he looked forward

USAGE SUMMARY

"he looked forward" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase can be used when describing a situation where a person is looking ahead with anticipation and expectation for something or someone in the future. For example: "He looked forward to spending the day with his family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He looked forward to it".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He looked forward to this day".

The Guardian - Music

So he looked forward to Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

He said he looked forward to campaigning with Mr. Perry.

The New York Times

He looked forward to going to school every day.

The New York Times

After that, he looked forward to two months at home.

The New Yorker

It was a role he looked forward to with relish.

The Guardian

On Wednesday, he said he looked forward to signing it.

The Guardian

He said he looked forward to his day in court.

The Guardian

And he looked forward to another wild weekend.

The New York Times - Sports

From then on, he said, he looked forward, never back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he looked forward to" when you want to express anticipation or positive expectation about a future event or situation. Ensure the verb following "to" is in the gerund form (e.g., "He looked forward to seeing her").

Common error

A common mistake is using the base form of the verb after "to" instead of the gerund. Avoid saying "He looked forward to see her"; instead, use "He looked forward to seeing her".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he looked forward" functions as part of a verb phrase, indicating a subject's anticipation or expectation of a future event. It typically requires a prepositional phrase with "to" and a gerund. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for expressing anticipation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he looked forward" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey anticipation or expectation of a future event. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly suitable for written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it's important to follow it with "to" and a gerund (e.g., "he looked forward to seeing"). Common errors include using the base form of the verb after "to". Alternatives like "he anticipated" or "he eagerly awaited" can be used to add variety. With Ludwig providing numerous real-world examples, mastering the usage of this phrase becomes straightforward.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he anticipated

Focuses on the expectation and possibly preparation for something.

he eagerly awaited

Emphasizes the enthusiasm and impatience in waiting.

he was excited about

Highlights the feeling of excitement and positive anticipation.

he was anticipating

Similar to "he anticipated" but with a continuous aspect, suggesting ongoing expectation.

he expected with pleasure

Adds the element of enjoyment to the expectation.

he contemplated with eagerness

Focuses on thinking about something with a strong desire.

he envisioned with anticipation

Highlights the mental imagery and expectation of something.

he foresaw with relish

Implies anticipating something with great enjoyment and satisfaction.

he counted on

Emphasizes reliance and expectation based on trust or certainty.

he looked ahead to

Focuses on the future and planning for it, less about the emotional anticipation.

FAQs

How do I use "he looked forward" in a sentence?

Use "he looked forward to" followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing) to express anticipation of a future event or activity. For example, "He looked forward to traveling to Europe".

What can I say instead of "he looked forward to"?

You can use alternatives like "he anticipated", "he eagerly awaited", or "he was excited about" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "he looked forward to see"?

No, the correct form is "he looked forward to seeing". The verb following "to" should be in the gerund form (-ing).

What's the difference between "he looked forward to" and "he looked forward"?

"He looked forward to" expresses anticipation for a specific event or activity. "He looked forward", used without "to", is grammatically incomplete and requires further context to make sense, implying he generally had a positive outlook or was facing the future with optimism.