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

“Clive was always a north star of music and talent and artistry. We’re all lucky to have his legacy to look up to.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026

I could look up some clips or study his data any time, but now what he can do is stored in the hard disk in my head.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 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

Gates ranked at the very top of a 2019 survey of public figures that people look up to—ahead of the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

My only hope was to look up her address in the personnel files in the office.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman