look down upon

Variant of look

look definition

look (lo̵ok)

intransitive verb

  1. to make use of the sense of sight; see
    1. to direct one's eyes in order to see
    2. to direct one's attention mentally upon something
  3. to try to see or find something; search
  4. to appear to be; seem to look sick
  5. to be facing or turned in a specified direction

Etymology: ME loken < OE locian, akin to OS lōkōn, OHG luogēn (Ger dial. lugen), to spy after, look for

transitive verb

  1. to direct one's eyes on to look someone in the face
  2. to express by one's looks, or appearance to look one's disgust
  3. Rare to bring to a certain condition by looking
  4. to have an appearance that is suitable for or in accord with the fat actor looked the part; you don't look your age
  5. to expect: with an infinitive object they look to succeed with our help

noun

  1. the act of looking; glance
  2. outward impression; appearance; aspect the look of a beggar
  3. Informal
    1. appearance; the way something seems to be from the looks of things
    2. personal appearance, esp. of a pleasing nature to have looks and youth

interjection

  1. direct your eyes and attention to this; see
  2. pay attention
look Idioms

it looks like

  1. it seems that there will be it looks like rain
  2. Informal it seems as if

look after

to take care of; watch over

look alive

or look sharp
Informal to be alert; act or move quickly: usually in the imperative

look back

to recall the past; recollect

look down on

or look down upon
  1. to regard as an inferior
  2. to regard with contempt; despise

look for

  1. to search or hunt for
  2. to expect; anticipate

look forward to

to anticipate, esp. eagerly

look in (on)

to pay a brief visit (to)

look into

to examine carefully; investigate

look on

  1. to be an observer or spectator
  2. to consider; regard (as) they looked on her as a born leader

look (like) oneself

to appear to be in normal health, spirits, etc.

look out

to be on the watch; be careful

look out for

  1. to be wary about
  2. to take care of

look over

to examine; inspect

look to

  1. to take care of; give attention to
  2. to rely upon; resort to
  3. to look forward to; expect

look up

  1. to search for in a book of reference, etc.
  2. Informal to pay a visit to; call on
  3. Informal to get better; improve

look up and down

  1. to search everywhere
  2. to examine with an appraising eye; scrutinize

look upon

to think of (as); consider to look upon housework as boring

look up to

to regard with great respect

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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