How to Tell if He Likes You

Look out for these signs he’s hoping to be more than friends

You’re probably here because there’s a guy in your life who is driving you crazy with his behavior. Whether it’s a classmate, a pal you’ve had forever, or a new guy you’ve just met, it seems like he wants to be more than just friends—but does he? If you want to know how to tell if your fella likes you as more than just a buddy, keep reading: we’ve compiled a list of telltale signs a guy is crushing on you. Just remember that these don't apply to everyone. If a few of these signs apply to how he treats you, then he's probably interested.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• See how he treats other people. If he likes you, he’ll treat you differently. Does he flirt with everyone, or just you?
• Pay attention to how often he talks to you. If he’s constantly texting you and always trying to hang out, he’s probably into you.
• Observe his body language. Does he look at you a lot? Is he always looking for reasons to touch you? All signs point to yes, he likes you!
• Notice if he’s fully engaged when he speaks to you. Does he seem fascinated by what you’re saying and laugh at your dumb jokes? If so, you may have a keeper!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]He talks to you—a lot.

1. If he can’t seem to stop chatting up you, he likes you. Are you the first person he talks to when he’s got good news? Had a bad day? Just bored and want to chat? All green flags!^[1]
   
   • True, talking a lot could just be a sign he sees you as a friend, but that’s nothing to sneeze at, either. Not talking to you often, though? That’s probably a sign he’s not super invested.
   • When you text him and get a reply from him within 10 seconds, it means that he’s eager to talk to you.

[Edit]He makes eye contact.

1. Strong eye contact is a sign he’s interested, babe. When he talks to you, is he giving you his full attention, or is he looking around the room for something better to do? Is he breaking eye contact occasionally but smiling because he feels shy around you?^[2]
   
   • Whether he’s sneaking glances at you from across the room or staring deep into your eyes while you’re talking, if he can't stop watching you, he's probably fallen for you.

[Edit]He gives you his full attention.

1. A guy who likes you will show it by being laser-focused on you. The way he acts when he talks to you can say a lot about his feelings for you. Does he nod and ask questions in response to what you say? Does he remember what you talked about the next day? Green flags!^[3]
   
   • If he talks to you like you're the only person in the world and seems happy to be talking to you, then he may have a crush on you.

[Edit]He laughs at your jokes.

1. Laughter is the key to a person’s heart, truly. If he laughs at your jokes, it’s possibly true love. Of course, if you’re standup-level hilarious, it’s a given he’s going to laugh at your jokes. To test him, crack an intentionally bad joke. If he laughs, he’s into you, babe.^[4]
   
   • If you want to encourage him, return the favor and laugh at his dumb jokes too. (Unless you don’t want him to like you, in which case stop being so hilarious.)

[Edit]He tries to impress you.

1. If he likes you, he might try to show off to catch your eye. Does he tell stories that make him look strong, funny, or adventurous? People who like you will try to make themselves seem admirable by highlighting their strengths and sharing exciting stories. Make sure to ooh and ahh when appropriate.^[5]
   
   • It’s possible he might even come off a little arrogant, which is a turn-off, sure, but he may be putting on airs because he’s nervous. If he’s normally pretty humble and chill, consider cutting him some slack.

[Edit]He lowers his voice when he speaks to you.

1. Talking quietly or in a lower voice may be his way of getting you to lean in closer. Ooh la la. Speaking to one another in hushed tones, mere inches away from one another’s lips, is a surefire way to increase intimacy. A candlelit dinner for 2 is on the horizon.^[6]
   
   • Speaking softly could also be a sign that he’s shy around you—also a good sign! If he likes you, he may struggle to be confident around you.

[Edit]He shares personal information with you.

1. Opening up to you is a sign he trusts you and values your opinion. Of course, it matters what personal info he shares. If he's opening up to you about his childhood or trouble with his friends or family, then he likes you and puts stock in your perspective. But if he's opening up to you about a new girl or guy he’s crushing on, then you may have a problem.^[7]
   
   • On the other hand, if he brags to you about other girls flirting with him, he could be trying to make you jealous. Love, am I right?

[Edit]He compliments you.

1. A guy who likes you may try to flatter you with compliments. Telling you you’re a red-hot mama is kind of an obvious sign, but subtle compliments are indicators of attraction as well. If he tells you you look nice today or that you're interesting or funny, then he may be falling for you.
   
   • Look out for nonverbal compliments too. Does he laugh at your dumb jokes (as aforementioned), smile when you turn in his direction, or light up like a Christmas tree when you walk in the room? These are all ways of saying he appreciates you.

[Edit]He asks you questions about yourself.

