verb
looking forward
LUUK-ing FOR-wurd
Looking forward (verb) means feeling pleased and excited about something that is going to happen; used in the pattern "looking forward to" plus a noun or an -ing verb. Example: “I'm looking forward to the weekend.”
verb
1
Feeling pleased and excited about something that is going to happen; used in the pattern "looking forward to" plus a noun or an -ing verb.
"I'm looking forward to the weekend."
"We're really looking forward to meeting the new team."
2
Turning attention to the future rather than the past, especially in planning.
"Looking forward, the biggest risk is a rise in energy costs."
How to use looking forward
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling happy about something that is coming up.
When to use it
Neutral; "I look forward to hearing from you" is a standard email closing.
Memory tip
Remember: to + -ing. "Looking forward to going", never "looking forward to go".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
looking forward to seeing you
looking forward to hearing from you
really looking forward to it
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I'm _____ to the weekend.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
dreading
Related words
Rhymes for looking forward
See all rhymes for looking forward →Frequently asked questions
Is it "looking forward to hear" or "looking forward to hearing"?
"Looking forward to hearing from you" is correct. Here "to" is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, so the verb after it takes the -ing form — the same reason we say "looking forward to seeing you", not "to see you".
What is the difference between "I look forward to" and "I'm looking forward to"?
They mean the same thing, but the simple form "I look forward to" is slightly more formal and is the usual choice in business emails and letters. "I'm looking forward to" sounds warmer and more personal.
Can you say "looking forward" on its own?
Yes, but only in the sense of considering the future, as in "Looking forward, we expect demand to fall." When it expresses pleasant anticipation it needs "to" and an object.
What is the meaning of looking forward?
"looking forward" (verb) means feeling pleased and excited about something that is going to happen; used in the pattern "looking forward to" plus a noun or an -ing verb.
