10 "LOOK" Phrasal Verbs: Master Essential English Expressions

Do you know the difference between “look at” and “look for”? What about “look up” and “look up to”? Or “look over” and “look into”?

Phrasal verbs with “look” are incredibly common in everyday English. Mastering them will make your speech sound more natural and fluent.

The good news? Once you understand the meaning of each one, they’re easy to remember!

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:

✅ 10 essential “look” phrasal verbs
✅ Their meanings with clear explanations
✅ PLENTY of examples for each one
✅ How to use them correctly in sentences
✅ A practice quiz to test yourself
✅ Real-life conversation examples

Let’s dive in!

Part 1: What Are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb + a preposition or adverb. Together, they create a meaning that is often different from the original verb.

Example:

Look = to use your eyes
Look at = to focus your eyes on something
Look for = to search for something
Look after = to take care of someone

In this lesson, you’ll learn 10 common phrasal verbs that all start with “look.”

Part 2: The 10 “Look” Phrasal Verbs

1. Look At

Meaning: To focus your eyes on something or someone.

Pronunciation: /lʊk æt/

Usage: This is the most basic “look” phrasal verb. You use it when you direct your gaze toward something.

Examples:

“I’m looking at my watch.”
“She is looking at the beautiful sunset.”
“Please look at the board.”
“He was looking at his phone during the meeting.”
“Look at that amazing view!”

More Examples:

“I’m looking at the picture on the wall.”
“The teacher told us to look at the screen.”
“She looked at him and smiled.”
“Look at the time—we’re late!”
“I like to look at old photographs.”

Common Collocations:

Look at someone
Look at something
Look at the clock/watch
Look at the screen/board
Look at the view

2. Look For

Meaning: To search for something that is lost or missing.

Pronunciation: /lʊk fɔːr/

Usage: Use this when you’re trying to find something.

Examples:

“I’m looking for my keys. Have you seen them?”
“She is looking for a new job.”
“We are looking for a restaurant nearby.”
“He has been looking for his glasses all morning.”
“I’m looking for information about the course.”

More Examples:

“I’m looking for my passport. I can’t find it anywhere.”
“She’s looking for a new apartment.”
“The police are looking for the missing child.”
“I’m looking for a gift for my mother.”
“He’s looking for a better job opportunity.”

Common Collocations:

Look for a job
Look for a lost item
Look for information
Look for a solution
Look for someone

3. Look After

Meaning: To take care of someone or something.

Pronunciation: /lʊk ˈæf.tər/

Usage: This is commonly used for taking care of children, elderly people, pets, or belongings.

Examples:

“I’m looking after the baby this evening.”
“Can you look after my dog while I’m away?”
“She looks after her elderly grandmother.”
“He’s looking after his neighbor’s house.”
“Who will look after the children while we’re gone?”

More Examples:

“My sister looks after my kids on weekends.”
“The nurse looked after the patient carefully.”
“Can you look after my plants while I’m on vacation?”
“She looks after her elderly parents.”
“I need someone to look after my cat while I’m traveling.”

Common Collocations:

Look after a child/baby
Look after an elderly person
Look after a pet
Look after a house/property
Look after someone’s belongings

4. Look Ahead

Meaning: To think about or plan for the future.

Pronunciation: /lʊk əˈhed/

Usage: Use this when you’re considering future events, goals, or possibilities.

Examples:

“When we look ahead, we expect sales to increase in December.”
“It’s important to look ahead and plan for retirement.”
“The company is looking ahead to next year’s goals.”
“We need to look ahead and anticipate future challenges.”
“Looking ahead, there are many opportunities.”

More Examples:

“We should look ahead and plan for the next quarter.”
“Looking ahead to next year, we have several exciting projects.”
“She always looks ahead and prepares for the future.”
“The government is looking ahead to the next election.”
“Look ahead—there’s a bright future waiting for you.”

Common Collocations:

Look ahead to the future
Look ahead to next year/quarter
Look ahead and plan
Look ahead with optimism
Look ahead to opportunities

5. Look Back

Meaning: To think about or reflect on the past.

Pronunciation: /lʊk bæk/

Usage: Use this when you’re remembering or reflecting on past events.

