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to look into

to look into

573 2.8
Examine something carefully to find out more
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : investigar
  • We are currently looking into ways to facilitate more interaction between the students and mentors.
  • look into the matter
  • look into the issue
  • look into more deeply

But I'm trying to look deeper into this genre of music.

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Examples

  • Professional organizations need to look into the value of a variety of continuing education experiences.

    Academic text (1996)
  • I had never looked into how that actually works.

  • And he actually says you need to look into three areas.

  • I think we'll look into that a little bit, man.

  • And so we're sort of looking into that now.

  • I will look into it immediately.

  • In the first two parts of this article, we will look into the status of the scientific method.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I suggest that we look into the history briefly.

  • So people need to look into this deeper.

  • The detective promised to look into the mysterious disappearance of the treasure.

Synonyms

to look at
vsto look into
1.0

Study something carefully to understand it or decide

is a deeper inquiry aimed at finding detailed facts
to check
vsto look into
1.0

Examine something to make sure it is correct or true

is broader careful investigation to find information not only to confirm correctness
to search
vsto look into
1.0

To try to find something or someone by looking carefully

is careful examination to discover more information rather than merely locating items
to take a look
vsto look into
1.3

To look at something to check it or find information

is careful investigation aiming to find more information rather than a quick glance
to investigate
vsto look into
2.8

To look carefully at something to find facts

is the more informal phrasal expression rather than the single-word formal term
to check out
vsto look into
2.5

To look at or test something to learn more about it

is broader careful study rather than mainly testing or inspecting
to study
vsto look into
1.0

To look at something carefully to understand it

is investigation aimed at finding information rather than mainly academic analysis
to examine
vsto look into
868 2.5

To look at something carefully to find facts or problems

is the phrasal form used in everyday speech rather than a single-word term
to analyze
vsto look into
  • US
675 3.2

To study something carefully to understand it better

is investigation primarily to gather information rather than deep structured analysis
to consider
vsto look into
670 2.4

To look at someone or something carefully to understand it

is active investigation seeking factual information rather than only thoughtful attention
to go over
vsto look into
642 2.5

To check something carefully, like papers or work

is investigation aimed at finding information rather than only reviewing work
to observe
vsto look into
619 2.4

To watch something carefully to learn about it

involves active examination rather than passive watching or noticing
to explore
vsto look into
471 2.3

To study something carefully to learn more about it

is targeted examination to find specific information rather than broad study
to have a look
vsto look into
412 1.3

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

is more thorough investigation aimed at discovering information
to look up
vsto look into
357 1.4

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

is broader investigation rather than only consulting reference sources
to research
vsto look into
300 3.1

To study a subject carefully to find new facts

is general careful investigation not necessarily formal or systematic
to look through
vsto look into
180 2.8

To read or check something carefully for mistakes

is broader investigation not limited to reading or document review
to get to the bottom of
vsto look into
137 3.9

Find the real reason for a problem by checking carefully

is careful examination for information but not always focused on root causes
to check up on
vsto look into
93 3.2

To look at something to make sure it is correct and works well

focuses on general information gathering rather than only verifying condition
to scrutinize
vsto look into
  • US
70 6.2

To look at something very carefully to check for mistakes

is careful investigation but usually less intense or exhaustive
to dig into
vsto look into
  • Informal
70 3.7

To look at something carefully, often by searching under the surface

is careful investigation that may not involve physical or beneath surface searching
to delve
vsto look into
61 4.7

To look deeply into a subject to find information

is careful investigation that may not reach such deep thoroughness
to sift
vsto look into
61 3.7

To look carefully through information to find what is important

is broader investigation that may not involve filtering through many items
to scope
vsto look into
48 3.7

To look carefully at something to learn about it

is investigation to learn information rather than only to measure or evaluate
to dig deep
vsto look into
43 4.4

Search carefully to find hidden facts or details

is careful investigation not always so deep or about hidden matters
to probe
vsto look into
  • Literature
35 5.1

To ask careful questions to find hidden information

is more about examining things than mainly questioning sources
to peruse
vsto look into
32 7.0

To read something slowly and carefully to understand it

is broader investigation that may involve other methods besides detailed reading
to scope out
vsto look into
  • Informal
18 5.4

To look carefully at a place or person to get information before you act

is broader careful investigation not always done as preliminary reconnaissance
to ferret out
vsto look into
  • Informal
13 6.7

To search carefully to find hidden facts or documents

is general careful investigation not necessarily persistent or for hidden items
to check over
vsto look into
10 2.8

To look at something carefully to find mistakes or problems

is general investigation to find information beyond mere verification
to suss out
vsto look into
  • UK
8 8.2

To find out what is really happening

is careful possibly more methodical investigation rather than casual figuring
to plumb
vsto look into
7 7.4

To examine something deeply to learn more about it

is careful investigation but may be less deep or probing
to relook
vsto look into
3 5.3

To consider something again before deciding

is usually first investigation to discover new information
to probe deeper
vsto look into
1 4.4

To look into something more carefully to find hidden facts

is regular careful investigation not necessarily a deeper follow-up action
to plumb the depth
vsto look into
7.9

To examine something carefully to find hidden details

is general careful examination rather than aiming for full complexity understanding

Antonyms

332 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

How Thorough

to scrutinize
  • US
70 6.2
to probe
  • Literature
35 5.1
to examine
868 2.5
to look into
573 2.8
to investigate
2.8
to check
1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

look + into

The meaning 'to examine or investigate' is a direct compositional extension of 'look' (to direct one's eyes) + 'into' (inside/inward): together they convey looking inside or closely at something. This simple spatial-to-abstract metaphor is common across languages and follows standard particle-verb patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents is likely to infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Look into comes from the simple picture of look + into: peeking inside a box or through a window to see what is there. So, when you look into a problem you search carefully for details, which is why it means 'to examine or investigate'.