#176: 10 Phrasal Verbs with LOOK — Advanced English Vocabulary
This lesson was originally published in January 2016.
It has been updated with new content and a video lesson.
If someone at work asks you to look over a document, what does that mean? What are they asking you to do? Or if I told you, “I’ve always looked up to my sister” does that mean she is taller than me?
Adding phrasal verbs to your vocabulary is an important step toward a higher level of English. Today’s lesson will help you with 10 new phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verbs are certainly a challenge.
- One phrasal verb often has more than one meaning.
- They are often idiomatic, so the meaning is not obvious.
- Phrasal verbs can have different rules when you use them in a sentence.
But this lesson makes it easier with a focus on a small number of phrasal verbs so you can quickly learn and use them.
You’ll learn:
- to look up to someone
- to look back on
- to look over
- to look into
I recommend that you combine this lesson with my top tips on how to learn advanced-level vocabulary.
With a little practice, you can immediately add these phrasal verbs to your vocabulary.
10 English Phrasal Verbs with Look
Look over
When she heard the loud crash, she looked over her shoulder to see what happened.
I will look over the proposal this afternoon and respond to you with my edits. Is that okay?
He looked himself over to be certain his suit was appropriate and professional for the interview.
Meanings:
- to direct or move one’s gaze in a specific direction or at a specific thing
- to examine or inspect something
- to examine or inspect someone carefully
Look after
Our neighbors will look after the dog while we are on vacation. He (the dog) should be fine because he knows the neighbor children very well – they walk him during the summer months.
I will look after your house and water your garden while you are away.
Meaning:
- to take care or to be responsible for someone/something
Look around
After looking around the house for an hour, I still couldn’t find my phone! Where could it be?
She went into the store to look around quickly. She hopes to find a great deal on a new sweater.
Meaning:
- to investigate or to study a place with your eyes
“To become more advanced and fluent in the English language, phrasal verbs are essential. Phrasal verbs are common in everyday life for English speakers.“
Look up
Hey – look up at the stars! It is so clear tonight!
I haven’t seen Susan for years! I will look her up on Facebook to see if I can find her.
If you don’t know the meaning of the word, look it up in the dictionary.
After two months of unemployment, I finally have several job interviews. Things are starting to look up for me!
Meanings:
- to turn or direct your gaze upwards
- to seek or to search for someone
- to search for information about something or someone in a book or list of information
- to begin improving or recovering from a negative situation
Look back on
As we age, we often look back on our life.
Meaning:
- to reflect on and review one’s life
Look into
Thank you for contacting us. We will look into the problem and respond with a solution before the end of the day.
We would like to go on vacation to the United States but we need to look into the price of plane tickets first to make sure it is within our budget.
She looked into (or looked in) the cupboard to see if there was any cereal left but it was all gone.
Meaning:
- to investigate something
- to turn one’s gaze toward the inner part of a room or space
Look up to
I really look up to my older sister. She always works hard and never gives up. I admire that about her.
Meaning:
- to admire and respect someone
Look for
I’m looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
Look for big news to come on Monday next week!!
Meanings:
- to search for something or someone
- to expect or anticipate something
Look out
Look out! The steps are really icy.
I love to look out the windows in my office to watch the sunset.
Meanings:
- to warn; to be watchful or careful
- to turn one’s gaze outward from inside a place or space
Look through
Have you ever looked through a telescope? Did you see anything interesting?
Could you look through this proposal? I want to make sure I’ve included all the details.
Meanings:
- to gaze or peer through something
- to review or to search through something quickly
Let’s add 2 new phrasal verbs to your English vocabulary today.
Choose 2 phrasal verbs from today’s lesson. Review the meaning and example sentences. Then try to use the phrasal verb in your own sentences. You can share those with me below.
To learn and remember new vocabulary, be sure to follow my top tips.
Have a great week!
~Annemarie
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Hi Annemarie, your method to teach us English it’s sensational and straightforward. I look up to you, thanks for your time and knowledge, I´ve learned some new and interesting phrasal verbs.
Annemarie thanks you very much for the video, it is very helpful and your speaking is so clear. I’m really improving my English. I look up to you. Thanks again
Excellent training session. Thoroughly enjoyed.
I have looked though the window to see that I have parked my car properly.
I looked around to make sure we set everything well to start the game.
I looked after my mother to make sure she is always happy and healthy.
Few examples from the words I have learned today
I would like to look over your tips about the five interesting questions to ask at the end of the job interview.
Very interesting, i like your english thank you very much
Hi Kolli. Thank you for your comment. We’re thrilled to hear you like Annemarie’s lessons and find them useful to you.
