look on
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle on
Meanings
Watch something happen without taking part
Why “on”? Eyes or thoughts reach one point and stay there.
“They looked on as the firefighters worked.”
“I could only look on while the argument got worse.”
Regard or consider someone or something in a particular way
“I look on her as a friend.”
“Many residents look on the old bridge as part of the town's history.”
Don't confuse with
Look on means watch something happen without taking part. Look in means visit briefly to see how someone is.
Test yourself
“They looked on as the firefighters worked.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
look in
A contrast learners often mix up
Visit briefly to see how someone is
bear on
Same on pattern: attention
Be relevant or related to something
check on
Same on pattern: attention
Make sure someone or something is safe or all right
chew on
Same on pattern: attention
Think carefully about something for a while
dwell on
Same on pattern: attention
Spend too much time thinking or talking about something
focus on
Same on pattern: attention
Direct attention or effort on something
spy on
Same on pattern: attention
Watch someone secretly
touch on
Same on pattern: attention
Mention a topic briefly
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “look on”.
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