Like vs. Love: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Like is a feeling of enjoyment or approval towards someone or something, while love is a deeper, more intense emotion of affection, attachment, or devotion.
Key Differences
Like is a more casual, less intense emotion than love. It indicates enjoyment or approval but lacks the depth of love. Love, on the other hand, is a profound, deep affection and attachment, often implying a sense of commitment and emotional investment.
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Nov 20, 2023
Like often describes positive feelings toward friends, activities, or objects. It's common in friendships and early stages of relationships. Love signifies a deeper bond, typically associated with romantic relationships, family, or very close friendships.
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The feeling of like can be transient and subject to change. It's often based on specific qualities or experiences. Love is generally more enduring and stable, surviving changes and challenges.
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Expressing like is usually straightforward and casual. Love involves deeper expressions and often includes a commitment or a desire to maintain a long-term connection.
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Like can be based on physical attraction, shared interests, or pleasant interactions. Love encompasses these but also involves a deep emotional connection and care for the other's wellbeing.
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Comparison Chart
Relationship Context
Friends, activities, early relationship stages.
Romantic partners, close family, deep friendships.
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Duration and Stability
Often transient, subject to change.
More enduring and stable.
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Expression and Commitment
Casual, straightforward expression.
Deeper expression, often includes commitment.
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Basis
Physical attraction, shared interests.
Deep emotional connection, caring for the other’s wellbeing.
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Like and Love Definitions
Like
Like means to find something enjoyable or agreeable.
I like Italian food for its rich flavors.
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Love
Love can mean caring deeply for someone's well-being.
His love for his community led him to volunteer.
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Like
Like can indicate a preference for something over others.
She likes jogging more than cycling.
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Love
Love can also express strong enthusiasm for an activity or object.
She has a love for painting landscapes.
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Like
In social media, like refers to expressing approval of a post or content.
He liked several posts on the environmental awareness page.
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Love
A strong feeling of affection and concern toward another person, as that arising from kinship or close friendship.
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Like
Like is used in similes to compare two things.
She sings like an angel.
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Like
To find pleasant or attractive; enjoy
Do you like ice cream? I like your style.
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Love
An instance of being in love
Teenage loves can be as fleeting as they are intense.
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Love
A person for whom one has strong feelings of affection
She met her new love at the restaurant.
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Like
To believe or predict that (a certain competitor) will win a contest
Which team do you like in tonight's game?.
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Like
To perform well under (a given condition) or using (a given feature)
This car does not like cold weather. The engine does not like enriched fuel.
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Love
An intense emotional attachment to something, as to a pet or treasured object.
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Like
To have an inclination or a preference
If you like, we can meet you there.
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Love
A strong predilection or enthusiasm
A love of language.
Love for the game of golf.
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Like
Something that is liked; a preference
Made a list of his likes and dislikes.
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Like
One similar to or like another. Used with the
Was subject to coughs, asthma, and the like.
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Like
Often likes(Informal) An equivalent or similar person or thing; an equal or match
I've never seen the likes of this before. We'll never see his like again.
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Like
Possessing the characteristics of; resembling closely; similar to
Your house is like mine.
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Love
To feel or show kindness or concern to (a person). Used of God or a god.
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Like
Such as; for example
Saved things like old newspapers and pieces of string.
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Like
Possessing the same or almost the same characteristics; similar
On this and like occasions.
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Like
In the manner of being; as if. Used as an intensifier of action
Worked like hell.
Ran like crazy.
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Love
A profound and caring affection towards someone.
A mother’s love is not easily shaken.
My husband’s love is the most important thing in my life.
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Love
Affectionate, benevolent concern or care for other people or beings, and for their well-being.
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Like
(Nonstandard) Used to provide emphasis or to focus attention on something
Let's like talk about this for a minute. It's like so crowded you can't move.
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Love
A feeling of intense attraction towards someone.
I have never been in love as much as I have with you.
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Like
In the same way that; as
To dance like she does requires great discipline.
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Love
A deep or abiding liking for something; an enthusiasm for something.
My love of cricket knows no bounds.
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Love
(countable) A person who is the object of romantic feelings; a darling, a sweetheart, a beloved.