Oh sorry, that I need to tell you just now why it is a challenge for me understanding American English. First I should emphasize, your native speaking is the clearest American English I’ve ever heard. But hear is a good example of not being able to understand what you said in a video about phrasal words with the look. You said: I don’t have a solution right now, but I look into it. But I listened to it repeatedly, and it sounds like: look in do it. So if somebody doesn’t know this phrasal word, it is impossible to understand… Read more »
Hi Anmemarie I love your lessons about phrasal verbs, It, s a great challenge for me, but you get that It`ll be as a play. -I usually look over patien,s file to give them the best diagnosis. -I have to look throug the patien,s file to give then de best diagnosis Two options but in medicine the second is the best -You have to look over your car when you´re going to travel and you have to look it through if the trip will be longer -When I go on vacation, the first day we are looking around the new… Read more »
You are doing a great job Annemarie, I must commend your effort.
I looked through the documents handed over to me by my dad’s lawyer and I discovered that he had more properties than we knew.
I could not stop looking around for what to add to my memory wall the first time I visited Omu Resort.
I always look up to my boss.his a very wise and clever guy.i like to look arround for nice clothes and shoes in the shopping mall.when i was young i use to look after my younger brother and sister when my parents use to go to church or famiy gatherings.
Hello, Annamaria! Thanks for your excellent lessons!The detective had doubted about this case and he looked over all of evidences.
Hi, Annemarie.
1. Entering in a shop. ‘Hello, may I have a look around? I’m looking for skinny jeans’.
2. Since I was a teenager I’ve always looked up to Audrey Hepburn. I’ve spent plenty of time to look into her dressing style.
Thank’s for your amazing lessons
Hi Laura, I love your examples! Wonderful job! And thank you for your kind comment. We’re glad to know Annemarie’s lessons are helpful to you.
Hi Annemarie,
I would like sincerely I look up the way you conduct this course. I really admire your classes and Thank for all.
And this time the Pandemia we need to look over all the necessary tools that we need to protect ourselves.
It is very important to look something up is we need to go away and to look out all the information before going out!
Stay home, it is necessary now, Thank You
When my son was a child he looked up to his older cousin and he stared at him bewitched.
Hi Annemarie, As soon as I woke up, I looked up the lesson today through my phone. It is such an exhilarating feeling on Wednesday mornings. I am eager to learn your lessons. When I talk with my sisters, we often look back on our childhood. It was really fantastic. We cannot forget those precious days. I really enjoy watching your video because it is easy to understand your accent. Thank you sooooo much.
Yogesh
I went through my phone and I found your contact information.
Hi Haydee, thank you for your comment! It’s great to see you created your own examples. It’s the best way to practice new vocabulary. Well done!
I love to look up on my grandchildren , when my daughter and her husband going on vacation.
*Look after
I need to carefuly look through that contract. I don’t want to omit something important.
I always try to look up to people I admire.
Sometimes, looking for solution in not an easy thing to do.
Nicely done, Ana. I like the last sentence, it’s true. Looking for solutions and picking the best one to solve the problem might be challenging. Thank you for sharing your examples.
Ok, let’s go ;-):
1- Be sure you look over the list of ingredients before you buy that. / Her job is to look over the candidates’ backgrounds.
2- I don’t remember the recipe, but I’ll look it up for you. / Sorry, I can’t find my jacket. Could I look it up in the dressing rooms?
Hi Annemarie, I really look up to you cause every time I watch your lessons I get inspired and decided to never give up to speak in English fluently and confidently 😊 such a lovely and friendly teacher you are I’ve ever seen.
Well mistake is my friend therefore every time I do something I have to look through precisely.
Hi Sanjida. Thank you for your lovely comment! It’s a pleasure to know that Annemarie’s lessons get you inspired and you find them helpful.
I tried the practice! Wow it’s tougher than it seems! 1. If you could only name one person, who do you look up to most in this world? Why? 2. I’ve looked into my purse but I can’t find my keys anywhere inside. 3. I was so embarrassed so I looked away. I was afraid I would see him laughing at me. 4. Have you seen my school books? — No, you’ll have to look around your room. 5. Should we see if Susan can look after the cats while we’re away? 6. Please look up the phone number and… Read more »
Ellie, awesome work! You aced these questions. You can officially have an A+ here ! Keep up the great work!
Hi Annamarie,
I couldn’t understand the meaning of the first sentence , could you help me?
Thanks a lot.
Hi Valentina,
Can you tell me which first sentence you’re asking about?
This morning I looked after the dog of my friend while she got time to herself;
Yesterday evening I couldn’t find the leash of my dog and I looked around my house;
I Always look away when I see animals violent scenes on the TV.
Great examples using look after, look around, and look away, Valentina! I always look away when something violent is on TV too. 🙂