look promising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look promising" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe something that has the potential to be successful or positive in the future. Example: "The new business venture looks promising, with a strong team and a unique product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Other ideas look promising.

The New York Times

Such programmes look promising.

The Economist

Things didn't look promising.

Independent

Initially, things look promising.

The Guardian - Tech

Preliminary results look promising.

The New York Times

The numbers don't look promising.

The New York Times

But early results look promising.

The New York Times - Magazine

But it does look promising.

The Economist

However, the signs look promising.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It did not look promising.

The New York Times - Travel

Things do not look promising.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "look promising", ensure that the context provides specific reasons why something appears to have potential, making your statement more persuasive and informative.

Common error

Avoid using "look promising" as a generic statement. Instead, provide concrete details or reasons why something is expected to succeed. For example, instead of saying "The project looks promising", say "The project looks promising due to its innovative approach and strong market demand."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look promising" functions as a predicative adjective describing the state or potential of a subject. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a positive outlook or potential for success. Examples show it modifying nouns such as "results", "programmes", and "signs", indicating they possess favorable qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "look promising" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates a positive outlook or potential for success. According to Ludwig AI analysis, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While the phrase is useful in many contexts, remember to provide specific reasons to support why something "looks promising". Alternatives such as "show potential" or "hold promise" can be used for variety. In conclusion, "look promising" is a valuable phrase to express optimism and positive expectations about future outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

show potential

Replaces "look" with "show", emphasizing the display of potential rather than the appearance of it. Changes the verb to a more active form.

hold promise

Uses the verb "hold" to convey that something contains or possesses promise, shifting the focus slightly from appearance to inherent quality.

appear hopeful

Replaces "promising" with "hopeful", indicating a feeling or expectation of a positive outcome. Shifts the focus to a feeling or expectation.

seem likely to succeed

Expands the phrase to explicitly state success, providing a clearer indication of the desired outcome. Highlights the likelihood of success.

bode well

Uses a more concise and idiomatic expression to indicate a positive future outcome, offering a stylistic variation.

offer good prospects

Replaces "look" with "offer" and "promising" with "good prospects", emphasizing the provision of favorable opportunities.

inspire optimism

Shifts the focus to the feeling of optimism that something generates, rather than its inherent promise. Focuses on the emotional response.

give reason for hope

Expresses that something provides a basis for optimism and positive expectations, offering a more descriptive alternative.

are encouraging

Uses a more direct and active verb, "are", to describe something as encouraging, simplifying the structure.

suggest a bright future

Specifically mentions a "bright future", making the positive outlook more explicit than simply "promising".

FAQs

How can I use "look promising" in a sentence?

You can use "look promising" to describe something that shows signs of future success or positive outcomes. For example, "The new drug trials "look promising"" or "The company's expansion plans "look promising"."

What can I say instead of "look promising"?

You can use alternatives like "show potential", "hold promise", or "appear hopeful" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "looks promising" or "look promising"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "looks promising" for singular subjects (e.g., "The project looks promising") and "look promising" for plural subjects or when used with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "The results look promising" or "It does "look promising"").

What's the difference between "seem promising" and "look promising"?

"Seem promising" and "look promising" are very similar, but "seem promising" implies a judgment based on initial impressions or limited information, while ""look promising"" can be based on more detailed observation or evidence. The difference is subtle and they are often interchangeable.