looked

looked — verb

1. The form of the verb 'look' used for actions completed before now, covering both

1.verbA1
Definition

The form of the verb 'look' used for actions completed before now, covering both the simple past tense and the version placed after 'have' or 'had'.

Example

Fatima looked at the clock and realised she was late for work.

past simple of look + at [object]

Minho has looked everywhere for his passport but cannot find it.

present perfect: has looked

Grammar Patterns

looked + at/for/after/into

have/has looked

had looked

Usage Note

This is the only grammatical form listed here; all 7 senses use the same past-tense spelling 'looked'. The base verb 'look' is A1 in CEFR.

Common Mistakes

I look at the document yesterday.
I looked at the document yesterday.
'looked' is the past form; use it for actions that happened before now.
I have look at his photos.
I have looked at his photos.
Use the past participle 'looked' after 'have' or 'had'.

2. To turn your eyes toward someone or something on purpose so that you can see the

2.verbintransitiveA1
Definition

To turn your eyes toward someone or something on purpose so that you can see them.

Example

Constanza looked at the menu before ordering her lunch.

looked at [thing] — most common object structure

Asher looked up from his book when someone knocked on the door.

looked + adverb (up) [from something]

Common collocations
  • looked at
  • looked up
  • looked down
  • looked out
  • looked over
Synonyms
  • glanced

    means looked briefly or quickly, not with sustained attention

  • peered

    means looked closely and with effort, often because something is hard to see

  • stared

    means looked for a long time without moving the eyes

Antonyms
  • ignored

    means deliberately did not look at

Grammar Patterns

looked + at [sth/sb]

looked + adverb (up/down/out/around)

Usage Note

Intransitive — the object of sight must be introduced by a preposition (usually 'at') or an adverb. 'Looked [noun]' without a preposition is incorrect in standard English.

Common Mistakes

I looked the beautiful sunset.
I looked at the beautiful sunset.
When the thing you see is named, use 'looked at', not 'looked' alone.

3. To search for a person or thing by checking various spots or possibilities until

3.verbintransitiveA1
Definition

To search for a person or thing by checking various spots or possibilities until you locate them.

Example

Sahil looked for his wallet in every room of the house.

looked for [object] — standard search structure

Élise looked through all the drawers but could not find the letter.

looked through [container/place]

Common collocations
  • looked for
  • looked through
  • looked around
  • looked among
Synonyms
  • searched

    more formal and suggests a very thorough or systematic effort

  • hunted

    suggests an energetic and determined search, often in many places

Antonyms
  • found

    the successful result of looking for something

Grammar Patterns

looked + for [sth/sb]

looked + through [place]

looked + around [place]

Usage Note

Always requires 'for' when specifying what was being searched for. 'Looked for [something]' is the standard pattern. 'Looked through [a place/container]' describes where the search happened.

Common Mistakes

I looked my keys everywhere.
I looked for my keys everywhere.
Use 'for' after 'looked' when searching for something.

4. To seem or appear in a particular way based on what you can see with your eyes.

4.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

To seem or appear in a particular way based on what you can see with your eyes.

Example

Ava looked tired after working late every night that week.

looked + adjective describing a person's state

The soup looked delicious, so Omar asked for a second bowl.

Common collocations
  • looked + adjective
  • looked like
  • looked as if
  • looked as though
Synonyms
  • appeared

    more formal than 'looked'; can suggest the impression might be misleading

  • seemed

    focuses on the impression given, which may or may not be visual

Grammar Patterns

looked + adjective

looked + like + noun phrase

looked + as if/as though + clause

Usage Note

Functions as a linking verb (like 'seem' or 'appear'). Followed by an adjective (looked happy), not an adverb. For noun comparisons use 'looked like' (looked like a teacher). For clauses use 'looked as if' or 'looked as though'.

Common Mistakes

She looked happily at the party.' (if meaning she seemed happy)
She looked happy at the party.
Use an adjective, not an adverb, after 'look' when describing appearance or state.
He looked as a doctor.
He looked like a doctor.
Use 'like', not 'as', for visual comparisons.

5. To face or be directed toward a particular direction, usually describing a build

5.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

To face or be directed toward a particular direction, usually describing a building, window, or other place rather than a person.

