When you’ve just met a guy and have realized you’ve taken an interest in him, one of the first things you’re going to wonder is how to know if he likes you back. While this may seem like a straightforward question, dating isn’t always as black and white as it seems. In a day and age where so much communication has moved to the digital realm, it can make conversations a bit harder to decipher, especially when you don’t really know the other person too well quite yet and read into things too much.
Whether you’re only establishing a connection or have progressed into more serious stages of the dating process, there will always be important questions to ask him to ensure you’re on the same page and have both aligned your expectations. From the first time you are introduced to someone and begin interacting, you’ll need to have your senses on high alert to assess whether someone is a viable option for a long-term relationship or if they’re just wasting your time pursuing a casual fling.
In this blog, we’ll conduct a well-rounded analysis of how to know a guy likes you or not and the signs you need to look out for, along with the steps you should take if you’re hoping to pursue a serious relationship going forward. No one wants to waste their time dating, so here are the best ways to pick up on a guy’s behavior before he’s even willing to own up to it himself.
How to Tell If a Guy is Into You
Whether you’re talking about ladies or gentlemen, no two people are the same, and therefore, each individual is going to have some particular behavioral quirks and tendencies that will be unique to them. If you’re a woman, here are a few things you’ll want to keep on your radar when determining how to know if he likes you.
Compliments and Other Verbal Confirmations
Whether you’re just initiating talks or have been dating for a while, there are a good amount of recurring things men will say to affirm your suspicions that he is, in fact, into you. Here are some of them.
He Compliments Your Appearance – There’s no woman (or person, really) who doesn’t appreciate compliments, and more thoughtful acknowledgments typically tend to make a strong first impression.
He Asks About Your Interests and Hobbies – Dating isn’t simply about trivial things like looks or status, so when he inquires about things that are important to you in your daily life, you know he’s interested in actually getting to know you.
He Wants to Learn More About Your Goals – Once they’ve actually gotten to know you, sometimes men will only live in the present and worry about what’s going on in the day-to-day. When he begins asking about your weekly plans, or even better, your future aspirations in general, you’ll know he actually cares about what’s going on in your life.
He Uses Affectionate Language – Terms of endearment can be overused, especially in digital communications, but the more considerate and earnest they are in their delivery, the more genuine they’ll come across.
He Provides Affirmations and Encouragement – It’s one thing to try to woo someone, but when a guy removes himself from the equation only to encourage you and validate feelings or desires you may have, it helps you realize that he supports your individual wants and needs and the decisions you need to make to achieve those goals.
Body Language and Non-Verbal Signs
It can be easy to get lost in what’s explicitly said during a conversation while on a date. Non-verbal cues in body language hold equally as much weight, if not more. That’s because while it may be nice to hear things said, that doesn’t always mean they reign true. Oftentimes, behavior can say a lot more without any words being spoken at all. Here are the key non-verbal signs to watch for.
He Has a Welcoming Demeanor – A person’s body language is characterized by qualities like attitude, posture, and overall vibe, so you’ll generally be able to feel for yourself when things are clicking or if something’s off.
He Makes Eye Contact – Holding eye contact means they’re displaying attentiveness, showing that they’re not just hearing what you have to say but are actually listening intently.
He Reciprocates Your Emotions – No one wants their relationship to be a one-way street, so when the man you’re seeing shows he’s invested in your ongoing situations and helps you feel heard and understood, it lets you know he cares about your wellbeing. Take note that this should not come in the form of appeasement.
He Wants to Be Near You – Going on a date is an intimate experience, but the proximity in which you both feel comfortable tells a lot about the state of your relationship. If he’s continuously making moves to be close to your side or even initiating small gestures like reaching for your hand, you will know he’s fond of you.
He’s Focused On Your Well-Being – When times are stressful or not going your way, having a partner who is actively engaged in checking on your mental and physical well-being is a huge bonus that allows you to know their adoration is all-encompassing.
Key Indications During Digital Communication
In a world that’s constantly connected through digital forms of communication, it’s important to gauge these behaviors like you would any other facet of a prospective relationship. Here are some crucial components of digital communication that can further aid you in figuring out how to know a guy likes you.
He Is Eager to Keep Up Conversation – If he responds to you promptly, whenever he’s off work or just when he has a spare moment, it shows that he’s willing to keep the conversation going, which confirms his interest in you.
He Responds Thoughtfully – It can be so easy to send a bland text message, but if the man you’re seeing is taking the time to respond compassionately with his full attention, it proves he’s engaged in the conversation.
He Acknowledges Each Component of a Message – Sometimes, digital communication can feel like a vacuum, where intention or sentiment gets lost easily. However, his ability to simply address each portion of a message can be incredibly reassuring, even if it’s just with a reaction or an emoji.