Examples:

“Looking back, we see that our sales were higher than expected.”
“I like to look back at old photos.”
“She looks back on her childhood with fondness.”
“Looking back, I wish I had studied more.”
“He looked back at his career with pride.”

More Examples:

“Looking back on my life, I have no regrets.”
“She looked back at her time in college with nostalgia.”
“Look back at your achievements and be proud.”
“I often look back at the day we met.”
“When I look back, I realize how much I’ve grown.”

Common Collocations:

Look back on the past
Look back at memories
Look back with nostalgia
Look back with pride/regret
Look back on one’s life

6. Look Up

Meaning: To search for specific information in a book, directory, dictionary, or online.

Pronunciation: /lʊk ʌp/

Usage: Use this when you’re searching for information, not physical objects.

Examples:

“You can look up the definition in an online dictionary.”
“I need to look up the address of the restaurant.”
“Can you look up the train schedule for me?”
“She looked up the meaning of the word.”
“I looked up the actor’s name online.”

More Examples:

“I’ll look up the phone number for you.”
“He looked up the recipe on the internet.”
“Can you look up the flight status?”
“She looked up the word in the dictionary.”
“We need to look up the store’s opening hours.”

Common Collocations:

Look up a word
Look up information
Look up a phone number
Look up an address
Look up online/in a dictionary

7. Look Up To

Meaning: To admire, respect, or honor someone.

Pronunciation: /lʊk ʌp tuː/

Usage: Use this when you admire someone as a role model or inspiration.

Examples:

“Many people look up to their parents.”
“She looks up to her older sister.”
“I really look up to my mentor.”
“Children often look up to their teachers.”
“He is someone I truly look up to.”

More Examples:

“I look up to my boss—she’s an amazing leader.”
“Many young athletes look up to professional players.”
“She looks up to her mother for her strength.”
“He is a leader that everyone looks up to.”
“I looked up to my grandfather when I was young.”

Common Collocations:

Look up to someone
Look up to a mentor/role model
Look up to a parent/teacher
Look up to a leader
Look up to a celebrity or hero

8. Look Over

Meaning: To quickly check, review, or inspect something to make sure there are no errors.

Pronunciation: /lʊk ˈoʊ.vər/

Usage: Use this when you’re reviewing documents, reports, or work.

Examples:

“Could you look over this report for me before the meeting?”
“I need to look over these documents.”
“She looked over her notes before the presentation.”
“Please look over the contract and let me know your thoughts.”
“I’ll look over your essay for any grammar mistakes.”

More Examples:

“Can you look over my application before I submit it?”
“The teacher looked over the students’ work.”
“I’ll look over the proposal and get back to you.”
“Please look over the attached file.”
“He looked over the report and found several errors.”

Common Collocations:

Look over a report
Look over a document
Look over an application
Look over someone’s work
Look over a contract

9. Look Into

Meaning: To investigate or research a problem or situation.

Pronunciation: /lʊk ˈɪn.tuː/

Usage: Use this when you’re examining a problem, complaint, or issue in detail.

Examples:

“The police are looking into the cause of the fire.”
“We will look into your complaint.”
“The manager is looking into the issue.”
“Can you look into this matter for me?”
“They are looking into the problem.”

More Examples:

“The committee is looking into the budget discrepancies.”
“We need to look into why this happened.”
“I’ll look into it and get back to you.”
“The insurance company is looking into the claim.”
“The team is looking into new marketing strategies.”

Common Collocations:

Look into a problem
Look into a complaint
Look into an issue
Look into a matter
Look into a situation

10. Look Forward To

Meaning: To anticipate something future with excitement or happiness.

Pronunciation: /lʊk ˈfɔːr.wərd tuː/

Important Grammar Rule: Always use a verb ending in -ing or a noun after this expression.

Correct: “I look forward to meeting you.” ✅
Incorrect: “I look forward to meet you.” ❌

Examples:

“I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!”
“We look forward to your visit.”
“She is looking forward to her vacation.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“The children are looking forward to Christmas.”

