Is "look round" separable?

No, it is inseparable; the object always follows immediately after.

Can I use "look round" in American English?

It is mainly British English; Americans often say "look around."

Is "look round sth" formal?

It is informal and commonly used in everyday speech.

Can I use "look round" with people?

No, it is usually used with places or things, not people.

look round sth Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “look round sth” Mean?

“Look round sth” means to explore or examine a place or object by moving around it to see what is there.

Introduction

The phrase “look round sth” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone wants to explore or inspect a place or thing carefully. It often refers to visiting a location, such as a house, shop, or museum, and moving around to see everything it has to offer. Understanding the look round sth meaning helps learners use it correctly in conversations about sightseeing, shopping, or checking out new places. This phrasal verb is informal and very useful in daily English, especially when talking about visiting unfamiliar places or considering buying something.

Quick Info Box

Phrasal verb: look round sth (look round something)
Type: transitive
Level: A2–B2
Short meaning: to explore or examine a place or object by moving around it

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Look round sth” is a transitive phrasal verb, meaning it always needs an object (something to look round).

It is inseparable, so the object must follow the phrasal verb directly.

Correct pattern:

look round + noun (object)

Example: We looked round the old castle.

How to Use “look round sth”?

You use “look round sth” when you want to say that you are exploring or checking out a place or object carefully. It is commonly used when visiting new locations or considering something to buy, such as a house or a car. The phrase implies moving around to see all parts or aspects of the thing you are looking at.

Examples

When you visit a new city, you might want to look round the main attractions.

We spent the afternoon looking round the museum.
Before deciding to buy the house, they looked round the entire property.
Let’s look round the shop to see if they have any good deals.
She looked round the garden carefully before planting new flowers.

Here is “look round sth” in a sentence: They looked round the art gallery to find their favorite paintings.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “look round sth” with similar verbs or use it incorrectly by separating the phrase.

Incorrect: Look the shop round.
Correct: Look round the shop.
Incorrect: I want to look around of the house.
Correct: I want to look round the house.

Remember, “look round” is inseparable, and the object comes immediately after it without any preposition.

Differences / Synonyms

“Look round sth” is similar to “look around sth,” but “look round” is more common in British English, while “look around” is used in both British and American English. Both mean to explore a place by moving around it. Another similar phrase is “check out sth,” which can mean to look at something carefully but is more informal.

Differences:

Look round sth: Explore by moving around (British English)
Look around sth: Same meaning, more common in American English
Check out sth: To examine or investigate, more informal

Common Collocations

“Look round” is often used with places or objects that can be explored or inspected:

Look round a house: To visit and explore a house, usually before buying or renting
Look round a shop/store: To explore a shop to see what is on sale
Look round a museum/gallery: To visit and explore exhibits
Look round a garden/park: To explore outdoor areas

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of look round sth:

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “look round sth”:

Anna: Have you had time to look round the new art gallery?

Ben: Yes, I looked round it yesterday. The paintings were amazing!

Anna: I want to look round the house before making a decision.

Ben: Good idea. It helps to see everything carefully.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct form of “look round sth”:

We ________ the old castle before buying tickets.
She wants to ________ the new shop before choosing what to buy.
They ________ the apartment twice to check for any problems.

FAQs

What does “look round sth” mean? It means to explore or examine a place or object by moving around it.
Is “look round” separable? No, it is inseparable; the object always follows immediately after.
Can I use “look round” in American English? It is mainly British English; Americans often say “look around.”
Is “look round sth” formal? It is informal and commonly used in everyday speech.
Can I use “look round” with people? No, it is usually used with places or things, not people.