Meaning & use
look
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To point your eyes at something so that you can see it.
Grammar: No direct object; use at before the thing you see: look at the map.
Patterns
- look at something
- look at someone
- look out of something
Look at the stars tonight.
She looked out of the window and waved.
Don't look down if you're afraid of heights.
verblinking
To seem or appear to be a certain way.
Grammar: Linking verb followed by an adjective or like: you look tired; it looks like rain.
Patterns
- look + adjective
- look like something
- look as if something
You look tired this morning.
That cake looks delicious.
It looks like the train is late.
verbintransitive
To search for something you cannot find.
Grammar: Uses for: look for my keys.
Patterns
- look for something
- look for someone
I'm looking for my glasses.
They looked everywhere for the missing cat.
Police are looking for witnesses.
nouncountable
An act of looking, or the expression on a person's face.
Grammar: Often with have or take: have a look; give someone a look.
Patterns
- have a look at something
- take a look at something
Take a look at this photo.
She gave me a worried look.
Let me have a look at the engine.
nouncountable
The way someone or something appears, especially a style.
Grammar: Usually singular with the: the look of the room.
Patterns
- the look of something
I love the vintage look of this lamp.
The new logo gives the brand a fresh look.
She changed her look with short hair.
Word forms
| third person singular | looks |
|---|---|
| past tense | looked |
| past participle | looked |
| -ing form | looking |
| plural | looks |
Common combinations
- look forward to
- I look forward to seeing you.
- look after
- Can you look after my dog this weekend?
- look into
- The council will look into the complaint.
- look up
- Look up the word in a dictionary.
- look out
- Look out! There's a car coming.
- take a look
- Take a look at the menu.
Synonyms and how they differ
- glance
- Glance means a very quick look, while look can be as long as you like.
- stare
- Stare means to look for a long time, often without blinking, which look does not imply.
- gaze
- Gaze suggests a steady look, often from admiration or deep thought.
- watch
- Watch implies following something that moves or changes, while look can be a single moment.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: look or see? look or watch?
look vs see
See is what your eyes receive, while look is the act of pointing your eyes on purpose: I looked but I could not see it.
look vs watch
Watch is for moving or changing things over time, such as a game or a film, while look at is used for something still.
Practice
I can't find my wallet. I have been ___ it all morning.
Choose one answer.
Look for means search for something. Look at means point your eyes, look after means take care of, and look like means resemble.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “look”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.