look forward

USAGE SUMMARY

"look forward" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing anticipation or excitement. For example: "I am looking forward to seeing you this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

General Conversation

Motivational Writing

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I look forward….

The New Yorker

You just look forward.

The New York Times - Sports

"We just look forward".

The New York Times - Sports

I look forward again.

Independent

I don't look forward.

The Guardian

"Filmmakers look forward".

The New Yorker

Look forward; don't look back.

The New York Times

I look forward to this.

The New York Times

Plenty to look forward to.

The New York Times

I look forward to sweating.

The New York Times - Magazine

Look forward to what's coming".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "look forward to" when expressing anticipation for a specific event or outcome. Ensure that 'to' is followed by a noun or gerund (verb + -ing).

Common error

Avoid using the base form of a verb after "look forward to". The correct form is the gerund (verb ending in -ing). For example, it should be "I look forward to hearing from you", not "I look forward to hear from you".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look forward" functions as a verb phrase expressing anticipation or positive expectation about a future event or experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts, such as expressing anticipation for a meeting or a future opportunity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

11%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Sports

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "look forward" is a versatile and widely used phrase for expressing anticipation and positive expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in numerous contexts, ranging from news articles to academic papers. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki sources. When using "look forward", remember to follow 'to' with a noun or gerund (verb + -ing) to avoid grammatical errors. Consider alternatives like "anticipate" or "eagerly await" to diversify your language. This guidance ensures clear and effective communication when expressing your excitement about future events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can't wait

An informal expression of strong anticipation.

eagerly await

Emphasizes the enthusiasm associated with waiting.

anticipate

This single word expresses the act of looking forward to something; less conversational.

excited about

Focuses on the feeling of excitement related to a future event.

await

A more formal synonym for waiting with positive expectation.

await with bated breath

Expresses a high level of excitement and suspense while waiting.

expect with pleasure

Highlights the positive emotions associated with the expectation.

contemplate with anticipation

A more thoughtful and reflective way of expressing looking forward to something.

have high hopes for

Implies a degree of optimism about a future event or outcome.

keep a positive outlook

Focuses on maintaining a positive perspective toward future events.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "look forward to" in a sentence?

Always follow "look forward to" with a noun or a gerund (verb ending in '-ing'). For example, "I look forward to the meeting" or "I "look forward to hearing from you"" are correct.

What can I say instead of "look forward to"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipate", "eagerly await", or "can't wait for" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use 'to' after "look forward"?

Yes, the correct idiom is "look forward to". Omitting 'to' changes the meaning or makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. Always include 'to' when expressing anticipation.

What's the difference between "I look forward to it" and "I am looking forward to it"?

"I look forward to it" is a simple statement of anticipation, while "I am looking forward to it" emphasizes the present and ongoing feeling of anticipation. Both are correct, but the latter adds a sense of immediacy.