Example

The bedroom windows looked east, so the morning sun woke them up.

looked + compass direction — facing a direction

The hotel balcony looked toward the ocean, offering a stunning view of the coast.

looked toward [something] — inanimate subject facing a direction

Common collocations
  • looked east/west/north/south
  • looked onto
  • looked out over
  • looked towards
Synonyms
  • faced

    directly means 'was oriented toward'; simpler and more common in everyday speech

  • overlooked

    suggests a view from above onto something below

Grammar Patterns

looked + [direction phrase]

looked + onto/out over/toward

Usage Note

Subject is typically an inanimate thing (a building, window, seat, balcony) rather than a person. Unlike sense 2 (SEE), this sense does not involve an act of seeing — it describes orientation only.

Common Mistakes

My room looked at the park.
My room looked out onto the park.' or 'My room faced the park.
Use 'out onto', 'onto', or 'toward' for orientation, not 'at'.

6. Used to describe the action of paying careful attention, especially in order to

6.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

Used to describe the action of paying careful attention, especially in order to avoid danger or check a situation before acting.

Example

Tunde looked both ways before he crossed the busy road.

looked both ways — common safety expression

The teacher told the class to look before opening the lab door.

imperative: look before [doing something]

Common collocations
  • looked before
  • looked both ways
  • looked out
  • looked to check
Synonyms
  • watched

    implies continuous attention over time; 'looked' is more about a single moment of checking

  • checked

    means looked with the specific purpose of verifying something

Grammar Patterns

looked + question word (where/who/what)

Look! — imperative warning

Usage Note

The warning sense is most common in the imperative (Look! / Look out!). In past tense, it describes someone who was being cautious. Distinguish from sense 2 (SEE), where the focus is on directing the eyes toward something; here the focus is on avoiding risk.

Common Mistakes

Look the step!
Watch the step!' or 'Look at the step!
When warning about a hazard, use 'watch', not 'look' alone, or use 'look at'.

7. To intend or hope to do something in the future; to have a particular goal or pl

7.verbintransitiveC2
Definition

To intend or hope to do something in the future; to have a particular goal or plan that you expect to achieve.

Example

Niran looked to finish his degree by the end of next year.

looked to + infinitive — expressing intention

The company looked to expand its business into markets across Asia.

Common collocations
  • looked to
  • looked to + verb
Synonyms
  • hoped to

    emphasises desire and optimism; 'looked to' also implies planning

  • intended to

    more direct about the plan; less aspirational

  • aimed to

    suggests a specific target or goal

Grammar Patterns

looked + to + infinitive

Usage Note

Followed by 'to' + infinitive. This is a formal or literary construction. In everyday conversation, 'planned to', 'hoped to', or 'intended to' are more common. Distinguish from sense 3 (SEARCH): 'looked for a job' (tried to find) vs 'looked to find a job' (intended/hoped).

Common Mistakes

I looked to find my keys all morning.' (if meaning 'searched for')
I looked for my keys all morning.
'Looked to' means 'intended to', not 'searched for'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words describe directing the eyes toward something, but they differ in duration and intensity. 'Looked at' is the neutral, all-purpose term — it simply means you turned your eyes toward something. 'Glanced' means you looked very briefly, often without full attention: Niran glanced at his watch and kept walking. 'Stared' means you looked for a long time without looking away, often because something is surprising or interesting: The children stared at the magician in amazement. 'Peered' means you looked closely, usually because it is hard to see clearly: Constanza peered through the fog to read the street sign. Use 'looked at' for most everyday situations; choose the other words when you want to add information about how the looking happened.

looked atglancedstaredpeered

Common collocations

Nouns

  • looked the part
  • looked a mess
  • looked a fool

Adverbs

  • carefully looked
  • quickly looked
  • closely looked
  • briefly looked
  • anxiously looked

Phrases

  • looked as if
  • looked as though
  • looked like
  • looked forward to

Prepositions

  • looked at
  • looked for
  • looked after
  • looked through
  • looked into
  • looked around
  • looked towards

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'looked' is formed by adding the regular past-tense suffix '-ed' to the verb 'look'. The verb 'look' comes from Old English 'lōcian', meaning 'to see, to gaze, to pay attention'. It is related to Old Saxon 'lōkōn' and Old High German 'luogēn' (to look). The regular '-ed' suffix for past tense has been a standard feature of English since the Old English period, where it developed from the Proto-Germanic suffix '-d-'. 'Looked' has been the standard past tense form since at least the 13th century.