More Examples:

“I look forward to hearing from you.”
“We look forward to a successful partnership.”
“She’s looking forward to starting her new job.”
“They are looking forward to their anniversary celebration.”
“I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Common Collocations:

Look forward to seeing someone
Look forward to meeting someone
Look forward to working with someone
Look forward to hearing from someone
Look forward to something (a noun)

Part 3: Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Look at	Focus eyes on something	“I’m looking at the sunset.”
Look for	Search for something	“I’m looking for my keys.”
Look after	Take care of someone	“I’m looking after the baby.”
Look ahead	Plan for the future	“We need to look ahead.”
Look back	Reflect on the past	“Looking back, I have no regrets.”
Look up	Search for information	“I’ll look up the word.”
Look up to	Admire someone	“I look up to my mentor.”
Look over	Review something	“Please look over the report.”
Look into	Investigate a problem	“The police are looking into it.”
Look forward to	Anticipate with excitement	“I look forward to meeting you.”

Part 4: Practice Quiz – Test Yourself!

Choose the correct phrasal verb for each sentence.

1. “I _______ my parents. They are my role models.”
(look up / look up to / look after)

Answer: look up to — Admiration and respect.

2. “I’m _______ my pen. I can’t find it anywhere.”
(looking at / looking for / looking after)

Answer: looking for — Searching for a lost item.

3. “I’m _______ the report before the meeting.”
(looking at / looking over / looking into)

Answer: looking over — Reviewing quickly.

4. “I’m _______ at tomorrow’s weather forecast.”
(looking ahead / looking back / looking up)

Answer: looking ahead — Planning for the future.

5. “I’m _______ the causes of the problem.”
(looking at / looking over / looking into)

Answer: looking into — Investigating.

6. “I’m _______ meeting your family.”
(looking forward to / looking up to / looking ahead to)

Answer: looking forward to — Anticipating with excitement.

7. “I’m _______ at my childhood memories.”
(looking ahead / looking back / looking up)

Answer: looking back — Reflecting on the past.

8. “I’m _______ the name of that famous actor.”
(looking at / looking for / looking up)

Answer: looking up — Searching for information.

9. “I’m _______ the kids tonight.”
(looking at / looking after / looking over)

Answer: looking after — Taking care of children.

10. “I’m _______ the beautiful sunset.”
(looking at / looking for / looking up to)

Answer: looking at — Direct visual focus.

Part 5: Real-Life Conversation Examples

Example 1: At Home

Mother: “Can you look after your little brother for an hour?”
Child: “Sure, but I need to look for my phone first.”
Mother: “Have you checked the living room? I looked over your homework earlier and you did a great job.”
Child: “Thanks! I’m looking forward to going to the park this weekend.”

Example 2: At Work

Manager: “Could you look over this report before the meeting?”
Employee: “Of course. I’ll also look into the budget discrepancies.”
Manager: “Great. When we look ahead to next quarter, we see many opportunities.”
Employee: “I agree. Looking back, our sales have been strong.”
Manager: “I really look up to your dedication.”

Example 3: In the Classroom

Teacher: “Please look at the board.”
Student: “I’m trying to look up the information online.”
Teacher: “Good idea. Can you also look for the key vocabulary words?”
Student: “Yes, I’m looking forward to the exam—I’ve studied hard.”

Example 4: Traveling

Traveler 1: “I’m looking for a good hotel. Have you booked yours?”
Traveler 2: “Yes, I looked up several options online.”
Traveler 1: “Can you look after my bags while I check in?”
Traveler 2: “Sure. I’m looking forward to our trip!”
Traveler 1: “Me too. I’m looking ahead to all the fun adventures.”

Example 5: Social Situations

Friend 1: “Who do you look up to the most?”
Friend 2: “I look up to my mother. She’s incredible.”
Friend 1: “I agree. I’m looking back at all the things she taught me.”
Friend 2: “That’s beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing her this weekend.”

