# look up

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/look-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to search for information in a book, list, or online.

For teachers: to consult a reference source (book, database, website) in order to find specific information.

## Examples

- I look up new words in my dictionary.
- She looked up the train times on her phone before leaving the house.
- During the lecture, he discreetly looked up the etymology of the term on his tablet.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I looked up it in the dictionary." but "I looked it up in the dictionary." — pronoun objects must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- se/when the object is a pronoun it must come between verb and particle.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'find out' (to discover a fact) and 'search for' (ongoing process); 'look up' implies using a specific reference.

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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.