# look for sb/sth

CEFR A1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/look-for-sb-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to try to find someone or something.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am looking my keys." but "I am looking for my keys." — The particle 'for' is required to convey the meaning of 'search'.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.