to turn one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see: [~ + at]I'm looking at this book.[no object]She looked out the window.
to use one's sight in seeking, searching, examining, watching, etc.:[no object]to look through the papers.
to appear to the eye as specified:[~ + adjective]You look pale.
See look like below.
to appear to the mind; seem: [~ + adjective]Things are looking pretty grim.[~ + noun]He looked a perfect fool.
See look like below.
to direct attention or consideration:[~ + at]Let's look at the facts.
to face or give a view:[not: be + ~-ing* no object]The room looks on the garden.
to give (someone) a look:[~ + object]Can you look me in the eye and say that?
to have an appearance appropriate to or that fits (one's age, circumstances, etc.):[~ + object]began to look his age.
(used in the imperative form, and sometimes followed by a word like "who, what, when, where, how'' etc.) to observe or pay attention to: [~ + object]Now look what you've done! Look how beautifully he skates.[no object]Look, I'm tired of this![~ + at]Look at what's happened.
look after, [~ + after + object] to take care of:a babysitter to look after the kids.
look ahead, [no object] to think about or plan for the future:Our leaders have to look ahead.
look back, [no object]
to review past events:looking back to his childhood.
never look back, to have great success:started her own business and never looked back.
look down on or upon, [~ + down + on/upon + object] to regard with a feeling of superiority or contempt.
look for, [~ + for + object]
to seek; search for:I've been looking for you.
to anticipate; expect:I'll look for you at the reception.
look forward to, [~ + forward + object] to anticipate with eagerness or pleasure:She's looking forward to working here.
look in (on), [~ + in + (on) + object] to visit briefly:The doctor looked in on her patient.
look into, [~ + into + object] to inquire into; investigate; examine:The detective was looking into the kidnapping.
look like, [not: be + ~-ing]
[~ + object] to resemble:She looks just like her father.
[~ + clause] to have the appearance of; seem to the eye to be:He looks like he's working.
[~ + clause] to seem to the mind to be:Things look like they can't get much worse.
[It + ~ + clause] to be probable that:It looks like we'll be late.
look on:
[no object] to be a spectator; watch.
Also, look upon.[~ + upon + object + as + object] to consider; regard:She looked on him as a son.
look out, [no object] to be alert to danger; be careful:Look out; here she comes.
look out for, [~ + out + for + object] to take watchful care of:My boss was always looking out for me.
look over, to examine, esp. briefly: [~ + over + object]I looked over your term paper.[~ + object + over]I looked it over.
look to, [~ + to + object]
to depend on:to look to the president for leadership.
to expect or anticipate:We look to a brighter future for our children.
look up:
[no object] to become better or more prosperous; improve:The business is looking up.
to search for, as an item of information, in a reference book or the like: [~ + object + up]looking words up in the dictionary.[~ + up + object]Don't look up every word.
to seek out, esp. to visit: [~ + up + object]to look up an old friend.[~ + object + up]to look him up next time.
look up to, [~ + up + to + object] to regard with admiration or respect:A lot of people look up to you, so don't let them down.
to turn one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see:He looked toward the western horizon and saw the returning planes.
to glance or gaze in a manner specified:to look questioningly at a person.
to use one's sight or vision in seeking, searching, examining, watching, etc.:to look through the papers.
to tend, as in bearing or significance:Conditions look toward war.
to appear or seem to the eye as specified:to look pale.
to appear or seem to the mind:The case looks promising.
to direct attention or consideration:to look at the facts.
to have an outlook or afford a view:The window looks upon the street.
to face or front:The house looks to the east.
v.t.
to give (someone) a look:He looked me straight in the eye.
to have an appearance appropriate to or befitting (something):She looked her age.
to appear to be; look like:He looked a perfect fool, coming to the party a day late.
to express or suggest by looks:to look one's annoyance at a person.
[Archaic.]to bring, put, etc., by looks.
look after:
to follow with the eye, as someone or something moving away:She looked after him as he walked toward the train station.
to pay attention to; concern oneself with:to look after one's own interests.
to take care of; minister to:to look after a child.
look back, to review past events; return in thought:When I look back on our school days, it seems as if they were a century ago.
Idiomslook daggers, to look at someone with a furious, menacing expression:I could see my partner looking daggers at me.
look down on or upon, to regard with scorn or disdain; have contempt for:They look down on all foreigners.
Idiomslook down one's nose at, to regard with an overbearing attitude of superiority, disdain, or censure:The more advanced students really looked down their noses at the beginners.
look for:
to seek; search for:Columbus was looking for a shorter route to India when he discovered America.
to anticipate; expect:I'll be looking for you at the reception.
Idiomslook forward to, to anticipate with eagerness or pleasure:I always look forward to your visits.
look in:
Also, look into.to look briefly inside of:Look in the jar and tell me if any cookies are left.
Also, look in on.to visit (a person, place, etc.) briefly:I'll look in some day next week.
look into, to inquire into; investigate; examine:The auditors are looking into the records to find the cause of the discrepancy.
look on or upon:
to be a spectator; watch:The crowd looked on at the street brawl.
to consider; regard:They look upon gambling as sinful.
look out:
to look to the outside, as from a window or a place of observation:From her office window, she could look out over the bustling city.
to be vigilant or on guard:Look out, there are dangers ahead.
to afford a view; face:The room looks out on the garden.
look out for, to take watchful care of; be concerned about:He has to look out for his health.
look over, to examine, esp. briefly:Will you please look over my report before I submit it?
Idiomslook sharp:
to be alert and quick:If you want to get ahead, you must look sharp.
British TermsAlso, look slippy. to hurry:You'd better look sharp! It's getting late.
look to:
to direct one's glance or gaze to:If you look to your left, you can see the Empire State Building.
to pay attention to:Look to your own affairs and stay out of mine.
to direct one's expectations or hopes to:We look to the day when world peace will be a reality.
to regard with expectation and anticipation:We look to the future and greater advances in science and technology.
look up:
to direct the eyes upward; raise one's glance:The other guests looked up as she entered the room.
to become better or more prosperous; improve:Business is looking up.
to search for, as an item of information, in a reference book or the like:Look up the answer in the encyclopedia.
to seek out, esp. to visit:to look up an old friend.
Naval Terms[Naut.](of a sailing ship) to head more nearly in the direction of its destination after a favoring change of wind.
look up to, to regard with admiration or respect; esteem:A boy needs a father he can look up to.
n.
the act of looking:a look of inquiry.
a visual search or examination.
the way in which a person or thing appears to the eye or to the mind; aspect:He has the look of an honest man. The tablecloth has a cheap look.
an expressive glance:to give someone a sharp look.
looks:
general aspect; appearance:to like the looks of a place.
attractive, pleasing appearance.
bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English lōk(i)en, Old English lōcian; cognate with Middle Dutch lœken, akin to dialect, dialectal German lugen to look out; (noun, nominal) Middle English loke act of looking, glance, countenance, derivative of the verb, verbal
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See watch.
6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See seem.
33.See corresponding entry in Unabridged gaze, glance.
34.See corresponding entry in Unabridged appearance, air.