Look Forward: Meaning, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：anticipate eagerly (Look forward)

Look forward 🔊

/lʊk ˈfɔːrwɚd/

phr v

To feel happy and excited about something that will happen in the future.

Look forward to future event with happy anticipation

anticipate eagerly 🔊

➕

/ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt ˈiːɡərli/

phr v

To feel happy and excited about something that will happen in the future; to eagerly await a positive future event.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'lōcian' + 'foreweard', meaning 'to look ahead'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine looking forward to a holiday – you can almost feel the excitement ahead.

📖 Example

I look forward to starting my new art class next month. 🔊 I look forward to starting my new art class next month.

🔗 Collocations

look forward to seeing you – anticipate meeting you with pleasure

look forward to hearing from you – eagerly await your reply

look forward to the event – feel excited about the upcoming occasion

🔄 Synonyms

anticipate (v) – to look forward to something with pleasure or expectation

await (v) – to wait for something eagerly

expect (v) – to think that something will happen, often with hope

🚫 Antonyms

dread (v) – to look forward to something with fear or anxiety

📖 Cultural Story

The phrase 'look forward to' emerged in the 19th century as a polite expression of anticipation. It is widely used in letters and emails to convey eagerness for future events.