looking forward to leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking forward to leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing anticipation or eagerness about departing from a place or situation. Example: "I am looking forward to leaving for my vacation next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Are you looking forward to leaving?

The Guardian

I am looking forward to leaving Sydney now.

The Guardian - Travel

Mr. Mitchell is now looking forward to leaving his character behind.

The New York Times

For the first time on this trip, I am looking forward to leaving a country.

The Guardian - Travel

He added that he's looking forward to leaving The Daily Show after 15 years at the helm.

Independent

With these hardships, I asked, You guys must be looking forward to leaving the graveyard for school, huh?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Friends said Mr. Holder did not look forward to leaving the government because he did not particularly enjoy private practice.

The New York Times

Mrs. LaSusa at CMP Media said she looked forward to leaving her desk each day for her "4 o'clock hug break".

The New York Times

I've spent a lot of time in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and I would find it perfectly understandable if someone looked forward to leaving it at some point, but I cannot imagine McCarron saying so, certainly not publicly.

The New York Times - Sports

He also said he looked forward to leaving office so that "I don't even have to pretend to try to be nice to people I don't like," leading another reporter to ask, "Have you ever?" "Some of you may not think I've been good at it," Mr. Frank said.

The New York Times

As the debate rages in India, Mr Modi can look forward to leaving his troubles behind later this week when he lands in the UK, where he will be courted by politicians and business leaders eager to improve ties and boost trade with an emerging economic power.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looking forward to leaving" to express positive anticipation about a future departure, whether it's a change of location, job, or situation. Ensure the context clearly indicates what you are leaving and why you are anticipating it.

Common error

Ensure your sentence provides sufficient context. Simply stating "I'm looking forward to leaving" can sound negative if it's not clear why you are eager to depart. Clarify the situation to avoid misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking forward to leaving" functions as a verbal phrase expressing anticipation or excitement about a future departure. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable expression in written English. The phrase builds anticipation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looking forward to leaving" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey anticipation or excitement about a future departure. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While versatile, it's crucial to provide sufficient context to clarify the reason for the anticipation and avoid potential misinterpretations. Alternatives include "eager to depart" or "excited about leaving". Its usage spans across various authoritative sources, particularly in news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to depart

Replaces "looking forward to" with a more direct expression of eagerness.

excited about leaving

Focuses on the excitement associated with the departure.

can't wait to leave

More informal and conveys a sense of impatience.

ready to move on

Focuses on the desire to transition to a new phase or location.

anticipating the departure

Formal and emphasizes the expectation of leaving.

anxious for a change of scenery

Highlights the desire for a new environment and experience.

awaiting the opportunity to leave

Formal and highlights the anticipation of a chance to leave.

counting down the days until departure

Emphasizes the passage of time and the anticipation of leaving.

yearning for departure

Implies a strong desire and longing for leaving.

longing to be gone

Conveys a strong desire to leave a place or situation.

FAQs

What does "looking forward to leaving" mean?

It means you are anticipating and excited about departing from a place or situation in the future.

How can I use "looking forward to leaving" in a sentence?

You can say, "I am "looking forward to leaving" this job for a new opportunity", or "They are "looking forward to leaving" for their vacation next week".

What are some alternatives to "looking forward to leaving"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to depart", "can't wait to leave", or "excited about leaving" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "looking forward to leave"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""looking forward to leaving"" because "to" functions as a preposition here, and prepositions are followed by a gerund (verb + -ing).