Body Language Signs He Secretly Likes You

Medically reviewed by Paige Henry, LMSW, J.D.
Updated October 9, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Is there someone in your life that you’re attracted to, but you’re not sure if they feel the same? Are you looking for signs – but not sure if you’re reading them right?  It might be frustrating for you to not know quite where you stand. However, there might be body language cues that your person of interest is exhibiting that can help you to learn more about their possible intentions. 

In fact, many find that learning how to read body language and understanding subtle signs and cues might tell you more than you think. Read on to learn more about male body language and possible interest cues. 

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Signs that may indicate they like you

If you meet someone via a dating app, or a friend set the two of you up, then there is generally an understanding from the beginning that there might be mutual interest between you both. In this context, there may not be any confusion around intentions for most.

However, if you know someone in a different capacity and you’re not entirely sure what their intentions are toward you, communication in general can feel a little bit complicated. 

Maybe you met them at work, so you knew them professionally before there was any possibility of romance between you. Or, perhaps you knew them from childhood and the two of you were platonic friends before you began to look at them differently. 

There are lots of other scenarios where you can’t be quite sure if a person could ever think of you as more than a colleague or a friend. 

This is generally where you can rely on body language signs to try to clear up the confusion,  catching those split-second cues that can signal your potential chances of becoming romantically  involved with them.

Here are a few signs you can look for as you begin your evaluation process: 

They angle their body towards you

Body language might not always be on someone’s mind. If your person of interest feels casual about your relationship with them, they may not always sit as though they are fully engaged with you. 

You might think about it this way: If you’re fully invested in a TV you’re watching, you might square yourself up in such a way that the screen is centered in your field of vision. It can be a subconscious thing that people tend to do that allows someone to zero in on the object that has fully captured their attention. If you have your TV on for background noise, by contrast, then you might not be looking directly at it.

This can be similar to interactions that might occur between you and the person you might like. If they feel casual about you, then they might not have their focus locked in on you consistently. If they are romantically interested, however, they may be angling their face, chest and shoulders so that you are directly in front of them and they are paying attention to you. 

This alone might signal to you that nothing else around the two of you seems to be as important to them as you are in that moment and context. 

They lean into you

If someone is interested in what you have to say and has an attraction towards you, they may lean in to you slightly. People generally lean in toward things that they like, and they might lean away from things that repel them. 

It may not be something that’s going to be obvious in most cases—but you can still watch for it. They might even ask you to repeat yourself sometimes as an excuse to move closer to you and move into your personal space.

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They smile a lot

If someone often smiles when they are in your presence, that alone might be a potential indicator that they like being around you. However, the kind of smile also might matter. 

If a person smiles at you often with a broad, ear-to-ear grin, they may be making it known that they’re into you. They might like the way you make them feel and what you have to say. 

They tell you with their eyes 

Along with smiling, you might also take note of their eye movements. When they see you, their eyebrows might rise on instinct to signal their joy to see you, possibly coming along with a smile. 

If the person you’re interested in cannot take their eyes away from you but doesn’t look at other people like that, then that’s another way for you to know that you may have their full attention and interest. 

They mirror your movements 

If someone is attracted to you, another body language cue that can occur is imitation of your movements. Again, this might be subtle. 

For example: If the two of you are sitting in a booth at a restaurant and you touch your face, tilt back slightly, or laugh, you might choose to look to see if they do something similar—though they will probably not be aware of it.

They groom themselves when you come closer

If you’re across the room from the person that you like and you start moving in their direction, you can try to notice if they smooth their hair back, straighten their shirt or do anything else to adjust their appearance. 

As humans, we generally try to look our best around someone we like. Self-grooming can be a good sign that they are trying to impress you and want to look their best around you. 

They initiate physical contact

Not all physical contact is romantic—but some can be. You might ask yourself: Are they initiating physical contact they haven’t before, such as sitting closer than normal? This sudden physical contact can be a sign that they are into you as well.

Are you afraid of rejection?

Talking about how you feel to a person you like can make you feel nervous—and that can be normal.  The fear of rejection – even if you anticipate rejection without actually being rejected – can cause feelings of jealousy, loneliness, shame, sadness, embarrassment and nervousness. However, this doesn’t have to stop you from taking a chance. 

How can online therapy help those experiencing social nervousness? 

Seeking help when you’re experiencing social nervousness or relationship-related uncertainty can feel overwhelming. However, it can be a helpful first step for many in defining what they need and want out of a fulfilling relationship—romantic or otherwise. 

Many might find that online therapy provides a more approachable therapeutic experience that can lower barriers to treatment. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as the physical distance between themselves and the therapist, the empowering methods of connecting, and the flexibility that virtual therapy can provide. 

Users can connect online through phone, chat, or video call with licensed therapists multiple times a week when they need support. 

Is online therapy effective? 

A meta-analysis of studies found information that suggests that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is considered by many to be the “gold standard” in helping patients address both anxiety disorders and depression. 

CBT can help patients by identifying the possible root(s) of their anxiety disorder or depression, as well as false or negative thoughts and beliefs—then teaching them how to reframe those thoughts in a more positive and accurate manner. 

Other studies have found that CBT is generally effective in helping patients maintain lower anxiety levels a year later. 

With the growth of online therapy, such as through BetterHelp, many find that it’s easier than ever to connect with a professional counselor.

 Online therapy has been clinically suggested to be just as effective as in-person therapy in many situations involving anxiety. For example, in one study of patients living with social anxiety, for example, participants were treated through the use of videoconferencing and found improvements in their quality of life. Improvements were also found in those experiencing depression. 

The study pointed to the effectiveness of successfully delivering cognitive-behavior therapy through videoconferencing, concluding that it can be equal to or better than face-to-face therapy for many.

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Takeaway

It can sometimes be hard to tell if someone you like is interested in you, but there might be signs you can look for in their body language to give you a hint as to where you stand. If you need to talk to someone about a person or relationship in your life, then BetterHelp can be a helpful resource for you. Whether it’s getting up the courage to tell someone you like them, working through relationship concerns, or managing feelings of rejection, BetterHelp can connect you with an online therapist in your area of need.
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