look around
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle around
Meanings
Look at all parts of a place or view
Why “around”? Something moves in a circle, changes direction, or returns to an earlier point in a cycle.
“Look around. Isn't the view amazing?”
“Look around the room before you choose a seat.”
“Maya looked around the seaside hotel lobby while Leo spoke to the receptionist.”
Visit a place to see what is there, especially before deciding to buy
Why “around”? Here 'around' means moving from spot to spot to look, search, or try things.
“Maya looked around the clothes shop before choosing anything.”
“We're just looking around.”
“They looked around the market before buying anything.”
Don't confuse with
Test yourself
“Look around. Isn't the view amazing?” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
look away
A contrast learners often mix up
Turn your eyes in a different direction
look in
A contrast learners often mix up
Visit briefly to see how someone is
come around
Same around pattern: circle
Visit someone at their home; Regain consciousness after fainting or anaesthesia; Eventually agree to or accept an idea; (of an event) recur on a regular schedule
go around
Same around pattern: circle
Take a longer path to avoid something; Move in a circular path; Be enough for everyone in a group; Behave in a particular way habitually; (of an illness) be common in a community
nose around
Same around pattern: search
Search through someone's things to discover information
play around
Same around pattern: search
Experiment in a casual way; Have casual romantic or sexual affairs
poke around
Same around pattern: search
Look around casually or curiously
revolve around
Same around pattern: circle
Move in a circular orbit around something
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