come looking for

USAGE SUMMARY

"come looking for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you're searching for something or someone, or when you want to be the one to search for something or someone. Example: "I know she's been away for a while, so I'm going to come looking for her this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Would their parents come looking for them?

The New Yorker

Don't come looking for hagiography, either.

The New York Times - Books

"They come looking for prostitutes.

The Guardian

"They come looking for us".

The Guardian

They come looking for hope.

The New York Times

Why did you come looking for me?

The New Yorker

"No one's come looking for me".

The New York Times

"He'll come looking for me or I'll come looking for him.

The New York Times - Sports

The men who had come looking for work said nothing.

The New Yorker

The muse doesn't always come looking for us.

The New York Times - Food

You watch and see, tomorrow they come looking for me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come looking for" when you want to emphasize the action of initiating a search, often implying a journey or specific intent.

Common error

Avoid using the past tense inappropriately. "Came looking for" should only be used when referring to a past action, not a future or present intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come looking for" functions as a phrasal verb indicating the act of initiating a search or quest, often implying a specific purpose or journey. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is valid and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come looking for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrasal verb that signifies the act of initiating a search with a specific intent. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as informal contexts, this phrase effectively communicates the action of actively seeking something or someone. Remember to use the correct tense and consider more formal alternatives like "seek out" in professional settings. The phrase "come looking for" is a useful addition to one's vocabulary, provided it's employed in suitable contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

search for

This alternative is a more direct and common way to express the act of seeking something.

seek out

This alternative suggests a more deliberate and intentional search.

look for

This is the most basic and straightforward synonym, lacking the nuance of 'come'.

try to find

This alternative emphasizes the effort involved in the search.

hunt for

This alternative implies a more aggressive and persistent search.

set out to find

This alternative indicates the beginning of an intentional search.

go in search of

This alternative emphasizes the journey or quest aspect of the search.

make an effort to locate

This alternative highlights the dedication and exertion in finding something or someone.

endeavor to discover

This alternative denotes a formal and determined approach to finding something.

be on the lookout for

This alternative suggests a state of vigilance while searching.

FAQs

How can I use "come looking for" in a sentence?

You can use "come looking for" to describe someone initiating a search. For example, "If you need assistance, don't hesitate to "come looking for help"."

What is a simple synonym for "come looking for"?

A simpler synonym is "look for", but "come looking for" often implies a specific journey or intention to search.

Is "coming looking for" grammatically correct?

Yes, "coming looking for" is grammatically correct and can be used to describe an ongoing or future search. For example, "They are coming looking for new opportunities."

What's the difference between "come looking for" and "comes looking for"?

"Come looking for" is used with plural subjects or 'I', 'you', 'we', and 'they', while "comes looking for" is used with singular subjects in the third person (he, she, it).