Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To turn one's head and eyes to visually examine one's surroundings or the area near oneself.
   • To explore or inspect a place, often casually or without a specific, urgent goal.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To examine or inspect (a place or thing) by looking at various parts of it.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive Verb:

  • When you enter the museum, take a moment to look around and get your bearings.
  • I heard a noise, so I stopped and looked around to see what it was.

• Transitive Verb (look around [something]):

  • We spent the afternoon looking around the old town.
  • Would you like to look around the house before you decide?

Advanced Usage

• "To have a look around": This is a common phrase meaning to spend some time examining a place.

  • The potential buyers asked if they could have a look around the property.

• Used to imply casual searching or consideration:

  • I'm not sure what to buy; I'm just looking around for ideas.

Variants and Related Words

• Look round (verb): A chiefly British English variant with the same meaning as "look around."

  • We decided to look round the cathedral.

• Browse (verb): To look at things in a casual, leisurely way, often in a shop or online. It implies less purposeful searching than "look around."

  • I'm just browsing the bookstore, not looking for anything specific.

Synonyms

• Survey: To look carefully and thoroughly at something, often from a high point.
• Inspect: To look at something closely and critically, typically for assessment.
• Peruse: To read or examine something, typically with great care. (Note: Often used more for reading than general visual examination.)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Look about: Synonymous with the intransitive use of "look around."

  • He looked about nervously, expecting to see someone he knew.

• Look over: To examine something quickly or superficially.

  • Can you look over this report for any obvious errors?

Related Idioms

• Look high and low: To search everywhere thoroughly.

  • I've been looking high and low for my keys! (This implies a more active and urgent search than "looking around.")

• Take a gander (at): (Informal) To have a look at something.

  • Why don't you take a gander at the engine and see what you think?

Verb

1. look about oneself
   • look around to see whether you can find the missing document