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Preposition after verb

“Look at” and “look for” explained

Look at means direct your eyes or attention toward something. Look for means try to find something or someone.

Quick answer

Look at vs. look for

Use look at for seeing, examining, or considering something. Use look for when searching for something that may be missing or needed.

Please look at this report.
I'm looking for my keys.
The committee will look at the proposal tomorrow.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
look at + object

Directing your eyes toward something

Look at refers to seeing or examining something visually.

She looked at the painting quietly.
2
look at + issue/idea

Considering or analysing something

Look at can also mean examine mentally or discuss.

We need to look at the budget carefully.
3
look for + object/person

Searching for something

Look for means try to find something or someone.

They are looking for a new apartment.
I looked for my passport everywhere.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
look at
He looked at the map.
direct attention or sight toward something
look for
She is looking for her glasses.
search for something
look after
They look after their neighbour's dog.
take care of someone or something
look into
The police will look into the matter.
investigate

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using look at for searching

Look at means examine, not search.

✕ I looked at my phone for an hour but couldn't find it. ✓ I looked for my phone for an hour but couldn't find it.

Using look for when examining

Look for means search for something missing or desired.

✕ The doctor looked for the X-ray carefully. ✓ The doctor looked at the X-ray carefully.

Forgetting the object after look for

Look for usually introduces the thing being searched for.

✓ We are looking for a reliable supplier.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Can you ___ these numbers and check them?
2. She's ___ a taxi outside the station.
3. The team will ___ possible solutions tomorrow.

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Frequently asked questions

Can look at mean consider?

Yes. It often means analyse or discuss an issue, plan, or proposal.

Is look for always physical searching?

No. You can also look for opportunities, answers, or improvements.

Can I use look at with people?

Yes. It can refer to directing your eyes or attention toward a person.

label, as, label, with lag behind, in, from, on or by? "land on" or "land in"? languish in, at, on, for or near? last for, from, until, in or through? "latch onto" or "latch on"? laugh at, with, about, in or for? launch in, by, on, at or into? "lay on" or "lay in"? lead to, by, up, in or from? "leak to" or "leak from"? lean on, towards, against, toward or to?

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