look forward to

Short definition: The phrase look forward to means to feel excited or happy about something that will happen in the future, anticipating it with positive expectation.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrase look forward to? This is one of the most common expressions used in English when talking about future plans, expectations, or things that make you feel excited and positive. People often use it in conversations, emails, and professional messages when they want to express anticipation about something that will happen later. It usually carries a friendly, hopeful tone, suggesting that the speaker genuinely expects something good or enjoyable in the future. Below are detailed meanings with realistic examples so you can clearly understand how look forward to works in everyday English.

look forward to v. /ˌlʊk ˈfɔːrwərd tuː/

Forms: look forward to, looks forward to, looked forward to, looking forward to
Related: anticipate v., expect v., await v., hope for v.
Syllable: look-for-ward-to

  1. (Verb) To feel happy or excited about something that will happen in the future.

    To look forward to most commonly means feeling happy, excited, or positive about something that will happen later, especially when you expect it to be enjoyable or meaningful.

    I’m really looking forward to seeing you again next weekend.
    She looks forward to her vacation every year because it gives her time to relax and explore new places.
    We’re all looking forward to the concert tonight since it’s been planned for months.

    Synonyms: anticipate, eagerly await, expect happily, hope for, await eagerly, be excited about, count the days for, be eager for, be enthusiastic about, welcome the idea of, await with excitement, feel excited about
    Antonyms: dread, fear, worry about, avoid thinking about, dislike the idea of, feel anxious about, resist, regret upcoming event, wish to avoid, feel reluctant about, hesitate about, feel negative toward

  2. (Verb) To politely express expectation or anticipation in communication, especially in emails or formal messages.

    In professional or polite communication, look forward to is often used to express respectful anticipation about future interaction, cooperation, or receiving information from someone.

    I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding the proposal.
    We look forward to working with your team on this project.
    The company looks forward to welcoming new clients at the event.

    Synonyms: anticipate response, await reply, expect communication, hope to hear from, anticipate cooperation, welcome collaboration, expect future contact, await message, anticipate meeting, expect discussion, await interaction, welcome opportunity
    Antonyms: avoid contact, reject communication, refuse interaction, decline cooperation, dismiss proposal, ignore message, cut communication, avoid meeting, refuse discussion, decline response, end contact, withdraw interest

Conversation Using the Phrasal Verb Look forward to

Discussing future plans, Arthur and Beatrice talk about their excitement for an upcoming event. This conversation highlights look forward to, which means to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen.

Arthur: I really look forward to our summer vacation in Spain; it’s been far too long since we spent a week relaxing by the Mediterranean.

Beatrice: I look forward to it as well; I can already imagine the delicious food and the beautiful sunsets we’ll see every single evening.

Arthur: I read that most employees look forward to the weekend as a time to rest and spend quality hours with their friends and family.

Beatrice: I noticed that you look forward to the new book release by your favorite author with a lot of anticipation and genuine excitement.

Arthur: If you look forward to a challenge, you’ll find that you are much more motivated to work hard and achieve your personal goals.

Beatrice: I saw a student look forward to his graduation day with such a big smile that it was clear how much the achievement meant to him.

Arthur: It’s common for children to look forward to their birthdays for months, often counting down the days until they can celebrate with a party.

Beatrice: I agree; I’m going to look forward to starting my new job next month because I think it will be a fantastic opportunity for my career.

Arthur: I’m glad we have so many things to look forward to this year; it makes the daily routine feel much more meaningful and exciting.

Beatrice: Me too; once we look forward to the final results of our hard work, we can finally celebrate all the success we’ve achieved together.

Phrases Containing the Phrasal Verb Look Forward To

The phrases below show how the phrasal verb look forward to is used to talk about feeling excited or pleased about something that will happen in the future.

Look forward to meeting you

To feel excited about a future meeting.

I look forward to meeting you in person and discussing our collaboration in more detail.

Look forward to hearing from you

To expect a reply with anticipation.

We look forward to hearing from you soon regarding the next steps in the process.

Look forward to the weekend

To anticipate days off happily.

After a long week at work, many people look forward to the weekend to relax and recharge.

Look forward to the event

To anticipate an occasion.

The community looks forward to the annual festival that brings everyone together.

Look forward to working together

To anticipate collaboration.

We look forward to working together and building a successful partnership.

Look forward to the holidays

To anticipate vacation time.

Children often look forward to the holidays because they can spend more time with family.

Look forward to your reply

To expect a response politely.

I look forward to your reply and appreciate your time in reviewing my request.

Look forward to the results

To anticipate outcomes.

The research team looks forward to the results of their long-term study.

Look forward to the future

To feel hopeful about what is coming.

Despite challenges, she looks forward to the future with optimism and determination.

Look forward to the opportunity

To anticipate a chance positively.

He looks forward to the opportunity to prove his skills in the new role.

Look forward to learning more

To anticipate gaining knowledge.

I look forward to learning more about your innovative approach to problem-solving.

Look forward to seeing you

To anticipate a reunion.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference next month.

Look forward to celebrating

To anticipate a celebration.

They look forward to celebrating their anniversary with close friends and family.

Look forward to improvement

To anticipate progress.

The organization looks forward to improvement after implementing new strategies.

Look forward to success

To anticipate achievement.

With careful planning, the team looks forward to success in the upcoming launch.

Look forward to growth

To anticipate development.

Investors look forward to growth in the expanding technology sector.

Look forward to progress

To anticipate advancement.

Citizens look forward to progress in infrastructure and public services.

Look forward to a new beginning

To anticipate a fresh start.

After moving to a new city, she looked forward to a new beginning.

Look forward to the challenge

To anticipate difficulty positively.

He looks forward to the challenge because it pushes him to grow professionally.

Look forward to spending time together

To anticipate shared moments.

They look forward to spending time together during the holiday season.

Words Rhyme with look forward to

book toward you
took toward view
cook toward blue
hook toward new
shook toward true
brook toward do
crook toward few
shook toward you
took toward through
hook toward who
to
do
you
blue
true
new
few
view
through
who
into
onto
unto
pursue
renew
subdue
review
preview
issue
tissue
POS: Verb Phrase  Category: Direction