Phrasal Verb 'Look'

Meaning: Take care

Example: Their auntie LOOKED AFTER them while their mother was in hospital.

Meaning: Think about the past

Example: Old people often LOOK BACK on over their lives.

Meaning: Have a low opinion of

Example: He LOOKS DOWN ON his colleagues because he thinks he's better than they are.

Meaning: Try to find

Example: I've been LOOKING FOR all their hidden files, but I can't find them anywhere.

Meaning: Wait for or anticipate something pleasant

Example: I'm LOOKING FORWARD TO meeting you.

Meaning: Make a quick visit

Example: I'll LOOK IN on my way home.

Meaning: Visit briefly to see if everything's all right

Example: I'm going to LOOK IN ON grannie on the way home tonight as she's been a bit unwell recently.

Meaning: Research, investigate

Example: We'll LOOK INTO the problem and come back to you when we have the information.

Meaning: Watch something like a crime without helping

Example: The crowd just LOOKED ON as the old lady was mugged.

Meaning: Consider, regard

Example: I LOOK ON her AS a close friend.

Meaning: Be careful

Example: LOOK OUT; you're going to drop that!

Meaning: Take care of someone, make sure someone is cared for

Example: She LOOKED OUT FOR her sister when she started school.

Meaning: Keep alert and try to see

Example: We we told to LOOK OUT FOR any suspicious behaviour.

Meaning: Inspect

Example: They came to LOOK the house OVER with a view to buying it.

Meaning: Inspect a house

Example: We LOOKED ROUND the house and decided that we didn't like it enough to buy it.

Meaning: Read quickly

Example: I LOOKED THROUGH the article.

Meaning: Expect, hope

Example: The company is LOOKING TO increase its sales in Asia.

Meaning: Consult a reference work (dictionary, phonebook, etc.) for a specific piece of information.

Example: I didn't know the correct spelling so I had to LOOK it UP in the dictionary.

Meaning: Improve

Example: The economy is LOOKING UP.

Meaning: Find, trace an old friend

Example: I LOOKED him UP when I went back to Cambridge.

Meaning: Respect

Example: She's LOOKS UP TO her mother.

Meaning: Consider, regard

Example: I LOOK UPON him AS a close friend.