look 1 of 7

verb (1)

ˈlu̇k How to pronounce look (audio)
Definition of looknext
1
as in to seem
to give the impression of being it looks like it might rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to express
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) the music teacher looked her displeasure with a fierce frown

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal they were looking to make a fast buck

Synonyms & Similar Words

look

2 of 7

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
as in appearance
the outward form of someone or something especially as indicative of a quality the bride's father has the look of a prosperous businessman

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in beauty
looks plural the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses a supermodel's career tends to be entirely based on her exceptional good looks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

look (at)

3 of 7

verb (2)

as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes I found her at the mall looking at the new outfits on the mannequins

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

look (into)

4 of 7

verb (3)

as in to explore
to search through or into the owner is being forced to look into new options for promoting his declining business

Synonyms & Similar Words

look (on or upon)

5 of 7

verb (4)

as in to consider
to think of in a particular way you could call the comment mean-spirited, but I do not look on it that way at all

Synonyms & Similar Words

look (toward)

6 of 7

verb (5)

as in to face
to stand or sit with the face or front toward the bay window looks toward the park

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look at

7 of 7

phrase

as in debate
to give serious and careful thought to Let's look at what we're dealing with here.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
One player who’s looking forward to working with Corona is freshman Max DeHoyos. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 None of the people close to them care about it because the majority of the people that are advising kids now are agents who are looking at it from a business perspective, or families that are not sentimental about any of this. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
Like the conventional, more ornamental Fritillaries used for bulb planting, its flowers have a lampshade look. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026 Here's a look at photos of protesters, signs and more at the Ann Arbor rallies. —Tanya Wildt, Freep.com, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for look
Recent Examples of Synonyms for look
  1. expression
  2. glance
  3. appearance
  4. beauty
  5. face
  6. glimpse
  7. presence
  8. attractiveness
Noun
  • The trip raised hopes among some members on the WhatsApp chain that expressions of empathy toward Palestinians will become more common at Beth El, both from the bimah and in synagogue-wide communications.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The United States not only encourages artistic expression, it’s enshrined in the Constitution, under the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and assembly.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of expression
Noun
  • Food and drink At first glance, Harriet’s Rooftop & Lounge seemed like a typical NYC rooftop—the kind of place where views take priority and food is an afterthought.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
  • At first glance, green and bordeaux seem like an unusual duo, but this street style shows that contrasts work!
    — Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of glance
Noun
  • So Easter is on April 5, the first Sunday after the full moon's appearance.
    — Carlie Procell, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Raya, who only had 12 relief appearances in his career and never a save opportunity, struck out the side in the ninth for the Saints.
    — Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of appearance
Noun
  • There is one particularly inventive sequence that blends a rendering of Mario in his original 2D 8-bit form, blurry pixels and all, with the 3D beauty of the more modern iterations.
    — Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Amal Clooney, queen of classic beauty and glamour, has decided to test it out.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of beauty
Noun
  • Your emergence tracks with the emergence of a whole new group of young Black entertainers—a moment that changed the face of the entertainment world, even to today.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
  • When Doncic reached out to shove Williams' arm, Williams responded with a backhand swipe across Doncic's face.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of face
Noun
  • From Sirena, your guide will lead you along trails through the secondary forest, tailoring the route to get a glimpse of the wildlife.
    — Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The glimpse reminded voters that Davis, who was husbanding his resources for a late advertising push, was still in the race.
    — Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of glimpse
Noun
  • There was a heavy presence of emergency responders at the scene of a missile impact and a main road was partially cordoned off, images from Magen David Adom showed.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Arguably the most important filmmaker to come out of Israel in several generations and a major presence on the world-cinema scene, Lapid specializes in character studies and constant interrogations of the way that power structures (social, national, global) shape lives.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of presence
Noun
  • These factors include the high price of gold before the war, the relative attractiveness of other low-risk assets and a mixed record of living up to its safe-haven status.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • South Park and North Park, not wealthy neighborhoods, gained in attractiveness and value over decades because working people bought old houses, fixed and maintained them.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of attractiveness

Phrases Containing look

Browse Nearby Words

looby
look
look after
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Cite this Entry

“Look.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/look. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on look

Nglish: Translation of look for Spanish Speakers

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