phrasal verb

look at

LUUK at

Look at (phrasal verb) means to direct your eyes towards something or someone in order to see it. Example: “Look at the sky just before sunset.”

phrasal verb

To direct your eyes towards something or someone in order to see it.

"Look at the sky just before sunset."

"She looked at me and said nothing."

To examine or consider something in order to judge or decide about it.

"The committee will look at the proposal next week."

"A plumber came to look at the boiler."

To think about a situation in a particular way, or to face a likely outcome.

"Look at it from her point of view."

"If convicted, he is looking at five years inside."

How to Use Look at

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo point your eyes at something, or to check it over.

When to use it

Neutral and extremely frequent. Look at always takes an object; look on its own can stand alone as a command.

Memory tip

See is what happens without effort, look at is deliberate, and watch is looking at something over time, especially something moving. You see a bird, look at a photo and watch a film.

Easily confused with

look at → see → watch → look for

Common pairings

look at me look at the evidence have a look at look at it this way looking at a fine

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ the sky just before sunset.

Synonyms

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watch observe view regard gaze at examine review assess consider inspect

Related Words

see think look watch deal study check view

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.

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