have looked for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have looked for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has searched for something at some point in the past and may still be searching or has completed the search. Example: "I have looked for my keys everywhere, but I still can't find them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many experiments have looked for direct evidence of their existence.

The Economist

Funds have looked for growth opportunities – such as Sterecycle.

Independent

"Wherever we have looked for exploitation, we have found it.

The Guardian

I should have looked for my shot more".

The New York Times - Sports

Many Laborites have looked for political regeneration under Mr. Brown.

The New York Times

"We'd have looked for partners willing to be accountable".

The New York Times

Aside from Selma, where should they have looked for the alternatives in mainstream cinema this year?

Independent

"Had I not known to trust you, I would not have looked for you".

The New Yorker

"I have looked for anything higher and have been unable to find it".

The New York Times

Hardly anybody would have looked for an "I ♥ NY" bumper sticker on George Jones's tour bus.

The New York Times

Until now, most tests have looked for only a single virus at a time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have looked for", ensure the context clearly indicates what was being sought and the purpose of the search.

Common error

Avoid using "have looked for" when a simple past tense ("looked for") is more appropriate, especially when the search is completed and there is no ongoing relevance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "have looked for" is to act as a present perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. Ludwig examples show it used to describe completed searches with present consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have looked for" is a versatile present perfect verb phrase used to describe the act of searching for something in the past, with implications for the present. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, including news, science, and formal communication. When using "have looked for", ensure clarity regarding the object of the search and the context in which it occurred. To avoid errors, be mindful of situations where the simple past tense might be more appropriate. As shown by the many examples provided by Ludwig, "have looked for" can be useful in formal as well as informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have searched for

Replaces "looked" with its direct synonym "searched", emphasizing the act of seeking.

have sought

Uses a more formal verb, "sought", to convey the action of searching.

have been in search of

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the search.

have tried to find

Highlights the effort made in the search process.

have attempted to locate

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the act of pinpointing something.

have hunted for

Implies a more intensive or persistent search.

have explored for

Suggests a wider, more investigative search.

have scouted for

Indicates a preliminary search, often for potential opportunities.

have investigated

Implies a systematic and thorough examination to find something.

have pursued

Suggests a determined effort to obtain something.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "have looked for"?

You can use alternatives like "have searched for", "have sought", or "have tried to find" depending on the context.

How do I use "have looked for" in a sentence?

Use "have looked for" to describe a past action of searching for something that may or may not be ongoing. For example, "I have looked for my keys everywhere."

What's the difference between "have looked for" and "looked for"?

"Have looked for" implies a completed action with possible present relevance, while "looked for" simply describes a past action. For example, "I have looked for a job for months" suggests the search is still ongoing, whereas "I looked for a job last year" implies the search is over.

Is "have been looking for" the same as "have looked for"?

Not exactly. "Have been looking for" ("have been looking for") emphasizes the continuous nature of the search over a period of time, while "have looked for" focuses on the completed action of searching at some point in the past.