WP_Query with meta_value LIKE ‘something%’
For a left-sided match you can get around the automatic adding of ‘%’‘s by WP by using regular expression RLIKE: ‘meta_value’ => ‘^’ . preg_quote( $today ), ‘meta_compare’ => ‘RLIKE’ Similarly for right-sided match: ‘meta_value’ => preg_quote( $today ) . ‘$’, ‘meta_compare’ => ‘RLIKE’