look after
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle after
Meanings
Take care of someone or something
Why “after”? Someone receives care, or another person asks about their health.
“She looks after her grandchildren.”
“Maya looks after the neighbour's cat.”
“Maya looks after the shop's online orders.”
Memory hook
You keep your eyes on someone, watching after them to keep them safe.
Common mistake
Can you look after to my dog?
Can you look after my dog?
The object comes straight after look after — no to.
Natural collocations
The word partners “look after” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
In conversation
Who looks after the baby while you work?
My mum looks after her.
Don't confuse with
Look after means take care of someone or something. Look ahead means think about what will happen in the future.
Look after means take care of someone or something. Look forward means feel pleased about a future event.
Test yourself
“She looks after her grandchildren.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
look ahead
A contrast learners often mix up
Think about what will happen in the future
look forward
A contrast learners often mix up
Feel pleased about something that will happen
ask after
Same after pattern: care
Politely ask about someone's health or wellbeing
inquire after
Same after pattern: care
Formally ask about someone's wellbeing
look around
Same base verb: look
Look at all parts of a place or view; Visit a place to see what is there, especially before deciding to buy
look at
Same base verb: look
Direct your eyes toward someone or something
look away
Same base verb: look
Turn your eyes in a different direction
look back
Same base verb: look
Think about events in the past
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