look down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal (when used in the figurative sense)
Quick answer
What does “look down” mean?
To direct one's gaze downward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To direct one's gaze downward.
To regard someone or something with contempt, scorn, or a feeling of superiority; to consider someone or something inferior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Upon' is slightly more formal and slightly more common in British English, but 'on' is standard in both.
Connotations
Identical; conveys arrogance, snobbery, or condescension.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “look down” in a Sentence
[Subject] + look down + on/upon + [Object] (figurative)[Subject] + look down + (prepositional phrase) (literal)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “look down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- One shouldn't look down upon those less fortunate.
- She looked down from the London Eye at the tiny streets.
American English
- It's arrogant to look down on people with different jobs.
- He looked down at his phone to check the notification.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes corporate culture or attitudes between departments/levels (e.g., 'Headquarters looks down on regional branches.').
Academic
Used in social sciences to discuss class, caste, prejudice, and social stratification.
Everyday
Common in describing personal feelings of being judged or judging others as inferior.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields; the literal sense may appear in physics/optics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “look down”
- Omitting the required preposition 'on/upon' for the figurative sense (e.g., 'She looks down him').
- Confusing 'look down on' (despise) with 'look down at' (physically gaze at something below).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'look down on/upon' is an inseparable phrasal verb. The object always comes after the preposition (e.g., look down on someone).
'Look down on' is figurative and means to despise. 'Look down at' is literal and means to direct your eyes downward towards something.
Yes, but only in the literal sense (e.g., 'He was afraid to look down.'). The figurative sense always requires 'on' or 'upon'.
Yes, 'upon' is generally considered slightly more formal, but the meaning is identical and both are correct.
To direct one's gaze downward.
Look down: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈdaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈdaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “look down one's nose at someone/something”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a snobbish person physically looking down from a high balcony at people below, representing their feeling of superiority.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL/SOCIAL STATUS IS PHYSICAL HEIGHT (superior = high, inferior = low).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The manager never looked down on the interns,' what does 'looked down on' mean?