What is look? Pronunciation and usage in English

look means . Learn how to pronounce and use look through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of look

lookverb/noun

/lʊk/
Definition & pronunciation of look

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "look" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and they're often confused!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (rhymes with "book"):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /lʊk/
  • How to say it: Say "luk" like you would say "book." The "oo" sound is short and similar to the "u" in "cup."
  • Breakdown:
    • l: Like the "l" in "lion."
    • u: A short, quick "oo" sound, like in "cup" or "but."
    • k: Like the "k" in "kite."

2. The Older/Formal Pronunciation (rhymes with "cook"):

  • IPA: /lʊk/ (this is the same IPA as above, but it's less common now)
  • How to say it: Say "luk" like you would say "cook." A slightly longer, more drawn-out "oo" sound.
  • This pronunciation is becoming less frequent, especially in American English. You'll hear it more in British English and in formal settings.

Here's a tip to help you distinguish:

  • Think about how you'd pronounce "book." If it sounds like that, you're saying "look" correctly!

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "look" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/look/ - This website allows you to hear native speakers pronounce the word in different accents.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you learning English (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia)? Accents can slightly affect pronunciation.

Usage and examples with the word look in English

Let's break down how to use the word "look" in English! It's a super versatile word with lots of different meanings and ways to use it. Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. As a Verb (Action - to see/observe)

  • Basic Seeing: This is the most common use.

    • "I look at the painting." (I observe it)
    • "She looked out the window." (She saw what was outside)
    • "He looked for his keys." (He searched for them)

  • Looking for Something: Specifically searching.

    • "Don't look under the sofa." (Don't search there)
    • "I'm looking for a good restaurant." (I'm trying to find one)

  • Looking at Someone/Something with Attention:

    • "Please look at me." (Pay attention to me)
    • "She looked at him suspiciously." (She stared at him, questioning him)

  • Looking in a Specific Direction:

    • "He looked down the street." (He gazed downwards)
    • "They looked up at the sky." (They gazed upwards)

2. As an Interjection (Expressing Reaction)

  • Expressing Surprise: (Often with “Wow!” or “Look!”)

    • "Look! A bird!” (Expressing excitement)
    • "Look at that car!" (Expressing amazement)

  • Expressing Disbelief:

    • "Look, I told you so!” (Expressing you knew something was going to happen)

  • Expressing Concern/Warning:

    • "Look out!” (Warning about danger)

3. As a Verb (To Appear/Seem)

This is a more nuanced use, often describing how something appears.

  • To Appear:

    • "The sun looks bright today." (It appears bright)
    • "She looked tired." (She seemed tired – her appearance suggested tiredness)

  • To Seem/Appear to be:

    • "He looks happy." (He seems happy – based on his appearance and behavior)
    • "It looks like it's going to rain." (It appears that it's going to rain - based on the weather)

  • To Resemble (to look like):

    • "That dress looks very expensive." (It resembles an expensive dress)

4. As a Phrasal Verb (Verb + Particle - creates a new meaning)

"Look" is often used with particles like "up," "out," "around," "after," etc. Here are some common ones:

  • Look up: To search for information (in a book, on the internet, etc.) – “I need to look up the definition of that word.”
  • Look out: To be careful! – “Look out for traffic!”
  • Look after: To take care of someone or something – “Can you look after my dog?”
  • Look forward to: To anticipate something with pleasure – “I’m looking forward to your visit.”
  • Look into: To investigate – "The police are looking into the matter."

Here's a quick guide to remember the different uses:

Use Meaning Example
Verb (See) To observe/see something "I look at the stars."
Interjection Expressing reaction "Look! A rainbow!"
Verb (Appear) To seem/appear "He looks sad."
Phrasal Verb Specific action with “look” "I'll look up the answer."

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more specific advice, could you tell me:

  • What context are you thinking of when you want to use "look"? (e.g., describing a scene, expressing an emotion, wanting to ask someone to pay attention?)

Synonyms for the word look

Idioms of the word look

be just looking
used in a shop to say that you are not ready to buy something
  • ‘Can I help you?’ ‘I'm just looking, thank you.’
be looking to do something
to try to find ways of doing something
  • The government is looking to reduce inflation.
look bad | not look good
to be considered bad behaviour or bad manners
  • It looks bad not going to your own brother's wedding.
look bad (for somebody)
to show that something bad might happen
  • He's had another heart attack; things are looking bad for him, I'm afraid.
look good
to show success or that something good might happen
  • This year's sales figures are looking good.
look here
(old-fashioned)used to protest about something
  • Now look here, it wasn't my fault.
look how/what/who…
used to give an example that proves what you are saying or makes it clearer
  • Look how lazy we've become.
  • Be careful climbing that ladder. Look what happened last time.
look no further
used to say that something is exactly what somebody needs and so they do not need to consider any other options
  • Those looking for an enjoyable evening need look no further than the hotel's nightclub.
look somebody up and down
to look at somebody in a careful or critical way
    (not) look yourself
    to (not) have your normal healthy appearance
    • You're not looking yourself today (= you look tired or ill/sick).
    never/not look back
    (informal)to become more and more successful
    • Her first novel was published in 2007 and since then she hasn't looked back.
    not much to look at
    (informal)not attractive
      to look at somebody/something
      judging by the appearance of somebody/something
      • To look at him you'd never think he was nearly fifty.

      Practice with vocabulary look

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. The project manager asked the team to _______ into the unexpected budget deficit immediately.
      2. Upon review, the financial report did not _______ encouraging; several figures were inconsistent.
      3. Before submitting the research paper, please carefully _______ all sources for accuracy.
      4. She tends to _______ quite reserved in large group meetings, preferring to contribute during smaller discussions.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

      1. The team decided to _______ the potential risks associated with the new software update. a) look into b) investigate c) explore d) scan

      2. His presentation style is usually very formal, but today he seemed to _______ quite relaxed. a) appear b) seem c) look d) watch

      3. I always _______ meeting new international clients at industry conferences. a) expect b) anticipate c) look forward to d) hope for

      4. Before signing the contract, you should thoroughly _______ all the clauses. a) scrutinize b) stare at c) glance d) examine

      5. The architect presented a design that _______ highly innovative and sustainable. a) appeared b) created c) suggested d) seemed

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. Original: We need to investigate the root causes of the production delay. Rewrite:

      2. Original: Her proposed solution appears to be the most practical option. Rewrite:

      3. Original: It is important to pay close attention to the fine print in legal documents. Rewrite:

      Answer:

      Exercise 1:

      1. look
      2. look
      3. examine (or check, verify, review)
      4. appear (or seem)

      Exercise 2:

      1. a) look into, b) investigate, c) explore
      2. a) appear, b) seem, c) look
      3. a) expect, b) anticipate, c) look forward to
      4. a) scrutinize, d) examine
      5. a) appeared, d) seemed

      Exercise 3:

      1. We need to look into the root causes of the production delay.
      2. Her proposed solution looks like the most practical option.
      3. It is important to scrutinize the fine print in legal documents.

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