we were looking forward

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were looking forward" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase that is used to express anticipation or excitement about something that is about to happen. Example sentence: We were looking forward to our vacation in Hawaii.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were looking forward to fighting these allegations and winning".

The New York Times

We were looking forward to raising our family there".

The New York Times

We were looking forward to having some fun.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were looking forward to seeing him swimming," he said.

The New York Times

We were looking forward to moving into Shea".

The New York Times - Sports

We were looking forward to a great vacation.

The New York Times

We were looking forward to the funds from the United States".

The New York Times

"We were looking forward to see Adolfo play with Clint," General Manager Nick Sakiewicz said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were looking forward to having Will come back," Cardinals General Manager Walt Jocketty said.

The New York Times - Sports

"As a nonprofit organization," he said, "we were looking forward to setting the right tone".

The New York Times

We were looking forward to 1984's headline act the Smiths.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing in a formal context, consider whether a more concise or sophisticated alternative, such as "we anticipated", might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "we are looking forward to" when referring to a past event. The past tense, "we were looking forward to", should be used when the anticipation occurred in the past, even if the event itself is still in the future from the perspective of the writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were looking forward" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a state of anticipation or positive expectation in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase indicates that the subject (we) held a favorable outlook towards a future event or experience at some point in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were looking forward" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to convey anticipation or positive expectation for a past event, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's commonly found in news, business, and general contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the tense aligns with the timeframe you're describing, and consider formal alternatives like "we anticipated" for professional communications. Remember to avoid using "we are looking forward to" when referencing an event or situation in the past. With a wealth of examples from reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, "we were looking forward" is a reliable choice for expressing past anticipation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we looked forward to

Slightly shorter version with the same meaning.

we were anticipating with excitement

Combines anticipation with a strong emotion.

we anticipated

Replaces "looking forward" with a more concise expression of expectation.

we eagerly awaited

Emphasizes the enthusiasm of the anticipation.

we were excited about

Directly expresses the feeling of excitement.

we had high hopes for

Focuses on the positive expectations associated with the event.

we expected with pleasure

Highlights the enjoyable aspect of the anticipation.

we were awaiting

A more formal way of expressing anticipation.

we were keen on

Indicates a strong desire or enthusiasm.

we contemplated with pleasure

Emphasizes thoughtful enjoyment of the anticipation.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were looking forward to" to express anticipation for something in the past. For example, "We were looking forward to the concert, but it was canceled".

What's a more formal alternative to "we were looking forward to"?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases like "we anticipated" or "we eagerly awaited" to convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

What can I say instead of "we were looking forward to" to emphasize excitement?

To emphasize excitement, consider using phrases like "we were excited about" or "we were anticipating with excitement".

Is it correct to say "we are looking forward to" instead of "we were looking forward to"?

The correct tense depends on the context. Use "we are looking forward to" for present anticipation and "we were looking forward to" for past anticipation. For example: "We are looking forward to the meeting next week" (present) vs. "We were looking forward to the meeting, but it was postponed" (past).