look
Americanverb (used without object)
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to turn one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see.
He looked toward the western horizon and saw the returning planes.
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to glance or gaze in a manner specified.
to look questioningly at a person.
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to use one's sight or vision in seeking, searching, examining, watching, etc..
to look through the papers.
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to tend, as in bearing or significance.
Conditions look toward war.
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to appear or seem to the eye as specified.
to look pale.
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to appear or seem to the mind.
The case looks promising.
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to direct attention or consideration.
to look at the facts.
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to have an outlook or afford a view.
The window looks upon the street.
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to face or front.
The house looks to the east.
verb (used with object)
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to give (someone) a look.
He looked me straight in the eye.
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to have an appearance appropriate to or befitting (something).
She looked her age.
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to appear to be; look like.
He looked a perfect fool, coming to the party a day late.
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to express or suggest by looks.
to look one's annoyance at a person.
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Archaic. to bring, put, etc., by looks.
noun
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the act of looking.
a look of inquiry.
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a visual search or examination.
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the way in which a person or thing appears to the eye or to the mind; aspect.
He has the look of an honest man.
The tablecloth has a cheap look.
- Synonyms:
- air, appearance
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an expressive glance.
to give someone a sharp look.
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looks,
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general aspect; appearance.
to like the looks of a place.
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attractive, pleasing appearance.
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verb phrase
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look in
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Also look into. to look briefly inside of.
Look in the jar and tell me if any cookies are left.
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Also look in on. to visit (a person, place, etc.) briefly.
I'll look in some day next week.
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look into to inquire into; investigate; examine.
The auditors are looking into the records to find the cause of the discrepancy.
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look over to examine, especially briefly.
Will you please look over my report before I submit it?
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look up
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to direct the eyes upward; raise one's glance.
The other guests looked up as she entered the room.
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to become better or more prosperous; improve.
Business is looking up.
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to search for, as an item of information, in a reference book or the like.
Look up the answer in the encyclopedia.
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to seek out, especially to visit.
to look up an old friend.
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Nautical. (of a sailing ship) to head more nearly in the direction of its destination after a favoring change of wind.
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look up to to regard with admiration or respect; esteem.
A boy needs a father he can look up to.
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look out
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to look to the outside, as from a window or a place of observation.
From her office window, she could look out over the bustling city.
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to be vigilant or on guard.
Look out, there are dangers ahead.
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to afford a view; face.
The room looks out on the garden.
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look down on / upon to regard with scorn or disdain; have contempt for.
They look down on all foreigners.
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look after
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to follow with the eye, as someone or something moving away.
She looked after him as he walked toward the train station.
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to pay attention to; concern oneself with.
to look after one's own interests.
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to take care of; minister to.
to look after a child.
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look for
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to seek; search for.
Columbus was looking for a shorter route to India when he discovered America.
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to anticipate; expect.
I'll be looking for you at the reception.
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look to
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to direct one's glance or gaze to.
If you look to your left, you can see the Empire State Building.
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to pay attention to.
Look to your own affairs and stay out of mine.
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to direct one's expectations or hopes to.
We look to the day when world peace will be a reality.
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to regard with expectation and anticipation.
We look to the future and greater advances in science and technology.
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look back to review past events; return in thought.
When I look back on our school days, it seems as if they were a century ago.
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look out for to take watchful care of; be concerned about.
He has to look out for his health.
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look on / upon
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to be a spectator; watch.
The crowd looked on at the street brawl.
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to consider; regard.
They look upon gambling as sinful.
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idioms
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look down one's nose at, to regard with an overbearing attitude of superiority, disdain, or censure.
The more advanced students really looked down their noses at the beginners.
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if looks could kill. see if looks could kill.
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look sharp,
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to be alert and quick.
If you want to get ahead, you must look sharp.
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Also look slippy. to hurry.
You'd better look sharp! It's getting late.
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look daggers, to look at someone with a furious, menacing expression.
I could see my partner looking daggers at me.
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look forward to, to anticipate with eagerness or pleasure.
