look back upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"look back upon" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to recall or remember a past event, usually with fondness or nostalgia. For example, "I look back upon my childhood with fond memories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yet the Coens look back upon those movies with a specific nostalgia for a lost faith.

The New Yorker

We look back upon the pre-acceptance days of the Eisenhower boom as a richly instructive period.

The New Yorker

"As I look back upon those years, I get a lot of black marks" is a typical assessment here.

The New York Times - Books

He may look back upon his year with Chiba Lotte as a well-timed flirtation with fate.

The New York Times - Sports

Yet as they look back upon their lives, many have grown frustrated that their wartime sacrifices were so easily forgotten.

The New York Times

Arsenal flickered – they always do – but there was no one chance that they could look back upon with particular regret.

The Guardian - Sport

W. Ross," he sums up, "had a world and wealth of warming and wonderful things to look back upon as he lay dying.

The New Yorker

"The ultimate purpose is to fly as high as possible," he writes, "and then look back upon the earth and see mankind for what it really is".

The New Yorker

But in years to come you will look back upon a round-the-world experience as the very best kind of investment.

Independent

On a personal note, my first date with Millie moved very quickly, and led to a lovely, long-term relationship that I look back upon with great fondness.

The New York Times - Style

The New Yorker, January 19 , 1952P. 17 We look back upon the pre-acceptance days of the Eisenhower boom as a richly instructive period.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "look back upon" when you want to convey a sense of reflection, often tinged with nostalgia or evaluation of past experiences. For example, "They will "look back upon" this as a turning point."

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overusing "look back upon" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more direct alternatives like "review" or "analyze" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look back upon" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically an intransitive verb because it's often followed by a noun or pronoun as an object. It introduces a retrospective view of the events, experiences, or periods. Ludwig confirms this is a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "look back upon" is a commonly used phrasal verb that expresses reflection on past events. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is correct and widely used in English, particularly within news and media contexts. While generally acceptable, consider more direct alternatives like "reflect on" or "review" in highly formal writing. When using "look back upon", be mindful of the emotional coloring you want to convey, as this can influence your word choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reflect back on

This is a more emphatic version of "reflect on", highlighting the act of looking back.

reflect on

This alternative is more general and doesn't necessarily imply a sense of fondness or nostalgia.

reminisce about

This option implies a more sentimental and often pleasurable recollection of past events.

consider in retrospect

This suggests evaluating something with the benefit of hindsight.

remember fondly

This phrase emphasizes the positive emotions associated with the memory.

cast your mind back to

This is a more idiomatic and slightly formal way of asking someone to remember something.

think back on

This is a more neutral alternative, simply meaning to recall something.

review

This suggests a more analytical and less emotional consideration of the past.

contemplate the past

Implies a thoughtful and often serious consideration of past events.

call to mind

This option means to bring a memory or image into your consciousness.

FAQs

What does "look back upon" mean?

The phrase "look back upon" means to remember or reflect on something in the past, often with a particular feeling or perspective.

How can I use "look back upon" in a sentence?

You can use "look back upon" to express how you remember or feel about a past event. For example, "I "look back upon" my college years with fondness."

What are some alternatives to "look back upon"?

Some alternatives to "look back upon" include "reflect on", "reminisce about", or "think back on" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "look back upon" formal or informal?

"Look back upon" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for a variety of writing contexts. Consider the nuance you are trying to convey and if you intend to express a particular feeling, you may prefer alternative phrases such as "remember fondly" or "contemplate the past".