Phrasal verbs occupy a separate niche in the English language, learning which will be not only useful, but also educational. The peculiarity of phrasal verbs is that they consist of a main part - the verb, and an additional part - prepositions, of which there can be a huge number. Thanks to this, the same word, just with different prepositions, can have a large number of meanings. Let's look at the phrasal verb look and give examples with its main meanings.
Let's start with the translation of the main word - to look. The word means to look, to see. This is a regular verb; past tense forms are formed by adding the ending -ed.
But! If we are talking about the phrasal verb look, then with prepositions the meaning will be completely different. Let's look at some of them with translation for better understanding:
Look around/about
The meaning of this phrasal verb means to inspect something, to look at something
- Is it free of charge if we want to look around the ancient buildings? => Can we tour the old buildings for free? (Don't you have to pay for this?)
- Sarah is still looking about for a better job => Sarah is still looking for a better job.
Look ahead
Meaning - to provide, to foresee, to look forward (to the future)
- If looking ahead to the future, the society can be much more prosperous => If you look into the future, the society can be more prosperous.
- She likes to look ahead in imagination of what might happen if she did so or so => She likes to look ahead, imagining what could happen if she did this or that way.
Look after
Meaning and translation - to look after someone (something), to take care of someone, to monitor, to look after:
- My grandma was looking after the child when I came in => When I came in, my grandmother was looking after the child.
- The friends were looking after the car as it was leaving faster and faster => The friends watched the car as it moved away faster and faster.
Look in
Meaning - to go to someone, to look at someone:
- They had to look in to visit us, but they were too busy to spend their time on us => They should have stopped by to visit us, but were too busy to spend their time on us.
- The boy decided to look in to see her just for a minute => The guy decided to look at her to see her at least for a minute.
Look down (on)
Meaning - to look with contempt, to look down, to look down; fall, decrease (in price):
- Well, frankly speaking, I look down on this agreement => Well, to be honest, I look at this agreement with disdain.
- She looked down towards the waves (
Translation
Collocations
look out for a house — look out for a house to buy; look after the house
look out for oneself — look out for your interests
look out for squalls — beware of danger; be on your guard; be on your guard
to look out for a house — to look out for a house (to buy)
to look out for squalls — to be on the lookout/on guard/
to look out for oneself — look after your interests, (never) forget about yourself
his mother charged him to look out for his little brother — mother told him to look after his little brother
on the look-out for — on guard
on the look-out for smth. — looking for something.
to keep a good look-out for smb., smth. — carefully observe/follow/ someone or something.
she stood at the door looking out for the postman — she stood in the doorway, looking out for the postman
it "s not a good look-out for his family if he loses his job — if he loses his job, a sad prospect will open before his family
Examples
I always look out for numero uno.
I never let myself be offended.
Look out for icy patches on the road.
Look for icy patches on the road.
A man's gotta look out for his family
A man must look after his family
Look out for your Aunt while you"re at the station.
Pay attention to your Aunt while you are at the station.
Verb look– one of the most common in the English language. Difficulties with its understanding and use are mainly associated with phrasal verbs, which include look - their meanings are often far from “look”. In this article we will analyze the main meanings of the verb look, its differences from similar words see, watch, as well as the phrasal verb look or, to be more precise, phrasal verbs that include look.
Meanings of the verb look
At the verb look two main meanings: to look and to look.
1. Look in the meaning of “look” is used with various prepositions.
- Look at – look at something:
What are you looking at? -What are you looking at?
I am looking at the picture. – I’m looking at the picture.
- Look into or in – look, peer into something:
The girl is looking into the sky. – The girl looks at the sky.
I'm looking in the mirror. – I look in the mirror.
- Look out (of something) – look out (from somewhere)
Look out of the window and answer the question. - Look out the window and answer the question.
- Look away - turn away, look away:
Look, don't look away. - Look, don't look away.
I forced myself to look away and walk out of the room. “I forced myself to turn away and leave the room.
- Look around - look around, look around:
Look around and name the thing that you see. – Look around and name the things you see.
Please note that some combinations of “verb + preposition” can form a phrasal verb and have a different meaning. For example, the combination look out can be used literally or as a phrasal verb.
