Phrase guide

look the part

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 appear suitable for a particular kind of work, position or role.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If you want to be a successful business person, you have to look the part.
  • We were going to cast him in our new movie but unfortunately he didn't look the part.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 似模似樣 /似模似样 (ci5 mou4 ci5 joeng6) — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Chinese Cantonese: 有型有格 — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Chinese Cantonese: 入型入格 — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Chinese Mandarin: 儀表得體 /仪表得体 (yíbiǎo détǐ) — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Finnish: vaikuttaa sopivalta — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • French: avoir la tête de l'emploi — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • French: avoir le physique de l'emploi — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • French: avoir la gueule de l'emploi — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • German: entsprechend aussehen — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • German: angemessen aussehen — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • German: passend erscheinen — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • German: so aussehen — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Italian: avere il physique du rôle — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Polish: odpowiednio wyglądać — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Portuguese: parecer estar à altura — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Russian: вы́глядеть соотве́тствующе (výgljadetʹ sootvétstvujušče) — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Spanish: parecer estar a la altura — appear suitable for a particular kind of work
  • Spanish: aparentar estar a la altura — appear suitable for a particular kind of work