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

In many states, you can look up a contractor’s credentials and complaints against them in government-run databases for free.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

After the mortgages were given out, the banker would look up the properties online.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

“At this thing, they would literally look up at you and be like, ‘Oh my God, I love your hair.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 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

She didn’t look up when he entered and abandoned his sneakers at the door.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny