look after
B1Neutral to informal. Common in everyday speech; also acceptable in semi-formal contexts (e.g., 'I'll look after the arrangements'). Less common in highly formal or legal writing, where 'supervise', 'maintain', or 'be responsible for' might be preferred.
Definition
Meaning
To take care of someone or something; to be responsible for their well-being, safety, or maintenance.
To manage or oversee something temporarily; to ensure something continues to function or exist properly in someone's absence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a transitive phrasal verb. Implies a duty of care, attention, and protection. Can refer to people (especially children, the elderly, the sick), animals, objects, or tasks. Does not imply permanent ownership, but temporary responsibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. 'Look after' is standard in both varieties. In American English, 'take care of' is slightly more frequent in casual speech for all meanings, while 'look after' can sound slightly more British, though it is perfectly common.
Connotations
In British English, it can have a slightly more nurturing or guardianship connotation. In American English, it may be perceived as slightly more formal than 'take care of' in everyday contexts.
Frequency
More frequent in British English corpora. In American English, 'take care of' is the dominant collocation, but 'look after' remains well-understood and regularly used.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
look after + noun (person/thing)look after + pronoun (me/them/it)look after + possessive + noun (look after my sister)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Look after number one (take care of yourself first).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Can be used informally: 'Can you look after the client while I'm in the meeting?' More formal alternatives: 'handle', 'manage', 'oversee'.
Academic
Rare in core academic prose. Might appear in narratives or case studies about care: 'The eldest sibling looked after the younger children.'
Everyday
Very common: 'I need to look after my sister's kids on Saturday.' 'Don't worry, I'll look after it.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical manuals. 'Maintain', 'service', 'monitor' are preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you look after my bags for a moment?
- He's looking after his elderly neighbour.
- We need to look after the planet for future generations.
American English
- I'll look after the reservations for the trip.
- She looked after her sister's kids last weekend.
- Make sure you look after that knee injury.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mum looks after me when I am sick.
- Please look after your toys.
- I have to look after my little brother this evening.
- Who will look after your dog while you're on holiday?
- The assistant manager will look after the department in my absence.
- It's important to look after your mental health as well as your physical health.
- The trust was established to look after the preservation of the historic building.
- He has a talent for looking after the finer details that others overlook.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shepherd who must LOOK around and go AFTER any sheep that strays to keep them safe. You LOOK (pay attention) and go AFTER (take responsibility for) someone/something.
Conceptual Metaphor
CARING IS GUARDING / RESPONSIBILITY IS A BURDEN (to carry or hold).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'look for' (искать). 'Look after' is not about searching.
- Do not translate literally as 'смотреть после'. The correct conceptual equivalent is 'присматривать за', 'заботиться о'.
Common Mistakes
- *I will look after for the baby. (Incorrect: no preposition after the object) Correct: I will look after the baby.
- *She looks after well. (Incorrect: adverb placement) Correct: She looks after them well.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'look after' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot say 'look the children after'. The object always comes after the entire phrase: 'look after the children'.
They are often interchangeable. 'Take care of' can have a broader meaning, including 'deal with' a problem or task ('take care of the bill'). 'Look after' is more specifically about protective care and is less likely to be used for abstract problems.
Yes, very commonly: 'Look after yourself!' 'Look after the house while I'm gone.'
Not necessarily. It can be very short-term ('look after my drink for a minute') or long-term ('look after an aging relative'). The context defines the duration.