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Like
To enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of.
I like hamburgers.
I like skiing in winter.
I like the Seattle Mariners this season.
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Love
A term of friendly address, regardless of feelings.
Hello love, how can I help you?
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Love
A thing, activity, etc. which is the object of one's deep liking or enthusiasm.
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Like
To prefer and maintain (an action) as a regular habit or activity.
I like to go to the dentist every six months.
She likes to keep herself physically fit.
We like to keep one around the office just in case.
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Love
Used as the closing, before the signature, of a letter, especially between good friends or family members, or by the young.
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Like
(obsolete) To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).
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Like
(archaic) To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly.
He liked to have been too late.
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Like
To find attractive; to prefer the company of; to have mild romantic feelings for.
I really like Sandra but don't know how to tell her.
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Like
To show support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet by marking it with a vote.
I liked my friend's last status on Facebook.
I can't stand Bloggs' tomato ketchup, but I liked it on Facebook so I could enter a competition.
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Oct 19, 2023
Like
(with 'would' and in certain other phrases) To want, desire. See also would like.
Would you like a cigarette?
We could go to the museum if you like.
I don't like to disturb him when he's working.
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Love
To have a strong affection for (someone or something).
I love my spouse.
I love you!
I love that song!
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Like
To accept as an input.
We were frustrated that our seeming innocent choice for a team name was rejected by the censor. Apparently somewhere in the name is a word that the censor doesn’t like.
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Oct 19, 2023
Love
(transitive) To be strongly inclined towards something; an emphatic form of like.
I love walking barefoot on wet grass;
I'd love to join the team;
I love what you've done with your hair
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Like
Something that a person likes (prefers).
Tell me your likes and dislikes.
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Like
(internet) An individual vote showing support for, approval of, or enjoyment of, something posted on the Internet.
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Love
(transitive) To derive delight from a fact or situation.
I love the fact that the coffee shop now offers fat-free chai latte.
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Oct 19, 2023
Like
(sometimes as the likes of) Someone similar to a given person, or something similar to a given object; a comparative; a type; a sort.
There were bowls full of sweets, chocolates and the like.
It was something the likes of which I had never seen before.
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Oct 19, 2023
Love
A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preëminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters.
Of all the dearest bonds we proveThou countest sons' and mothers' loveMost sacred, most Thine own.
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Like
(golf) The stroke that equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side.
To play the like
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Love
Courtship; - chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e., to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage.
Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,And won her soul.
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Like
Similar.
My partner and I have like minds.
The two cats were as like as though they had come from the same litter.
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Love
Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; - opposed to hate; often with of and an object.
Love, and health to all.
Smit with the love of sacred song.
The love of science faintly warmed his breast.
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Love
Due gratitude and reverence to God.
Keep yourselves in the love of God.
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Like
Inclined (to), prone (to).
He seems like to run from any semblance of hard work.
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Love
The object of affection; - often employed in endearing address; as, he held his love in his arms; his greatest love was reading.
Open the temple gates unto my love.
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Love
Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus.
Such was his form as painters, when they showTheir utmost art, on naked Lores bestow.
Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love.
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Like
As if; as though.
It looks like you've finished the project.
It seemed like you didn't care.
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Love
Nothing; no points scored on one side; - used in counting score at tennis, etc.
He won the match by three sets to love.
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Love
To have a feeling of love for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love one's children and friends; to love one's country; to love one's God.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
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Love
To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures.
Wit, eloquence, and poetry.Arts which I loved.
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Love
A strong positive emotion of regard and affection;
His love for his work
Children need a lot of love
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Love
Any object of warm affection or devotion;
The theater was her first love
He has a passion for cock fighting
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Like
Used to ask for a description or opinion of someone or something
I hear she has a new boyfriend. What's he like?
What's the weather like in Ürümqi today?
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Like
Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; - often with in and the particulars of the resemblance; as, they are like each other in features, complexion, and many traits of character.
'T is as like youAs cherry is to cherry.
Like master, like man.
He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
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Love
Have a great affection or liking for;
I love French food
She loves her boss and works hard for him
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Like
Equal, or nearly equal; as, fields of like extent.
