he looked for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he looked for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone searching or seeking something, whether it be a physical object, information, or a person. Example: "He looked for his keys everywhere but couldn't find them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

So he looked for another problem.

The New York Times - Science

Sometimes he looked for shelter in town.

The New Yorker

Next, he looked for a lesson.

The New York Times - Sports

Stooping, he looked for daylight.

The New Yorker

He looked for that situation".

The Guardian - Film

He looked for it everywhere.

The New York Times - Arts

Then he looked for sequences unique to ill sea stars.

Yale University

He looked for ways to surprise you.

The New Yorker

He looked for the pitch he wanted.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Instead, he did what entrepreneurs do — he looked for a new problem to solve.

TechCrunch

He looked for clues in other murder files.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure. Instead of always starting with "He looked for", try phrases like "In search of... he..." or "... was what he looked for."

Common error

Avoid using "he looked for" when a more precise verb would be appropriate. For instance, instead of "He looked for the answer in the book", consider "He consulted the book for the answer" if the action involves a more specific form of information retrieval.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he looked for" functions as a verb phrase, where "looked" is the main verb (past tense of "look") and "for" is a preposition forming a phrasal verb. It describes an action of searching or seeking something as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he looked for" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the act of searching or seeking. According to Ludwig, it's frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts. When using this phrase, remember that more specific verbs can enhance clarity, and sentence structure can be varied for better writing. For example, depending on the context you can replace it with alternatives like "he searched for", "he sought out" or "he tried to find". This summary is based on the available data and Ludwig AI analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he searched for

Focuses on a thorough examination to find something.

he sought out

Implies actively seeking something specific, often with effort.

he tried to find

Emphasizes the attempt or effort made in the process of searching.

he was searching for

Highlights the continuous action of looking for something.

he hunted for

Suggests a more intense or persistent search, akin to tracking.

he scouted for

Implies looking for something in a reconnaissance or exploratory manner.

he pursued

Indicates following or striving toward a specific goal or object.

he aimed to locate

Highlights the intention and purpose of finding something specific.

he made an effort to discover

Focuses on the endeavor to uncover or learn something new.

he investigated

Suggests a systematic or formal inquiry to find something.

FAQs

What's a simple way to use "he looked for" in a sentence?

You can use "he looked for" to describe a simple act of searching. For example, "He looked for his keys" shows a basic search for a lost item.

What can I say instead of "he looked for" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you could replace "he looked for" with phrases such as "he sought out" or "he endeavored to find", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "he looked for" and "he searched for"?

While both phrases imply searching, "he searched for" often suggests a more thorough and systematic investigation compared to "he looked for", which can be a more casual or general search.

When should I use "he looked for" versus "he looked at"?

"He looked for" implies searching to find something, whereas "he looked at" simply means directing one's gaze towards something. Use "he looked for" when the intention is to discover or locate something.