look through
phrasal verb
looked through; looking through; looks through
1
: to read or briefly examine some of the pages of (a book, magazine, etc.)
She was looking through a magazine as she waited in the doctor's office.
2
: to look at the different parts of (a collection or group of things)
I looked through all his letters.
3
: to place one's eyes so as to see through (something)
look through a telescope
4
: to pretend not to see or recognize (someone) in a rude or unfriendly way
We used to be best friends but when she passed me on the street yesterday she looked (right/straight) through me without even saying hello!
Examples of look through in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
A lot of effort is expended tracking down paperwork from public-records requests, or looking through LinkedIn profiles to find people who might have worked together, or knocking on the doors of potential sources.
—
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
As parties unknown look through Hale’s eyes, the Orphanage is watching Hale with the usual access to the world’s security cameras.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
Detectives confronted Robinson after looking through the folder and discovering vehicle titles for vehicles not in the lot as well as copies of five separate driver's licenses.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Dec. 2025
Horan was looking through Mangione’s social media photos while investigating a missing person’s case filed by Mangione’s mother, Kathleen, who lives in Maryland.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
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Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
As parties unknown look through Hale’s eyes, the Orphanage is watching Hale with the usual access to the world’s security cameras.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
Detectives confronted Robinson after looking through the folder and discovering vehicle titles for vehicles not in the lot as well as copies of five separate driver's licenses.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Dec. 2025
Horan was looking through Mangione’s social media photos while investigating a missing person’s case filed by Mangione’s mother, Kathleen, who lives in Maryland.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for look through
Cite this Entry
“Look through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/look%20through. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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