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."
inseparable
look on as
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
To consider or regard someone or something in a particular way or role.
In plain English
You think of someone as being a certain thing — like a friend, a hero, or an enemy.
What does "look on as" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
inseparable
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "look on as"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
friend mentor enemy family role model authority
How to conjugate "look on as"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "look on as" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "look on as" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "look on as"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
consider regard as see as think of as treat as view as
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