look at
10 synonyms for look at, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrasal verb — To direct your eyes towards something or someone 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.
gaze at
Synonyms by Meaning
1. phrasal verb
To direct your eyes towards something or someone in order to see it.
“Look at the sky just before sunset.”
How to use look at
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
look at me
look at the evidence
have a look at
look at it this way
looking at a fine
Neutral and extremely frequent. Look at always takes an object; look on its own can stand alone as a command.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between look at, see and watch?
See is passive perception, something your eyes do automatically. Look at is a deliberate act of directing your attention. Watch is sustained looking at something that moves or develops, which is why you watch a match but look at a painting.
What is the difference between look at and look for?
Look at means direct your eyes at something you have already found. Look for means search, because you have not found it yet. I looked at my keys and I looked for my keys describe opposite situations.
