verb
looks; looked; looking
always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] :to direct your eyes in a particular direction
[linking verb] :to seem to be something especially because of appearance
[+ obj] :to have an appearance that is suitable for (something)
[no obj] :to try to find something or someone
[no obj] :to pay attention by directing your eyes at something
[no obj]
a - used to direct someone's attention to something or someone
b - used in phrases like look where, look what, etc., to warn someone or to express anger or disappointment
c - used to introduce a statement when you want someone to notice what you are saying
[+ obj] to want or try to do something - followed by to + verb
to expect something - followed by to + verb
[no obj] :to have a specified direction :to point or face in a specified direction
don't look now
used in speech before a statement to tell someone to be aware of something without looking
look after
[phrasal verb]
look after (someone or something) :to take care of (someone or something)
look a gift horse in the mouth
look ahead
[phrasal verb]
to think about what will happen in the future
look around
or Brit look round [phrasal verb]
look around/round or look around/round (a place) :to go through a place in order to see what is there :to explore a place
look around/round for (something) :to search for (something)
look at
[phrasal verb]
look at (someone or something)
to think about or consider (something or someone)
to examine or study (someone or something)
look at (something)
to have (something bad or unpleasant) as a problem or possibility
to read (something or part of something)
look back
[phrasal verb]
to think about something in the past
If you make an important change in your life and never look back, you never return to the way you had been before, and your life is very different from that time onward.
look before you leap
to think or learn about the possible bad results of an action before doing it
look daggers at
look down on
[phrasal verb]
look down on (someone or something) :to think of or treat (someone or something) as unimportant or not worthy of respect
look down your nose at
to think of or treat (someone or something) as unimportant or not worthy of respect
look for
[phrasal verb]
look for (something or someone)
to try to find (someone or something) :to search for (someone or something)
to expect (something or someone)
look for trouble informal :to act in a way that could cause violence or problems
look forward to
[phrasal verb]
look forward to (something) :to expect (something) with pleasure
look in on
[phrasal verb]
look in on (someone) :to make a brief social visit to (someone)
look into
[phrasal verb]
look into (something) :to try to get information about (something)
look like
to have an appearance that is very similar to (someone or something) :to resemble (someone or something)
look like a million dollars/bucks
look lively
look on/upon
[phrasal verb]
look on :to watch something as it happens without becoming involved
look on/upon (someone or something) :to think of or consider (someone or something) in a specified way - + as or with
look out
[phrasal verb]
used to tell someone to be aware of something dangerous
look (something) out or look out (something) Brit :to succeed in finding (something)
look out for
[phrasal verb]
look out for (something) :to be aware of and try to avoid (something dangerous or unwanted)
look out for (someone or something) :to take care of or protect (someone or something)
If you look out for number one, you only think about yourself and do what helps you most.
look over
[phrasal verb]
look (something) over or look over (something) :to read or examine (something) usually in a quick or hurried way
look sharp
look (someone) in the eye
also look (someone) in the face
to look directly at (someone who is also looking at you)
look the other way
to ignore something that should be noticed or dealt with :to turn your attention away from something
look through
[phrasal verb]
look through (something)
to read or briefly examine some of the pages of (a book, magazine, etc.)
to look at the different parts of (a collection or group of things)
look through (someone) :to pretend not to see or recognize (someone) in a rude or unfriendly way
look to
[phrasal verb]
look to (something) :to think about or examine (something) :to direct your attention to (something)
usually + for
look to (someone) :to need (someone) to do something for or give something to you :to depend or rely on (someone)
look up
[phrasal verb]
to get better :improve
look (something) up or look up (something) :to search for (something) in a reference book, on the Internet, etc.
look (someone) up or look up (someone) :to call or go to see (someone) when you are in the area where that person lives
look up to
[phrasal verb]
look up to (someone) :to respect and admire (someone)
Look what the cat dragged in!
look your best
not much to look at
informal :not physically attractive
noun
plural looks
[count] :the act of looking at something - usually singular
[count] :the act of examining or considering something - usually singular
usually + at
[singular] :the act of trying to find something or someone
[count] :the emotions and feelings that can be seen in a person's face or eyes
[count] :a quality or characteristic that you can see when you look at something :the way that something looks
b looks [plural] :physical appearance
[count] :a style or fashion - usually singular