Definition

Verb: - To take care of someone or something; to be responsible for their well-being, safety, or maintenance. - To keep something under careful scrutiny or watch.

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires an object (e.g., look after someone, look after something). It is commonly used in informal and formal contexts to describe the act of caring for or supervising.

Examples

• Basic Care:
  • Could you look after my cat while I'm on vacation?
  • She looks after her younger brother after school.
• Supervision/Scrutiny:
  • The guard was told to look after this prisoner carefully.
  • Please look after the documents; they are very important.

Advanced Usage

• "to look after oneself": To take care of one's own needs, health, or interests.
  • Don't worry about me, I can look after myself.
• "to look after the details": To manage or attend to specific, often small, aspects of a task.
  • You handle the big presentation; I'll look after the details.

Variants and Related Words

• Care for (verb phrase): A close synonym, often interchangeable with "look after" in the context of providing care.
  • He cares for his elderly parents.
• Take care of (verb phrase): Another common synonym with a very similar meaning.
  • I will take care of the bill.

Synonyms

• Tend: To care for or look after.
• Mind: To pay attention to or take care of something temporarily (e.g., ).
• Watch over: To guard or protect.
• Supervise: To oversee and direct.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Look out for (someone/something): To be vigilant in order to protect or find someone/something.
  • Please look out for any errors in the report.
  • Good friends always look out for each other.

Related Idioms

• Look after number one: To put one's own interests and well-being first.
  • In this competitive industry, you have to look after number one.

Verb

1. keep under careful scrutiny
   • Keep an eye on this prisoner!