason for the liking something still very much exists, but it has been overtaken by another reason, making it obsolete and unlikable to you.

Definition of Love

“Love” is defined as a strong feeling of affection towards a person. People, generally tend to use this word when referring to persons or inanimate objects that have sentimental value for them. When asked the question – what is the difference between love and like? The most suitable answer would be that the former comes with an intense feeling, while the latter comes with a mild feeling of fondness.

Aside from that, having that deep feeling of intensity for another party is usually unconditional. This means there is no need for a reason to have a deep feeling of affection for another. This type of feeling can be seen between parents and children, husband and wife, brother and sister, friends, and so on.

This term can also be used when talking about a thing or an event one loves so much. For instance, if your favorite food is pasta, you can say “I love pasta”. This shows that you prefer it to any other food; it means that you enjoy eating pasta more than other foods.

Main Differences Between Like vs Love

At this point, you may have a pretty good idea of how both of these terms differ from one another. To help you have a better understanding, here is a tabular representation of some of the ways they differ from one another.

Difference Between Like and Love: Conclusion

We have compared like vs love, but there is still more to it than what we, or anyone for that matter, can put down in writing. The best way to summarize it is that love is unconditional and sacrificial, while the former is not. It is possible for the former to start as a little mild feeling of affection and grow into a deep and strong one with time, and can last for a really long time.