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Synonyms

look up

British  

verb

  1. (tr) to discover (something required to be known) by resorting to a work of reference, such as a dictionary

  2. (intr) to increase, as in quality or value

    things are looking up

  3. to have respect (for)

    I've always wanted a girlfriend I could look up to

  4. (tr) to visit or make contact with (a person)

    I'll look you up when I'm in town

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

look up Idioms  
  1. Search for in a book or other source, as in I told her to look up the word in the dictionary . [Late 1600s]

  2. Call on or visit, as in I'm going to look up my friend in Chicago . [Mid-1800s]

  3. Become better, improve, as in Business is finally looking up . [c. 1800]

  4. look up to . Admire, respect, as in The students really looked up to Mr. Jones . [Early 1700s]


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.

The rest of the band joins in as Ayewa calls for the listener to look up to a world above war, bitterness, and division.

From Los Angeles Times

It happens now, when he looks up to find that, once again, I can’t stop myself from staring at him, and he suddenly glances down at the hose in his hand.

From Literature

The crowd on the porch doesn’t look up when we walk past them into the enormous entry way.

From Literature

He looked up at the husky bear spirit with his kindest closed-lipped expression.

From Literature

But Bastian lives by the Henry Ford line, and whether he’s looking up at the future Sky Villages or looking down for trash, he doesn’t see defeat — he sees unrealized potential.

From Los Angeles Times