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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | locian |
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look1 S1 W1
1 to turn your eyes towards something, so that you can see it : 
We sneaked out while Jessie's mom wasn't looking.If you look carefully you can see that the painting represents a human figure. Gina covered her eyes, afraid to look.
see
[intransitive]We sneaked out while Jessie's mom wasn't looking.If you look carefully you can see that the painting represents a human figure.Gina covered her eyes, afraid to look. look at 'It's time we left,' Ian said, looking at his watch. The men all turned to look at her as she entered the room.
'It's time we left,' Ian said, looking at his watch.The men all turned to look at her as she entered the room. look away/over/down etc Dad looked up from his paper and smiled. 'We can't go out in this weather,' said Bob, looking out of the window.
➔ see usage note see1Dad looked up from his paper and smiled.'We can't go out in this weather,' said Bob, looking out of the window.2 to try to find something : I looked everywhere but Jimmy was nowhere to be found.
search
[intransitive]I looked everywhere but Jimmy was nowhere to be found. look for Could you help me look for my contact lens? If you're looking for a bargain, try the local market.
Could you help me look for my contact lens?If you're looking for a bargain, try the local market.3 to seem : From the way things look at the moment, the Republicans are unlikely to win this election.
seem
[linking verb]From the way things look at the moment, the Republicans are unlikely to win this election. it looks as if/as though/like (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later. It looks like they won't be needing us any more.
It looks as if it might rain later.It looks like they won't be needing us any more.4 to have a particular appearance : How do I look?
appearance
[linking verb]How do I look?➔ look like a million dollars
at million (4) ➔ see usage note seem6 to look at someone carefully from their head to their feet, as if you were forming an opinion about them
look somebody up and down
7 to look directly at someone when you are speaking to them, especially to show that you are not afraid of them or that you are telling the truth : Owen didn't dare look his father in the eye.
look somebody in the eye
Owen didn't dare look his father in the eye.8 to behave as if you think that someone or something is not good enough for you : He looks down his nose at anyone foreign.
look down your nose at somebody/something
He looks down his nose at anyone foreign.9 to ignore something bad that is happening and not try to stop it : Prison guards looked the other way as the man was attacked by fellow prisoners.
look the other way
Prison guards looked the other way as the man was attacked by fellow prisoners.10 used to say that something you are offering is exactly what someone has been trying to find : Want a quiet country retreat for your weekend break? Then look no further!
look no further
Want a quiet country retreat for your weekend break? Then look no further!11 if a building looks in a particular direction, it faces that direction : The cabin looks east, so we get the morning sun.
face a direction
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]The cabin looks east, so we get the morning sun.12 used to say that it is sensible to think about possible dangers or difficulties of something before doing it
look before you leap
13 to be planning or expecting to do something : We're looking to buy a new car early next year.
be looking to do something
informalWe're looking to buy a new car early next year.14 spoken
look
a) used to tell someone to look at something that you think is interesting, surprising etc : Look! There's a fox!
Look! There's a fox!b) used to get someone's attention so that you can suggest something or tell them something : Look. Why don't you think about it and give me your answer tomorrow? Look, I've had enough of this. I'm going home.
Look. Why don't you think about it and give me your answer tomorrow?Look, I've had enough of this. I'm going home.15 spoken used to warn someone that they are in danger [= watch out]: Look out! There's a car coming.
look out!
Look out! There's a car coming.16 spoken used to tell someone to look at something that you think is interesting, bad etc : Look at that! What a horrible mess!
look at that!
Look at that! What a horrible mess!17 spoken used when someone arrives unexpectedly : Well, look who's here! It's Jill and Paul!
look who's here!
Well, look who's here! It's Jill and Paul!18 spoken used to say that you have seen someone but do not want them to know you have noticed them : Oh no! Don't look now but here comes Tony.
don't look now
Oh no! Don't look now but here comes Tony.19 spoken used to tell someone to be careful : Look where you're putting your feet! There's mud all over the carpet!
look what you're doing/look where you're going etc
Look where you're putting your feet! There's mud all over the carpet!20 spoken used to angrily tell someone to look at the result of a mistake they have made or something bad they have done : Look what you've done - my jacket's ruined!
look what you've done!
Look what you've done - my jacket's ruined!21 spoken used to get someone's attention in order to tell them something, especially when you are annoyed with them : Look here, you can't say things like that to me!
look here
old-fashionedLook here, you can't say things like that to me!22 spoken used when you are in a shop, to say that you are only looking at things, but do not intend to buy anything now : 'Can I help you?' 'No, thanks. I'm just looking.'
(I'm) just looking
'Can I help you?' 'No, thanks. I'm just looking.'➔ look kindly on somebody/something
at kindly1 (3)look after somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to take care of someone by helping them, giving them what they need, or keeping them safe [= take care of]: Don't worry, I'll look after the kids tomorrow. Susan looked after us very well. She's an excellent cook.
Don't worry, I'll look after the kids tomorrow.Susan looked after us very well. She's an excellent cook.2 to be responsible for dealing with something [= take care of]: I'm leaving you here to look after the business until I get back.
I'm leaving you here to look after the business until I get back.3 used when you are saying goodbye to someone in a friendly way
look after yourself
spoken especially British English4 to not need anyone else to take care of you : Don't worry about Maisie - she can look after herself.
can look after yourself
Don't worry about Maisie - she can look after herself.look ahead
phrasal verbLooking ahead, we must expect radical changes to be made in our system of government.look around
phrasal verb2 to look at what is in a place such as a building, shop, town etc, especially when you are walking : Do we have to pay to look around the castle? Let's look round the shops.
look around/round (something)
Do we have to pay to look around the castle?Let's look round the shops.look at somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to turn your eyes towards something, so that you can see it : The twins looked at each other and smiled.
