looked past

USAGE SUMMARY

"looked past" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to ignore or not acknowledge something and can be used in a variety of contexts. Example 1: She looked past his rude comment and continued with her presentation. Example 2: The witness looked past the prosecutor's attempts to discredit her testimony and remained steadfast in her statement. Example 3: Despite her husband's faults, she always looked past them and focused on the good qualities that made her love him. Example 4: The teacher looked past the student's rough exterior and saw the potential for greatness within him. Example 5: In order to reach a compromise, the two parties had to look past their differences and work towards a common goal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He looked past Chib toward Hate.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I have always looked past bad experiences," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

But investors apparently looked past that to focus on the underlying growth.

The New York Times - Tech

I fear getting lost at this university, but I looked past that.

The New York Times

For now, investors looked past better-than-expected Chinese indicators released over the weekend.

The Guardian - Business

Financial markets once looked past these realities but have since cut off the commonwealth from normal market access.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Most of us look past bad events.

The New York Times

We can't look past anyone.

The New York Times - Sports

To look past surfaces (even shiny, white, reflective ones).

The New York Times

"We have to look past that.

Los Angeles Times

Look past appearances at the truth of her subculture.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looked past" when you want to emphasize that someone consciously chose to ignore something, often with a specific reason or goal in mind.

Common error

Avoid using "looked past" when you simply mean someone failed to notice something. "Overlooked" is more appropriate when there's no indication of a deliberate choice to ignore.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looked past" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. It conveys the action of ignoring or disregarding something, often with a sense of intentionality. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Academia

7%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looked past" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase signifying the act of intentionally ignoring or overlooking something. Ludwig AI validates its common usage. Its neutral register allows it to be applied in numerous contexts, prominently within news and media. When using "looked past", ensure you're conveying the sense of a deliberate choice to disregard, differentiating it from simply failing to notice something. Alternatives like "overlooked" or "ignored" can provide nuanced variations depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ignored

A general term for paying no attention to something.

overlooked

Focuses on failing to notice something, often due to negligence.

paid no attention to

Emphasizes the lack of focus or regard given to something.

taken no notice of

Highlights the failure to observe or acknowledge something.

disregarded

Implies a deliberate decision to ignore something, often due to its perceived lack of importance.

turned a blind eye to

Indicates a conscious decision to ignore something, often something unethical or undesirable.

bypassed

Suggests avoiding something, either physically or metaphorically.

glossed over

Suggests treating something superficially or minimizing its importance.

dismissed

Implies rejecting something as unworthy of consideration.

excused

Focuses on forgiving or overlooking a fault or mistake.

FAQs

What does "looked past" mean?

The phrase "looked past" means to ignore or disregard something, often intentionally. It implies a conscious decision to not focus on something.

How to use "looked past" in a sentence?

You can use "looked past" when you want to convey the idea of ignoring something. For example: "She "looked past his mistakes" and focused on his potential".

What can I say instead of "looked past"?

You can use alternatives like "overlooked", "ignored", or "disregarded" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "looked past" grammatically correct?

Yes, "looked past" is a grammatically correct verb phrase. It is commonly used in written and spoken English.