Jump To:

• look-over
  look-over

  noun

  a brief or superficial examination or reading.
• look over
  look over

  verb

  (intr, preposition) to inspect by making a tour of (a factory, house, etc)

look-over

American  

[look-oh-ver] / ˈlɒɒkˌoʊ vər /

noun

1. a brief or superficial examination or reading.

---

look over British  

verb

1. (intr, preposition) to inspect by making a tour of (a factory, house, etc)

   we looked over the country house

2. (tr, adverb) to examine (a document, letter, etc)

   please look the papers over quickly

---

noun

1. an inspection: often, specifically, a brief or cursory one

look over Idioms  

1. Also, look up and down. Examine or inspect something or someone. For example, Jerry was looking over the books when he found an error, or They looked the new boy up and down. The first expression dates from the mid-1400s, the variant from the late 1800s.

---

Etymology

Origin of look-over

First recorded in 1905–10; noun use of verb phrase look over

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

look-over look over

“We have probably 160 lawyers” giving the film a look-over, said Sheila Nevins, HBO’s documentary film president, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 28, 2014

The town houses of Georgetown and Cleveland Park are getting a look-over, says Robinson, although many frugal Democrats may end up settling in the less pricey suburbs of Maryland and Virginia.

From Time Magazine Archive

As soon as I finished takin' care o' Starlight, I give Monody's mount a look-over.

From Happy Hawkins by Robert Alexander Wason

Then I passed up the can o' paint, an' took a stroll around to see that no one had been givin' us the look-over.

From Happy Hawkins by Robert Alexander Wason

Mr. Pepper was givin' me the search warrant look-over, and I see he's one of these gents that you can't jar easy.

From Torchy by George Brehm

One rode a penny-farthing big-wheel bike, another sat backward, turning to look over his shoulder every few seconds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

“If you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Unfortunately, or fortunately.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Speaking to reporters on the same day in Palm Beach, Florida, he said he had yet to look over the plan in detail.

From BBC ● May 3, 2026

Offer to look over and send out her résumé.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 25, 2026

Most ignore us, but one or two of them look over at me with curiosity.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• audit
• check
• check out
• consider
• criticize
• delve into
• explore
• inspect
• investigate
• ponder
• pore over
• probe
• read
• research
• review
• scan
• screen
• scrutinize
• study
• survey