ENGLISH
REFERENCE

look for sb/sth

phrasal verb.
A1 Beginner Oxford
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.

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.

  • search for
  • seek
  • try to find
Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
look + for + object
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'.

Last updated April 24, 2026