look forward to: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (A2-B1)Neutral to formal; extremely common in written and spoken English, especially in emails and polite conversation.
Quick answer
What does “look forward to” mean?
To anticipate something with pleasure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To anticipate something with pleasure; to feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen.
Can also express polite expectation in formal contexts (e.g., business correspondence) without strong emotional excitement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use it identically in structure and frequency. Slight preference in UK English for 'I look forward to hearing from you' in formal letters, while US may use 'I look forward to hearing from you soon' or 'I'm looking forward to...' more interchangeably.
Connotations
Equally polite and standard in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both, a cornerstone of polite professional and personal communication.
Grammar
How to Use “look forward to” in a Sentence
Subject + look forward to + noun/gerund (I look forward to the party).Subject + be + looking forward to + noun/gerund (I am looking forward to seeing you).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “look forward to” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We look forward to receiving your payment.
- He's looking forward to his trip to Cornwall.
- I've been looking forward to this for ages.
American English
- I look forward to meeting with you next week.
- She's looking forward to her vacation in Florida.
- They looked forward to the baseball game all season.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Standard closing in emails and letters: 'I look forward to your response.' / 'We look forward to working with you.'
Academic
Used in formal correspondence: 'I look forward to receiving the reviewer's comments.'
Everyday
Very common: 'I'm really looking forward to the film tonight.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical prose unless in project planning or collaborative contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “look forward to”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “look forward to”
- *I look forward to see you. (Incorrect: should be 'seeing')
- *I look forward for the holidays. (Incorrect preposition: 'for' should be 'to')
- *She looks forward the concert. (Missing 'to')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. 'Looked forward to' is common. Example: 'As a child, I always looked forward to Christmas morning.'
The difference is subtle. 'I look forward to' is slightly more formal and is often used in written communication. 'I am looking forward to' is slightly more common in spoken English and can sound a bit more immediate or personal. Both are correct and widely used.
The most common mistake is using an infinitive verb after 'to' instead of a gerund (the -ing form). 'I look forward to hear from you' is incorrect. It must be 'I look forward to hearing from you.'
No, 'look forward to' inherently carries a positive connotation of pleasurable anticipation. For negative events, use verbs like 'dread' or 'fear' (e.g., 'I dread going to the dentist').
To anticipate something with pleasure.
Look forward to is usually neutral to formal; extremely common in written and spoken english, especially in emails and polite conversation. in register.
Look forward to: in British English it is pronounced /lʊk ˈfɔːwəd tə/ (connected speech: /lʊk ˈfɔːwəd tə/), and in American English it is pronounced /lʊk ˈfɔrwərd tu/ (connected speech: /lʊk ˈfɔrwərd tə/). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Something to look forward to (a future positive event).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine looking through a telescope FORWARD in time towards something good. You LOOK FORWARD TO what you see.
Conceptual Metaphor
FUTURE IS A DESTINATION AHEAD. Positive expectation is visually scanning the path towards a desirable location/event.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence is grammatically correct?