look for
Also found in: Thesaurus, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia.
look
(lo͝ok)v. looked, look·ing, looks
v.intr.
1.
a. To employ one's sight, especially in a given direction or on a given object: looking out the window; looked at the floor.
b. To search: We looked all afternoon but could not find it.
2.
a. To turn one's glance or gaze: looked to the right.
b. To turn one's attention; attend: looked to his neglected guitar during vacation; looked at the evidence.
c. To turn one's expectations: looked to us for a solution.
3. To seem or appear to be: look morose.
4. To face in a specified direction: The cottage looks on the river.
v.tr.
1. To turn one's eyes on: looked him in the eye.
2. To convey by one's expression: looked annoyance at the judge; looked his devotion to me.
3.
a. To have an appearance of conformity with: He looks his age. She dressed up to look the part.
b. To appear to be: looked the fool in one version of the story.
n.
Phrasal Verbs: 1.
a. The act or instance of looking: I took just one look and I was sure.
b. A gaze or glance expressive of something: gave her a mournful look.
2.
a. Appearance or aspect: a look of great age.
b. looks Physical appearance, especially when pleasing.
c. A distinctive, unified manner of dress or fashion: the preferred look for this fall.
look after
To take care of: looked after his younger brother.
look for
1. To search for; seek: looking for my gloves.
2. To expect: Look for a change of weather in March.
look into
To inquire into; investigate: The police looked into the disturbance.
look on (or upon)
To regard in a certain way: looked on them as incompetents.
look out
To be watchful or careful; take care: If you don't look out, you may fall on the ice. We looked out for each other on the trip.
look over
To examine or inspect, often in hasty fashion: looked over the proposal before the meeting.
look to Usage Problem
1. To expect or hope to: He looked to hear from her within a week.
2. To seem about to; promise to: "an 'Action Program,' which ... looked to reduce tariffs on over 1,800 items" (Alan D. Romberg).
look up
Idioms: 1. To search for and find, as in a reference book.
2. To visit: look up an old friend.
3. To become better; improve: Things are at last looking up.
look a gift horse in the mouth
To be critical or suspicious of something one has received without expense.
look alive/sharp Informal
To act or respond quickly: Look alive! We leave in five minutes.
look down on/upon
To regard with contempt or condescension.
look down (one's) nose at/on
To regard with contempt or condescension.
look forward to
To think of (a future event) with pleasurable, eager anticipation: looking forward to graduation.
look in on
To visit: I look in on my grandparents each weekend.
look the other way
To deliberately overlook something: knew the student was cheating but decided to look the other way.
look up to
To admire: looked up to her mother.
[Middle English loken, from Old English lōcian.]
Usage Note: When followed by an infinitive, look often means "expect" or "hope," as in The executives look to increase sales once the economy improves or I'm looking to sell my car in July. In our 1997 survey, the Usage Panel was divided almost evenly on this usage, with 52 percent of the Panelists finding it acceptable and 48 percent rejecting it. In 2008, 55 percent rejected it, suggesting that resistance is not eroding, at least not for use in more formal contexts. The usage has an informal flavor and is popular among sports writers: The Spartans are looking to improve their offensive production. The Cubs look to continue their dominance of their division.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
look after
– look for1. 'look after'
If you look after someone or something, you do what is necessary to keep them healthy, safe, or in good condition.
She will look after the children during their holidays.
You can borrow my laptop as long as you look after it.
2. 'look for'
If you look for someone or something, you try to find them.
Were you looking for me?
He looked for his shoes under the bed.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | look for - try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of; "The police are searching for clues"; "They are searching for the missing man in the entire county" finger - search for on the computer; "I fingered my boss and found that he is not logged on in the afternoons" fumble, grope - feel about uncertainly or blindly; "She groped for her glasses in the darkness of the bedroom" divine - search by divining, as if with a rod; "He claimed he could divine underground water" surf, browse - look around casually and randomly, without seeking anything in particular; "browse a computer directory"; "surf the internet or the world wide web" leave no stone unturned - search thoroughly and exhaustively; "The police left no stone unturned in looking for the President's murderer" hunt - seek, search for; "She hunted for her reading glasses but was unable to locate them" gather - look for (food) in nature; "Our ancestors gathered nuts in the Fall" want - hunt or look for; want for a particular reason; "Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI"; "Uncle Sam wants you" scour - examine minutely; "The police scoured the country for the fugitive" seek out - look for a specific person or thing grub - search about busily feel - grope or feel in search of something; "He felt for his wallet" |
| 2. |  look for - be excited or anxious about |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
look
verb1. To direct the eyes on an object:
Idiom: clap one's eyes on.
