Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Look It Up: Definition, Story & Usage

"When searching for wisdom, look it up not only in books but within the soul, where true knowledge often hides."

📖 Definition

To search for and find specific information, especially in reference materials or databases, usually to clarify or understand a topic.

Examples in context

When unsure about a fact, always look it up in a reliable source.
I looked it up in several books before writing my paper.
Before quoting statistics, she made sure to look it up correctly.

📖 Definition

To search for and find specific information, especially in reference materials or databases, usually to clarify or understand a topic.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

You can place a pronoun between the verb and the particle.

Neutral

Suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

Requires a direct object to act upon.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	look it up	I need to look it up in the dictionary.
Past Simple	looked it up	She looked it up online yesterday.
Present Continuous	looking it up	He is looking it up now.
Present Perfect	have looked it up	They have looked it up several times already.

💡 When to Use

Gathering information

Use when you need to find factual details or verify information by consulting reference materials.

Example: "I had to look it up to confirm the date."

Clarifying unknown terms

When encountering unfamiliar words or concepts, this phrase helps in seeking definitions or explanations.

Example: "She looked it up to understand the terminology."

Research tasks

Ideal for academic or professional research where information retrieval from resources is necessary.

Example: "We will look it up as part of our research process."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Word order error

❌ Wrong: Look up it

✅ Correct: Look it up

💡 Tip: Remember: place pronouns between 'look' and 'up'.

Omission of object

❌ Wrong: Can you look up?

✅ Correct: Can you look it up?

💡 Tip: Always include what you're looking up.

Using without context

❌ Wrong: I'll look up something.

✅ Correct: I'll look it up online.

💡 Tip: Specify where or what you'll use to look it up.

Practice

LOOK IT UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

When unsure about a fact, always look it up in a reliable source.
Words Multiplied
2
Listen to example

I looked it up in several books before writing my paper.
Words Multiplied
3
Listen to example

Before quoting statistics, she made sure to look it up correctly.
Words Multiplied

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

search for find out

Antonyms

ignore

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"Whenever I have doubts, I ___ the information in the encyclopedia."

look over

look it up

look forward to

look into

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Look It Up

What is the origin of look it up?

The phrase 'look it up' comes from the early 20th century as reference materials became more accessible. Its usage parallels the increase in public libraries and printed encyclopedias.

Can look it up be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'look it up' is versatile and contextually neutral, making it suitable for both formal settings, like academic research, and casual conversations about simple inquiries.

What is the difference between look it up and search for?

While 'look it up' implies consulting a reference source for specifics, 'search for' generally refers to actively seeking information, which may not necessarily be in a formal source.

Browse All Words Multiplied Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

LOOK IT UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Look It Up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega