Look forward to meaning
Look forward to means to feel happy about something that is going to happen. It can also mean to say in a formal letter or email that you hope to hear from someone.
look forward to something
look forward to · looked · looking
I’m looking forward to the holidays.
Look forward to meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary.
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1
Feel happy about something that is going to happen
look forward to something
- I’m looking forward to the holidays.
- We’re really looking forward to your visit.
- She is looking forward to starting her new job.
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2
Say in a formal letter or email that you hope to hear from someone
look forward to somebody or something
- I look forward to hearing from you.
- We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
- I look forward to your reply.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use look forward to in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is look forward to separable?
Look forward to is a three-word verb and it is never separable. What you are happy about comes after to: look forward to the weekend, look forward to it.
To is a preposition here, not part of an infinitive. After it, use a noun or the -ing form: look forward to the party, look forward to meeting you.
Verb tenses for look forward to
| Present | I look forward to · she looks forward to |
|---|---|
| Past | looked forward to |
| Present perfect | have looked forward to |
| -ing form | looking forward to |
Common mistakes with look forward to
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: I look forward to see you.
Right: I look forward to seeing you.
To is a preposition, so the next verb takes -ing.
Wrong: I’m looking forward for the weekend.
Right: I’m looking forward to the weekend.
Say forward to, not forward for.
Wrong: I look forward it.
Right: I look forward to it.
Do not drop the to.
Synonyms and opposites of look forward to
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- can’t waitinformal and a little stronger: I can’t wait for Friday
- anticipateformal; expect something and prepare for it
- count down tobe excited and count the days until an event
Opposite
- dreadfeel afraid or worried about something that will happen
- put offdelay something
Look forward to quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1We’re all ___ the party on Saturday.
Look forward to means feel happy about something that will happen.
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2Choose the right sentence.
After look forward to, use -ing.
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3Which sentence is best at the end of a formal email?
This is the normal polite ending of a formal email.
More phrasal verbs with look
All phrasal verbs with look, by level, with an exercise
13 phrasal verbs start with look. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
- look forA1try to find someone or something
- look afterA2take care of someone or something and keep them safe and well
- look upA2find information in a dictionary, a book or online
- look outB1be careful, because something bad may happen
- look atA1turn your eyes towards someone or something
- look aroundB1walk around a place and look at the things in it
- look intoB2examine the facts about a problem to find out the cause
- look backB2think about something that happened in the past
- look down onB2think that you are better than someone
- look up toB2admire and respect someone
- look overC2check something quickly, to see if it is right
- look throughB2read or check something quickly, page by page
Look forward to FAQ
Questions people ask about look forward to.
What does look forward to mean?
It means feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen. I’m looking forward to the trip.
Is it “look forward to see” or “look forward to seeing”?
Always “looking forward to seeing”. To is a preposition here, so the next verb ends in -ing.
Is look forward to hearing from you formal?
It is polite and common at the end of work emails. With friends you would say Can’t wait to hear from you or Talk soon.
Use look forward to in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.