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look up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

High
UK/ˌlʊk ˈʌp/US/ˌlʊk ˈʌp/

Neutral to informal (for the 'improve' and 'visit' senses); neutral (for the 'search' sense).

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Quick answer

What does “look up” mean?

To direct one's gaze upward.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

To direct one's gaze upward; to search for information in a reference source.

To improve or become more positive; to visit or contact someone; to respect or admire someone.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minimal. Both varieties use all senses. The 'visit' sense ('look someone up') is slightly more common in American English.

Connotations

Identical across varieties.

Frequency

All core senses are high-frequency in both varieties.

Grammar

How to Use “look up” in a Sentence

look sth uplook up sthlook up at sb/sthlook sb uplook up (intransitive, for 'improve')

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
look up a wordlook up informationlook up a numberlook up at the sky
medium
look up an addresslook up a recipelook up the answerlook up from one's book
weak
look up a factlook up a datelook up a train timelook up hopefully

Examples

Examples of “look up” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • Could you look up the postcode for me?
  • Things are finally looking up for the economy.
  • If you're in London, you must look me up.

American English

  • Look up the definition in the dictionary.
  • Business is looking up this quarter.
  • You should look up your old friend when you're in town.

adverb

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

adjective

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

"We need to look up the latest market figures before the meeting."

Academic

"Always look up your sources in the official bibliography."

Everyday

"I'll look up the cinema times online."

Technical

"The program will look up the value in the database."

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “look up”

Strong

researchinvestigategaze upward

Neutral

search forconsultrefer toglance up

Weak

checkfindpeek up

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “look up”

look downignoredeterioratedecline

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “look up”

  • *I looked up it. (Correct: I looked it up.)
  • Using 'look up' without an object for the 'search' sense (*I need to look up.)

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, for the 'search' meaning. You can say 'look up the word' or 'look the word up'. With pronouns, it must be separated: 'look it up'.

'Look up' implies a quick consultation of a specific reference (dictionary, phonebook, website). 'Search' is broader and can involve more effort across less structured sources.

Not alone. The phrase is 'look up to someone', which means to admire or respect them.

As a noun, especially in computing (e.g., 'a database lookup'), yes. As a verb, it is always two words: 'look up'.

To direct one's gaze upward.

Look up is usually neutral to informal (for the 'improve' and 'visit' senses); neutral (for the 'search' sense). in register.

Look up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “look up to someone (admire)”
  • “look someone up and down (scrutinise)”
  • “things are looking up (situation is improving)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a student looking UP at a tall bookshelf to find (look up) a dictionary.

Conceptual Metaphor

KNOWLEDGE IS UP (searching in a book is looking upward); GOOD IS UP (improving is looking up).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
If you don't know the meaning, you should in a dictionary.
Multiple Choice

In the sentence 'Profits are finally looking up,' what does 'looking up' mean?

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