Part 6: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Confusing “Look For” and “Look Up”

❌ Incorrect: “I’m looking up my keys.”
✅ Correct: “I’m looking for my keys.” (Searching for a physical object)

❌ Incorrect: “I’m looking for the address online.”
✅ Correct: “I’m looking up the address online.” (Searching for information)

Mistake 2: Confusing “Look After” and “Look For”

❌ Incorrect: “Can you look for my dog while I’m away?”
✅ Correct: “Can you look after my dog while I’m away?” (Take care of)

❌ Incorrect: “I’m looking after my missing wallet.”
✅ Correct: “I’m looking for my missing wallet.” (Searching)

Mistake 3: Confusing “Look At” and “Look Over”

❌ Incorrect: “Can you look at this report for errors?”
✅ Correct: “Can you look over this report for errors?” (Reviewing)

❌ Incorrect: “I’m looking over the beautiful sunset.”
✅ Correct: “I’m looking at the beautiful sunset.” (Direct focus)

Mistake 4: Confusing “Look Ahead” and “Look Back”

❌ Incorrect: “I’m looking ahead at my childhood memories.”
✅ Correct: “I’m looking back at my childhood memories.” (Past)

❌ Incorrect: “Looking back, I see many opportunities next year.”
✅ Correct: “Looking ahead, I see many opportunities next year.” (Future)

Mistake 5: Forgetting the “-ing” After “Look Forward To”

❌ Incorrect: “I look forward to meet you.”
✅ Correct: “I look forward to meeting you.”

❌ Incorrect: “We look forward to see you.”
✅ Correct: “We look forward to seeing you.”

Why? “Look forward to” is always followed by a noun or a verb with -ing.

Part 7: Summary Table – Transitive or Intransitive?

Phrasal Verb	Transitive (Needs Object)?	Example
Look at	Yes	“Look at the board.”
Look for	Yes	“Look for the keys.”
Look after	Yes	“Look after the baby.”
Look ahead	No (can stand alone)	“We need to look ahead.”
Look back	No (can stand alone)	“Looking back, I’m proud.”
Look up	Yes	“Look up the word.”
Look up to	Yes	“Look up to your mentor.”
Look over	Yes	“Look over the report.”
Look into	Yes	“Look into the problem.”
Look forward to	Yes	“Look forward to meeting.”

Part 8: Memory Tricks

Trick 1: Visualize the Meaning

Look at = 👀 Focus your eyes
Look for = 🔍 Search with a magnifying glass
Look after = 🤝 Take care of someone
Look ahead = 👀 Gaze into the future
Look back = 👀 Look over your shoulder at the past
Look up = 📚 Search in a book
Look up to = ⭐ Admire someone
Look over = 📄 Review a document
Look into = 🔍 Investigate a problem
Look forward to = 😊 Excitedly await something

Trick 2: Group by Meaning

Visual Actions:

Look at (focus)
Look for (search)

Caring Actions:

Look after (take care of)

Time Actions:

Look ahead (future)
Look back (past)

Searching Actions:

Look up (information)
Look into (investigate)

Reviewing Actions:

Look over (check)

Admiration Actions:

Look up to (respect)

Anticipation Actions:

Look forward to (excited)

Final Summary

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Key Example
Look at	Focus eyes on something	“Look at the sunset.”
Look for	Search for something	“Look for my keys.”
Look after	Take care of someone	“Look after the baby.”
Look ahead	Plan for the future	“We must look ahead.”
Look back	Reflect on the past	“Looking back, I’m proud.”
Look up	Search for information	“Look up the word.”
Look up to	Admire someone	“I look up to my mentor.”
Look over	Review something	“Look over the report.”
Look into	Investigate a problem	“Look into the issue.”
Look forward to	Anticipate with excitement	“I look forward to meeting you.”

Put Your Skills Into Practice

Now that you’ve mastered these 10 “look” phrasal verbs, it’s time to practice!

Your Challenge: Write 10 sentences in the comments below—one for each phrasal verb.

Example:

“I’m looking at the beautiful view.”
“I’m looking for my glasses.”
“I’m looking after my neighbor’s cat.”
“We need to look ahead and plan for the future.”
“Looking back, I have many happy memories.”
“Can you look up the address for me?”
“I really look up to my grandmother.”
“Please look over my essay.”
“The police are looking into the accident.”
“I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!”

Want to continue mastering English phrasal verbs? Explore our comprehensive courses at AdvancedEnglishLab.com, where we help learners build confidence and fluency.

Which of these 10 phrasal verbs was most helpful for you? Share in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!

Enjoyed this lesson? Don’t forget to share it with fellow English learners!

10 “LOOK” Phrasal Verbs: Master Essential English Expressions