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look down

A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To move your eyes toward the ground or toward something below you.

Literal meaning: To direct your gaze downward.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To direct your eyes toward the ground or toward something below you.

"He looked down at his phone and missed the announcement entirely."

Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 neutral

To lower one's eyes as a sign of shyness, shame, or avoidance.

"When the teacher asked who had cheated, the guilty student looked down and said nothing."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very common in narrative and everyday speech. The literal sense is among the most basic uses of a direction + look combination. Do not confuse with 'look down on' (to feel superior to someone), which requires the addition of 'on'.

Commonly used with

floor ground feet screen page street

Forms

Base
look down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
looks down
he/she/it
Past simple
looked down
yesterday
Past participle
looked down
have + pp
-ing form
looking down
continuous

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