Phrasal verbs "look forward to" vs "turn to"

Differences between look forward to and turn to

Look forward to is used when we are excited or anticipating something that will happen in the future, while turn to is used when we need help or support from someone or something.

Meanings and Definitions: look forward to vs turn to

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Look forward to

• 1. Wait for or anticipate something pleasant.

  I'm LOOKING FORWARD TO meeting you.

Turn to

• 1. Try to get help.

  She had nobody to TURN TO when her husband died.

• 2. Take up a habit.

  He TURNED TO drink after he lost his job.

Usage Examples: look forward to, turn to in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

look forward to

Example

I look forward to our vacation next month.

Example

She looks forward to her birthday party.

turn to

Example

When she felt lonely, she would turn to her friends for comfort.

Example

He turns to his family for advice when making important decisions.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Look forward to

can't wait for

To be very excited and eager about something that will happen in the future.

Example

I can't wait for the weekend to come so I can go hiking with my friends.

eagerly anticipate

To look forward to something with great excitement and expectation.

Example

She eagerly anticipated the release of her favorite band's new album.

count down the days

To keep track of the number of days left until an anticipated event or activity.

Example

He counted down the days until his vacation started and he could relax on the beach.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Turn to

rely on

To depend on someone or something for help or support.

Example

She knew she could rely on her best friend to help her move to a new apartment.

seek assistance from

To ask for help or support from someone or something.

Example

He decided to seek assistance from a financial advisor to manage his investments.

resort to

To turn to something or someone as a last option or solution.

Example

After trying everything else, he had to resort to taking medication to manage his chronic pain.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “look”

• look in
• look over
• look to
• look back
• look down on

Phrasal Verbs with “turn”

• turn on
• turn out
• turn away
• turn off
• turn down

Phrasal Verbs with “to”

• relate to
• keep to
• owe to
• hark back to
• run to

Differences in look forward to vs turn to: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: look forward to or turn to?

Both look forward to and turn to are commonly used in daily conversations. However, look forward to is more common than turn to because it's used to express excitement and anticipation, which are common emotions in everyday life.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of look forward to and turn to

Look forward to and turn to are both informal phrases that are suitable for casual conversations. However, turn to can also be used in formal settings like business or academic contexts when seeking help or support.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of look forward to and turn to

The tone of look forward to is usually positive and enthusiastic, while the tone of turn to can vary depending on the context. It can be neutral or even negative if someone is turning to something or someone as a last resort.

look forward to & turn to: Synonyms and Antonyms

Look forward to

Synonyms

• anticipate
• await
• expect
• hope for
• eagerly await
• be excited about
• can't wait for

Antonyms

• dread
• fear
• worry about
• be anxious about
• not look forward to

Turn to

Synonyms

• consult
• seek help
• ask for assistance
• rely on
• depend on
• resort to
• look to
• appeal to

Antonyms

• avoid
• ignore
• shun
• reject
• refuse
• decline
• turn away