1. A guy who doesn't care will stick to superficial scripting. If he likes you, he'll want to know about you: your likes and dislikes, your history. He'll ask you deep questions and sincerely want to know the answers.^[8]
   
   • Not only will he ask you about yourself, he'll remember what you said. Does he return to conversations you had yesterday or last week, or does he seem to not remember what you talked about?

[Edit]He teases you.

1. Poking playful fun is a big sign he's into you. Romance Queen Jane Austen wrote, “Is not general incivility the very essence of love?” which is just a super fancy way of saying, “If he teases you, he might be down bad, babe.”^[9]
   
   • Don’t take this to mean that if a guy is a jerk, he’s got the hots for you. Being rude could be a sign of affection, but if he can only show he likes you by being a jerk, he’s not worth your time.
   • A guy who pays attention to you will also be sensitive enough to know what to tease you about and what to avoid.

[Edit]He tries to make you jealous.

1. Bragging about other girls could be his way of trying to make you envious. Sure, it’s a misguided plan and very indirect, but hey, love is complicated. Talking to you about girls who flirt with him or dates he’s been on could be his way of getting your attention or trying to make you jealous so that he seems more desirable.^[10]
   
   • Of course, if he’s always telling you about girls he likes or dates he’s been on, he might just see you as a friend and want to confide in you.
   • But if he's always complaining about women he's dating or says, "None of them are what I'm looking for," then he may be hinting that you're the one.
   • Observe how he talks about other girls around you to decide how you should react: is he trying to make you jealous? Or are you getting jealous because you like him?

[Edit]He touches you a lot.

1. If he likes you, he may look for excuses to touch you. Physical contact, even if it’s minimal, could be a sign he wants to be close to you. If it seems like he’s always touching you—playfully pulling your hair, giving you a high-five, hugging you, putting his arm around you—there’s a pretty good sign he likes you. Even if the touches are minimal, if it happens often, it’s a good indication he wants to be close to you.^[11]
   
   • Notice how he sits next to you. Does he always try to move closer until your knees touch, or is he sitting miles away?
   • Does he get physical if you're playing a friendly game of volleyball or soccer, and does he always ask you to be his partner when it's time for chicken fights in the pool?
   • Observe how often he touches other people. Does he put his arm around everyone, or only you?

[Edit]He frequently faces your direction.

1. If his body is often angled in your direction, it could mean he wants you. Body language can tell you a lot about his true feelings; he might not even be aware of what his body is doing! Notice his body language: is his body directed towards you when you speak? Does he nod when you speak and gesture while he talks to you? If so, then he wants to give you all of his attention and is engaged in your interactions.^[12]
   
   • It’s about more than his body language when he’s speaking to you. Is he frequently facing your direction even when you’re not engaged in conversation?
   • If his attention is focused on you, his whole body will show it: his feet and chest will be turned toward you, and he might keep his arms open, rather than crossed, to convey engagement.

[Edit]He does things for you.

1. A guy who likes you will go out of his way to show it with his actions. There are friendly favors, and then there are “I love you” favors. All of those gifts he gives you or kind acts he goes out of his way to perform for you may indicate he’s fallen for you.^[13]
   
   • Is he thoughtful? Does he bring you coffee when you're having an intense study session, or get tickets for a movie you hinted that you want to see? If so, then he's probably hanging on to your every word and just wants to make you happy.

[Edit]He treats you differently from everyone else.

1. If he thinks you’re something special, he’ll show you special attention. Some guys may seem like they like you, but if they act the same way toward everyone, you can assume it’s just their personality. Study how he acts around other people to see if he shows them the same behavior he shows you. If he doesn’t treat you the same way he treats others, it means you’re special.
   
   • See if he's a perpetual flirt. Does he flirt with everyone in the room, or only you?
   • You can also look for the opposite sign. Does he flirt with everyone except for you? Then maybe he’s not flirting with you because you’re the only one he likes. He may respect you too much or be too nervous to tease you.

[Edit]He flirts with you.

1. Is he always teasing you, making you laugh, doodling in your notebook? This may feel like a no-brainer, but it may be harder to tell if he’s flirting with you than you think. Every guy has his flirting style (which is why it’s important to observe how he treats other people besides you), but make no mistake, a guy who likes you will flirt with you.^[14]
   
   • If he sends you a lot of emoticons when he’s texting, then he’s flirting with you.
   • If he’s always playfully hitting you or giving you a gentle shove, then he’s flirting with you.

[Edit]He’s always trying to hang out with you.

