look
19 synonyms and 0 antonyms for look, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To direct one's eyes toward something in order to see it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use look
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English locian ("to look, gaze"), of West Germanic origin with no certain relatives outside the Germanic languages.
Full origin of look →Frequently asked questions
What does “look” mean?
The word “look” means to direct one's eyes toward something in order to see it. In plain terms, to use your eyes to see something, to appear a certain way, or a general glance or appearance.
How do you pronounce “look”?
“Look” is pronounced luuk (/lʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “look” in a sentence?
Here is “look” used in a sentence: “Look over there — do you see the deer?”
What is another word for “look”?
Words with a similar meaning to “look” include behold, clock, geek, kool, regard and squizz.
What part of speech is “look”?
Depending on how it is used, “look” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “look” come from?
The word “look” comes from Old English. From Old English locian ("to look, gaze"), of West Germanic origin with no certain relatives outside the Germanic languages.
Is “look” a common word?
“Look” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “look” have?
“Look” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to direct one's eyes toward something in order to see it.
What is the difference between look and see?
'Look' is deliberate — you direct your eyes at something on purpose. 'See' is passive; it simply means your eyes register something, whether you meant to or not. You look at a painting to study it, but you see a flash of lightning without trying. Look is the action; see is the result.
What is the difference between look and watch?
You 'look at' something still or momentary — a photo, a sign, a face. You 'watch' something that moves or changes over time, giving it sustained attention — a film, a match, or children playing. Looking is a single directed glance, while watching means following something closely as it unfolds.
What are the different ways of looking?
English has many verbs for how we look. A 'glance' is quick and brief, a 'stare' is long and fixed, and a 'gaze' is steady and often admiring. To 'peek' is to look secretly or briefly, to 'peer' is to look hard at something unclear, and to 'glare' is to look angrily.