Another word for look
The best other words for look are gaze, resemble, seek and stare.
- Most formal
- gaze, survey, regard
- Strongest
- stare, hunt, track down
- Casual
- stare, eyeball, sound
- Instead of “look carefully”
- inspect, examine, watch
Look /lʊk/ (verb, noun): To direct your eyes toward something or to appear in a particular way. In simple words: to direct your eyes, seem a certain way, search for something, or an appearance. Below are 23 rated synonyms across 4 senses, plus 30 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
25 synonyms shown
Direct your eyes · verb
turn your eyes toward something
Seem or appear · verb
appear a certain way
Search for · verb
try to find someone or something
Appearance or glance · noun
the way someone or something looks
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- gaze — more sustained and intent than look
- peer — look carefully, often with difficulty
- stare — long, fixed, often rude or intense
The dashed ring marks “look” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for look in your sentence
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How to choose
Choose look when you want the plain, flexible word; switch to a synonym only when you need a sharper shade of meaning or a different register. In formal writing, appear, resemble, seek, and survey often sound cleaner than everyday look-based phrases.
Antonyms of look
- avert
- ignore
- overlook
- disregard
- hide
- conceal
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| gaze | 3/5 | formal | creative, academic |
| stare | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| glance | 1/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| peer | 2/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
| eyeball | 3/5 | slang | casual |
| survey | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| regard | 2/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| appear | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| seem | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| sound | 2/5 | casual | casual, business |
| resemble | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| come across | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| look like | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| search | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| seek | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| hunt | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| track down | 4/5 | casual | business, casual |
| pursue | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| scour | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| appearance | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| aspect | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| expression | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| looksee | 1/5 | slang | casual |
Instead of “very look”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| look carefully | inspect, examine, watch |
| look for | search for, seek, hunt for |
| look like | seem, appear, resemble |
More words related to look
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “look”.
- watch
- observe
- inspect
- scan
- glimpse
- sight
- view
- spy
- notice
- spot
- peek
- check
- check out
- explore
- study
- examine
- appraise
- scrutinize
- consider
- take in
- track
- chase after
- pursue a lead
- semblance
- cast
- visage
- facial expression
- countenance
- bearing
- mien
Questions about synonyms for look
What is the most formal synonym for look in the sense of 'seem' or 'appear'?
Appear is usually the most neutral formal choice, and resemble is better when you mean visual likeness. In academic writing, appear often fits best because it is broad, precise, and unobtrusive.
What is a stronger alternative to look when I mean an intense or fixed gaze?
Stare is stronger and can imply surprise, hostility, or rudeness. For a focused but less blunt alternative, gaze or peer is often better depending on whether the look is sustained or careful.
When should I use search, seek, or look for?
Look for is the everyday default and works in most contexts. Use seek in more formal writing, and search when you want to stress the effort or thoroughness of the hunt.
What is a more formal word for look?
It depends on the meaning. For seeing closely, words like "observe," "inspect," or "examine" are more formal. For meaning "seem," use "appear" or "resemble."
What can I say instead of look for?
Common alternatives are "search for," "seek," and "hunt for." "Look for" is the most general and everyday choice, while the others can sound a little more formal or specific.