Phrasal Verbs with Look: Exploring 23 Meanings and Examples
Phrasal verbs with look can often be heard in real-life conversations between friends, colleagues, and across the media. However, coming to understand them may be more challenging than it seems.
Since native speakers use each phrasal verb look very naturally, the desire to get acquainted with them is understandable. Considering they are most frequently used in informal speech and writing, learners of all backgrounds seek to drift away from a very academic or by-the-book-sounding vocabulary.
The problem many students tend to run into is that they try to apply a literal or logical meaning to a phrasal verb with look. In reality, the core nature of this part of speech is to create new meanings for the words.
Today, in our deep exploration of 23 phrasal verbs look, we will touch on how these parts of speech are constructed, how they can be used in natural environments, and what to remember when learning about such an intricate subject.
List of 23 phrasal verbs with look
Here are the 23 phrasal verbs with look examples that we are going to be examining today:
Let’s dive right in with the first one!
#1Look around
When someone is looking around, it means they arrive in an unfamiliar place and examine the area to see what is placed there.
Example:
- After arriving at the campus, I took a long walk to look around because that place was truly mesmerizing.
- On our first meeting with my future landlord, he suggested looking around the apartment.
#2Look after
To look after is a phrasal verb with look that can be applied to both alive beings and inanimate objects. It means to take care of someone or keep something safe and in good condition.
Example:
- Sometimes, I think my husband looks after his car more than after his own children.
- If you want your computer to be more efficient, you have got to look after it and clean the dust from the inside.
#3Look ahead
Looking ahead means being able to think about what will happen in the future and plan out your next moves.
Example:
- My sister never looks ahead of her actions and systematically gets into trouble.
- Judging by our previous monthly report, we can look ahead to a brighter future.
#4Look away
Looking away simply means turning your face or body from something or someone, averting your gaze.
Example:
- I thought she liked me, but she looked away when I waved at her.
- Don’t look away when I’m talking to you.
#5Look at
Conversely, from our previous look phrasal verb, looking at means directing your gaze to look at something or someone.
Example:
- The guy at the museum keeps looking at me from the back row.
- I have an urge to look at my social media at least twice a day.
#6Look back
To look back means to reminisce fondly or think anxiously about events that have happened in the past.
Example:
- Looking back at my childhood, I can say I was a happy kid.
- When I look back at my high school years, all I remember is being bullied.
#7Look forward
The opposite of the preceding phrasal verb look, looking forward means being excited about something that is going to happen in the near future.
Example:
- The kids are looking forward to Tom’s birthday because the parents said they are going to order a special cake.
- I am looking forward to buying a new car.
#8Look down on
When someone looks down on another person, it means they think they are better than them or that the person does not deserve their respect.
Example:
- A girl at my school looks down on everyone because she has become a teacher’s pet.
- I feel like people look down on me because I wear hand-me-down clothes.
#9Look for
To look for something or someone means actively searching and trying to find it.
Example:
- Honey, I was looking for my car keys, have you seen them?
- Because I was adopted, I came to town looking for my biological parents.
#10Look in on
Looking in on someone is a look phrasal verb that means paying them a brief visit for any kind of reason, i.e., the person is ill. Usually, it happens when a person is on their way to a different place and has the ability to stop by.
Example:
- I am going to look in on Stacy while I drive to work today.
- My grandchildren haven’t looked in on me in a while now.
#11Look into
To look into something or someone refers to collecting facts and examining or investigating a certain situation, like a crime or a problem.
Example:
- The police are looking into a jewelry store robbery that occurred last night.
- We are looking into expanding our accountant department to keep better track o documentation.
#12Look on
To look on something or someone essentially means viewing a situation or a person in a specific, often prejudiced, way.
Example:
- Many movie critics look on horror films as not true cinema, but they are deeply misunderstood.
- The look on Terry’s behavior at the theater is not as judgemental as it should be.
#13Look on as
When someone is looking on as something happens, it means they are watching a situation unfold but are not taking an active part in it. While this and the previous phrasal verbs with look are quite similar, many English grammar books explain how and why the phrases are built differently.
Example:
- When a building caught fire, I was shocked at how many people were simply looking on as it burned.
- I looked on as a student tried to take another student’s lunch, but I failed to do anything.
#14Look out
To look out means to keep a watchful eye on something that is happening or is going to happen and remain careful and considerate of your surroundings. What is curious is that the conjoined word “lookout” refers to an act of keeping watch over the area or a person who stands guard.
Example:
- I am going to look out for any danger that can be lurking in the woods while you guys go to sleep.
- He often didn’t look out for his family, so they ended up in a nasty situation.
#15Look out for
Although only one more preposition is added, the phrasal verb look out for means taking care of someone and ensuring they are safe and sound. Interestingly, you can find a somewhat opposite phrasal verb with get — get rid of.
Example:
- Even though me and Jerry weren’t in a relationship, he still always looked out for me.
- The purpose of law enforcement is to look out for peaceful citizens.
