look 1 of 2

verb

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 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
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

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
Vera Wang also continues to create custom haute looks for celebrity red-carpet appearances. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 9 June 2025 Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate, in concert with the Trump administration, are now looking to reverse some of those gains. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Noun
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area. —Kansas City Star, 9 June 2025 Here, a look at the top five trends the company has identified for 2025. —Emily Burns, Footwear News, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for look
Recent Examples of Synonyms for look
  1. seem
  2. express
  3. intend
  4. expression
  5. glance
  6. appearance
  7. beauty
  8. feel
Verb
  • The Ukrainians seem to be particularly being used in urban areas, where resupply is especially challenging.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The ancestral Menominee community that built the agricultural system uncovered by this new research, however, seems to have been less populous and hierarchical than a place like Cahokia, showing that large-scale agriculture may have been a part of life in very different kinds of societies.
    — Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 6 June 2025
Definition of seem
Verb
  • The Senate holds a slim majority, and at least four Senators, including Paul, have publicly expressed concerns over parts of the bill (the others are Ron Johnson, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski).
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The urgency expressed Monday surrounding securing additional border resources comes as Mr. Trump called for the National Guard to enforce order in the L.A. area amid protests over activity by ICE, prompting a clash with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 9 June 2025
Definition of express
Verb
  • The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace any professional or expert accounting and/or tax advice whatsoever.
    — Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
  • The Lighthouse intends to operate two separate campuses, one near Los Angeles and the other in Brooklyn.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 June 2025
Definition of intend
Noun
  • The signs and costumes were the real show, ranging from clever wordplay and depictions of President Donald Trump as a dictator, to profane expressions calling for an end to ICE raids that had been conducted in the city for about a week prior.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • And with more federal enforcement high alert across the nation, the likelihood of stiffer charges awaits those who cross the line from free expression to violence, theft, and civil disorder.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 June 2025
Definition of expression
Noun
  • At first glance our findings might seem to contradict earlier studies that found that people with Urbach-Wiethe disease are actually more generous than others.
    — Tobias Kalenscher, Scientific American, 13 June 2025
  • Lugano Sapphire and Diamond Earrings Photo : Lugano At first glance, these Lugano stunners appear to be simple drop earrings framed in blue titanium.
    — Jill Newman, Robb Report, 12 June 2025
Definition of glance
Noun
  • As many as 3,000 people showed up outside Medinah Temple to contest an appearance by Anita Bryant, a singer and orange juice spokesperson who led a successful drive to repeal a gay rights ordinance in Dade County, Florida. 1981: Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa visited Chicago.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
  • Not in 2000, when the Pacers made their only other finals appearance, and as luck would have it, happened to run into the blossoming Los Angeles Lakers dynasty led by two Hall of Famers, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, at the peak of their powers.
    — Zak Keefer, New York Times, 14 June 2025
Definition of appearance
Noun
  • Amenities: Restaurants, bars, pool, spa, fitness center, beauty salon, kid’s club, sea access Insider Tip: Don’t forget to book a treatment at the new Dior Spa Eden-Roc, just opened last season.
    — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 June 2025
  • The resort provides stunning villas and suites for guests that were designed to capture the beauty and warmth of the region.
    — Robin Raven, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of beauty
Verb
  • When leadership and management trust their workers to make good decisions, those workers feel empowered.
    — Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • And an April 2024 poll by the Pew Research Center found that 31% of Jews younger than 35 felt Hamas' reasons for fighting were valid, compared to just 10% for Jews aged 35 and older.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 8 June 2025
Definition of feel

Phrases Containing look

Browse Nearby Words

looby
look
look after
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on look

Nglish: Translation of look for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All