How to Tell if Your Best Guy Friend Likes You

Co-authored by JT Tran and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: February 4, 2023 References

Do you feel like things have been changing between you and your best guy friend lately? If you think he might like you romantically, but you're not positive, there are many ways to tell for sure. Look for hints of affection in his behavior and what he says to you. Check out this complete list of signs that your best guy friend likes you, and decide whether you want to take the relationship to the next level!

Things You Should Know

Look at his behavior. If he seems nervous around you and initiates more casual touches when you see him, he might like you.
Take note if he compliments you more than anyone else and starts inside jokes with you. Look out for jealousy, too, which is a big sign of a crush.
Think about how often he wants to see you. A guy with a crush will want plenty of alone time, and he'll make plans for the future that include you.

1

He seems nervous around you.

Guys often feel shy and unsure around the person they like. Look for signs of blushing, stuttering over his words, or visibly fidgeting around you. He might also seem reluctant to say “goodbye.” Did he used to act more casually at the beginning of your friendship but now he’s suddenly more awkward? If so, he's likely crushing on you.^{[1]
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- For instance, he might suddenly stumble over a sentence or give shorter, one-word answers when he's usually a big talker.
- His body language might also reveal his nerves; look to see if he cracks his knuckles, sways his arms back and forth, or crosses his arms.

2

He wants more one-on-one time with you.

Hanging out solo means he's looking for more from your relationship. If your guy friend likes you, he'll want to hang out all the time—especially when it’s just the two of you. He might even cancel other plans to spend time with you. Does he check in daily and ask if you’re free? You just might be dealing with a lovesick guy.

3

He texts you all the time.

Texting frequently means he’s trying hard to connect with you. Think about his recent texting habits—does it seem like he's been texting you more lately? You can even scroll back through your text history to check. If you’re getting a lot more texts now than you did a couple of months ago, he might have feelings for you.^{[2]
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- Does he check in daily? Regular "What's up?" or "How are you doing?" texts are a big sign that he's constantly thinking about you.
- He'll also be quick to shoot back a reply when you text him. He might get busy sometimes, but generally, he'll do his best to reply fast.

4

He touches you more than he used to.

Soft, casual touches signify that his feelings are more than platonic. Notice if he hugs you often, brushes up against you while talking, hands you things you can't reach, or "accidentally" bumps into you. When your guy friend suddenly seems more "touchy" than usual, it’s a sign that he has secret feelings for you.^{[3]
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Expert Source

JT Tran
Dating Coach
Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.}
- For example, he might sit close enough to you that your thighs touch or casually touch your arm while you chat and laugh.
- Do you feel like there's any sexual tension between you when you exchange a touch? That tension is another big sign that he likes you.

5

He compliments you often.

Compliments are his way of showing you how much he likes you! Take note when he pays you heartfelt compliments. If he does it often and praises more than just your looks (like your talents and personality), it's a subtle signal that he's into you. He'll also compliment you more often than anyone else, which is a surefire sign of affection.^{[4]
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- He'll pick up on all the little details of your appearance. He might say, "Are those new glasses? They look great!"
- He might also say things like, "You look really nice in that shirt. It brings out your eyes," or, "You're the smartest person I know!"

6

He talks about how special your friendship is.

Guys might drop hints about their true feelings when they like you. Think about what he's said lately: does he mention how close the two of you are or how much fun it is to be around you? When a guy considers your friendship special and starts to like you, he'll tell you how much he values your presence in his life.
- For instance, he might say, "I don't know anyone who gets me the way you do," or, "I love that we’re always here for each other. I trust you with anything."
- He's also testing the waters to see if you value the friendship like he does. If you do, reciprocate and tell him why it's so special to you!

7

He asks you more personal questions.

Open-ended questions mean he's trying to get to know you better. Because they require more than a "yes" or "no" answer, a guy who likes you might ask lots of open-ended questions to build a stronger bond with you. He'll also ask you how you're feeling and what you're up to because he wants to know more about your life.^{[5]
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- For example, he might ask questions like, "What's your greatest passion in life?" or "What goal is at the very top of your bucket list?"
- He might also be the first to notice when you're feeling happy or sad and ask questions like, "Hey, are you okay?" or "Do you want to talk about it?"

8

He remembers everything you tell him.

A guy who likes you will want to know all the details of your life. Think about how often your guy friend remembers something small you told him about, like your favorite color or your Starbucks coffee order. When a guy likes you, he'll put extra effort into actively listening to you and noting what he hears. Every detail is valuable in his mind!^{[6]
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- If you mention liking salted caramel, a guy who likes you might bring you a bar of it the next week because he saw it and thought of you.
- He might also follow up on the things you tell him. For example, if you were nervous about a work presentation, he'd be the first to ask how it went.

9

He gets jealous of other guys.

He’ll feel jealous if he thinks there’s someone else you like. Pay attention to his reaction if you're dating someone: he'll likely be very critical of that person. Even if you're not dating someone but mention another guy, your friend will probably ask questions about him—and your relationship status. If it seems like there’s another guy in the picture, he won’t like it.^{[7]
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- Try mentioning another male friend and see how he reacts. If he immediately asks who this friend is and how you know them, he's jealous.
- When your guy friend constantly criticizes the other guys you date, it's also a sign that he cares about your well-being and happiness.

10

He’s uncomfortable talking about your love life.

Discussing romance can make him feel awkward if he already likes you. When you mention romance, does he clam up or seem disinterested? Conversely, if you ask about his love life, he might get a little tongue-tied or pointedly declare that he's still single and looking for someone as a way to signal that he's interested in you.^{[8]
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- Try asking him whether he's been seeing anyone. If he reacts awkwardly to the question, he might be secretly crushing on you.
- Your guy friend might also bring up romance and ask you whether you're looking for someone to watch for hints that you like him.

11

He flirts with you often.

Especially confident guys may enjoy openly flirting with you. If your guy friend playfully teases you, makes innuendos, or has a habit of scandalizing you, he has more on his mind than friendship. Ongoing flirtation means he finds you attractive and is likely interested in you.^{[9]
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- Some guys just use flirtation to goof off. However, persistent flirting is almost always a sign of something more. If he keeps doing it, he likes you!

12

He stares when you're not looking.

When a guy likes you, it's hard for him to resist checking you out. Does your guy friend seem to look over at you for long periods? Does he always smile or seem flustered when you spot him? Try and catch your guy friend in the act of staring! If he does it often, it’s a sign that he can’t stop thinking about you.^{[10]
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- If your guy friend quickly looks away, blushes, or tries to pretend he wasn't staring after you catch him, that's another sign he's into you.
- Similarly, your guy friend might make prolonged eye contact while talking, looking at you for way longer than he looks at anyone else.

13

He introduces you to friends and family.

Introducing you to friends is a sign he wants to show you off to them. If your guy friend starts asking you to hang out with his friends or spend time with the rest of his family, he likely has feelings for you. It’s a sign that he wants the people in his life to see how great you are and like you as much as he does.^{[11]
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- For example, he might ask you to go to a work event as his plus-one or invite you to be a guest at a family dinner.
- This goes both ways; he'll also show more interest in meeting the important people in your life, including parents and other close friends.

14

He makes long-term plans involving you.

Making plans means he hopes you'll be part of his life for a long time. Consider the plans your guy friend has made with you lately. Are any of them made weeks or months in advance? If he’s making future plans that involve you, whether they’re one-on-one or with a group, your guy friend is trying to tell you that he likes you and wants you to stick around.
- For instance, he might ask you to go to a concert several months away or plan a standing "date" each week to watch a show you both love.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What if I want to date a guy but I don't want to be exclusive?

JT Tran
Dating Coach
JT Tran is a Dating Coach and a Dating Advice Columnist for LA Weekly and Baller Magazine. JT also runs the ABCs of Attraction, a dating boot camp where he specializes in coaching Asian men and women on how to navigate the cultural and social sensitivities associated with Asian dating culture. With over ten years of dating coaching experience, JT has presented dating and relationship advice as it relates to cultural issues at Harvard University, Yale University, and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. His work has been featured in AsianWeek, New York, NU Asian Magazine, the Huffington Post, Channel News Asia, and Voice of America News TV.

JT Tran

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If you don't want a monogamous relationship, just say that. If he's not comfortable with that, you can't reasonably expect him to still want to date you. With that said, it's still better to just be honest and straight up when it comes to this kind of thing.
Question

Does it mean anything if we're always laughing together?

JT Tran
Dating Coach
JT Tran is a Dating Coach and a Dating Advice Columnist for LA Weekly and Baller Magazine. JT also runs the ABCs of Attraction, a dating boot camp where he specializes in coaching Asian men and women on how to navigate the cultural and social sensitivities associated with Asian dating culture. With over ten years of dating coaching experience, JT has presented dating and relationship advice as it relates to cultural issues at Harvard University, Yale University, and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. His work has been featured in AsianWeek, New York, NU Asian Magazine, the Huffington Post, Channel News Asia, and Voice of America News TV.

JT Tran

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Laughter is a great social lubricant. If you find that the two of you are always laughing it up around one another, you can assume that there may be a relationship worth pursuing there.
Question

How do I tell a guy friend I like him?

JT Tran
Dating Coach
JT Tran is a Dating Coach and a Dating Advice Columnist for LA Weekly and Baller Magazine. JT also runs the ABCs of Attraction, a dating boot camp where he specializes in coaching Asian men and women on how to navigate the cultural and social sensitivities associated with Asian dating culture. With over ten years of dating coaching experience, JT has presented dating and relationship advice as it relates to cultural issues at Harvard University, Yale University, and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. His work has been featured in AsianWeek, New York, NU Asian Magazine, the Huffington Post, Channel News Asia, and Voice of America News TV.

JT Tran

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Just be genuine and authentic. Don't filter your feelings or try to beat around the topic. If you want to tell him you like him, tell him! the clearer you are about this, the better the result will be.