looked forward to

USAGE SUMMARY

"looked forward to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express anticipation or excitement about a future event. For example: "The children looked forward to attending the carnival all month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We looked forward to going back.

The New York Times

Still, she looked forward to casting "Ghostbusters".

The New Yorker

She looked forward to refusing him.

The New Yorker

Still, Miranda looked forward to Sundays.

The New Yorker

"My family looked forward to it.

The New York Times

Aresco looked forward to a temporary break.

The New York Times - Sports

We always looked forward to visits.

Independent

She looked forward to updating the interior.

The New York Times

She looked forward to the future.

The New Yorker

He looked forward to it".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I looked forward to that.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looked forward to" when you want to express genuine anticipation or pleasure about a future event. Ensure the object of the preposition 'to' is a noun or gerund (verb ending in -ing).

Common error

Avoid using the base form of a verb directly after "to" in this phrase. Always use the gerund form (verb + -ing). For example, instead of "I looked forward to go", write "I "looked forward to" going".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looked forward to" functions as a phrasal verb expressing anticipation or positive expectation about a future event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts. It typically connects a subject with an event or activity they are eagerly awaiting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looked forward to" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to express anticipation or excitement about something in the future. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing numerous real-world examples from sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC. While versatile, pay attention to using a gerund after the preposition "to" to avoid grammatical errors. You can also consider semantically similar substitutes such as anticipated or eagerly awaited to add variety to your writing. With its neutral register, "looked forward to" is suitable for various professional, informal and formal communication contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was anticipating with pleasure

Combines anticipation with positive emotion.

eagerly awaited

Emphasizes the eagerness and excitement of the anticipation.

awaited with pleasure

Highlights the positive emotions associated with the anticipation.

anticipated

Single word replacement, more formal and concise.

had high expectations for

Focuses on the positive expectations associated with the anticipated event.

was excited about

Focuses on the feeling of excitement associated with the anticipation.

longed for

Suggests a deep and heartfelt desire for something.

counted the days until

Emphasizes the passage of time and the eagerness for the event to arrive.

yearned for

Implies a strong and often emotional desire.

was keen on

Suggests a strong interest and enthusiasm.

FAQs

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

Use "looked forward to" followed by a noun or gerund (verb ending in -ing) to express anticipation. For example, "I "looked forward to" the vacation" or "She "looked forward to" seeing her friends".

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

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

Is it correct to say "I look forward to meet you"?

No, the correct phrasing is "I "look forward to" meeting you". The verb after "to" should be in the gerund form (-ing).

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

"Look forward to" is used in the present tense to express a general feeling or habitual anticipation. "Looking forward to" is the present continuous form, used for something specifically anticipated at the moment or in the near future.