How to Tell That Your Crush Likes You Back

Co-authored by John Keegan

If you have a crush on someone, it's perfectly normal to wonder if they like you back. Luckily, you may be able to tell by paying attention to how they act when you're around. If they really like you, your crush might do things like act nervous when talking to you, ask if you're in a relationship, or come up with excuses to hang out with you. Try not to read into your crush's actions too much, and remember that you can always be straightforward and ask them if they like you too!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Communicating Digitally

1
Look to see if they interact with you often on social media. If your crush is into you, they’ll likely follow you on all of your social media accounts to learn as much about you as possible. Notice if they send you messages on Instagram, tag you in posts on Facebook, or interact with you often on other forms of social media.
2
Pay attention to the time of day they text or call you. If your crush only texts you late at night or when they’re bored, they might not be as interested as you are. Someone who really likes you will text or call you whenever they’re thinking about you, such as when they have free time during the day and want to know what you're doing, or when something exciting happens and they want to share it with you.
- If your crush texts you in the morning, this is a good sign—it means you’re one of the first things they think of when they wake up.
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3
Notice how often they text or call you. Someone who is super interested in you will want to talk to you all the time. If you and your crush have lengthy conversations often, or even just send a few short texts throughout the day, it’s likely that they have strong feelings for you.
- This could also be a sign that your crush thinks of you as a very good friend.
EXPERT TIP

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a dating coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. He runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan
Dating Coach

If you want to get close to find out if your crush likes you, go in slowly. Don't rush at them full force with all your emotions because that can backfire. Instead, go in slowly and let them see you and feel your presence and know that you don't have an agenda. If you go fast and they feel like you have an agenda, they might recoil from you.
4
See if they always respond to your messages. These could be messages over text or over social media. If you send your crush messages and they don’t respond often, they might not be interested. Check to see if your crush always responds to your messages, even if it isn’t an immediate response.^{[1]
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- Be aware that your crush might not be able to respond as soon as you send a message. If they respond after a few hours, this is still a sign they like you, while if they don’t respond for several days, they might not be interested.
- Don't rely on this to determine whether your crush definitely likes you, as responding to messages promptly is also just a very courteous thing to do.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Reading Body Language

1
Notice if they act nervous, anxious, or hyper around you. Depending on your crush’s personality, they may show signs of nervousness or extra energy when you’re around them. Signs of nerves mean that they want to make a good impression on you and are worried about saying or doing the wrong thing, while being hyper points to their excitement to be hanging out with you.^{[2]
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- For example, if your crush gets flustered when talking or fidgets a little more than usual, they’re likely interested in you.
- See if your crush is sweating or blushing for other signs they may be a little nervous around you.
2
Focus on the eye contact between the two of you. This will be different depending on your crush’s personality. If they’re shy, they may have a hard time keeping eye contact with you and will look away often. If they’re not shy, your crush will maintain strong eye contact if they really like you.^{[3]
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- Watch your crush’s pupils when they’re looking at you—if they dilate, it’s a sign that they like you.
- Eye contact between two people depends a lot on each person's personality, so be aware that this isn't a sure-fire way to determine if your crush likes you back.
- If your crush likes you back, they’ll try to steal glimpses of you whenever possible.
3
See if they give you a light touch to show their interest. This is a common way to show affection. If your crush gives you a playful push or light pat, it’s likely that they’re trying to signal that they like you.^{[4]
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- For example, if you’re hanging out with your crush and they bump hips with you playfully or lightly squeeze your shoulder, they might have feelings for you.
- Be aware that this could just be how your crush acts around people normally.
4
Look at your crush’s feet to see if they’re pointing towards you. When people are attracted to one another, they mimic each other’s body language and stand facing each other. The next time you’re talking to your crush, glance at their shoes to see which direction their feet are facing. While this may mean they like you, it also might just be the way they're standing, so try not to read too much into it.^{[5]
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- If your crush moves their chair so that it’s pointed towards you, this is also a good sign.
5
Check to see if your crush is leaning towards you when speaking. When we’re interested in someone, our body naturally leans in towards them to be closer. When you’re talking to your crush, whether you’re standing up or sitting, look to see if they’re leaning in towards you to help figure out if they like you back.^{[6]
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- This could be a simple movement like sitting forward with their elbows on the table while talking to you.
- Body language can be hard to read, so try not to assume that your crush likes you just because they're leaning forward.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Having Meaningful Conversation

