The verb LOOK forms essential phrasal verbs for vision and perception. From looking for something lost to looking after someone you care about, this family covers observation, searching, attention, appearance, direction, and planning. Master these phrasal verbs and you'll express seeing and understanding with precision.
Meaning: To direct your eyes toward something, to examine or consider
"Look at that beautiful sunset!"
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"Let's look at this problem from a different angle."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can mean physical sight or metaphorical examination of ideas.
Meaning: To examine a place by looking in different directions, to browse
"Feel free to look around the house before deciding."
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"I'm just looking around - not buying anything today."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Common in shops and when exploring new places.
Meaning: To examine items one by one, to see through transparent material
"I need to look through these documents for the contract."
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"You can look through the window to see the garden."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can mean searching through items or looking through transparent objects.
Meaning: To examine or review something carefully, to look above something
"Could you look over my essay before I submit it?"
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"From the hill, we can look over the entire city."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often used for reviewing documents or having a view from above.
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You've mastered the LOOK family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To search for something or someone, to expect something
"I'm looking for my car keys - have you seen them?"
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"What qualities are you looking for in a job?"
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๐ก Usage Tip:
One of the most essential phrasal verbs for daily conversation.
Meaning: To search for information, to visit someone, to improve
"Let me look up that word in the dictionary."
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"Things are finally looking up for our company."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Very versatile: research, visiting, or improving situations.
Meaning: To investigate or research something thoroughly
"The police are looking into the cause of the accident."
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"I'll look into getting a better health insurance plan."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Implies serious investigation or research.
Meaning: To watch carefully for something, to be aware of potential problems
"Look out for my email with the meeting details."
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"When driving at night, look out for deer on the road."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Important for safety warnings and being alert.
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You've mastered the LOOK family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To take care of someone or something
"Can you look after my cat while I'm on vacation?"
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"She looks after her elderly parents very well."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Essential for expressing care and responsibility.
Meaning: To be careful, to watch for danger (warning)
"Look out! There's a car coming!"
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"You need to look out when crossing this busy street."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often used as a warning or alert to potential danger.
Meaning: To depend on someone for help, to focus on the future
"We look to our leaders for guidance during difficult times."
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"Let's look to the future and make positive changes."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Often implies expectation, hope, or dependence.
Meaning: To resemble someone or something in appearance
"You look like your mother when you smile."
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"It looks like it's going to rain today."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Essential for describing similarities and making predictions.
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You've mastered the LOOK family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To appear attractive/unattractive or positive/negative
"You look really good in that new dress!"
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"The weather forecast looks bad for our picnic."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Used for both physical appearance and general situations.
Meaning: To appear well-dressed, professional, or hurry up
"He always looks smart in his business suits."
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"Look smart! The boss is coming this way."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can mean appearing professional or as an command to hurry.
Meaning: To direct your gaze upward toward the sky or ceiling
"Look up at the stars - they're so beautiful tonight."
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"The children looked up when they heard the airplane."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Simple physical direction - looking toward higher places.
Meaning: To direct your gaze downward, to consider someone inferior
"Don't look down from the bridge if you're afraid of heights."
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"She never looks down on people who have less money."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Can be literal direction or metaphorical superiority attitude.
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You've mastered the LOOK family! Discover other phrasal verb families and practice with interactive exercises.
Meaning: To turn and look behind you, to remember the past
"She looked back to wave goodbye one last time."
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"When I look back on my childhood, I have happy memories."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Beautiful for expressing nostalgia and reflection on the past.
Meaning: To look forward in direction, to plan for the future
"Look ahead and tell me what you see on the road."
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"We need to look ahead and prepare for next year's challenges."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Important for planning and focusing on the future.
Meaning: To anticipate something with pleasure or excitement
"I'm really looking forward to our vacation next month."
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"We look forward to hearing from you soon."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Always followed by a gerund (-ing form) or noun.
Meaning: To plan for the future, to think about what's coming
"Looking ahead, we expect sales to increase next quarter."
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"Young people need to look ahead and plan their careers."
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๐ก Usage Tip:
Essential for business planning and life decisions.