look 1 of 2

Definition of looknext

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

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
Occasional raking keeps gravel looking neat, and leaf-blowing a few times a season clears fallen leaves. Elizabeth Jardina, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026 The five-star analyst added that growing demand in scale-up networking is giving confidence in continued strength in future earnings, encouraging investors to look beyond 2027 and factor in these opportunities. Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
After all, the Artemis 2 astronauts were getting humanity's first up-close looks at the moon in more than 50 years. Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026 Cork footbed sandals are everywhere right now, but this pair delivers the look for a fraction of the cost, along with plenty of foot-friendly details. Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for look
Recent Examples of Synonyms for look
Verb
  • Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized Wednesday for publicly criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh over a ruling on immigration stops — and seeming to imply that her conservative colleague's views were shaped by an out-of-touch upbringing.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • There seems to be a lot of them.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The trade to Atlanta came after Reese expressed frustration late last season, with Chicago on the way to a 10-34 finish.
    Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Opposition politicians expressed disbelief that Starmer could have been unaware Mandelson had failed security vetting.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While many leave college intending to return, few ultimately do.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The film was intended to release in March 2024, just nine months after its predecessor's debut, but was indefinitely delayed during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Photograph by Glen Wilson / Lionsgate Fuqua’s low-key approach is both a natural expression of his personality and a shrewd stratagem to reassure people around him that everything is under control.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • An artist observes carefully, especially things that go unnoticed — and transforms these observations into meaningful expressions.
    Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • At first glance, fishing and brokerage seem worlds apart.
    Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
  • At first glance, this appears to contradict Theory of Relativity, which establishes the speed of light as the ultimate cosmic speed limit.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Her appearance received some of the loudest applause of the convention thus far.
    Anne Bryson, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • However, Voldemort's full corporeal form does not emerge until the fourth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire — the adaptation of which marked Fiennes' first appearance in the film series.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • With more than ninety works, the galleries are thronged with beauties, many of whom refuse to be pinned down to a gender.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
  • And a prior production at Court Theatre made much more of the beauty of the changing of campus seasons, one of the ways Auburn gets at the nourishing pleasures of an academic life.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • There are so many exquisite, Netherlandish, hyperreal details to admire in the piece—the shadow of Giovanna’s necklace, the enamel decorations on her cross, the frizz of her hair—but there’s something about the ribbon that feels like a banner of heartbreak.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Mead has started 10 of Arsenal’s 17 WSL matches this season, and with her contract expiring in June — the same month as England’s final two qualifiers — her next move feels crucial.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Look.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/look. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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