Look down on sb Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Look down on sb” Mean?

“Look down on sb” means to think that someone is less important or inferior to you. It shows disrespect or a feeling of superiority over another person.

Introduction

The phrase “look down on sb” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe when someone treats another person as if they are unimportant or not as good as themselves. Understanding the “look down on sb meaning” helps learners recognize when people show disrespect or arrogance in speech or behavior. This phrase is often used in conversations about social attitudes, relationships, and feelings of pride or prejudice. Knowing how to use “look down on sb” correctly can improve your communication skills and help you describe situations where someone feels superior. It is important to use this phrase carefully, as it can express negative feelings.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: look down on sb (look down on somebody)
• Type: transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: to think someone is less important or inferior

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Look down on sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means you cannot separate “look down on” by placing the object in the middle.

• Correct: I look down on people who lie.
• Incorrect: I look down people on who lie.

The structure is:

• Subject + look(s) down on + object (somebody/sb)

How to Use “Look down on sb”?

You use “look down on sb” to express that someone feels superior or disrespectful toward another person. It often describes judgment based on social status, behavior, or personal traits. This phrase is usually negative and can reflect prejudice or arrogance.

Commonly, it appears when talking about attitudes in social groups, workplaces, or personal relationships.

Examples

Imagine a manager who treats some employees as less capable. You can say, “The manager looks down on the new workers.”

• She looks down on anyone who doesn’t have a university degree.
• Don’t look down on your classmates; everyone has unique talents.
• He tends to look down on people from other countries.
• It’s wrong to look down on others just because they have different opinions.

These examples show how “look down on sb” in a sentence expresses feelings of superiority.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse the word order or use wrong prepositions. Here are some common mistakes:

• Incorrect: She looks down at people. (This changes the meaning, as “look down at” means to physically look downward.)
• Correct: She looks down on people.
• Incorrect: I look down people on.
• Correct: I look down on people.

Remember, “look down on” is always followed by the object directly after “on,” and never separated.

Differences / Synonyms

There are similar phrases like “look down upon sb” and “look up to sb.” They have different meanings.

• Look down upon sb: Formal version of “look down on sb,” meaning the same.
• Look up to sb: To admire or respect someone, the opposite of “look down on sb.”
• Look down at sb: To physically look downward at someone, not about attitude.

Understanding these differences helps avoid confusion and use the right phrase in context.

Common Collocations

“Look down on” is often followed by:

• people – e.g., look down on people
• someone – e.g., look down on someone
• others – e.g., look down on others
• groups – e.g., look down on certain groups
• class/status – e.g., look down on lower class

These collocations show who is being looked down on and make your sentences clearer.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of look down on sb:

• Look Out Over Sth
• Look Out On Sth
• Look Out For Yourself
• Look Out For Sb
• Look Forward To Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation that uses “look down on sb”:

Anna: I don’t like how John always looks down on new employees.

Ben: Yeah, he acts like he’s better than everyone else.

Anna: It creates a bad atmosphere at work.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “look down on”:

• She __________ people who don’t speak English well.
• It’s unfair to __________ others because of their education.
• They __________ the new team members, which causes problems.

FAQs

• What does “look down on sb” mean? It means to think someone is less important or inferior.
• Is “look down on” separable? No, you cannot separate “look down on” by placing the object in the middle.
• Can I use “look down on” in formal writing? Yes, but it is more common in spoken and informal language.
• What is the opposite of “look down on sb”? The opposite is “look up to sb,” meaning to admire or respect someone.
• Is “look down at sb” the same as “look down on sb”? No, “look down at sb” means to physically look downward, while “look down on sb” means to feel superior.