# look forward to sth

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/look-forward-to-sth
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen in the future.

For teachers: to anticipate a future event with pleasure; a multi-word verb requiring a direct object, often used in semi-formal correspondence.

## Examples

- I look forward to our holiday next month.
- We are all looking forward to meeting the new manager at the team lunch on Friday.
- While the shareholders look forward to increased dividends, the employees remain cautious about the proposed restructuring of the company.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I look forward to meet you." but "I look forward to meeting you." — the word 'to' is a preposition in this phrase, so you must use the -ing form of the verb.

## Usage notes

- the word 'to' is a preposition here, so it must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form).
- Teaching tip: this is the classic example for teaching that 'to' is not always part of an infinitive; use it to practice the gerund after prepositions.

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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.