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• 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.

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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

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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.

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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

The preliminary look-over by lantern light had been all sufficient.

From A Daughter of the Sioux A Tale of the Indian frontier by Deming, Edwin Willard

After you told me about the—the children, you know, Doris, years ago, I went down there and gave the place a look-over.

From The Shield of Silence by Loughridge, George

And with that he came to and gave me a sad look-over.

From The Lash by Lyman, Olin L.

"If you look over the last 20, 30 years, there has been a prevalence, especially in summer, of those sort of anticyclonic conditions that are making heatwaves more likely," Buontempo told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

“Who?” he said, “The Angels won the World Series. We are the No. 1 baseball team in the world. There is no reason for us to look over our shoulders.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 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

I stop sanding and look over at her.

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