Look sth over Meaning, Examples & How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Look sth over” Mean?

“Look sth over” means to examine or check something carefully and quickly, usually to find mistakes or understand it better.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “look sth over” is commonly used in English when someone wants to review or inspect an object, document, or situation. The phrase combines the verb “look” with the particle “over” and an object, typically shortened to “sth” (something). Understanding the look sth over meaning helps learners know when and how to use this phrase to talk about checking things carefully but not in extreme detail. Whether you are reviewing a report, inspecting a product, or scanning a list, “look sth over” is a useful phrase to describe this action in a simple way.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: look something over
• Type: transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to examine or check something quickly and carefully

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Look sth over” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object either between the verb and the particle or after both.

• look + object + over (e.g., look the report over)
• look over + object (e.g., look over the report)

Both forms are correct and commonly used, but the first one is more informal.

How to Use “Look sth over”?

Use “look sth over” when you want to say that you will check or examine something quickly but thoroughly enough to understand or find errors. It often applies to papers, documents, products, or places. You can use it in both formal and informal situations.

Examples of contexts include reviewing a contract before signing, checking a car before buying, or scanning a list before a meeting.

Examples

Imagine you receive an important email with a contract attached. You might say:

• “I will look the contract over before I sign it.”
• “Can you look over my essay and tell me if it sounds good?”
• “The mechanic looked over the car and found a small problem.”
• “Please look over the report and let me know if you see any mistakes.”
• “I looked over the schedule and everything seems fine.”

These examples show how “look sth over in a sentence” helps describe quick but careful checking.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse the word order or use the wrong particle. Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: “Look over the report it carefully.”
• Correct: “Look over the report carefully.”
• Incorrect: “Look the report under.”
• Correct: “Look the report over.”

Remember, the particle is always “over,” never “under” or another word.

Differences / Synonyms

“Look sth over” is similar to “check,” “review,” or “examine,” but it usually means a quicker or less detailed inspection. For example:

• Look over: Quick, careful check.
• Check: Can be quick or detailed.
• Review: Usually more detailed and formal.
• Examine: Very detailed and careful.

Choose “look sth over” when you want to emphasize a quick but careful glance rather than a deep study.

Common Collocations

Here are common objects used with “look sth over” and their meanings:

• Look over a document: Check papers or files.
• Look over a contract: Review legal agreements.
• Look over a car: Inspect a vehicle.
• Look over a list: Scan through items or names.
• Look over an essay: Check written work.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of look sth over:

• Look Into Sth
• Look Sth Up
• Look After Sb
• Look Out For Sb
• Look About Sth

Real-life Dialogue

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

Anna: Can you look over my presentation slides before the meeting?

Ben: Sure! I’ll look them over and let you know if anything needs changing.

Anna: Thanks, I want to make sure everything is clear.

Practice

Try to choose the correct sentence:

• a) I will look the report over before submitting it.
• b) I will look over the report it before submitting it.
• c) I look the over report before submit it.

Correct answer: a)

FAQs

• Q: Can I use “look over” without an object?
  A: Usually, “look over” needs an object to be clear.
• Q: Is “look sth over” formal or informal?
  A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations.
• Q: What is the difference between “look over” and “look through”?
  A: “Look over” means to check quickly; “look through” often means to search for something.
• Q: Can I say “look over the homework”?
  A: Yes, it means to check or review the homework.
• Q: Is “look sth over” separable?
  A: Yes, the object can go between “look” and “over” or after both.