look

verb

ˈlu̇k 

looked; looking; looks

transitive verb

1

: to make sure or take care (that something is done)

"… Look that you mar it not, or woe upon your lives. …"

—William Dean Howells

2

: to ascertain by the use of one's eyes

look what I brought you

3

a

: to exercise the power of vision upon : examine

b

archaic : to search for

4

a

: expect, anticipate

we look to have a good year

b

: to have in mind as an end

looking to win back some lost profits

5

archaic : to bring into a place or condition by the exercise of the power of vision

6

: to express by the eyes or facial expression

The friar looked his surprise.

—Robert Brennan

7

: to have an appearance that befits or accords with

looks her age

intransitive verb

1

a

: to exercise the power of vision : see

b

: to direct one's attention

look upon the future with hope

look at the map

c

: to direct the eyes

looked up from the newspaper

2

: to have the appearance or likelihood of being : seem

it looks unlikely

looks to be hard work

3

: to have a specified outlook

the house looked east

4

: to gaze in wonder or surprise : stare

5

: to show a tendency

the evidence looks to acquittal

see also:

look after look at look down one's nose look for look forward look into look the other way look to

Synonyms of look

• seem
• feel
• sound

Choose the Right Synonym for look

expect, hope, look mean to await some occurrence or outcome.

expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen.

hopes to find a job soon

look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled

looks to a tidy profit from the sale

; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

Examples of look in a Sentence

He looked straight ahead and kept walking.

When you take a walk, look around you.

She smiled at me and then looked away.

He looked back the way he had come.

Look both ways before you cross the street.

When I finally reached the top I was afraid to look down.

She looked from one person to the next.

They looked off into the distance.

He was looking over his shoulder.

Her new haircut makes her look young.

Recent Examples on the Web

What does a society look like when people have houses and care for their children? —Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, looks a little different. —Ren Clayton, CBS News, 9 June 2026

What could a healthy form of patriotism look like? —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026

Out June 9 from Zondervan, Designed to Succeed re-examines what accomplishment can look like. —Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English lōcian; akin to Old Saxon lōcōn to look

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing look

• dart a glance/look at
• distant look in someone's eye
• don't look now
• feel/look like something the cat brought/dragged/drug in
• from the look of things
• get a good look at
• give (something) a second look
• have a look
• long look
• look a fright
• look after
• look a gift horse in the mouth
• look ahead
• look-alike
• look around
• look askance at
• look at
• look back
• look before one leaps
• look daggers
• look down
• look down on
• look down one's nose
• look down one's nose at
• look/feel like a million dollars/bucks
• look for
• look for trouble
• look forward
• look-in
• look in on
• look into
• look kindly on/upon
• look like
• look lively
• look on
• look one's best
• look on the bright side
• look out
• look out for number one
• look over
• look over one's shoulder
• look round
• look-see
• look sharp
• look/shoot/stare daggers at
• look snappy
• look someone in the eye
• look (someone) in the face
• look the other way
• look the part
• look through
• look to
• look to one's laurels
• look unkindly on/upon
• look-up
• look up to
• look what the cat dragged in
• look with favor on
• not like the look of
• not look a day over
• not much to look at
• steal a peek/look
• take one look at

Rhymes for look

• book
• brook
• crook
• hook
• mook
• nook
• rook
• shook
• snook
• stook
• took
• betook

Kids Definition

look

1 of 2 verb

ˈlu̇k 

1

: to exercise the power of vision : see

2

: to express by the eyes or by an expression of the face

3

a

: to have an appearance that is suitable for

looks her age

b

: seem sense 1

it looks dangerous

4

: to direct one's attention or eyes

look in the mirror

5

: point entry 2 sense 4, face

the house looks east

look

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of looking

b

: glance entry 2 sense 3

2

a

: the expression of the face

b

: physical appearance

especially : attractive physical appearance

—usually used in plural

3

: the state or form in which something appears : aspect