1. If he likes you, then he’ll want to be around you as much as possible. Whether it’s claiming you as a lab partner, asking if you’re going to that party next weekend, or directly inviting you to do something with him like see a movie, if he likes you, he’ll want to spend time with you.^[15]
   
   • Does he act like you’re the only person in the room when you’re hanging out in big groups? If you’re at a party or concert and he spends most of the night talking to you, then he wants to get closer to you.

[Edit]He tries to be alone with you.

1. A guy who likes you will want you to himself. Does he prefer to hang out one-on-one, or in big groups? Does he try to isolate you when you’re talking to multiple people? It could be a sign he wants to spend time with you alone.^[16]
   
   • If it’s always just the two of you, then he may see you as crush material. But if he’s always inviting 10 of his closest bros along, then he may see you just as another friend.

[Edit]He takes you to romantic places.

1. If all your hangouts feel like dates, that could be where his mind is at. Not only will a guy who digs you want to spend lots of one-on-one time with you, but he’ll also want to do romantic things with you in romantic places, like wine tastings at classy jazz bars, or Twilight movie marathons at the local theater (your mileage may vary). Where you hang out and what you do can tell you if he just sees you as a friend or if he wants all of your hang sessions to be more like dates.^[17]
   
   • Does he invite you to spend time in romantic locations like gardens, nicer wine bars, or places where you see couples hanging out for date nights? If so, then he may want to take your friendship to the dating realm.
   • Notice when he wants to hang out as well. Is he inviting you out to brunch, or does he ask you to dinner on a Friday night? Daytime hangs aren’t necessarily red flags (who doesn’t love brunch?), but nighttime is usually more romantic.

[Edit]Your friends think he likes you.

1. Your pals might be able to tell if he likes you or be able to find out. If your friends are around when you interact with your fella, they see how he treats you and can probably give you some perspective. You may be too blinded by Cupid’s arrow to be able to see the situation clearly, but your friends probably have some solid opinions on the subject.
   
   • Ask a friend to study the two of you next time you’re together and to report back. Just make sure the friend isn’t being too obvious.
   • Tell your friends to be honest. If they don’t think he likes you, or even know that he likes someone else, then you should benefit from the truth.
   • Ask your friends to do a little spying: if you’ve got a buddy who’s in his next class, ask them to see if he flirts with anyone in that class or if they ever hear him talking about you.

[Edit]His friends say he likes you.

1. If you’re feeling bold, ask his friends how he feels. This is a very dangerous step since there’s a chance they would run and report your question back to your crush. But if you don’t know who else to ask, or if you trust one of his friends, then casually ask how he feels about you.
   
   • Though this is a riskier step, his friends will have a better answer than your friends, since they have firsthand information from your guy.
   • This could also be a strategic move on your part: if you want him to know you like him but don’t want to tell him directly, asking his friend if he likes you could be a sneaky way to let him know how you feel since there’s a chance they’ll tell him you like him.

[Edit]He says he likes you

1. OK, majorly obvious, but if he tells you he likes you, he likes you. If you’re feeling fairly confident that the guy likes you and are tired of waiting around and reading the signs, it may be time to just tell him how you feel and ask if he feels the same way. He could be really shy and may be relieved that you’re taking the initiative.^[18]
   
   • Find some time to be alone with him. Make sure you don’t ask him when his friends are looking over your shoulder.
   • Be honest and open. Just say you have a crush on him and want to know if he shares your feelings. If he doesn't feel the same way, that's fine! At least you know and can move on.
   • You should only do this if you’re pretty sure that he likes you. If he has exhibited multiple signs of liking you, then be bold and ask him.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Know if You Like a Guy
• Tell if a Natural Flirt Likes You

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-bad-looks-good/201904/how-tell-if-someone-has-crush-you
2. ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/know-someone-attracted/
3. ↑ [v161253_b02]. 24 January 2020.
4. ↑ https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/laughter-and-love-boost-each-other-romantic-relationships
5. ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/someone-likes-you/
6. ↑ https://www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk/articles/signs-someone-actually-likes-you
7. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/communication-in-relationships/
8. ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/someone-likes-you/
9. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2021/07/11/1014019821/flirting-how-to-dating-romance-advice
10. ↑ https://www.raq.org.au/blog/overcoming-jealousy-relationship
11. ↑ https://www.loveisrespect.org/resources/physical-boundaries/
12. ↑ [v161253_b02]. 24 January 2020.
13. ↑ https://www.joinonelove.org/signs-healthy-relationship/
14. ↑ https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2008/07/flirtation
15. ↑ [v161253_b02]. 24 January 2020.
16. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886920300556
17. ↑ https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-power-of-date-nights
18. ↑ [v161253_b02]. 24 January 2020.