Phrasal verb
look for sb/sth
Definition
phrasal verb. to try to find someone or something.
phrasal verb. to search for or seek a person or object; a transitive phrasal verb indicating an active attempt to locate something.
Examples
“I am looking for my keys.”
“She went to the library to look for a book about ancient Rome.”
“The detective spent weeks looking for a single clue that would finally connect the suspect to the crime scene.”
Examples
simple
“I am looking for my keys.”
contextual
“She went to the library to look for a book about ancient Rome.”
complex
“The detective spent weeks looking for a single clue that would finally connect the suspect to the crime scene.”
Usage
The object is the person or thing you are trying to find.
Teaching tip
Contrast 'look for' (the action of searching) with 'find' (the result of a successful search); learners often confuse the two.
Pitfall
I am looking my keys.
I am looking for my keys.
The particle 'for' is required to convey the meaning of 'search'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
look + for + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/look-for-sb-sth