What are the definitions of “look through”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Read quickly.
I LOOKED THROUGH the article.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “look through”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb look through is to read something quickly or to skim through the content. It is often used when you want to get a general idea of the information without reading every word.
What are the different verb forms of “look through”?
| Root Verb | look through |
| Third Person Singular Present | looks through |
| Present Participle | looking through |
| Simple Past | looked through |
| Past Participle | looked through |
Example
I always look through the newspaper in the morning.
Example
She looks through her emails every day.
Example
He is looking through the magazine while waiting for his appointment.
Example
Yesterday, they looked through the report to find the main points.
Example
The documents have been looked through by the team.
What kind of phrasal verb is “look through”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“look through” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She looked through the book.
Example
He looked through the article quickly.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“look through” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She looked through the book.
Example
He looked through the article quickly.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “look through”?
Good things to know
Does “look through” have an informal or formal tone?
Look through is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, such as academic or professional discussions.
