Look for sb Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Look for sb” Mean?

“Look for sb” means to try to find or search for someone. It is used when you want to locate a person.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “look for sb” is commonly used in English to express the action of searching for a person. “Sb” is a shorthand for “somebody,” so the phrase literally means to seek or try to find somebody. Understanding the look for sb meaning is important because it helps learners communicate clearly when they are trying to find someone, whether in casual or formal situations. This phrase appears frequently in daily conversations, making it essential for learners to know how to use it naturally and effectively.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: look for somebody
• Type: transitive
• Level: A2
• Short meaning: to try to find someone

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Look for sb” is a transitive phrasal verb, which means it always requires an object (somebody).

It is inseparable, so you cannot put the object between “look” and “for.”

• Correct: I am looking for my friend.
• Incorrect: I am looking my friend for.

Basic pattern: look for + somebody

How to Use “Look for sb”?

Use “look for sb” when you want to say you are trying to find someone. It can be used in different tenses and forms, such as present, past, and continuous.

Examples of usage include:

• When you arrive somewhere and want to find a person.
• When you call or message someone to ask where they are.
• When you describe searching for someone in a story or report.

Examples

Imagine you arrive at a meeting and cannot find your colleague. You might say:

• “I’m looking for Sarah. Have you seen her?”
• “He was looking for his brother in the crowd.”
• “They looked for the teacher everywhere but couldn’t find her.”
• “She is looking for her lost friend.”
• “We looked for John at the park yesterday.”

These examples show how “look for sb” is used in real situations.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse the word order or preposition in this phrase. Here are some common mistakes and corrections:

• Incorrect: I am looking my sister for.
  Correct: I am looking for my sister.
• Incorrect: She looks sb for at the station.
  Correct: She looks for somebody at the station.
• Incorrect: We look after him. (This means to take care, not to search)
  Correct: We look for him. (Means to search)

Differences / Synonyms

Sometimes, “look for sb” is confused with similar phrases like “search for sb” or “look after sb.” Here is how they differ:

• Look for sb: To try to find someone.
• Search for sb: More formal or intense version of looking for someone, often used in official or serious contexts.
• Look after sb: To take care of someone, not to find them.

Use “look for” in everyday speech when simply trying to find a person.

Common Collocations

“Look for sb” is often used with these common objects:

• Friend: looking for a friend means trying to find a person you know.
• Family member: looking for a family member means searching for a relative.
• Colleague: used in work contexts.
• Someone: a general term for any person.
• Lost person: often used in emergency or serious contexts.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of look for sb:

• Look At Sb
• Look At Sth
• Look Out For Sb
• Look After Sb
• Look Down On Sb

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation showing how “look for sb” is used naturally:

Anna: Have you seen Mike today? I’ve been looking for him all morning.

John: No, I haven’t. Maybe he’s still at home.

Anna: I hope so. I need to talk to him about the project.

Practice

Try to fill in the blanks with the correct form of “look for sb”:

• I am _______ my keys and can’t find them.
• She _______ her brother at the train station yesterday.
• We have been _______ the teacher since 10 am.
• Are you _______ someone special?

FAQs

• Q: Can I say “look sb for”?
  A: No, the correct order is “look for sb.”
• Q: Is “look for sb” formal or informal?
  A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations.
• Q: Can I use “look for sb” in the past tense?
  A: Yes, for example, “I looked for her yesterday.”
• Q: What is the difference between “look for sb” and “search for sb”?
  A: “Search for sb” is more formal and often implies a more thorough search.
• Q: Is “look for sb” separable?
  A: No, you cannot separate “look” and “for” with the object.