11 Signs a Girl Likes You as More Than a Friend

Wondering if a girl likes you as more than a friend? Do all those late-night study sessions before your big calc test mean something? Or does she just see you as a homework buddy… After all those minutes of tension-filled review, you’re ready to ask her out, but also don’t want to get rejected. Decoding the signs a girl likes you can be tough, but we’re here to help.

Find out whether a Girl actually Likes You or Just Needs Help with Integrals.

1. She responds to all of your texts

“If you are talking and a girl readily responds to texts with a flirtatious vibe in an appropriate amount of time, it’s a yes,” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sophomore Ashley Stufano said. It’s easy to get caught up with class and friends and forget to keep up a conversation, but if she’s into you, she’ll take a break from her mountains of Spanish homework to respond to every text. Pay attention to the content of the texts that she sends you too. If they’re filled with hearts, winky faces or any other flirty emojis, she’s probably into you.

2. Her eyes dilate when she looks at you

When someone’s looking at a person they find attractive, their eyes dilate. Although other factors like lighting can affect the size of her pupils, if they dilate every time you have a conversation, it’s a sign a girl likes you. She’s probably hoping you’ll ask her to hang out on the sunny quad that afternoon.

3. She’s always dressed up

If the other girls in your math class are decked out in their go-to Nike shorts and oversized T-shirts, but she’s rocking cute high-waisted shorts or a sun dress to that 8 a.m. lecture, it may be a sign she likes you. “I always dress up when I like a guy because any chance that he sees me I want him to see me at my best,” UNC sophomore Sabrina Ortiz said. “I also know that when I’m dressed well I have more confidence, which is just an added bonus!” If you unexpectedly bump into her on campus and she’s wearing an oversized sweatshirt—a drastically different look than the one she wears to class—she could be trying to impress you during your normal meeting times.

4. Her friends act differently

Pay attention to her friends. If she likes you, there’s no doubt she’ll have spent parts of her Sunday brunches and movie nights with the girls filling them in on all the deets about you. When they finally do meet you, they’ll definitely be looking at you to see if you live up to the image she’s painted through stories about you. Make sure you make a good impression because a girl wants a guy who gets along with her friends. You can be sure that the moment you leave, she’ll start asking them for their opinions.

5. She mirrors your movements

People subconsciously mirror each other’s movements when they are attracted to each other. Do you catch her brushing her hands through her hair right after you do the same? It’s a sign that she likes you. She’s paying attention to you enough that her mind is making her copy your actions.

6. She smiles and laughs around you—a lot

This may seem simple, but if a girl likes you, being around you is likely to put her in a good mood. “I feel we smile more when we like a guy and we really try to keep a conversation going,” UNC sophomore Monica Mussack said. If she’s always smiling when you talk to her, and if she laughs at even your dumbest and pun-heavy jokes, that’s a sign.

7. She develops an interest in your interests

Does she put on Bleachers at her apartment party the week after you recommended she listen to them? If a girl shows she’s curious about your passions, she’s probably trying to get to know you better and develop some common interests. She knows that if she checks out your favorite band or watches that movie you recommended, she’ll have something to talk about when she runs into you in the dorm hallway.

8. She makes excuses to talk to you

Does she text you about homework problems even though you know she’s acing the class? This may be because she likes you. “I’m really shy so personally I ask them questions about stuff even if I already know the answer just so I can talk to them,” UNC sophomore Kathryn Hintze said. It can be hard to come up with topics of conversation, so oftentimes if a girl likes you, she’ll seize any opportunity to send you a text.

9. She says your name…a lot

If a girl likes you, she probably spends a lot of time thinking about you or talking to her friends about you. All that time results in your name being on the tip of her tongue. “[If a girl likes you] she says your name a lot when she talks to you. Like ‘What do you think, David?’ Instead of just ‘what do you think?’” UNC sophomore Brooke Robotti said. Just make she doesn’t just have a habit of saying everyone’s names often before you stock up on flowers.

10. She pays attention to you above everything else

We’re all guilty of constantly being attached to our phones. We may not put them away even when we’re hanging out with our best friends, but we do when we’re hanging out with someone we like. When a girl likes you, not even the most interesting Buzzfeed quizzes or juiciest Snap stories will keep her eyes off you. In fact, if you catch her eyes lingering on you over her plate of mystery meat, even while her friend is telling a hilarious story about a date gone wrong, chances are she likes you.

11. She acts differently towards you than other guys

The best way to tell if a girl likes you is to compare how she treats other guys with how she treats you. If you’re hanging out with her and your guy friends, notice who she pays the most attention to. Most importantly, if a girl likes you, chances are she’ll want you to know, and will send signals through her texts and personal interactions with you. Keep a lookout for the signs we mentioned during these telling moments, and before you know it, you’ll have your answer to that ultimate, mysterious question: Is she into me?

Haven’t spotted any of the signs a girl likes you? Watch out for the friend zone.