#16Look over
Similar look phrasal verbs to the aforementioned “look around”, to look over refers to quickly examining the area or an object.
Example:
- When I go to the bookstore, I only have a few minutes to look over a book before a consultant starts staring at me angrily.
- I hastily looked over my house, but I still could not find the earrings that my friend gifted me for my birthday.
#17Look through
A more narrowed-down phrasal verb look, when someone is looking through something, it means they are quickly reading a book, catalog, article, etc., to find a piece of needed information.
Example:
- I looked through our recent paper magazines and found that the new restaurant chain has been open for over three months now.
- My brother-in-law claims that he has looked through his entire contact book but couldn’t find my number to congratulate me on my daughter’s birth.
#18Look to
When you look to someone, it means you are seeking the help that the person can provide.
Example:
- Even since my car accident, I have had trouble walking, so I look to my family to bring me groceries.
- The boss keeps looking to the sales department to help fix our losses and raise the number of our clients.
#19Look up to
Another instance of similar look phrasal verbs with different meanings. Looking up to someone refers to having immense admiration and respect for the particular person.
Example:
- My oldest daughter has started her acting classes because she looks up to her personal role model Meryl Streep.
- When I was a kid, I used to look up to my teacher since she always seemed so full of wisdom.
#20Look up
To look something up is a look phrasal verb that refers to researching information through the means of the internet, books, encyclopedias, and other sources.
Example:
- Hey, can you look up when is the next festival going to come into town?
- I tried to look up the information about my parents, but it was all lost during their immigration.
#21To be looking up
When someone is looking up, it means they are recovering and getting better from an illness, some kind of accident, or a problem that occurred.
Example:
- John seems to be looking up after his complicated surgery.
- After a devastating last year, our business will hopefully be looking up in the coming months.
#22To look someone up
These are pretty similar types of phrasal verbs look. To look someone up means to visit a person after a long separation.
Example:
- I was so glad Nancy looked me up when she was in town.
- Sometimes, it can be hard to live in a secluded suburban area because my friends rarely look me up.
#23Look upon
When a person looks upon something, it means they are regarding or considering it in their own manner.
Example:
- Our philosophy professor looks upon the grading system as a limited set of identifying the real skills of students.
- I always hated that my oldest sister looked upon me like I was a troublemaker that does not know any better.
Interesting facts about the phrasal verb “look”
As non-native English learners and ESL students improve their speaking skills and raise their level of knowledge, they come across figurative forms of speech more often. However, the problem lies in the fact that such parts of speech, like phrasal verbs with look, can be hard to comprehend without initially knowing what they mean.
So, what makes phrasal verbs so intricate to grasp? Many dictionaries give out the definition of these phrases as a combination of two or more words that make up a whole new meaning from its separate particles.
The particles are usually divided into:
- A verb
- A preposition
For example, the words “look” (to see) and “out” (outside of a particular place) have their own distinct meanings. Regardless, when they are combined into a phrasal verb, “look out”, it acquires a whole new definition — to keep a watchful eye for any danger.
From this, we can learn that phrasal verbs look do not necessarily have literal translations or even communicate visually-related uses. For incense, the phrasal verb “to be looking up” has nothing to do with actually seeing anything but with getting better.
Interestingly, another part where non-native speakers can get confused is that phrasal verbs can be used separately in a sentence. They are not always bound to be used together and can be intertwined with other parts of the sentence.
In particular, it is grammatically correct to say:
- Hey, can someone look Terry up?
As a rule of thumb, phrasal verbs can be separated when there is a noun in between. However, it’s not always the case for all phrasal verbs, such as the following one:
- As a nanny, I look after Simone on a regular basis.
In general, it is best to simply memorize their meanings and situations where they can be used appropriately.
As you progress in your learning skills, you will come to find that there is a myriad of phrasal verbs that are constructed with all kinds of verbs. We recommend you also check out our article on one of the most commonly used ones — phrasal verbs with take.
Concluding the phrasal verb with look
The subject of phrasal verbs is fascinating and challenging at the same time. With how complex yet flexible and diverse they can be, many teachers and scholars recommend the approach of basic memorization of them. After all, trying to give phrasal verbs any logical explanation or interpretation is doomed to be a failure.
In spite of that, such an interesting part of speech can undoubtedly bring more color and depth to our conversations. It also makes the English language more unique and distinct from other languages. Even though other languages and dialects have their own versions of phrasal verbs that reflect their specific cultural nuances, they are certainly different.
In this article, we took a deep dive into the 23 phrasal verbs with look, explained the meanings behind them, as well as provided examples in sentences that can be found in informal real-life conversations. The best approach to making sure these phrases stick in your memory is to practice them in your daily speech. And remember that making mistakes is okay and a part of the learning process.
In addition, we highly advise you to keep learning all the different kinds of phrasal verbs. Be sure to check out our other in-depth guide to phrasal verbs with put, and keep on expanding your vocabulary with our valuable blog!