1
Realize they might like you if they ask about your relationship status. If your crush likes you back, they’ll want to know if you’re interested in or seeing anyone else. Pay attention to whether your crush asks you if you’re in a relationship, as well as any questions about what you’re looking for in someone.^{[7]
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- Your crush may be more indirect and ask your friends if you’re in a relationship instead.
2
Notice if they ask you lots of questions about your life and interests. This means they want to find out as much as possible about you because they’re genuinely interested in getting to know you. See if your crush listens when you talk about your life and whether or not they remember details of what you’ve told them about yourself.
- For example, they might ask you what your favorite food is, if you have any pets, or what television show is your favorite.
- This could also just be your crush wanting to become better friends with you.
- If you told your crush you love ice skating and they plan an outing to go to an ice rink, this is a sign they’ve been listening intently to what you tell them.
3
Know that your crush may like you if they talk about the future with you. This could include things like where they want to travel, what career they’re pursuing, or what they hope their life is like in 5 years. If your crush starts up a conversation about their future with you, or asks you about your future, this could be a sign they like you a lot.
- For example, if your crush says, “I’m considering studying Engineering in college, what do you think you’ll study?” your crush is showing that they’d like to have deeper conversations with you.
4
Listen to them and see if they tell you things about themselves they don’t tell others. Ideally if your crush likes you, it means they feel very comfortable around you and want you to get to know them super well. Strike up conversations with your crush and see if they reveal any secrets about themselves that nobody else knows, proving they trust you.^{[8]
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- These could be big topics like details about their family life or past relationships, or small tidbits of information that they’ve never thought to tell anyone else.
- Even if this doesn't mean your crush likes you back, it does mean that they trust you.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Observing Their Social Behavior

1
Think about whether they come up with reasons to hang out with you. If your crush really likes you, they’ll want to spend as much time with you as possible. This includes hanging out with you around friends and family, as well as wanting to spend alone time with you. See if your crush asks to hang out with you often, and if they find ways to interact with you when you're with a group of people.^{[9]
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- For example, if you’re at a party and your crush asks if you want to dance or get a snack together, this could mean they like you.
- If your crush makes little excuses to be around you, such as to study for a test or hitch a ride to work or school, it’s possible they really like you and want to spend more time with you.
2
Pay attention to their friends’ actions when you’re around. If your crush told their friends that they like you, the friends might act differently around you. When you’re hanging out with your crush and their friends, see if the friends do things like try to embarrass your crush or say great things about them when they notice you’re listening.
- Your crush's friends might talk up your crush in front of you to try to get you to like your crush as much as they like you.
- Some friends of your crush may even drop hints to you that your crush likes you, such as telling you to ask your crush to hang out just the two of you.
3
See if they’re attentive to your needs. This is another sign that they listen well and are caring. If you tell your crush you’re cold, hungry, or have any other sort of need, see how they respond. If they try to help you by providing whatever it is you asked for, they’re showing you that they care about making you feel better.^{[10]
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- For example, if your crush offers you a jacket when you say you’re cold or brings you soup when you’re sick, these are strong signs that they care about you.
- While it's great if your crush shows that they care about you, this isn't a guarantee that they have a crush on you as well.
4
Observe if they clean themselves up for you. This includes both their personal space like their home or car, as well as their appearance. If you visit your crush and notice that they’ve picked up their room or took extra care to look nice, they may be trying to impress you.
- Your crush could clean themselves up by styling their hair, making sure they smell fresh and clean, or picking out a nice outfit.
- If someone really likes you, they’ll want to put their best foot forward to show you they’re presentable.
5
See if they smile and laugh at your jokes. People who like each other are often attracted to each other’s personality and humor. If you tell a joke or say something funny, notice how your crush reacts. If they smile when you smile or laugh at anything funny you say, they’re showing you they like your humor.^{[11]
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- If your crush smiles or laughs when you say something funny, it could mean they have a crush on you, or that they just think you're a really funny person.
6
Notice if they’re playful or flirty when talking to you. This includes actions like calling you funny nicknames, teasing you, or joking around with you. Each person flirts in a slightly different way, but if your crush is being playful in a way that‘s funny and lighthearted, they’re likely trying to get your attention and show their affection.^{[12]
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- Flirting could also mean a light punch on the arm or a sarcastic comment that doesn’t mean any harm.
- If your crush is showing off, this could be another sign they’re trying to get your attention.
- Some people are just naturally flirtatious when talking to people, so this might be how your crush acts around everyone.

Community Q&A

Question

This guy teases me and acts like he thinks I'm weird, but he gives other positive signs as well.

Community Answer

Young guys can act like this when they don't know how to admit they like someone, or when they're trying to fit in with friends. It's pretty immature, but he might act differently if you talk to him one-on-one.
Question

I told him I liked him and he said "lol ok"... How can I tell what he's thinking?

Community Answer

That doesn't sound like someone who's ready to date. He could be nervous or just insensitive, but either way, the ball is in his court now if he wants to come up with a better response.
Question

What if they flirt with you, but are already dating someone?

Community Answer

That's a bad sign. They may like you, but if they're already with someone, that means they don't take their current relationship very seriously - which means they may not take you seriously, either. It's best to not try and get into a relationship with this person, no matter how much they flirt with you or how much you like them.