Phrase guide

look down on

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To regard or treat as inferior.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: disesteem, disdain, look down one's nose, contemn, despect, disrespect, despise, look down on, misrespect, scorn, spurn

Antonyms: look up to, respect, esteem, honor, idolize, lay store by, prize, hallow, put store by, put store in, rate, regard, revere, set store by, value, venerate, worthy

2

verb

Meaning 2

To view from a vantage point.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To view [people or events on Earth] from the vantage point of the afterlife (originally, Heaven).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • I get a feeling Kurt Cobain is looking down on Nickelback and wondering what alternative rock has become.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

regard with contempt

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the new neighbor looks down on us because our house is very modest

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: admire

Broader terms: contemn, despise, scorn, disdain

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

46 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تَرَفَّعَ (taraffaʕa) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 看不起 (kànbùqǐ) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 瞧不起 (qiāobùqǐ) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 小看 (xiǎokàn) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 俯視 /俯视 (fǔshì) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 輕視 /轻视 (qīngshì) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 鄙視 /鄙视 (bǐshì) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Czech: dívat se spatra — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Czech: povyšovat se — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Dutch: neerkijken op — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Finnish: ylenkatsoa — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Finnish: halveksia — to regard or treat as inferior
  • French: mépriser — to regard or treat as inferior
  • French: regarder de haut — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Galician: menosprezar — to regard or treat as inferior
  • German: von oben herab behandeln — to regard or treat as inferior
  • German: hinabsehen auf — to regard or treat as inferior
  • German: hinabschauen auf — to regard or treat as inferior
  • German: herabsehen auf — to regard or treat as inferior
  • German: herabschauen auf — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Hungarian: lenéz — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Italian: guardare in basso — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Japanese: 見下す (mikudasu) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Japanese: 軽んじる (karonjiru) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Japanese: 軽視する (keishi suru) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Japanese: 軽蔑する (keibetsu suru) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Korean: 얕보다 (yatboda) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Korean: 내려다보다 (naeryeodaboda) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Korean: 깔보다 (kkalboda) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Latin: despiciō — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Latin: dēdignor — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Latin: aspernor — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Lithuanian: žiūrėti iš aukšto — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Māori: whakatakē — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Māori: tamatama — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Norwegian: se ned på — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Norwegian: rakke ned på — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Polish: patrzeć z góry — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Portuguese: menosprezar — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Russian: смотре́ть свысока́ (smotrétʹ svysoká) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Russian: презира́ть (prezirátʹ) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Slovak: pozerať zhora (na niekoho) — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Slovak: pozerať opovržlivo — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Spanish: menospreciar — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Spanish: ningunear — to regard or treat as inferior
  • Swedish: se ned på — to regard or treat as inferior