English Reference

Word

lookup

/ˈɫʊkəp/

Definition

n. the act of searching for information in a book, a database, or a list. You do this when you need to find a specific fact or name.

n. the process of searching for information in a database, list, or reference work. Often used in technical contexts to describe the retrieval of data based on a specific key.

Examples

“I did a quick lookup in the phone book.”

“The software performs a lookup in the database to verify if the customer's account is active.”

“A successful lookup requires the system to efficiently traverse the index to locate the exact record without scanning the entire dataset.”

Examples

simple

“I did a quick lookup in the phone book.”

contextual

“The software performs a lookup in the database to verify if the customer's account is active.”

complex

“A successful lookup requires the system to efficiently traverse the index to locate the exact record without scanning the entire dataset.”

Real-World Examples

“If you are using angles in degrees, make sure your calculator (or your lookup table) is in degrees.”
WIRED 20 Dec 2018

Etymology

Deverbal from look up.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Occasional
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/lookup
English Reference