Synonyms of look

look 1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈlu̇k 

1

as in to seem

to give the impression of being

it looks like it might rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seem
• feel
• sound
• appear
• make
• act
• come across (as)
• pretend
• come off (as)
• resemble
• suggest
• recall
• imply
• dissemble
• hint
• insinuate

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

• express
• voice
• give
• state
• sound
• say
• announce
• write
• expound
• air
• put forth
• raise
• describe
• ventilate
• convey
• vent
• proclaim
• publish
• give air to
• advertise
• declare
• offer
• disseminate
• submit
• circulate
• write up
• speak out
• broadcast
• enunciate
• speak up
• communicate
• put over
• enounce
• put across
• sound off
• chime in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppress
• restrict
• restrain
• stifle
• censor

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

• intend
• plan
• go
• hope
• try
• mean
• contemplate
• wish
• aim
• propose
• design
• purpose
• calculate
• aspire
• attempt
• allow
• purport
• consider
• meditate
• figure on
• dream
• strive
• struggle
• ponder
• achieve
• debate
• accomplish
• endeavor
• scheme
• perform
• effect
• mull (over)
• execute
• plot

look (at)

2 of 5

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• notice
• see
• spot
• eye
• regard
• sight
• view
• remark
• get a load of
• note
• watch
• perceive
• discern
• observe
• behold
• set eyes on
• witness
• catch
• distinguish
• pick out
• lay eyes on
• spy
• identify
• espy
• descry
• attend (to)
• make out
• pick up
• consider
• mark
• heed
• glimpse
• study
• scan
• glance (at)
• inspect
• survey
• examine
• scrutinize
• peer (at)
• mind

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• pass over
• disregard
• neglect
• miss
• overlook
• overpass

look (into)

3 of 5

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

• explore
• inquire (into)
• investigate
• delve (into)
• dig (into)
• examine
• research
• check into
• check up on
• probe
• inspect
• view
• scan
• study
• thumb (through)
• skim (through)
• peruse
• sift
• browse
• surf
• cruise
• reinvestigate

look (on or upon)

4 of 5

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

• consider
• regard
• call
• view
• count
• believe
• feel
• think
• set down
• account
• take for
• hold
• reckon
• rate
• imagine
• deem
• esteem
• sense
• conceive
• fancy

look (toward)

5 of 5

verb (5)

as in to face

to stand or sit with the face or front toward

the bay window looks toward the park

Synonyms & Similar Words

• face
• point (toward)
• front
• meet
• border
• overlook
• dominate
• bound
• neighbor
• margin
• touch
• fringe
• look down (on)
• rim
• abut
• adjoin
• skirt
• command

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

Recent Examples of look

Verb

As a group of dancers surrounded her on the B-stage, she was surreptitiously harnessed into a rig that carried her aloft, limp yet belting, into the heavens, or at least into what looked like a UFO hovering over the arena. —Chris Willman, Variety, 7 June 2026

With a drawstring waist and pockets, these lightweight, linen-blend pants look comfy and cute. —Claire West, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026

But there's also a dynamic here where the partisans on each side justify themselves by looking at the bad examples on the other side. —ABC News, 7 June 2026

Here's what traffic is looking like today on Kansas 10 highway between Kansas City and Lawrence. —Kansas City Star, 7 June 2026

Phrases Containing look

• look (at)
• look (into)
• look (on or upon)
• look (toward)
• look after
• look at
• look daggers
• look down (on or upon)
• look down one's nose (at)
• look for
• look forward to
• look out (for)
• look out for
• look to
• look up