look 1 of 2

look

2 of 2

noun

1
as in expression
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling you should have seen the look on your face when we yelled "Surprise!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in glance
an instance of looking especially briefly she gave the junk mail a quick look before throwing it in the wastebasket

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb look contrast with its synonyms?

The words expect and hope are common synonyms of look. While all three words mean "to await some occurrence or outcome," look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

looks to a tidy profit from the sale
look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

When might expect be a better fit than look?

The meanings of expect and look largely overlap; however, expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

When is it sensible to use hope instead of look?

While the synonyms hope and look are close in meaning, hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen.

hopes to find a job soon

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of look
Verb
This excerpt looks at the story of the first Be-In, which featured a performance by the Dead for an audience full of counterculture luminaries. Dennis McNally, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025 The disappointment is palpable in a team that won the World Series as recently as four years ago and has veteran skipper Brian Snitker, in the last year of his contract, looking toward retirement. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
In the first season, the Girlfriends star traveled through Morocco, Mexico, and Spain, giving viewers an inside look at her adventures, exploring the joys of traveling alone and the power of self-discovery. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Here’s a look at the rappers with the most Billboard 200 entries: 34, YoungBoy Never Broke Again 33, E-40 30, Snoop Dogg 29, Gucci Mane 29, Tech N9ne 24, Lil Wayne 24, Nas 23, Jay-Z 21, 2Pac 20, Future At just 25 years old, YoungBoy has already built a staggering Billboard résumé. Xander Zellner, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for look
Recent Examples of Synonyms for look
Verb
  • Those who have used the store and still have Amazon Coins will see those refunded, albeit details on how and when that will be done seem scarce.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Gronowski seems likely to start, but Brown has been showing great flashes so far early in the year.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Milwaukee business owners express concerns to Sen. Tammy Baldwin about the negative impacts of Trump administration tariffs.
    Sophia Tiedge, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • At least one Texas official expressed frustration with FEMA's call center performance and blamed cuts to the agency.
    Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of selling reactors, Oklo intends to provide electricity through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), overseeing operations from construction to output.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Japan Coast Guard In areas known to contain seabed resources, these activities could be intended to prospect marine economic data that supports follow-on extractive operations, the analyst said.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • His wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen), wears an expression of perpetual disappointment.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Open Doors, the Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro-organized co-production platform and talent development program for filmmakers from regions where artistic expression is at risk, has wrapped up its 23rd edition with a focus on the African continent.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • At first glance, an AI agent may sound like a fancy term for automation.
    Eva Nahari, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • At first glance, this might seem like a minor difference — fodder for TikTok skits or Reddit debates, where Americans and Europeans poke fun at each other’s respective abilities to handle summer weather.
    Taco Engelaar, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Stewart, who was placed on the injured list on Tuesday, made four appearances for the Dodgers, giving up two runs and six hits in 3⅔ innings for a 4.91 ERA.
    Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Overall, little is known about Swift’s appearance on the podcast.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The beauty there is that since peer support is a carve-out, perhaps their AI is no longer within scope.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • With Hasan in Gaza is an aching witness to the beauty of this land and the struggle of its people, neither of which may soon be recognizable at all.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • For those that still don’t feel quite ready to dive into a dinner, or may not live in an area with such an abundance of Shabbat clubs to join, there are still plenty of other ways to get a taste of the culture and religion.
    Sophie Liza Cannon, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • In comparison, the R1 feels like a total game changer.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Look.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/look. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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