looked upon as

USAGE SUMMARY

"looked upon as" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an opinion or perspective considered by someone or a group of people. For example: The new mayor was looked upon as a savior for the struggling city.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, patients' adherence and attitudes to behaviour change were also looked upon as important.

BMC Family Practice

We're looked upon as scum.

The Guardian

am looked upon as a common cutthroat...

The Washington Post

Generally he was looked upon as a conservative.

The New York Times

The Sea Islands were early looked upon as private kingdoms.

Britannica

"The German president is looked upon as a unifying element.

The New York Times

"He was looked upon as a merciless tyrant".

The New York Times

He was looked upon as some kind of Huckleberry Homer.

The New York Times

Your height is looked upon as a positive.

The New York Times - Sports

They looked – and were looked upon – as ragged frontiersmen.

The New York Times

Why shouldn't they be looked upon as sexually attractive?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse in close proximity within your writing. While common, varying your phrasing adds sophistication and prevents monotony. Consider alternatives like "regarded as" or "considered to be" for similar meanings.

Common error

Avoid using "looked upon as" without specifying who is doing the looking. Ambiguity weakens your statement. Instead of saying "The policy is looked upon as unfair", specify "The policy is looked upon as unfair by the employees".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looked upon as" functions as a verbal phrase acting as a prepositional complement. It indicates how someone or something is viewed or considered by others. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a usable phrase for describing perspectives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looked upon as" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe how something or someone is perceived or regarded. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's acceptable in written English and serves to convey opinions or perspectives. The phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse fields like news, science, and general conversation. While it's crucial to specify the 'looker' for clarity, this construction offers a reliable way to indicate how a subject is viewed by others. Although slightly less formal than alternatives like "regarded as", it remains suitable for various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarded as

Focuses more on the general opinion or estimation of something or someone.

considered to be

Highlights a more thoughtful or deliberate assessment.

viewed as

Emphasizes a particular perspective or angle of perception.

seen as

A simpler, more direct way of expressing perception or understanding.

perceived as

Stresses the subjective nature of the observation.

taken as

Suggests that something is understood or interpreted in a specific way.

deemed to be

Implies a formal judgment or evaluation.

judged as

Conveys a sense of critical appraisal or evaluation.

understood as

Highlights the comprehension or interpretation of something.

recognized as

Indicates that something is acknowledged or known for a particular quality.

FAQs

How can I use "looked upon as" in a sentence?

Use "looked upon as" to express how someone or something is generally perceived or regarded. For example, "She was "looked upon as a leader" in her community."

What are some alternatives to "looked upon as"?

You can use alternatives such as "regarded as", "considered to be", or "viewed as" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "looked upon as" and "seen as"?

"Looked upon as" often implies a more thoughtful consideration or judgment, while "seen as" is a more direct and immediate perception. However, they are often interchangeable.

Which is more formal, "looked upon as" or "regarded as"?

"Regarded as" tends to be slightly more formal than "looked upon as", but both are suitable for most formal writing contexts.