- Literally: look out - look out
Let's look out of the window. - Let's look out the window.
- As a phrasal verb: look out - to be afraid:
Look out! It's gonna blow! - Be careful! It's about to explode!
A list of phrasal verbs with look is given below.
2. Look in the meaning of “look” is used without prepositions.
She looks well. - She looks good.
How does that building look like? – What does this building look like?
Difference between look, see, watch
Verb look often confused with similar verbs see, watch. The difference between them is about the same as between words look, see, watch in Russian.
- See- to see something. Not actively observe, but simply see.
I see you. - I see you.
How many fingers do you see? - How many fingers do you see?
- Look- look at something. For example, look at a picture, a butterfly, a person.
The dog is looking at the cat. – The dog looks at the cat.
Tom is looking at the wallpapers. – Tom looks at the wallpaper.
- Watch- to observe something, to follow, to watch in the meaning of “follow events.”
The dog is watching the cat. – The dog is watching the cat.
Tom is watching the baseball match. Tom is watching a baseball match.
consist of a verb + preposition\adverb. Phrasal verbs are not just combinations of words, but independent semantic units; they should be perceived as whole words. -
Look for - search
I'm looking for a job. - I'm looking for a job.
What are you looking for? -What are you looking for?
-
Look forward to \ be looking forward to – look forward to
I'm looking for a job. - I'm looking for a job.
What are you looking for? -What are you looking for?
Note: look forward to is followed by or (ends with -ing). “Look forward” sounds a little more formal than “be looking forward.”
I am looking forward to visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. – I’m looking forward to visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
I look forward to your reply. – I look forward to your answer.
- Look after – to look after, take care of someone, something
When my sister is out of town, I look after the cats. – When my sister is out of town, I look after the cats.
Can you look after my bag, please? – Could you keep an eye on my bag?
- Look ahead - think ahead, plan for the future
I'm trying not to look ahead to what will happen when he leaves. “I try not to think ahead about what will happen when he leaves.”
The house is big enough for us now, but we’re looking ahead. – The house is big enough for us now, but we are thinking about the future.
- Look over – check, study, view
Look over the contract before you sign it. – Review the contract before signing it.
Can you look over my essay and tell me what you think I need to improve? – Could you look over my essay and tell me what you think I need to improve?
- Look up – 1) find information (usually a word in a dictionary), 2) find and visit someone
You should look up new words in your dictionary. – You should find (look) new words in the dictionary.
We can look up the restaurant’s address on the internet. – We can find the addresses of restaurants on the Internet.
Look me up if you are ever in Meterie. “Come see me if you’re ever in Metairie.”
- Look out - to be afraid of something
Look out! There's a train coming! - Be careful! The train is coming!
- Look on - observe from the side without interfering
Five people just looked on as the robbers got away with the money. – Five people simply watched without interfering as the robbers fled with the money.
- Look down on - look down on
Our boss looks down on us. Our boss looks down on us.
Many Americans used to look down on Japanese made cars. They don't now. – Many Americans looked down on Japanese cars. Not anymore.
- Look up to someone - deeply respect someone, admire
He has always looked up to his father - He always deeply respected his father.
I look up to my teacher. – I admire my teacher.
- Look back - remember, look back into the past (usually with nostalgia)
Note: the phrasal verb look back can be used with the prepositions on, at, over, upon - the meaning remains virtually unchanged. The “upon” option sounds a little more formal.
When I look back on my time at university, it puts a smile on my face. – When I remember my studies at the university, it makes me smile.
It's easy to make judgments looking back at the past. - It's easy to judge by looking in the past.
- Look into – study, investigate, check, establish facts about something such as a problem or crime
I'll have to look into that matter. – I will have to look into this issue (study it).
I wrote a letter of complaint, and the airline have promised to look into the matter. – I wrote a complaint and the airline promised to investigate the issue.
- Look to – expect, hope
He looked to hear from her within a week. “He hoped she would respond within a week.”
- Look to someone for something - turn to someone for something, rely on someone for something
Many students look to their professors for academic advice – Many students turn to their teachers for advice on studying.
They looked to the government for additional support. “They turned to the government for additional support.
