look
luuk
Look (verb) means to direct one's eyes toward something in order to see it. Example: “Look over there — do you see the deer?”
verb
1
To direct one's eyes toward something in order to see it.
"Look over there — do you see the deer?"
"She looked out the window at the falling snow."
"Please look at the board while I explain the first step."
2
To appear or seem in a particular way.
"You look tired today."
"The plan looks solid on paper."
"That cake looks delicious, and it smells wonderful too."
3
To search for something.
"I've been looking for my keys all morning."
"Have you looked in the kitchen drawer for the scissors?"
"We looked everywhere for the dog before finding him asleep."
noun
1
An act of directing one's eyes at something.
"Take a look at this before you decide."
"I had a quick look at the map before we left."
"He gave me a puzzled look when I mentioned the idea."
2
A person's general appearance or style.
"She went for a bold new look this season."
"I like the casual look of your new jacket."
"The shop has a fresh, modern look since it was painted."
How to use look
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo use your eyes to see something, to appear a certain way, or a general glance or appearance.
Common pairings
take a look
look for something
have a certain look
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Word forms
- Plural
- looks
- Third person singular
- looks
- Past tense
- looked
- Archaic forms
- lookest, lookedst, looketh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ over there — do you see the deer?
Etymology
From Old English locian ("to look, gaze"), of West Germanic origin with no certain relatives outside the Germanic languages.
Related words
Rhymes for look
See all rhymes for 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.
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