look through

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word look through. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word look through, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say look through in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word look through you have here. The definition of the word look through will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition oflook through, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Pronunciation

Verb

look through (third-person singular simple present looks through, present participle looking through, simple past and past participle looked through)

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see look,‎ through.
    He looked through the binoculars at the bird.
  2. To take a view of the contents of; search in, either with the eyes or by hand.
    I looked through the magazine, but it didn't seem very interesting.
    Airport security looked through her purse and confiscated her nail scissors.
  3. (transitive, archaic) To penetrate with the understanding; to see through.
    • 1829, Richard Holcraft, Tales of Humour and Romance: Selected from Popular German Writers:
      I got a small ring to make; when I brought back the finished trinket to him he stared at me with his sparkling eyes, as if he would look through my very soul, and then said: 'Thou art a clever expert fellow []
    • 1832, The Christian Offering, page 205:
      But a man should have serious consideration enough to look through this deception.
    • 2012, Mary Young, Through Love's Eyes, page 3:
      The village women were bad enough, but this man looked through me, past all the walls I had built to protect myself from pain. I do not think I could have hidden anything from him, even with a lifetime's practice of hiding what I felt.
  4. (idiomatic, often with "right") To appear or pretend not to see something or someone who is clearly visible.
    I tried to get Michele's attention at the party, but she looked right through me!

See also

References