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Glite Dictionary
to look forward to

to look forward to

990 2.4
To want something to happen and feel excited about it
  • phrasal verb
  • /lʊk ˈfɔːrwərd tu/
: tener ganas de
  • So I look forward to seeing you next week.
  • look forward to doing
  • look forward to reading
  • look forward to working

Is there something you're looking forward to in the next year?

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Examples

  • We have been looking forward to this day for many years.

  • So thank you so much and I look forward to your questions.

  • And with that, I look forward to meeting you along the path.

    Rich Roll

  • What are you most looking forward to in marriage?

    Hannah (Sex & Relationships Education)

  • Just lots of things to look forward to, which I like.

    Zoe Sugg

  • I look forward to that very much, sir.

    Fly Me to the Moon (2024)

  • I look forward to hearing you play.

    The Crow (2024)

  • Well, it's been six months, and I was looking forward to seeing my son.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • You are my honored guests, and I look forward to your company at dinner this evening.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I look forward to celebrating my birthday with all my friends.

Synonyms

to look to
vsto look forward to
∞ 3.2

To feel excited about something that will happen

focuses on eager pleasure and excitement about a future event
to look forward
vsto look forward to
∞ 1.4

Feel happy and excited about something that will happen

is the same meaning but used with a following object phrase
to await
vsto look forward to
431 3.2

To wait for something with hope or excitement

highlights excited eager anticipation rather than passive waiting
to look for
vsto look forward to
60 1.0

To feel excited or worried about something that will happen

expresses clear eager pleasure without the nervous tone
to anticipate
vsto look forward to
36 3.6

To feel excited or nervous about something that will happen

is about happy eager anticipation rather than worry

How Eager

to long
184 4.5
to look forward to
990 2.4
to anticipate
36 3.6
to await
431 3.2

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

look + forward + to

The components 'look' + 'forward' transparently suggest directing attention toward the future, so a learner who knows the words can infer a sense of expecting or anticipating something. However, the positive/emotional nuance 'with pleasure' (and the fixed particle pattern 'look forward to') is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so full meaning usually requires some exposure.

Etymology

Look forward to may come from the simple image of someone literally facing ahead and watching for something pleasant; the words look (watch) and forward (ahead) join to mean 'to be excited about' a future event.