The twins looked at each other and smiled.2 to read something quickly in order to form an opinion of it : I really can't comment on the report - I haven't had time to look at it yet.
I really can't comment on the report - I haven't had time to look at it yet.3 to examine something and try to find out what is wrong with it : You should get the doctor to look at that cut. Can you look at my car? There's a strange noise coming from the front wheel.
You should get the doctor to look at that cut.Can you look at my car? There's a strange noise coming from the front wheel.4 to study and think about something, especially in order to decide what to do : We need to look very carefully at ways of improving our efficiency.
We need to look very carefully at ways of improving our efficiency.5 used to mention someone or something as an example : You don't have to be smart to be good at music - look at Gary.
look at somebody/something!
spokenYou don't have to be smart to be good at music - look at Gary.6 to think about something in a particular way [= see]: I'd like to be friends again, but Richard doesn't look at it that way.
I'd like to be friends again, but Richard doesn't look at it that way.7 if someone or something is not much to look at, they are not attractive
not much to look at
informallook back
phrasal verb1 to think about something that happened in the past
2 to become more and more successful, especially after a particular success : After winning the scholarship he never looked back.
never look back
After winning the scholarship he never looked back.look down on somebody/something
phrasal verbMr Garcia looks down on anyone who hasn't had a college education.look for somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to try to find something that you have lost, or someone who is not where they should be [= search for]: I'm looking for Steve - have you seen him? Detectives are still looking for the escaped prisoner. ➔ search2 (1)
I'm looking for Steve - have you seen him?Detectives are still looking for the escaped prisoner.2 to be trying to find a particular kind of thing or person : I'm sorry, we're really looking for someone with no family commitments.
be looking for somebody/something
I'm sorry, we're really looking for someone with no family commitments.3 to be behaving in a way that makes it likely that problems or violence will happen : They walked into a bar looking for trouble.
be looking for trouble
informalThey walked into a bar looking for trouble.look forward to something
phrasal verbI'm really looking forward to our vacation.look in
phrasal verblook into something
phrasal verbPolice are looking into the disappearance of two children.look on
phrasal verb1 to watch something happening, without being involved in it or trying to stop it [↪ onlooker]: Only one man tried to help us, the rest just looked on in silence.
Only one man tried to help us, the rest just looked on in silence.2 look on somebody/something also look upon somebody/something to consider someone or something in a particular way, or as a particular thing
look something ↔ out
phrasal verbI'll look out some of my old books for you.look out for somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to pay attention to what is happening around you, so that you will notice a particular person or thing if you see them [↪ lookout]: Look out for your Aunt while you're at the station. He's looking out for a nice apartment downtown.
Look out for your Aunt while you're at the station.He's looking out for a nice apartment downtown.2 to try to make sure that someone is treated well : My older brother always looked out for me when we were kids.
My older brother always looked out for me when we were kids. look out for yourself/number one (=think only of the advantages you can get for yourself)
look something/somebody ↔ over
phrasal verbDo you have a few minutes to look these samples over?look round
phrasal verblook through somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to look for something among a pile of papers, in a drawer, in someone's pockets etc [= go through]: I've looked through all my papers but I still can't find the contract.
I've looked through all my papers but I still can't find the contract.2 to not notice or pretend not to notice someone you know, even though you see them
look straight/right through somebody I saw Fiona in the street yesterday and she looked straight through me.
I saw Fiona in the street yesterday and she looked straight through me.look to somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to depend on someone to provide help, advice etc
2 to pay attention to something, especially in order to improve it : We must look to our defences.
We must look to our defences.look up
phrasal verb1 if a situation is looking up, it is improving [= improve, get better]:
2TD if you look up information in a book, on a computer etc, you try to find it there : Look the word up in your dictionary. I'll just look up the train times.
look something ↔up
Look the word up in your dictionary.I'll just look up the train times.3 to visit someone you know, especially when you are in the place where they live for a different reason : Don't forget to look me up when you come to Atlanta.
look somebody ↔up
Don't forget to look me up when you come to Atlanta.look up to somebody
phrasal verbI've always looked up to Bill for his courage and determination.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
seem, appear, look, soundSeem and appear have the same meaning but appear is more formal • They seem upset. • This appears to be a good solution.You use look to say how someone or something seems to you when you look at them • Maureen looked tired. • That book looks good. You use sound to say how someone or something seems to you when you hear or read about them, or hear them • She sounds a lovely person. • The party sounded great. • He sounded tired.GRAMMARSeem can be followed by an adjective or an adjective and noun • She seemed happy. • He seems a nice man.Seem can also be followed by a verb in the infinitive • His story seems to be true. • You seem to think it's my fault.!! Seem can be followed by as if or as though but not just by as • It seems a small thing (NOT it seems as a small thing), but it's very important. • It seemed as if he wanted us to leave (NOT it seemed as he wanted ...). ➔ See also seem
WORD CHOICE: seem, appear, look, soundSeem and appear have the same meaning but appear is more formal • They seem upset. • This appears to be a good solution.You use look to say how someone or something seems to you when you look at them • Maureen looked tired. • That book looks good. You use sound to say how someone or something seems to you when you hear or read about them, or hear them • She sounds a lovely person. • The party sounded great. • He sounded tired.GRAMMARSeem can be followed by an adjective or an adjective and noun • She seemed happy. • He seems a nice man.Seem can also be followed by a verb in the infinitive • His story seems to be true. • You seem to think it's my fault.!! Seem can be followed by as if or as though but not just by as • It seems a small thing (NOT it seems as a small thing), but it's very important. • It seemed as if he wanted us to leave (NOT it seemed as he wanted ...). ➔ See also seem
