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

What Does “Look upon sb” Mean?

“Look upon sb” means to regard or consider someone in a particular way. It often expresses an opinion or feeling toward a person.

Introduction

The phrase “look upon sb” is a common English expression used to describe how someone views or considers another person. The term “sb” stands for “somebody,” making the phrase flexible for many contexts. Understanding the “look upon sb meaning” helps learners express respect, judgment, or feelings about others clearly. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal situations and is often found in literature, conversation, and writing. Learning how to use “look upon sb” correctly can improve your communication skills and make your English more natural.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: look upon somebody
• Type: transitive
• Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to regard or consider someone in a certain way

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Look upon sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means you cannot separate “look” and “upon” with an object in between.

• Correct: look upon somebody
• Incorrect: look somebody upon

Common sentence patterns include:

• Subject + look(s) upon + somebody + as + complement
• Subject + look(s) upon + somebody + with + emotion

How to Use “Look upon sb”?

You use “look upon sb” when talking about opinions or feelings toward a person. It can express respect, admiration, judgment, or other attitudes. Often, it is followed by words like “as,” “with,” or an emotion.

Example usage includes:

• To show respect: “Many people look upon her as a leader.”
• To express feelings: “He looked upon his old friend with sadness.”

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “look upon sb in a sentence”:

• People often look upon teachers as role models.
• She looked upon her mentor with great admiration.
• We should not look upon others with prejudice.
• The community looks upon him as a hero.
• They looked upon the new policy with skepticism.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the wrong preposition. Here are examples:

• Incorrect: I look my boss upon with respect.
• Correct: I look upon my boss with respect.
• Incorrect: She looked upon as a friend him.
• Correct: She looked upon him as a friend.

Differences / Synonyms

Several phrases have similar meanings to “look upon sb.” For example, “regard sb,” “view sb,” and “see sb as.” However, “look upon sb” often implies a more thoughtful or formal consideration.

• Regard: Similar but more formal (e.g., “I regard him as trustworthy”).
• View: A neutral observation (e.g., “She views him as a colleague”).
• See: More casual (e.g., “I see her as a friend”).

“Look upon sb” can emphasize the emotional or evaluative aspect more than these synonyms.

Common Collocations

When using “look upon sb,” certain words often appear with it to clarify the meaning:

• Look upon sb as: to consider someone in a specific role or way (e.g., “as a leader”).
• Look upon sb with: to express feelings or emotions (e.g., “with respect,” “with suspicion”).
• Look upon sb favorably/unfavorably: to show positive or negative opinions.
• Look upon sb kindly: to have a warm or gentle feeling.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of look upon sb:

• Look Upon Sth
• Look Down On Sb
• Look About You
• Look For Sb
• Look Round Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “look upon sb”:

Anna: How do people in your office look upon the new manager?

Ben: Most of them look upon her as very capable and fair.

Anna: That’s good to hear. I hope she keeps that reputation.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “look upon sb”:

• Many students __________ their teachers __________ role models.
• He __________ his old friend __________ sadness after many years.
• We should not __________ others __________ their background.
• The community __________ the mayor __________ a hero.

FAQs

• Q: Is “look upon sb” formal or informal?

  A: It is slightly formal but can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

• Q: Can I say “look upon someone” in spoken English?

  A: Yes, but it is more common in writing or formal speech than casual conversation.
• Q: What does “sb” mean in “look upon sb”?

  A: “Sb” is an abbreviation for “somebody,” used in grammar explanations.

• Q: Can “look upon” be separated?

  A: No, “look upon” is inseparable; the object must come after the entire phrasal verb.
• Q: Is “look upon sb as” different from “look upon sb with”?

  A: Yes, “as” is used for roles or identities, “with” is used for emotions or attitudes.