look 1 of 2

look

2 of 2

noun

1
as in expression
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling you should have seen the look on your face when we yelled "Surprise!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in glance
an instance of looking especially briefly she gave the junk mail a quick look before throwing it in the wastebasket

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb look contrast with its synonyms?

The words expect and hope are common synonyms of look. While all three words mean "to await some occurrence or outcome," look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

looks to a tidy profit from the sale
look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

When might expect be a better fit than look?

The meanings of expect and look largely overlap; however, expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

When is it sensible to use hope instead of look?

While the synonyms hope and look are close in meaning, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of look
Verb
Tim Dolan/Tracey Mattingly; Fashion Credits, Elordi (all looks): Bottega Veneta; Fashion Credits, Isaac (cover): Sweater: Miu Miu ; Pants: Calvin Klein Collection; Watch: Cartier; Fashion Credits. Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025 In practice, the dull green and cream-brown combination looks a bit like algae slime. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Newcomer Nathaniel Lowe will get looks at first base down the stretch: The Yankees are also in an AL wild-card spot, as both sides of the matchup trail the rolling Toronto Blue Jays. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 Take a look at some other big winners: November 2016: $420.9 million A winning ticket was sold in Lafayette, Macon County in November 2016. Joyce Orlando, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for look
Recent Examples of Synonyms for look
Verb
  • With such obvious volatility in play, however, trying to lay odds on the immediate future seems only wishful thinking.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • In the meantime, no school, public or private, seems entirely free from the risk of a shooting.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Federal legislation banning the app, if its U.S. assets are not sold by ByteDance, came after some government officials expressed concern that TikTok poses a national security threat, believing ByteDance, which is based in Beijing, is sharing U.S. user data with China.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Other workers expressed concerns about what could happen if stricter safety measures aren’t enacted at the battery plant.
    Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Those who intend to walk the entire 5-mile span have to arrange their own return trip to their starting point.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • His wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen), wears an expression of perpetual disappointment.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Open Doors, the Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro-organized co-production platform and talent development program for filmmakers from regions where artistic expression is at risk, has wrapped up its 23rd edition with a focus on the African continent.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Hidden Costs To Teams At first glance, upward performers can look like high achievers.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • The History of Interactive Toys At first glance, the idea of a toy that truly listens—one that remembers a child’s favorite story, asks thoughtful questions, and offers gentle encouragement—feels like a good thing.
    Marc Fernandez, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Her exit came after fans demanded the show remove her when her use of a racial slur on a past podcast appearance surfaced online.
    Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The 7 year veteran has 31 career appearances and 19 starts across multiple teams, including the Panthers, Commanders, Texans, Bills and Steelers.
    Cecil Merkerson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Kardashians, in particular, are known for their relentless obsession with beauty and youth.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Send Vogue’s senior beauty & wellness editor an email at beauty@vogue.com.
    Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • By the time September rolls around, many professionals understandably feel drained.
    Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Even then, the timing felt too late to countenance replacing him, considering the crippling UEFA financial sanctions they were faced with and the keen fact that some potential targets had already moved elsewhere.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Look.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/look. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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