Synonyms and antonyms of General words meaning to look or not look in British Thesaurus

look around ()

to walk around a room, building, or place and see what is there

look at ()

to direct your eyes towards someone or something so that you can see them

look (verb)

to direct your eyes towards someone or something so that you can see them

check on ()

to look at someone or something so that you are certain they are safe, satisfactory etc

examine (verb)

to look at something carefully in order to find out about it or see what it is like

stare (verb)

to look at someone or something very directly for a long time

stare (verb)

if a person’s eyes are staring, they are wide open and looking directly at you

see (verb)

to look at something in order to check it

shut (verb)

if you shut your eyes, or if they shut, you close them so that you cannot see, often to avoid seeing something unpleasant

view (verb)

to look at or watch something

admire (verb)

to look at someone or something that you think is beautiful or attractive

avert your eyes/gaze/head etc ()

to turn your eyes or face away from something that you do not want to see

be riveted on/to /someone/something ()

if your eyes or attention are riveted on or to someone or something, you are so interested or frightened that you cannot stop looking at them

browse (verb)

to look at things in a shop without being sure whether you want to buy anything

cast (verb)

to look at someone or something in a particular way

catch someone’s eye ()

to get someone’s attention by looking at them

check out (informal)

informal to look at someone or something to see whether you like them

consider (verb)

formal to look at someone or something in a particular way

contemplate (verb)

mainly literary to look at something or someone for a long time

drool (verb)

informal to look at someone or something with great pleasure

drop (verb)

if you drop your eyes or your gaze, you look downwards

exchange (verb)

to look at someone who is looking at you

eye (verb)

to look at someone or something carefully

eyeball (verb)

informal to look at someone or something directly and carefully

fasten on ()

if your eyes fasten on someone or something, you start to look at them very carefully or for a long time

fix on ()

if you fix your eyes or your attention on someone or something, you look straight at them and at nothing else

gape (verb)

to look at something or someone with your mouth open because you are very surprised

gawk ()

to gawp

gawp (verb)

Britishinformal to look at someone or something for a long time, often in a rude or stupid way, and usually with your mouth open in surprise

gaze (verb)

to look at someone or something for a long time, for example because they are attractive or interesting, or because you are thinking of something else

get an eyeful (of something) ()

to look at something surprising or shocking

glare (verb)

to look at someone or something in a very angry way

goggle (verb)

informal to look at someone or something in a way that shows you are very surprised or impressed by them

have/keep your eye on something ()

to keep looking at something, especially to avoid making a mistake

have one eye on ()

to keep looking at or paying attention to someone or something while you are doing something else

have/take a butcher’s ()

to have a look at something

inspect (verb)

to look at something carefully

look/glance sideways ()

to look towards one side by moving your eyes only, without moving your head much

lower (verb)

to look downwards

peer (verb)

to look very carefully, especially because something is difficult to see

preview (verb)

to look at something, or to try it before deciding to use it, in order to check that it is suitable

re-examine (verb)

to look at or think about something carefully again

refer to (formal)

formal to look at a book, map etc for information

regard (verb)

mainly literary to look at someone or something in a particular way

rove (verb)

mainly literary if your eyes rove around a place, you look all around it

rubberneck (verb)

informal to look at something, especially a car accident, as you are passing it

scan (verb)

to look at something very carefully, because you hope or expect to see a particular person or thing

see over ()

to walk around a place or building and look at what is there

settle (verb)

mainly literary if your eyes settle on someone or something, you begin to look at them

settle on ()

if your eyes settle on someone or something, you begin to look at them

shift (verb)

to move your eyes in order to look at something else

squint (verb)

to close your eyes slightly and try to see something, either because of a bright light or because your eyes do not work very well

strain your eyes/ears ()

to try very hard to see or hear something

survey (verb)

to look at something, or to examine something

sweep (verb)

to look over every part of someone or something in one continuous movement of your eyes

take aim ()

to look at something and decide how to throw or kick in order to hit it

take in ()

to spend time looking at something

take your eyes off ()

to stop looking at someone or something

travel (verb)

if your eyes travel from one place to another, you look at one thing and then another

view (verb)

formal to look at something carefully or in detail

wander (verb)

if your eyes or your gaze wanders, you stop looking at one thing and start looking at another