Phrase guide

look forward to

verb · 1 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 anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • He was not looking forward to having to repair the downed power lines after the wind storm.
  • 1794 November 19, George Washington, speech, George Washington's Sixth State of the Union Address, When we call to mind the gracious indulgence of Heaven by which the American people became a nation; when we survey the general prosperity of our country, and look forward to the riches, power, and happiness to which it seems destined, with the deepest regret do I announce to you that during your recess some of the citizens of the United States have been found capable of insurrection.
  • 1961 January 17, Dwight D. Eisenhower, speech, Eisenhower's farewell address, Now, on Friday noon, I am to become a private citizen. I am proud to do so. I look forward to it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

63 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: очаквам (očakvam) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Catalan: esperar amb il·lusió — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Chinese Mandarin: 期待 (qīdài) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Chinese Mandarin: 向往 (xiàngwǎng) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Chinese Mandarin: 盼望 (pànwàng) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Chinese Mandarin: 巴望 (bāwàng) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Chinese Mandarin: 等不及 (děngbují) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Chinese Mandarin: 期盼 (qīpàn) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Czech: těšit se — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Danish: glæde sig til — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Danish: se frem til — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Dutch: uitkijken naar — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Dutch: zich verheugen op — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Esperanto: antaŭĝoji (pri) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Finnish: odottaa innolla — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Finnish: odottaa jännityksellä — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Finnish: odottaa mielenkiinnolla — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • French: avoir hâte de — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • French: attendre avec impatience — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • French: espérer — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • German: sich freuen auf — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Greek: προσβλέπω (prosvlépo) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Greek: ευελπιστώ (evelpistó) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Greek: ανυπομονώ (anypomonó) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Hungarian: alig vár — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Hungarian: örömmel vár — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Icelandic: hlakka til — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Indonesian: nantikan — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Irish: bheith ag súil le — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Old Irish: fris·accai — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Italian: non vedere l'ora — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Japanese: 楽しみにする (tanoshimi ni suru) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Norwegian Bokmål: glede seg — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Norwegian Bokmål: se frem til — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: gle seg til — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: sjå fram til — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Persian: مشتاق بودن (moštâq budan) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Polish: nie móc się doczekać — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Polish: wyczekiwać na — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Portuguese: ansiar por — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Portuguese: estar ansioso para — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Portuguese: mal poder esperar por — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Portuguese: mal poder esperar para — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Portuguese: não ver a hora de — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Romanian: aștepta cu nerăbdare — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Romanian: abia aștepta — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Russian: ждать с нетерпе́нием (ždatʹ s neterpénijem) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Russian: не мочь дожда́ться (ne močʹ doždátʹsja) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Russian: предвкуша́ть (predvkušátʹ) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Scottish Gaelic: dèan fiughair ri — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Serbo-Croatian: radovati se — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Slovak: tešiť sa — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Slovene: veseliti se — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Spanish: no ver la hora de — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Spanish: quedar a la espera de — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Spanish: estar/sentirse entusiasmado/emocionado/ávido por — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Spanish: sentir/haber/tener entusiasmo/emoción/expectación/avidez por — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Swedish: se fram emot — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Telugu: ఎదురుచూచు (edurucūcu) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Turkish: iple çekmek — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Turkish: dört gözle beklemek — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Ukrainian: не могти дочекатися (ne mohty dočekatysja) — anticipate, expect, or wait for
  • Welsh: edrych ymlaen at — anticipate, expect, or wait for