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In English there are verbs that, when combined with prepositions or adverbs, form new meanings. Such verbs are called phrasal verbs, and in this article we will talk about the fairly common English verb to look, the main concepts of which are “to see, to watch.” Let's see how the meanings of this verb change under the influence of prepositions used with it.
Basic meanings of the phrasal verb look
- Look at- look, look at someone or something. In this case, in combination with the preposition at, the meaning of the verb look does not change:
Look at that baby - look at that baby
Look at that picture
Google shortcode
Look at also means “pay attention, think about it”:
Look at the meaning of this expression - Pay attention to the meaning of this expression.
- Look back– the combination of the verb look with the preposition back means “to look back, to remember” not only in the literal sense, but also figuratively.
When I look back into the past I remember all my mistakes
He looked back and saw his friend entering the shop.
- Look for– a fairly common expression meaning “to look for, expect, look for”
I look for the house to rent for the whole family - I'm looking for a house that can be rented for the whole family
He is looking for his glasses - He is looking for his glasses.
- Look after– expresses concern for someone – “to look after, look after”:
She looks after her sick mother She looks after her sick mother
Please, look after my child while I go to the shop. Please look after my child while I go to the store
- Look about / around– means “to look around, look around, look around”:
He looked around as if was waiting for somebody - He looked around as if he was waiting for someone.
- Look down (on)-, look with contempt, look down, look down:
His parents looked down Anna - His parents looked down on Anna
- Look ahead- to foresee, look forward (to the future):
Looking ahead I see you as a student - Looking ahead, I see you as a student -
- Look forward to- to wait impatiently, to anticipate. (Note that after looking forward to the ing form is used)
I am looking forward to meeting you in London - I will look forward to our meeting in London.
I am looking forward to Saturday to wear my new dress to the party - I am looking forward to Saturday to wear my new dress to the party.
- Look in- look at someone, come in
You must look in to see us - You must come to us - Look on- to observe, to consider as someone, to look at someone
I look on them as my relatives - I consider them my relatives - Look out for- look out, look for
When you go out look out for Pete - When you go out look for Pete - Look through- look through, look through
I was looking through the old newspapers the whole day - I looked through old newspapers all day - Look up– look for information (in a dictionary, reference book)
I looked up this information in the encyclopedia - I found this information in the encyclopedia
More meanings of this word and English-Russian, Russian-English translations for the word “LOOK OUT FOR” in dictionaries.
- LOOK OUT FOR - If you look out for something, you pay attention to things so that you notice it if or when it ...
- LOOK OUT FOR — If you ~ something, you pay attention to things so that you notice it if or when it occurs. Look...
- LOOK OUT FOR
Slang English vocab - LOOK OUT FOR - (v. phr.) To watch out for; be on the alert. * /There were signs along the highway warning drivers to ...
Dictionary of English Idioms - LOOK OUT FOR
English Idioms vocab - LOOK OUT FOR - watch, protect, look after Please look out for your sister. She needs your protection.
English Idioms vocabulary - LOOK OUT FOR - v. phr. To watch out for; be on the alert. There were signs along the highway warning drivers to look …
American Idioms English vocabulary - LOOK OUT FOR - Keep watch
British English-Russian Dictionary - LOOK OUT FOR - take care of; keep an eye on, keep an eye on; take a closer look at
English-Russian Dictionary of English Idioms - OUT
- OUT — I. |au̇t, usu |au̇d.+V adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ūt; akin to Old High German ūz out, Old …
- LOOK — I. ˈlu̇k verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English looken, loken, from Old English lōcian; akin to Middle Dutch loeken…
Webster's New International English Dictionary - FOR — I. fə(r), (|)fȯ(ə)r, (|)fȯ(ə), in R speech in the southern US also (|)fär preposition Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; ...
Webster's New International English Dictionary - OUT - /owt/, adv. 1. away from, or not in, the normal or usual place, position, state, etc.: out of alphabetical ...
- LOOK - /look/, v.i. 1. to turn one's eyes towards something or in some direction in order to see: He looked ...