Not sure if you spotted the signs a girl likes you? Try giving her a cute tee.

Still unsure how to tell if a girl likes you? Not to worry—we’ve got your back.

Written by Rodaris Richardson.

Trying to shoot your shot but afraid to get friend-zoned? Then you came to the right place. Thoughts like, “Is she this friendly to everyone?” or “Would she ever date someone like me?” constantly flooding your mind. You may even be thinking how confusing girls can be. But to be honest, girls are not as complicated as you think. You just have to read the signs.

Before getting friend-zoned, check out these signs for how to tell if a girl likes you before making the first move:

12. She’s Always Watching

…In the non-creepy way I hope…but for real if a girl likes you, she always keeps up with what you do. Whether she hits you with the “what’d you do today?” text pretty often, or shows up as the first one to view your Snapchat and Instagram stories, a girl checking in = a girl who likes you. If she wants to know how your day went and cares enough to ask…she’s probably into you my friend. “I remember I would always look through his Tweets even GIFS to see if it somewhat relates with me,” Penn State senior Rhondra Downing said.

13. “Accidentally” Running into You

Do you find yourself always running into her? She does not just show up at your job when you happen to be at work for the heck of it, (or go to the gym at 9 a.m. just like you because she loves getting that morning workout in.) She never misses out on social events for your frat either. If you keep finding yourself on the dance floor with her, she’s probably there for a reason (aka, you).

14. Always Likes Your Photos

Pay very close attention to her social media. If she is into you, not one photo will go unliked. Even if you post something silly like a meme or those random Instafood pics, a girl who really likes you will do anything she can to make sure her name pops up in your notifications. An even bigger sign? Finding her going on a liking spree on your Instagram. This is her way of saying she finds you attractive. Or even worse, finding out she accidentally liked that old pic from 2015 (we’ve all been there).

15. Random Acts of Kindness

#wifemeup might just be your crush’s new favorite hashtag if she really digs you. It’s no secret that men love a girl who can cook (and if she can bake that’s a plus too). Does she randomly give you sweets or asking you if you had anything to eat today? This means she cares about you on a deeper level. “There was a time he told me he only liked red or pink starburst, so I went to the store and got him the packs that only have those two flavors,”  Penn State junior Brandy Fernandez said.

16. What’s Your Name on Her Phone?

First off, if she does not even have your number saved then forget about it—she’s just not that into you. But if you find that she has your name saved with a cute emoji, now we’re talking “I like to have his name saved with the typical heart eyes emoji,” Penn State junior Maribel Ramos said. This includes over-using emoji’s while texting you, too.

17. What’s Up With Her Twitter?

Just got done hanging out and she’s posting hearts on Twitter? Or does she always talk about #Oomf and floods her Twitter with cute relationship GIFS? These actions are anything but a coincidence. Girls already love going on Twitter to throw indirects whether good or bad, so feel free to step up and question her about it.

18. She Gets a Little Jealous

Do you ever notice a change in her emotions whenever you mention other girls? Does she question your whereabouts and reasoning whenever you are with someone else? Sounds like she has a crush on you. A lot of girls get jealous very easily around the men they like. “I saw him taking a selfie with another girl and he noticed I got upset about it,” Penn State junior Jilli Neeper said.

19. You’re All She Looks At

Epiphany: You seem to be the only  guy she talks to in public. She gives you her undivided attention. Even at parties she rejects other guys and only wants to dance with you. If a girl feels interested in you the last thing she wants is for you to think someone else has her attention.

20. Thirst Traps

When she really likes you, she tries to look good at all times including social media. When Snapchatting back and forth she will try to always look her best and send what we call, ‘thirst traps.’ Confession: I make sure to send bomb ass selfies and not pictures of the wall or ceiling like people usually do on Snap. Guilty as charged.

21. She Never Talks About Other Guys

You know you’ve sunk deep in the friend zone when a girl talks about other guys she finds attractive. Sure she will probably mention all the guys who hit on her, but that’s just to see if you get a little jealous. If she truly likes you, she will not hint that she talks to any of them or show interest in speaking to another guy either.

We’ve got 11 more signs to help you read her mind.

Written By: Nicole Chang

First dates can feel a little awkward at times. The basic small talk, the uncomfortable pauses, the awkward “should I or should I not go in for the kiss?” moment encompasses the torturous part of dating someone new. When getting to know someone, it may seem like you can’t read them and find it difficult or even frustrating trying to see if they like you or not. Turns out, we subconsciously do things to show people whether or not we like them.

22. Eye Contact

Something as simple as eye contact can feel so intimate between two people. Milan Raiford, psychology graduate student at UF and counselor in training, said, “When we hold long moments of eye contact, we are deepening intimacy and connection with the other person. We are saying that we are present and engaged with them and that demonstrates our interest, and if they maintain eye contact with us, we experience reciprocal interest. That is why our pupils dilate when we see someone attractive or interesting, it is our eye’s way to see more.” Keep an eye—no pun intended—for those small signals!

