look up

USAGE SUMMARY

"look up" is a grammatically correct part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to suggest that someone searches or investigates something to find more information about it. For example: "I wasn't sure of the answer, so I had to look up the definition in the dictionary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Look up look up look up.

The New York Times

Look up.

The New York Times

Yoder didn't look up.

The New York Times - Magazine

Then, I look up.

The New York Times

Look up: parbunkells.

The New Yorker

ASTRONOMERS usually look up.

The Economist

Look up "farther".

The New Yorker

"I look up.

The New York Times - Books

Look up "vertical".

The New Yorker

Look up! Look here!

The New York Times

"Look up," he'd say.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "look up" to mean 'search for information', specify the source (e.g., "look it up in a dictionary") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "look up" when you mean "admire" or "respect". "Look up to" implies admiration, whereas "look up" generally refers to searching for information.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "look up" primarily functions as a directive, instructing or suggesting an action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It commonly directs the user to seek information from a reference source (e.g., "Look up the facts") or indicates an improvement in circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Wiki

48%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "look up" is a versatile phrasal verb with two primary meanings: to search for information and to improve. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase is very common across various contexts, appearing frequently in news articles, wikis, and academic papers. When using "look up", it's essential to differentiate it from "look up to", which means to admire. By understanding its varied meanings and contexts, you can effectively incorporate "look up" into your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

search for

Focuses on the act of actively seeking something, similar to consulting a reference.

investigate

Implies a more in-depth examination or inquiry than a simple search.

research

Suggests a systematic and thorough study of a topic.

consult

Emphasizes seeking advice or information from a source.

check

A more general term for verifying or confirming information.

ascertain

Highlights the process of finding something out for certain.

find out

A common and informal way to express discovering information.

track down

Implies locating someone or something that may be difficult to find.

seek out

Suggests a deliberate effort to find something specific.

determine

Focuses on establishing something definitively after investigation.

FAQs

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

You can use "look up" to describe searching for information, as in "I need to "look up" the meaning of this word". It can also mean to improve, as in "Things are starting to "look up" for him".

What can I say instead of "look up"?

Alternatives to "look up" include "search for", "investigate", or "research", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "look up" and "look up to"?

"Look up" generally means to search for information or to improve. "Look up to", on the other hand, means to admire or respect someone. The addition of "to" changes the meaning significantly.

Is it correct to use "look up" to mean things are improving?

Yes, "look up" can mean that things are improving or becoming more positive. For example, "After a difficult start, his prospects began to "look up"".