Random House Webster's Unabridged English Dictionary - OUT — I. ˈau̇t adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ūt; akin to Old High German ūz out, Greek hysteros later, …
- LOOK - I. ˈlu̇k verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lōcian; akin to Old Saxon lōcōn to look Date: before 12th …
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary - OUT - vt to come out with; to make known. 2. out vi to come or go out; to get out or...
Webster English vocab - LOOK - vt to expect. 2. look vt to express or manifest by a look. 3. look vt to look at; to...
Webster English vocab - OUT-
- LOOK - vb vt (bef. 12c) 1: to make sure or ...
Merriam-Webster English vocab - OUT
- LOOK - /lʊk; NAmE / verb, noun, exclamation ■ verb USE EYES 1. [v] look (at sb/sth) …
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - OUT
- LOOK - I. look 1 S1 W1 /lʊk/ BrE AmE verb [Language: Old English; Origin: local ] 1 . SEE...
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - FOR - I. for 1 S1 W1 /fə; strong fɔː $ fər strong fɔːr/ BrE AmE preposition [Language: Old English] …
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - OUT - adv., prep., n., adj., int., & v. --adv. 1 away from or not in or at a place etc. (keep...
- LOOK - v., n., & int. --v. 1 a intr. (often foll. by at) use one"s sight; turn one"s eyes in some...
English Basic Spoken Dictionary - OUT - adv., prep., n., adj., int., & v. adv. 1 away from or not in or at a place etc. (keep...
- LOOK - v., n., & int. v. 1 a intr. (often foll. by at) use one"s sight; turn one"s eyes in some...
Concise Oxford English Dictionary - OUT - adv., prep., n., adj., int., & v. --adv. 1. away from or not in or at a place etc. (keep...
Oxford English vocab - LOOK - v., n., & int. --v. 1.a intr. (often foll. by at) use one"s sight; turn one"s eyes in some...
Oxford English vocab - OUT
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - LOOK - I. USING YOUR EYES OR YOUR MIND /lʊk/ (looks, looking, looked) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 …
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - FOR - Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: In addition to the uses shown...
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - LOOK — I. USING YOUR EYES OR YOUR MIND (~s, ~ing, ~ed) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common …
Collins COBUILD - An English Dictionary for Language Learners - LOOK
Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary - FOR
Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary - LOOK — Synonyms and related words: NB, admire, air, angle, angle for, animadvert, anticipate, appear, appear like, appearance, ask for, aspect, …
Moby Thesaurus English vocabulary - LOOK - n. look at look upon look into look down look in look out look up side look good looking ill …
Collegiate Thesaurus English vocab - LOOK — I. noun 1 act of looking at/considering sth ADJECTIVE ▪ little ▪ brief , cursory , quick ▪ careful , …
Oxford Collocations English Dictionary - LOOK
- LOOK — See EXPRESSION ON SB"S FACE 1, LOOK 1,9,10, SEEM 1 ◆◆◆ . can"t look sb in …
Longman Activator English vocab - LOOK - n. 25B6; verb Mrs Wright looked at him: GLANCE, gaze, stare, gape, peer; peep, peek, take a look; watch...
Concise Oxford Thesaurus English vocabulary - LOOK - v. 1 Usually, look at. see, observe, consider, contemplate, regard, view, survey, inspect, scrutinize, study, scan; pay attention, attend, notice, …
Oxford Thesaurus English vocab - LOOK — I noun BAD: The report takes a close look on meat consumption. GOOD: The report takes a close…
Longman Common Errors English vocabulary - OUT
- LOOK - 1. noun. 1) a) look to have/take a look at ≈ to look at; get acquainted with to steal a look ≈ ...
Large English-Russian Dictionary - FOR - (full form); (reduced form) 1. conjunction 1) for; due to the fact that (introduces a subordinate clause) This is no party question, for ...
Large English-Russian Dictionary - OUT — 1. aʋt n 1. (the outs) pl parl. decomposition the opposition the ins and the outs - the government party and the opposition...
- LOOK - look.ogg 1. lʋk n 1. look kind scornful, angry, vacant look - kind contemptuous, angry, absent look to have /to ...
English-Russian-English dictionary of general vocabulary - Collection of the best dictionaries
