am looking forward to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'am looking forward to' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express anticipation, excitement, or enthusiasm for something that is about to happen. For example, "I am looking forward to our vacation next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I am looking forward to the chat.

The New Yorker

I am looking forward to the debate.

The New York Times

I am looking forward to being 80.

The New York Times

"Definitely, I am looking forward to it.

The New York Times - Sports

I am looking forward to that day!

The New York Times

I am looking forward to "Dhoom 3".

The New York Times

I am looking forward to my visit.

The New York Times

"Yeah, I am looking forward to it.

Independent

I am looking forward to this.

Yale University

"I am looking forward to [Sunday].

The Guardian - Sport

I am looking forward to London.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "am looking forward to" when expressing genuine enthusiasm or positive expectation. It adds a personal touch to your writing.

Common error

While "am looking forward to" is a useful phrase, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and insincere. Vary your expressions to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "am looking forward to" functions as an expression of anticipation or excitement regarding a future event or activity. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys enthusiasm, and its primary grammatical function is to act as a verbal phrase expressing a positive expectation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "am looking forward to" is a common and grammatically correct way to express anticipation and excitement for a future event. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in written English. It appears frequently in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, indicating its broad applicability. While synonyms such as "can't wait for" and "excited about" offer alternatives, "am looking forward to" provides a balanced tone suitable for both professional and personal communications. Remember to follow it with a noun, noun phrase, or gerund to ensure grammatical correctness. While versatile, avoid overuse to maintain freshness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can't wait for

Indicates strong enthusiasm and impatience for something to happen; less formal.

excited about

Expresses a feeling of excitement and anticipation.

await with anticipation

This phrase emphasizes the eagerness with which one waits, adding a heightened sense of excitement.

eagerly await

Similar to 'anticipate', but emphasizes the eagerness and enthusiasm.

anticipate

This verb directly conveys expecting something with pleasure or excitement; more formal.

expect with pleasure

Highlights the positive emotions associated with anticipating something.

count down the days until

Suggests a strong desire for an event to arrive quickly, with a sense of anticipation.

relish

Implies savoring the thought of a future event, emphasizing enjoyment.

yearn for

Suggests a deep longing and anticipation for something.

on tenterhooks

Implies a state of nervous anticipation or suspense; more dramatic.

FAQs

How to use "am looking forward to" in a sentence?

Use "am looking forward to" followed by a noun, noun phrase, or gerund (verb ending in -ing). For example, "I "am looking forward to the meeting"" or "I "am looking forward to hearing from you"".

What can I say instead of "am looking forward to"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipate", "can't wait for", or "excited about" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I'm looking forward to see"?

No, the correct usage is "I'm looking forward to seeing". The phrase "am looking forward to" is followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing), not an infinitive.

What's the difference between "am looking forward to" and "expect"?

"Am looking forward to" implies anticipation with pleasure or excitement, while "expect" simply means to believe something will happen. "I "am looking forward to the concert"" suggests excitement, whereas "I expect the concert to start on time" is a statement of belief.