look after sb/sth/yourself
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. To take care of someone or something. You are responsible for their safety or well-being.
phrasal verb. To assume responsibility for the welfare, supervision, or maintenance of a person, animal, or object.
Can you look after my cat this weekend?
My parents often look after my children when I have to work late.
The conservator meticulously looked after the ancient manuscript, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
This phrase always takes an object, which is the person, animal, or thing being cared for.
Contrast with 'take care of' (a near-synonym) and 'care for' (slightly more formal); 'look after' is the most common in everyday speech.
She looks after of her little brother.She looks after her little brother.The object follows 'after' directly; no extra preposition like 'of' is needed.
Last updated April 24, 2026