Meaning & use

unlike

preposition·Everyday

In contrast to; markedly different from another person or thing being compared.

See it in a sentence

Unlike her older brother, she preferred quiet evenings at home to noisy parties.

Unlike most restaurants nearby, this one stays open late on weeknights.

A note on using this word

Unlike as a preposition typically opens a sentence to contrast two things; as an adjective it simply means 'not alike.'

Words with a similar meaning

in contrast todissimilar to

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. adjective

Not similar to something else; different in nature, form, or quality.

The twins have surprisingly unlike personalities despite looking almost identical.

Make it your own

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