look after
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle after
Meanings
Take care of someone or something
Why “after”? Attention follows someone after them, staying close enough to protect or ask about them.
“She looks after her grandchildren.”
“Maya looks after the neighbour's cat.”
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
Glance in every direction; Move your eyes to look at all parts of a place; Visit a place to see what is there, especially before deciding to buy
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
look behind
Same base verb: look
Turn your head to see what is at your back
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