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

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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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

look up

"There's always someone that we can look up to and just say 'if it was them, why not me?',"

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Down on our planet’s surface, a would-be global catastrophe—potentially knocking out entire electrical grids—is reduced to a nighttime display for anyone who cares to look up and see the Northern Lights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

You walk outside, look up, and see that the sky is blue.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

At the same time, I would remind the victorious populists to look up in the sky and remember their Shakespeare.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

When I look up, Jonesy is staring at me.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell