Meaning of look In English

• 0 to direct your eyes in order to see:

  • Look! There's grandma.

  • They looked at the picture and laughed.

  • Look at all these toys on the floor.

  • She looked up from her book and smiled at me.

  • I looked out (of) the window.

  • Look over there - there's a rainbow!

• 1 to try to find something or someone:

  • I'm looking for my keys.

  • I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find my glasses.

  • Have you looked in the dictionary?

  • I looked down the list but couldn't see his name.

• 2 to appear or seem:

  • You look well!

  • The roads look very icy.

  • That dress looks nice on you.

  • He has started to look his age (= appear as old as he really is).

  • It's looking good (= things are going well).

  • He looked (like) a friendly sort of person.

  • The twins look just like their mother.

  • She looked as if/though she hadn't slept all night.

  • It looks like rain (= as if it is going to rain).

• 3 to face a particular direction:

  • The garden looks south.

  • This window looks out onto the lake.

• 4 used when you are telling someone to be careful or to pay attention:

  • [ + question word ] Look where you're going!

  • Look at the time - we're late!

• 5 to be planning to do something:

  • I'm looking to start my own business.

• 6 the act of looking at someone or something:

  • She gave him a look of real dislike.

  • Take a (good) look at this picture and see if you recognize anyone.

  • Can I have a look at your dictionary?

• 7 the act of trying to find someone or something:

  • I had another look for the watch, but couldn't find it.

• 8 an expression on someone's face:

  • She had a worried look about her.

  • She gave me a questioning look.

  • The look this year will be relaxed and casual.

  • They liked the look of the hotel, but it was too expensive.

  • I don't like the look of that fence (= it appears to have something wrong with it).

  • I like her looks.

  • Her looks improved as she grew older.

  • He put on weight and started to lose his looks.

• 9 used to express anger:

  • Look, I've already told you it's not possible.

  • old-fashioned Look here, I've had enough of this.

• 10 to direct your eyes in order to see:

  • Come look at what I’ve found.

  • She looked at her brother.

  • He looked out (of) the window of the bus.

• 11 to try to find something:

  • Please help me look for my keys.

  • We looked everywhere but couldn’t find it.

  • I’ll look for a present for Tracy while I’m at the mall.

• 12 to seem or appear to be:

  • The roads look icy.

  • That dress looks nice on you.

  • He looked friendly.

  • She looked like she hadn’t slept all night.

  • He has started to look his age (= appear as old as he really is).

  • It looks like (= It is likely that) we’ll be finished by January.

  • It looks like snow (= It seems likely to snow).

• 13 to examine or study, often quickly or informally:

  • Would you look over these numbers to see if I’ve made a mistake?

  • I don’t go there to shop – I just like to look around and see what they have.

• 14 to be in or view a particular direction; face:

  • The garden looks east.

  • The porch looks out over the lake.

• 15 used to get someone’s attention, often to express anger or annoyance:

  • Look, I’ve already told you that I’m not lending you any more money.

• 16 an expression of the face, or a particular appearance:

  • a joyful/sad look

  • I didn’t like the look of the place and left as soon as I could.

  • [ pl ] He had good looks and lots of money.

• 17 to plan to do something:

  • Many Hong Kong manufacturers are looking to expand in the UK market.

• 18 said to a person working in a store when they offer to help you, but you want to continue looking at the products:

  • 'Do you need any help?' 'I'm just looking, thank you.'

• 19 if something such as business, news, or a plan looks good, you think that it will succeed or that something good might happen:

  • Margins are improving and the underlying business looks good.

  • Strategically the deal looks good.

• 20 to continue to be successful after having an earlier success:

  • He says: 'I applied, got the job, and have never looked back.'