to look on

Examples

• All

• If anything, conditions in the state continue to deteriorate while the world looks on.

  Academic text (2011)

• The four marshals posted on the bridge looked on silently, shoulders rounded under their ponchos, arms crossed.

  Fiction book (1995)

• People are gonna look back on tonight and realize it was all a performance.

  Love the Coopers (2015)

• We could only look on as our leaders used their greatest arsenal to destroy them.

  Reign of Fire (2002)

• Several bystanders look on with interest as Phil stands back from his work.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Hannah Nixon, in the background attending two other patients, looks on at Harold.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Constance, dressed for the occasion, looks on from the sidelines and smiles.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Slowly, the fingers loosened, and while Joze looked on numbly, unable to move, the book thudded to the floor.

  Fiction book (1993)

• What you see in this slide is a female chimpanzee using a stick to fish, termites from a mound, and you see the youngster looking on very attentively.

• The crowd gathered to look on as the performers dazzled them with their incredible skills.

Synonyms

S

to see

vsto look on

∞ 1.0

To notice something with your eyes

is a longer, purposely uninvolved presence rather than a quick glance

W

to watch

vsto look on

∞ 1.0

To look at something carefully for some time

involves staying uninvolved rather than actively concentrating on a target

W

to witness

vsto look on

653 3.0

To see or be present at an event as it happens

is a broader nonparticipating presence rather than only witnessing events

O

to observe

vsto look on

619 2.4

To watch something carefully to learn about it

is a passive presence without the intent to learn or analyse

S

to sit in on

vsto look on

27 3.2

To go to a class or meeting to watch and learn without taking part

is the general act of being present and not joining any activity

W

to watch the world go by

vsto look on

• Informal

2 4.6

To spend time looking at people and things happening around you without taking part

is being present and staying uninvolved without implying relaxation

Antonyms

P

to participate

866 2.5

To join in an activity with other people

E

to engage

676 3.4

To take part in an activity

How Involved

to intervene

197 5.0

to join in

143 1.1

to watch

∞ 1.0

to look on

50 3.4

to stand by

90 4.2

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology