Language Research

look · verb

/lʊk/Full view

look (SEE)

A1 I to turn your eyes in the direction of something or someone so that you can see them

Dictionary examples:

Look! There's grandma.

They looked at the picture and laughed.

Look at all this stuff on the floor.

She looked up from her book and smiled at me.

I looked out (of) the window.

Look over there - there's a rainbow!

Learner example:

I like walk[ing] around these lakes and look[ing] at [the] ducks and swans. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Polish)

look (SEARCH)

A1 I to try to find someone or something

Dictionary examples:

I'm looking for my keys.

I've looked everywhere but I can't find my glasses.

I looked down the list but didn't see his name.

Learner example:

I [am] looking for [a] new T-shirt. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Hungarian)

look nice/strange, etc.

A2 used to describe the appearance of a person or thing

Dictionary examples:

That food looks nice.

You look tired.

Do I look silly in this hat?

She looks Italian or Spanish.

Learner example:

Well, the paint I am going to use is light pink as it will look nice. (Key English Test; A2; Malayalam)

look like

B1 used to describe the appearance of a person or thing

Dictionary examples:

He looked like a nice guy.

The building looks like a giant lipstick - in fact people call it the lipstick building.

Learner example:

It was dark on [the] street but I remember [what] the thief looked like. (Skills for Life (Entry 3); B1; Kashmiri)

it looks like/as if

B1 used to say that something is likely to happen

Dictionary examples:

It looks as if there'll only be three of us going on Sunday.

It looks like snow.

Learner example:

It's cold and I think I will have to buy an umbrella because it looks as if it'll rain. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

look as if/as though

B2 used to describe the appearance of a person or thing

Dictionary examples:

Bradley looked as if he had seen a ghost.

She looked as though she was going to cry.

Learner example:

The dress is made of bright blue silk, it's long and looks as if it was [made] for [a] queen. (First Certificate in English; B2; Russian)

look (DIRECTION)

B2 I to face a particular direction

Dictionary examples:

The garden looks south.

This window looks out on the lake.

Learner example:

I [would] like a room which looks out onto the garden. (First Certificate in English; B2; Turkish)

look on the bright side

C1 to find good things in a bad situation

Dictionary example:

Look on the bright side - no one was badly hurt.

Learner example:

I am quite self-confident and I usually look on the bright side, as I am not [interested in] pessimistic thoughts. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Greek)

be looking to do sth

C2 to plan to do something

Dictionary example:

I'm looking to start my own business.

look after sb/sth

A2 to take care of someone or something by keeping them healthy or in good condition

Dictionary examples:

We look after our neighbors' cat while they're away.

If you look after your clothes they last a lot longer.

Don't worry about Mia - she can look after herself.

Learner example:

[They] didn't go with us because they had to look after their children. (Key English Test; A2; French)

look ahead

C2 to think about what will happen in the future and plan for these events

Dictionary example:

I'm looking ahead to next year and figuring out our staffing needs.

Learner example:

One must always look ahead to the future and try to progress. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

look around (swh)

B1 to visit a place and look at the things in it

Dictionary example:

It's such a beautiful city, it's a shame we didn't have more time to look around.

Learner example:

There are lots of museums in our city and you can enjoy looking around some of them. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Farsi)

look at sth (THINK)

B2 to think about a subject carefully so that you can make a decision about it

Dictionary example:

Management is looking at ways of cutting costs.

Learner example:

I think we should look at this problem in a wider [way]. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

look at sth (READ)

B2 to read something in order to check it or form an opinion about it

Dictionary example:

Can you look at my essay sometime?

Learner example:

I was sitting in our coffee-room at school, looking at my homework while waiting for someone else to show up. (First Certificate in English; B2; Danish)

look at sth (EXAMINE)

B2 If someone, usually an expert, looks at something, they examine it.

Dictionary example:

Did you get the doctor to look at your knee?

look back

B2 to think about something that happened in the past

Dictionary examples:

Looking back, I can see where we went wrong.

It wasn't such a bad experience when I look back on it.