23. Removing Barriers

As humans we have some basic survival instincts. We sometimes subconsciously place barriers between the people we don’t like as a form of protecting ourselves. At the same time, we’ll remove barriers between the people we do like, psychologist and professor at Western Illinois University Dr. Schafer said. For example, if two people sit next to each other on a couch and the girl moves her purse from between them, it shows she just might like the other person.

24. Body Language

Body language can say a lot about the level of comfort someone has with another or the way they feel about someone. Raiford said, “Women will often turn their bodies to present their figure in a sexually appealing way. They will also draw more attention to their face, neck and chest. Showing the neck is a signal that she trusts you, as the neck is a vulnerable and sensitive area on the body. A common example is by either flipping their hair which attracts attention, sends her scent and emphasizes her hair length, where long hair is usually a sign of health and culturally considered feminine.” Girls, it turns out our subtle twirling of the hair is not subtle. Our voices tend to change too. Raiford said, “Women often raise their pitch to be higher, demonstrating youthfulness and higher amounts of estrogen in the body while some drop their tone similar to the ‘bedroom voice’.” Who knew the tone of voice could say so much?

25. Touch

Physical touch, one of the five love languages, represents something vital in any relationship. It also shows the level of comfort two people have. Going from a handshake to an embrace shows that two people have gone from a level of acquaintance to a level of friendship. According to psychologist Dr. Jeremy Nicholson, author of “The Attraction Doctor,” someone who likes you will find reasons to touch you more. This also shows a level a trust the girl must have with you.

26. Gratitude

Dr. Nicholson explained that when someone likes you, they will put in extra effort to let you know how much you appreciate them. Words of affirmation, another love language, re-affirms a thought or action to essentially make someone feel good about themselves. Even something as simple as someone telling you how grateful they are that you cooked for them, for example, shows that they really do care about the time and effort you spend on them. If they didn’t care about that, then it indicates a clear red flag.

27. Quality Time

Yup, another love language. It shouldn’t be surprising since we use the five love languages to communicate to others how we love them. Investing quality time in a relationship indicates someone’s commitment to you. If a girl makes plans with you before you even ask her, she may really like you.

28. Humor

Having a similar sense of humor definitely helps to build or enhance attraction between two people. According to a study by the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, humor indicates a level of interest. If a girl laughs at your jokes—whether you come off as Chandler Bing or Michael Scott—that stands as a good sign that she has interest in you.

29. Acts of Service

Another love language, acts of service, represents the way a girl will show you she cares about you in a non-friend way. A friend, for example, might help you with homework by sending you some notes. But someone who wants to cross that friend barrier won’t just send you notes, but also go over the notes with you. See the difference?

30. Involves you in their life

Just hanging out with a girl you like on your own represents something much different than a girl inviting you out with her and her friends. When a girl involves you in her personal life, it clearly indicates she sees you staying around for a little while. At the same time, if she tries to get close to people in your life, she wants to stay in your life too.

31. Receiving/giving gifts

The last of the five love languages, receiving and giving gifts, does not entail materialism. Someone picking dinner up for you because they know you love Chick-fil-a, for example, shows they were thinking of you and wanted to make your day better in such a simple and thoughtful manner. Of course, money can’t buy happiness, so this love language doesn’t represent the amount you spend, but instead that the thought that really matters.

32. Discuss your interests

When a girl tries to engage in an activity or hobby that you feel passionate about, she must really like you. Raiford said, “When talking to a love interest, we may speak about more future-oriented activities and events in order to show ourselves in a fun and interesting light, but also to give opportunities for them to join us.” Many times people feel hesitant to try new things. However, when a girl goes out of her way to get involved in things you particularly like, you can stop stressing because you have a clear sign that she’s here to stay.

College Women Spill on Signs a Girl Likes You:

“When I’m into a guy I drop everything I’m doing just to hang out with him.” – Maria Flores, Community College

“I usually am more nice to the guys I like.” -Maribel Ramos, junior, Penn State

“If she gets upset because you’re hanging out with another girl she likes you.” -Diana Cabello, Community College

“When she answers your text right away and actually makes time for you.” -Kiana Gaston, senior, Penn State

“When girls make time and offer to do things for you.” -Denisa Kamenica, senior, Penn State

“When she puts in effort and constantly checks up on you, you know she likes you.”  -Yosmery Cabrera, sophomore, Albright College

Once you’ve caught her interest, get her something to show you care.

10 Gifts Your Girlfriend Actually Wants

21 Birthday Gifts Your Girlfriend Actually Wants for Her 21st

*Updated on October 31, 2017 by Rodaris Richardson to include signs 12-21, and “College Women Spill on Signs a Girl Likes You.”

**Updated January 15, 2018 by Louise Nessralla to include an original video called “How to Avoid the Friend Zone.”

***Updated on February 19, 2019 by Nicole Chang to include signs 22 – 32.