More clergymen were impoverished by the late war than ever in the like space before.
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Like
Having probability; affording probability; probable; likely.
But it is like the jolly world about us will scoff at the paradox of these practices.
Many were not easy to be governed, nor like to conform themselves to strict rules.
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Oct 19, 2023
Like
Inclined toward; disposed to; as, to feel like taking a walk.
Had like to have been my utter overthrow.
Ramona had like to have said the literal truth, . . . but recollected herself in time.
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Love
Love is a deep, enduring affection for someone or something.
Her love for her children is unconditional.
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Like
That which is equal or similar to another; the counterpart; an exact resemblance; a copy.
He was a man, take him for all in all,I shall not look upon his like again.
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Love
Love often refers to intense romantic feelings towards someone.
They fell in love during their trip to Paris.
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Like
A liking; a preference; inclination; - usually in pl.; as, we all have likes and dislikes.
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Love
Love can be used to express a strong preference or enjoyment.
I love reading novels on rainy days.
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Like
The stroke which equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side; as, to play the like.
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Like
In a manner like that of; in a manner similar to; as, do not act like him.
He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
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Like
In a like or similar manner.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
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Like
To suit; to please; to be agreeable to.
Cornwall him liked best, therefore he chose there.
I willingly confess that it likes me much better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature.
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Like
To be pleased with in a moderate degree; to approve; to take satisfaction in; to enjoy.
He proceeded from looking to liking, and from liking to loving.
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Like
To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).
You like well, and bear your years very well.
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Like
Prefer or wish to do something;
Do you care to try this dish?
Would you like to come along to the movies?
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Like
Find enjoyable or agreeable;
I like jogging
She likes to read Russian novels
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Like
Feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard;
How did you like the President's speech last night?
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Oct 19, 2023
Like
Resembling or similar; having the same or some of the same characteristics; often used in combination;
Suits of like design
A limited circle of like minds
Members of the cat family have like dispositions
As like as two peas in a pod
Doglike devotion
A dreamlike quality
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Like
Equal in amount or value;
Like amounts
Equivalent amounts
The same amount
Gave one six blows and the other a like number
An equal number
The same number
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Like
Having the same or similar characteristics;
All politicians are alike
They looked utterly alike
Friends are generaly alike in background and taste
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Like
Conforming in every respect;
Boxes with corresponding dimensions
The like period of the preceding year
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Like
Like can also mean similar to something or someone.
His painting is like a work of a Renaissance master.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does like mean?
Like means to enjoy or approve of someone or something.
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Nov 20, 2023
What does love mean?
Love refers to a deep, intense affection and attachment.
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Is like less important than love?
Not necessarily; like is just different in nature and intensity from love.
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Is love only romantic?
No, love can be platonic, familial, or towards activities and objects.
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Do like and love always coexist?
Not always; one can like someone without loving them and vice versa.
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Can you like and dislike something about someone you love?
Yes, it's possible to have mixed feelings even in love.
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Can like turn into love?
Yes, like can develop into love as emotional bonds deepen.
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Is love a choice or a feeling?
Love can be seen as both a deep feeling and a conscious choice.
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Are like and love culturally influenced?
Cultural factors can influence expressions and perceptions of like and love.
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Does love require physical attraction?
Not always; love can be based on emotional connections beyond physical attraction.
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How do you express like?
Like is expressed through positive remarks, gestures, or actions.
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How is love expressed?
Love is expressed through deeper commitment, care, and affection.
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Can animals experience like or love?
Animals can show signs of affection and attachment, similar to like or love.
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Does love always grow over time?
Love can grow over time, but it also requires nurturing and effort.
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How do relationships start with like?
Relationships often start with liking each other's company or traits.
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Is love stronger than like?
In terms of emotional depth and commitment, love is generally stronger.
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Can like exist without physical attraction?
Yes, one can like someone based on personality or shared interests.
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Is love always unconditional?
Not necessarily; love can have conditions or expectations.
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Can you control who you like or love?
Liking or loving someone often happens naturally, though one can choose how to act on these feelings.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can you feel like and love simultaneously for different things?
Yes, it's possible to like and love different people or things simultaneously.
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Nov 20, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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