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to look

to look

1.0
To try to find someone or something
  • verb
  • /lʊk/
translation icon : 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 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
vsto look
1.0

Try to find or get something you want

is limited to finding people or things rather than broader aims
to hunt
vsto look
190 1.2

To look carefully for something or someone

is the general act of trying to find without implied persistence
to seek out
vsto look
122 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 cast about
vsto look
3 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
61 6.9

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

30 3.7

Try to find something positive in a bad situation

To accept a free gift without complaining and say thank you

Appear younger than the given age

To put your own needs before other people's

Think carefully about possible risks before you act

Seem very attractive and stylish

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

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

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

8.5

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

Appear very messy and untidy

8.5

To appear old-fashioned and messy in your clothes

9.8

To look very ugly and frightening like an old stone statue

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

To want something to happen and feel excited about it

825 1.4

Feel happy and excited about something that will happen

573 2.8

Examine something carefully to find out more

552 1.0

Turn your head and eyes to see what is around you

472 1.1

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

412 1.3

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

357 1.4

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

323 2.6

Think about the past, especially a time you remember

291 3.0

Watch carefully to notice danger or help someone

214 3.2

To feel excited about something that will happen

180 2.8

To read or check something carefully for mistakes

156 3.0

Help someone and keep them safe

153 1.6

Watch for danger or trouble

133 3.1

To rely on someone for help or advice

125 2.2

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

120 2.8

To respect and want to be like someone

88 2.8

To see someone or something for a short time

75 1.4

Turn your head or eyes to see behind you

To ignore something wrong on purpose instead of reporting it

60 3.7

To think of someone or something in a certain way

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

to look down on
  • Offensive
53 3.7

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

50 3.4

To watch events happen without taking part

49 1.0

To feel excited or worried about something that will happen

To make someone seem attractive when they wear something

To move your body so you can see someone or something

See something on the other side from where you are

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

Have an appearance that suits a job or occasion

Have a face or body language that shows you feel bad

15 3.3

To think of someone or something in a certain way

To face and have a view of a place

to look sharp
  • Informal
11 5.7

To be well dressed and neat

to look sharp
  • Informal
6 5.3

To move quickly and be ready

Seem likely to do well or get better

To appear younger than your real age

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

Turn your head or eyes to see what is behind you

To seem messy because your clothes or hair are not neat

Face a person or problem directly without avoiding it

9.9

To be very tired after hard activity or little sleep

Appear a little unwell and pale

to look so douchey
  • Offensive
9.9

To seem rude and showy in a way other people dislike

Compounds

160 3.3

An action or way of dressing that makes you look good

14 3.9

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

10 2.8

A look that shows dislike or anger

8 2.5

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

4 3.2

A quick check of something to find obvious problems

4 3.7

Very similar in appearance to another person or thing

3 3.2

The general appearance of something as a whole

man look
  • Slang
2 9.8

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

2 3.1

A serious face that shows someone is unhappy or strict

New Look
  • Archaic
1 6.9

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

1 3.9

A style of clothes or home that copies old fashions

1 3.9

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

A neat, elegant appearance that shows attention to detail

1 3.5

A smooth, shiny, stylish appearance for hair or clothes

1 3.4

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

look-alike
  • Jargon
1 4.4

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

1 5.8

A very angry face that makes someone feel afraid

1 5.1

A serious face that shows little or no emotion

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

ethereal look
  • Literature
7.6

A delicate, light appearance that seems not of this world

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

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

mallcore look
  • Jargon
9.9

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

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

A neat, smooth appearance that seems expensive

neckbeardy look
  • Offensive
9.9

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

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

A style that looks like it is from earlier times

A warm, slightly tanned appearance from being in the sun

5.5

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

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

How Thorough

to scour
57 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.