What does "look like" mean (sense 1)?

To have a similar physical appearance to another person or thing Example: "Everyone says she looks just like her grandmother at the same age."

What does "look like" mean (sense 2)?

To seem as though something is likely to happen, based on what you can see or observe Example: "Those dark clouds look like there's going to be a heavy storm later today."

What does "look like" mean (sense 3)?

To visually resemble a type or category of thing Example: "The building looks like a giant glass cube from the outside."

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look like

A2 neutral inseparable transitive

To have the appearance of something or someone, or to seem as though something is likely to happen

In plain English

When someone or something has the same appearance as another person or thing, or when it seems that something is going to happen

What does "look like" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 A2 neutral

very common

To have a similar physical appearance to another person or thing

"Everyone says she looks just like her grandmother at the same age."

inseparable

2 A2 neutral

very common

To seem as though something is likely to happen, based on what you can see or observe

"Those dark clouds look like there's going to be a heavy storm later today."

inseparable

3 A2 neutral

very common

To visually resemble a type or category of thing

"The building looks like a giant glass cube from the outside."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To look (in appearance) as if one is like (similar to) something or someone

Actually means

When someone or something has the same appearance as another person or thing, or when it seems that something is going to happen

Usage tip

One of the most common and essential phrasal verbs at A2 level. Used for physical resemblance ('You look like your mother'), visual comparisons ('It looks like rain'), and predictions ('It looks like we're going to be late').

Words that pair with "look like"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

father mother sister rain fun hard work trouble

How to conjugate "look like"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

look like

I/you/we/they

3rd person

looks like

he/she/it

Past simple

looked like

yesterday

Past participle

looked like

have + pp

-ing form

looking like

continuous

Hear "look like" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "look like" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "look like"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

appear to be be the image of resemble seem like take after

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "look" All phrasal verbs with "like" More A2-level phrasal verbs