phrasal verb
look forward
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Look forward (phrasal verb) means to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen. It is almost always used as look forward to, followed by a noun or an -ing verb. Example: “I'm looking forward to the weekend.”
phrasal verb
1
To feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen. It is almost always used as look forward to, followed by a noun or an -ing verb.
"I'm looking forward to the weekend."
"She looks forward to seeing her grandchildren every summer."
2
formal Used in letters and emails as a polite closing formula signalling an expected reply or meeting.
"I look forward to hearing from you."
"We look forward to welcoming you on Monday."
3
To think about or plan for the future rather than dwelling on the past.
"The club needs to stop looking back and start looking forward."
How to use look forward
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be happy that something is coming.
When to use it
The to in look forward to is a preposition, so a verb after it must take -ing. I look forward to meeting you is correct; I look forward to meet you is not.
Memory tip
In emails, I look forward to is the more formal, slightly distant version; I'm looking forward to sounds warmer and more personal. Both are correct.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
look forward to hearing from you
really looking forward to it
look forward to seeing you
much looking forward
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I _____ to hearing from you.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for look forward
See all rhymes for look forward →Frequently asked questions
Is it "look forward to hearing" or "look forward to hear"?
Look forward to hearing is correct. The to here is a preposition rather than part of an infinitive, so it must be followed by a noun or an -ing form, exactly as in look forward to the holiday.
What is the difference between "I look forward to" and "I'm looking forward to"?
They mean the same thing, but the simple form sounds more formal and is standard in business correspondence, while the continuous form sounds friendlier and more immediate. Choose the continuous form when writing to someone you know.
What is the meaning of look forward?
"look forward" (phrasal verb) means to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen. It is almost always used as look forward to, followed by a noun or an -ing verb.
What is another word for look forward?
Other words for "look forward" include anticipate, await eagerly, can't wait for.