2. To try to find something:
look after
To have the care and supervision of:
look for
To look forward to confidently:
Informal: figure on.
look in
phrasal verb
look into
To go into or through for the purpose of making discoveries or acquiring information:
look on or upon
phrasal verb
look out
To be careful:
Idioms: be on guard, be on the lookout, keep an eye peeled , take care.
look overphrasal verb
look up
noun
1. An act of directing the eyes on an object:
2. A disposition of the facial features that conveys meaning, feeling, or mood:
3. An outward appearance:
4. The way something or someone looks:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
بحثيَبْحَثُ عَنْيَبْحَث عَن
hledat
lede efter
etsiä
tražiti
leita aî
･･･をさがす探す
찾다
ieškoti
leta efter
มองหา
tìm kiếm
w>look for
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
look
(luk) verb1. to turn the eyes in a certain direction so as to see, to find, to express etc. He looked out of the window; I've looked everywhere, but I can't find him; He looked at me (angrily).
2. to seem. It looks as if it's going to rain; She looks sad.
3. to face. The house looks west.
noun1. the act of looking or seeing. Let me have a look!
2. a glance. a look of surprise.
3. appearance. The house had a look of neglect.
ˈlook-alike noun a person who looks (exactly) like someone else; a double. the prince's look-alike.
-looking having a certain appearance. good-looking; strange-looking.
looks noun plural (attractive) appearance. She lost her looks as she grew older; good looks.
ˌlooker-ˈon noun a person who is watching something happening; an onlooker.
ˈlooking-glass noun a mirror.
ˈlookout noun1. a careful watch. a sharp lookout; (also adjective) a lookout post.
2. a place from which such a watch can be kept.
3. a person who has been given the job of watching. There was a shout from the lookout.
4. concern, responsibility. If he catches you leaving early, that's your lookout!
by the look(s) of judging from the appearance of (someone or something) it seems likely or probable. By the looks of him, he won't live much longer; It's going to rain by the look of it.
look after to attend to or take care of. to look after the children.
look ahead to consider what will happen in the future.
look down one's nose at to regard with contempt.
look down on to regard as inferior. She looks down on her husband's relations.
look for to search for. She lost her handbag and wasted ten minutes looking for it.
look forward to to wait with pleasure for. I am looking forward to seeing you / to the holidays.
look here! give your attention to this. Look here! Isn't that what you wanted?; Look here, Mary, you're being unfair!
look in on to visit briefly. I decided to look in on Paul and Carol on my way home.
look into to inspect or investigate closely. The manager will look into your complaint.
look on1. to watch something. No, I don't want to play – I'd rather look on.
2. (with as) to think of or consider. I have lived with my aunt since I was a baby, and I look on her as my mother.
look out1. (usually with for) to watch. She was looking out for him from the window.
2. to find by searching. I've looked out these books for you.
look out! beware! take care!.
look over to examine. We have been looking over the new house.
look through to look at or study briefly. I've looked through your notes.
look up1. to improve. Things have been looking up lately.
2. to pay a visit to. I looked up several old friends.
3. to search for in a book of reference. You should look the word up (in a dictionary).
4. to consult (a reference book). I looked up in the encyclopedia.
look up to to respect the conduct, opinions etc of. He has always looked up to his father.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
look for
→ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ hledat lede efter suchen αναζήτώ buscar etsiä chercher tražiti cercare ･･･をさがす 찾다 zoeken se etter poszukać procurar искать leta efter มองหา aramak tìm kiếm 寻找Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009