1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To think of someone as inferior and treat them with contempt or condescension.
"She grew up wealthy and always looked down on people who hadn't had the same opportunities."
inseparable
look down on
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To regard someone or something as inferior, unimportant, or beneath you socially, morally, or intellectually.
In plain English
To think you are better than someone else and treat them as if they are less important.
What does "look down on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To regard something as unworthy of serious attention or respect.
"Many literary critics used to look down on science fiction as a lesser genre."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To literally look downward at someone — the physical metaphor of height as superiority gives rise to the figurative meaning.
Actually means
To think you are better than someone else and treat them as if they are less important.
Usage tip
Very common in discussions of social class, prejudice, and interpersonal dynamics. Always negative in tone — no one 'looks down on' someone with a positive meaning. Note the literal origin: to look down physically is associated with a position of power or height above someone.
Words that pair with "look down on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
others working class poor those who immigrants uneducated
How to conjugate "look down on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
look down on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
looks down on
he/she/it
Past simple
looked down on
yesterday
Past participle
looked down on
have + pp
-ing form
looking down on
continuous
Hear "look down on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "look down on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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