He Uses Emojis and GIFs for Added Effect – Mobile communication has allowed for many ways to keep the conversation going, and sometimes, doing something as simple as sending lighthearted messages that speak through images can be a fun way to let you know he’s thinking of you.
He’s Not Afraid of Video Calls – If you’re not able to get together with each other as often as you’d hoped, his willingness to get on video calls shows his devotion to spending time with you, all while proving he’s equally committed to prioritizing you over others in that given moment.
How to Tell When He’s Not Into You
Of course, not every guy you meet, let alone on the internet, is going to be into you. At the end of the day, we’re all looking for different things, and you may not know what’s right for you until you’ve encountered what you don’t like, either. Here are some telltale signs that you’re just not clicking.
He Exhibits Unenthusiastic Behavior – Dating is meant to be a fun, rewarding experience, and this requires both sides to put in effort throughout the process, so if he doesn’t look like he wants to be there, it can be an early red flag regarding their body language.
He Displays Dismissive Demeanor – Building a connection through intimacy is essential to forming a tight bond, so if he’s unwilling to hang out or keep up communications regularly, you won’t be able to get to know each other on a deeper level.
He’s Easily Distracted – If he can’t keep eye contact, is constantly reaching for his phone, or is often changing the subject without acknowledging things you’ve said, it may reveal that his focus isn’t forming a serious relationship.
He Can’t Stay on Topic – As we noted in the last sign, you’ll quickly begin to realize when he would prioritize his own talking points rather than having a two-sided conversation. Or, he continuously makes everything about himself, showing a lack of awareness and respect for your time.
He Focuses More On Himself or Friends than You – Intentionality is one of the most crucial factors in any relationship, so if he’s unwilling to make time for you to further your connection, but you still see he’s constantly out with friends or making excuses for why he’s busy, it’s unlikely he’s worth the time and effort.
How to Respond to Different Behaviors
Dating won’t translate into love overnight, but there are ways to approach each endeavor to ensure you’ve given it your best effort. This way, you can conclude if compatibility is legitimate and can further assess how to proactively push forward, whether or not you choose to pursue this individual or decide to move on to another.
If you’re both comfortable in your own skin and numerous signs lead you to believe you’re enjoying each other’s company, there is probably a viable connection worth giving a shot. You can further strengthen that spark by continuing to make time for one another to go on dates, chat on the phone, and even make future plans. If there’s regular excitement and enthusiasm surrounding these moments, you may have found someone special. Continue to foster that relationship to assess serious, long-term potential.
On the contrary, noticing less-than-desirable behavior that’s ongoing and doesn’t align with your expectations or preferences can be stopped in its tracks. If you’re hopeful a guy may just be unfocused and need a slight push, you can make an effort, but you don’t want to focus too much energy on forcing change. If you make your desires clear and they simply don’t adhere to these principles, it’s perfectly okay to break things off and go on in search of someone new.
From Flirting to Getting to Know Each Other
All relationships progress at their own rate relative to the two individuals at hand, but there’s always that distinct moment in which you move from casually seeing each other to formally dating. However, this can’t really happen until you’ve proposed an array of serious questions for him, and he’s done the same to you. There’s really no way to make strides in your relationship without discussing the intricacies of your individual wants and needs.
Defining Your Relationship
While you’re not expected to do this early on, you will want to set boundaries and make your expectations clear so that you both get a good understanding of where each person is at as the relationship goes on. Both of you should be clear about your intentions, whether they’re short-term or long-term. If one of you is serious about settling down and the other is only looking for something casual, it will quickly become obvious that the compatibility isn’t there.
Building Intimacy
The more you develop a connection and continue to spend time together, if things are clicking, it will be inevitable that you’ll begin to form a more intimate bond. This can usually progress from simply talking to holding hands, embracing with a hug upon greetings, and eventually, a first kiss when the time is right. These physical actions showcase the intention to build intimacy, which is absolutely necessary when establishing compatibility in the long run with someone you’re fond of.
Establishing Commitment and Merging Lifestyles
While compatibility may be organic and effortless, you still need to show you’re actively committed to your partner by continuing to prioritize them and reciprocating their behaviors and emotions when necessary. A huge way to discern if this is even possible is by comparing your individual lifestyles, which have a lot to do with defining who you are. If you and a guy don’t see eye-to-eye on a number of things, it may be difficult to operate through situations that are important to you. On the other hand, if you share the same outlook and many of the same interests and hobbies, you may find that spending time with each other is exactly what you’d prefer to be doing, even if it’s not doing much of anything at all.
Dating is a meticulous process, and if you’re a woman looking to settle down, it’s important to take these different factors into consideration so that you can understand how to read if a man’s mature and serious or emotionally unavailable and just not your type. The greatest tips of all are to stay true to yourself, be patient, and follow your intuition, as you will be delighted to realize when you’ve finally met “the one.”
