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look on as

B2 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

You think of someone as being a certain thing — like a friend, a hero, or an enemy.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To regard or consider someone or something in a specified role or category.

"I've always looked on Maria as my closest friend, even though we only met five years ago."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To view an experience or period in a particular evaluative light.

"She looks on her years abroad as the most formative of her life."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Always followed by a noun or noun phrase describing the role or category. More common in British English than American English, where 'look at as' or 'see as' tends to be preferred.

Commonly used with

friend mentor enemy family role model authority

Forms

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

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Synonyms

regard as consider see as think of as view as treat as

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