To regard someone or something as inferior or beneath one's own standards — the formal or literary variant of 'look down on'.
To think you are better than someone or something, in a more formal way of saying it.
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
To regard someone as socially, morally, or intellectually inferior; to feel superior to someone. (Formal variant of 'look down on'.)
"In the Victorian era, those who worked with their hands were often looked down upon by the upper classes."
To direct one's gaze downward upon someone — height as a metaphor for superiority.
To think you are better than someone or something, in a more formal way of saying it.
'Look down upon' is slightly more formal and often appears in written English, speeches, and academic or literary contexts. In everyday speech, 'look down on' is more natural. The two are fully interchangeable in meaning.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "look down upon" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.