Learner example:

When I look back on the summer we spent together, I feel miserable and sometimes I burst into tears. (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

look down on sb

B2 to think that someone is less important than you

Dictionary example:

I always felt she looked down on me because I wasn't as educated as she was.

Learner example:

They never humiliate or look down on you just because you are a foreigner. (First Certificate in English; B2; Turkish)

look forward to sth/doing sth (HAPPY)

B1 to feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen

Dictionary examples:

I'm really looking forward to my vacation.

She was looking forward to seeing the grandchildren again.

Learner example:

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

look forward to sth/doing sth (LETTER)

B2 used at the end of a formal letter to say you hope to hear from or see someone soon, or that you expect something from them

Dictionary example:

I look forward to hearing from you.

Learner example:

I look forward to hearing from you. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

look into sth

B2 to examine the facts about a situation

Dictionary example:

We're looking into the possibility of merging the two departments.

Learner example:

Moreover, if we look into the matter in a conscious way, we can easily notice that we are leaving our forests and nature, in general, without any wild animals whatsoever. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

look on/upon sb/sth as sth

C1 to consider someone or something in a particular way

Dictionary examples:

We looked on her as a daughter.

I've lived there so long I look on the town as my home.

Learner example:

In some cases this can be looked upon as an asset. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Catalan)

Look out!

B1 something you say when someone is in danger

Dictionary example:

Look out - there's a car coming!

Learner example:

"Look out, it's very dangerous". (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)

look over sth or look sth over

C1 to examine something quickly

Dictionary example:

I'm just looking over what you've written.

Learner example:

I looked over the paper I had been given. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)

look through sth

B2 to read something

Dictionary examples:

I've looked through a few catalogues.

Make sure you look through your work to check for spelling mistakes.

Learner example:

So I suggest you look through that magazine in order to find something else that interests you. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

look up sth or look sth up

B1 to try to find a piece of information by looking in a book or on a computer

Dictionary example:

If you don't know what the word means, look it up in a dictionary.

Learner example:

If you have unfamiliar words, you can look up these words in [a] dictionary. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Chinese)

look up

C1 to become better

Dictionary example:

Our financial situation is looking up.

Learner example:

The business is looking up and I have to cook m[any] more things. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Spanish)

look up to sb

B2 to respect and admire someone

Dictionary example:

She really looks up to her father.

Learner example:

Nowadays people in Sweden and all over the world are looking up to Zlatan, and many young boys from his area in Sweden see him as a role model. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

look · noun

/lʊk/

look (SEE)

B1 C when you look at someone or something

Dictionary examples:

She gave him a look of real dislike.

Take a (good) look at this picture and see if you recognize anyone.

Can I have a look at your dictionary?

Learner example:

I went to have a look and I was very surprised! (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

look (SEARCH)

B1 C usually no plural when you look for someone or something

Dictionary example:

I had another look for the watch, but couldn't find it.

Learner example:

Should I have a look for cheap hotels? (Preliminary English Test; B1; Georgian)

look (APPEARANCE)

B2 C an expression on someone's face

Dictionary examples:

She had a worried look about her.

She gave me a questioning look.

Learner example:

China was attacking France, everyone started screaming, and the look of panic on my history teacher['s] face was almost funny. (First Certificate in English; B2; French)

the look of sb/sth

B2 the appearance of someone or something

Dictionary examples:

They liked the look of the hotel, but it was too expensive.

I don't like the look of that fence.

Learner example:

We have to make it more attractive to them by improving the look of our town. (First Certificate in English; B2; Dutch)

look (FASHION)

C1 no plural a style or fashion

Dictionary example:

thenew look for the summer

Learner example:

Shopping [...] gives you a feeling of being in another world, a world where dreams can come true - dreams of becoming more beautiful by buying new clothes and accessories for the new look you have always wanted. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Tagalog)

sb's looks

C2 a person's appearance, especially how attractive they are

Dictionary example:

I was attracted to him because of his looks.

Learner example:

At last, she arrived in time for the ball held that night, and everybody was charmed by her looks and manners. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Italian)