looks done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks done" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something appears to be completed or finished, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "After checking the cake in the oven, I can say it looks done; it's time to take it out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"It certainly looks done.

The New Yorker

She looks done in.

The Guardian - Film

Gros looks done in.

The Guardian - Books

This first set looks done and dusted.

The Guardian - Sport

"You get your hair blown out, it looks done and polished".

The New York Times

The Press Complaints Commission, the toothless body responsible for newspapers' self-regulation, looks done for, having been condemned by Mr Cameron, among many others.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Which looks do you love?

Huffington Post

In some cases, looks do matter.

WikiHow

'You look done in,' says the driver.

Independent

The Giants, at 0-5, look done.

The Guardian - Sport

This just doesn't look done.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looks done" when you want to convey a casual assessment of completion based on visual observation, especially in contexts like cooking or project status. For example, "The cake looks done; let's take it out of the oven."

Common error

Avoid replacing "looks done" with overly formal phrases in informal settings. While alternatives exist, the phrase's simplicity is often its strength in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks done" functions as a descriptive expression indicating that something appears to be completed or finished. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous real-world examples where the phrase serves to convey a visual assessment of completion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looks done" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating that something appears to be complete, as verified by Ludwig. While its register is informal, making it suitable for casual conversations and general writing, more formal alternatives like "appears finished" or "seems complete" are preferable in professional or academic settings. The phrase's purpose is primarily observational, conveying a visual assessment of completion, frequently seen in News & Media and Wiki contexts. When writing, consider your audience and the level of formality required to determine the best phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears to be complete

A formal and almost interchangeable alternative.

appears finished

Replaces the informal "looks" with the more formal "appears" while retaining the core meaning of completion.

seems complete

Substitutes "looks" with "seems" and "done" with "complete", offering a slightly more formal tone.

looks to be finished

Adds a slight degree of uncertainty about the state of completion.

is apparently finished

Adds "apparently" to emphasize the perceived completion, suitable when the completion isn't definitively confirmed.

is seemingly done

Similar to "apparently finished" but conveys a slightly stronger sense of observation.

gives the impression of being completed

Offers a more descriptive and formal alternative, suitable for technical or academic writing.

presents as complete

Similar to 'seems complete' but slightly more formal and descriptive.

has the appearance of being finished

A more verbose version, highlighting the visual aspect of being done.

seems to be over

Focuses on the end of a process or activity, suitable for situations that are activity-based.

FAQs

How can I use "looks done" in a sentence?

"Looks done" is typically used to express that something appears to be completed or finished based on observation. For example: "The project "looks done"; we can submit it now."

What's a more formal way to say "looks done"?

More formal alternatives include "appears finished" or "seems complete", which are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "looks done" grammatically correct?

Yes, "looks done" is grammatically acceptable in informal contexts. It's a common way to express that something appears to be finished. However, it's not as formal as "appears finished".

When is it appropriate to use "looks done" over other alternatives?

Use "looks done" in casual settings when you want to quickly convey that something appears finished based on visual assessment. Avoid it in formal writing where a more precise or professional tone is required, in that cases use phrases like "seems complete".