# look like sb/sth

CEFR A1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

To have the same face or appearance as someone or something else.

For teachers: A transitive prepositional verb meaning to resemble someone or something in physical appearance.

## Examples

- You look like your mother.
- That cloud looks like a dragon if you look at it for a while.
- From a distance, the ancient, weathered rock formation looked like a sleeping giant guarding the entrance to the valley.

## Pitfalls

- Not "She looks as her sister." but "She looks like her sister." — Use the preposition 'like', not 'as', when comparing physical appearance with this verb.

## Usage notes

- Used to compare the physical appearance of two people or things.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'be like', which describes personality or character, not physical appearance (e.g., 'He is like his father' means they have similar personalities).

---

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.