looking
v. · adj. · n.-
1 searching or watching (v.) A1 Beginnerthe action of using your eyes to find something or watch someone.
the present participle of 'look', used in continuous tenses to denote visual search, observation, or attention.
ExampleI am looking for my glasses because I cannot find them anywhere.
ExampleThe investigators were looking into the cause of the accident for several months before releasing their final report.
UsageOften followed by 'for' when searching or 'at' when observing.
PitfallI am looking my keys.I am looking for my keys.When searching for an object, you must use the preposition 'for' after 'looking'.
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2 having an appearance (adj.) B1 Intermediateused with another word to describe how someone or something looks.
used as the second element in compound adjectives to specify a particular physical or aesthetic appearance.
ExampleHe is a very good-looking man with a kind smile.
ExampleThe strange-looking device on the table turned out to be an antique coffee grinder from the nineteenth century.
UsageTypically follows an adverb or adjective in a hyphenated compound, such as 'healthy-looking' or 'expensive-looking'.
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3 the act of glancing (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe act of looking at something briefly.
the gerundial use of the verb to denote the act of directing one's gaze or attention.
ExampleAfter a quick looking over the documents, she signed her name.
ExampleThe constant looking back at past mistakes prevented the team from focusing on the current project's requirements.
UsageOften functions as a verbal noun in formal or literary contexts.
From Middle English lokynge, from earlier lokinde, lokende, from Old English lōciende, present participle of Old English lōcian (“to look”), equivalent to look + -ing.
From Middle English lokynge, lokinge, from Old English lōcung (attested in Old English þurhlōcung), equivalent to look + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated June 19, 2026