Phrase guide

look up to

verb · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To show respect or admiration for (someone); to see (someone) as a role model.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • A boy should look up to his father.

Meaning relationships

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

Antonyms: look down on

2

verb

Meaning 2

feel admiration for

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: admire

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: respect, esteem, value, prize, prise

Narrower terms: envy

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese: 崇拜 (chóngbài) — To show respect for
  • Chinese: 钦佩 (qīnpèi) — To show respect for
  • Chinese: 敬仰 (jìngyǎng) — To show respect for
  • Chinese: 仰慕 (yǎngmù) — To show respect for
  • Czech: vzhlížet k (e) — To show respect for
  • Finnish: ihailla — To show respect for
  • Finnish: kunnioittaa — To show respect for
  • French: respecter — To show respect for
  • German: aufblicken zu — To show respect for
  • German: aufschauen zu — To show respect for
  • German: achten — To show respect for
  • Hungarian: felnéz — To show respect for
  • Japanese: 見上げる (miageru) — To show respect for
  • Japanese: 仰ぐ (aogu) — To show respect for
  • Japanese: 重んじる (omonjiru) — To show respect for
  • Japanese: 重視する (jūshi suru) — To show respect for
  • Japanese: 尊敬する (sonkei suru) — To show respect for
  • Japanese: 尊重する (sonchō suru) — To show respect for
  • Norwegian: se opp til — To show respect for
  • Polish: podziwiać — To show respect for
  • Portuguese: admirar — To show respect for
  • Portuguese: respeitar — To show respect for
  • Spanish: respetar — To show respect for
  • Swedish: se upp till — To show respect for
  • Turkish: hayranlık duymak — To show respect for
  • Turkish: örnek almak — To show respect for
  • Russian: равняться на (ravnjatʹsja na) — To see as a role model
  • Russian: брать пример с (bratʹ primer s) — To see as a role model