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to look

to look

∞ 1.0
To try to find someone or something
  • verb
  • /lʊk/
: buscar
  • I've been looking for the creature in the wrong place, in the records of all known living things in the kingdom.
  • look around
  • begin looking
  • look for people

Look for things Look close to you down.

Examples

  • Once the archaeologists knew what they were looking for, finding the walls became easy.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Students will ask more questions looking for information online than they will face to face.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Most people do come here looking for something.

  • I was lost in some dark forest, looking for him.

  • Because the guy you were looking for was too close.

  • We were in the meal hall looking for the phone.

  • We're looking for a place, maybe in the suburbs.

  • But we are still floundering as we look for a new school library model.

    Academic text (2011)
  • When we put this issue together, we were looking for an uplifting story from Haiti.

    Academic text (2011)
  • She is looking for her lost keys in the living room.

Synonyms

to look for
vsto look
∞ 1.0

To try to find something or someone

is the simple act of trying to find people or things
to seek
vsto look
∞ 1.0

Try to find or get something you want

is limited to finding people or things rather than broader aims
to search
vsto look
∞ 1.0

To try to find something or someone by looking carefully

is a general attempt to find that does not stress careful examination
to seek out
vsto look
191 3.0

Look for and find a person or thing, often with effort

is the basic attempt to find without stressing success or effort
to hunt
vsto look
60 1.2

To look carefully for something or someone

is the general act of trying to find without implied persistence
to cast about
vsto look
4 7.2

To look around or think hard to find something you need

is the neutral attempt to find without anxious or desperate tone
to look high and low
vsto look
  • Informal
1 3.9

To search everywhere for something that is lost

is the ordinary attempt to find not necessarily everywhere or exhaustive

Idioms

look here
  • Informal
138 6.9

To get a person's attention before saying something important or angry

37 3.7

Try to find something positive in a bad situation

To put your own needs before other people's

To accept a free gift without complaining and say thank you

A humorous remark to greet someone who arrives unexpectedly or looking messy

Seem very attractive and stylish

Think carefully about possible risks before you act

Appear younger than the given age

1 3.9

To search everywhere for something that is lost

1 7.5

Focus on the bad parts of a situation and expect the worst

1 8.5

To appear old-fashioned and messy in your clothes

1 8.5

To have a large, round face and a big mustache like a walrus

1 9.8

To look very ugly and frightening like an old stone statue

Appear very messy and untidy

look ahere
  • Informal
9.9

Tell someone to pay attention to what you say or point out

To pay attention to something unimportant instead of the main task

9.9

Appear very messy and dirty with things everywhere

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.0

Study something carefully to understand it or decide

∞ 1.3

To have a similar appearance to someone or something

∞ 1.0

To try to find something or someone

∞ 1.3

To look at something to check it or find information

∞ 3.2

To feel excited about something that will happen

∞ 1.4

Feel happy and excited about something that will happen

To want something to happen and feel excited about it

671 2.8

Examine something carefully to find out more

668 1.0

Turn your head and eyes to see what is around you

598 2.6

Think about the past, especially a time you remember

455 1.1

Take care of someone or something to keep them safe and working

388 1.6

Watch for danger or trouble

363 1.4

To find information about something in a book, list, or online

356 3.0

Watch carefully to notice danger or help someone

282 3.0

Help someone and keep them safe

233 3.1

To rely on someone for help or advice

192 1.3

To check something carefully, for example an essay or a machine

159 1.4

Turn your head or eyes to see behind you

152 2.8

To read or check something carefully for mistakes

133 2.2

Turn your eyes away from a person or thing that makes you uncomfortable

127 2.8

To respect and want to be like someone

115 2.8

To see someone or something for a short time

To ignore something wrong on purpose instead of reporting it

To make someone seem attractive when they wear something

to look down on
  • Offensive
66 3.7

Think you are better than someone and treat them as less important

64 3.3

To think of someone or something in a certain way

60 1.0

To feel excited or worried about something that will happen

51 3.4

To watch events happen without taking part

47 3.7

To think of someone or something in a certain way

See something on the other side from where you are

To move your body so you can see someone or something

Have a face or body language that shows you feel bad

to look sharp
  • Informal
24 5.7

To be well dressed and neat

Have an appearance that suits a job or occasion

To have a view of an area from a high place like a balcony or window

Turn your head or eyes to see what is behind you

Seem likely to do well or get better

To face and have a view of a place

Move your eyes from head to toe to judge a person or thing

to look sharp
  • Informal
6 5.3

To move quickly and be ready

Face a person or problem directly without avoiding it

To seem messy because your clothes or hair are not neat

to look so douchey
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To seem rude and showy in a way other people dislike

To appear younger than your real age

Act in a careful, nervous way because you fear being watched or followed

9.9

To be very tired after hard activity or little sleep

Appear a little unwell and pale

Compounds

An expression on a person's face that shows their feelings

67 3.7

Very similar in appearance to another person or thing

38 3.2

A quick check of something to find obvious problems

24 3.3

An action or way of dressing that makes you look good

21 3.9

A person who is very similar in appearance to another person, often a famous person

13 2.8

A look that shows dislike or anger

4 3.9

A rough, strong, attractive appearance in a man's face or style

4 3.2

The general appearance of something as a whole

3 3.1

A serious face that shows someone is unhappy or strict

3 3.5

A smooth, shiny, stylish appearance for hair or clothes

3 3.9

A style of clothes or home that copies old fashions

A style that looks like it is from earlier times

1 2.5

A new, clean style for something, like clothes or a room

A neat, elegant appearance that shows attention to detail

New Look
  • Archaic
1 6.9

A style of women's clothes with a tight top, small waist, and a full skirt

ethereal look
  • Literature
1 7.6

A delicate, light appearance that seems not of this world

1 3.4

A smart, neat way of dressing for special events like weddings

1 5.1

A serious face that shows little or no emotion

1 5.8

A very angry face that makes someone feel afraid

1 6.4

A look on the face that shows playful, slightly naughty charm

1 5.5

A quick glance to the side that shows a feeling or meaning

A neat, smooth appearance that seems expensive

1 5.3

A warm, slightly tanned appearance from being in the sun

cornfed look
  • Informal
8.9

A healthy strong appearance like a person from a farm

A style that shows only a small part of an image or uses very short hair

Bambi look
  • Informal
8.8

A look with wide childlike eyes that shows innocence

look-alike
  • Jargon
4.4

A group of people chosen because they are similar to a company's customers

7.8

A way of behaving that tries to get attention from others

7.3

Acting to get attention from other people in a selfish, showy way

A style or item that makes someone stand out to get attention

mallcore look
  • Jargon
9.9

A style of clothing with bright, bold items and visible brand names

man look
  • Slang
9.8

A confused look men make when they cannot find or understand something

mumpish look
  • Archaic
9.9

A silent angry look that shows you feel upset or annoyed

hoejabi look
  • Offensive
9.9

A style that mixes a headscarf with clothes that show more skin

neckbeardy look
  • Offensive
9.9

A messy, not fashionable style often seen on people who like computers or games

A hairstyle that looks wet and slightly messy as if you just left the water

How Thorough

to scour
73 5.1
to search
∞ 1.0
to look
∞ 1.0
to check
∞ 1.0
to rummage
35 3.8

Surface Forms

look infinitive
looked past
looked past participle
looking present participle
looks third person singular

Etymology

Look comes from the old English lócian meaning 'to see', and the phrase 'look for' grew from this idea into 'search with your eyes'. So to look for something is to try to find it by looking.