I always look forward to your visits.
verb
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(often foll by at) to direct the eyes (towards)
to look at the sea
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(often foll by at) to direct one's attention (towards)
let's look at the circumstances
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(often foll by to) to turn one's interests or expectations (towards)
to look to the future
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(copula) to give the impression of being by appearance to the eye or mind; seem
that looks interesting
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to face in a particular direction
the house looks north
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to expect, hope, or plan (to do something)
I look to hear from you soon
he's looking to get rich
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(foll by for)
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to search or seek
I looked for you everywhere
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to cherish the expectation (of); hope (for)
I look for success
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(foll by to)
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to be mindful (of)
to look to the promise one has made
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to have recourse (to)
look to your swords, men!
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to be a pointer or sign
these early inventions looked towards the development of industry
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(foll by into) to carry out an investigation
to look into a mystery
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(tr) to direct a look at (someone) in a specified way
she looked her rival up and down
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(tr) to accord in appearance with (something)
to look one's age
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hurry up; get busy
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See dagger
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an expression used to attract someone's attention, add emphasis to a statement, etc
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(imperative) to hurry up; make haste
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to refuse to consider
they won't even look at my offer of £5000
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unattractive; plain
noun
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the act or an instance of looking
a look of despair
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a view or sight (of something)
let's have a look
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(often plural) appearance to the eye or mind; aspect
the look of innocence
I don't like the looks of this place
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style; fashion
the new look for summer
Usage
See See at like 1
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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looksimple
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lookssimple
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have lookedperfect
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has lookedperfect
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am lookingprogressive
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are lookingprogressive
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is lookingprogressive
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have been lookingperfect progressive
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has been lookingperfect progressive
Past
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lookedsimple
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had lookedperfect
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was lookingprogressive
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were lookingprogressive
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had been lookingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of look
First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English lōk(i)en, Old English lōcian; cognate with Middle Dutch lœken, akin to dialectal German lugen “to look out”; (noun) Middle English loke “act of looking, glance, countenance,” derivative of the verb
Explanation
When you look, you focus your vision on someone or something. If you get to the movie late, you'll have to look for your friends in the darkened theater. The Old English word locian is the root of look, meaning "see, gaze, or spy." When you look at something, you see it. Look can also describe how something appears, like when your dog looks sad, or something likely to happen, like a gray day that looks like rain. As a noun, look describes someone's style of dress, like your brother, whose rock star look gets lots of compliments — except from Grandpa.
Vocabulary lists containing look
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
To bridge the gap, the government should look to an oversight body it is already familiar with: the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
"But look, we're on our plan. Our plan's working."
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
Looking forward, Qi said, "We are going to explore more satellite data and look for better understanding of the expansions."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that the day after Sylvia Phillips died on 8 March 2023 her son held her in his arms and told her he would look after her.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Dad takes a last look at the table setting and gives it a nod of approval.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily,” the statement said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
And he doesn’t consider how the best-of-five-set format in men’s tennis looks increasingly tenuous as matches run longer and cause frequent injuries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
"You have to ask the manager, not me," Szoboszlai said after the Leeds defeat on what his role in the team looks like going forward.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
But one large defense contractor looks better than the others right now.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
There’s no version of this video where the love of her life looks like my dad.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
He said he jumped overboard with an elderly man as the fire came closer, and saw flames engulfing "almost all" of the ferry as he looked back.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
Sitting in the midst of these veteran L.A. sessions players, Nasa looked focused but confident, his youthful face belying his easy, fleet-fingered playing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
In a paper last year for the Journal of Environmental Management, Mr. Resco de Dios and co-authors looked at fires in the temperate forests of southwestern Europe, including Spain, France and Portugal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
When his family entered his bedroom after his death in the early hours of 18 June, it looked as though he might return at any moment.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
The living room looked a little brighter than when he had left.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Investors will be looking for further commentary on AMD’s earnings call.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Sophia Silver met her boyfriend on Known in April after telling the app’s matchmaker—an AI voice agent—that she was looking for someone with a healthy work-life balance, among other qualities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
One might say “Beef” is in the gutter but looking at the stars.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
"It's two grassroots worlds looking out for each other."
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
A tall kid with long black hair wearing a sheepskin-lined jean jacket, big silver belt buckle, and a black cowboy hat was looking around the grounds, obviously befuddled.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
