Dictionary

look forward to en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to.
   • I love Elizabeth and look forward to our union with delight. 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter V, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume III, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 106:
   • To such verification, however, we may look forward with reasonable confidence, for Einstein has deduced from the principle of relativity, together with the electromagnetic theory, a number of striking consequences which are remarkably self-consistent. 1909 May 18, Gilbert Newton Lewis, Richard Chace Tolman, “The Principle of Relativity, and Non-Newtonian Mechanics”, in Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 44: 709-726:
   • Then a passionate celibacy is all that any of us can look forward to. 1895, Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest […] , [Act III]:
   • 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.
   • He was not looking forward to having to repair the downed power lines after the wind storm.
   • I look forward to seeing 3417 running under its own power on the main line, and carrying passengers too. That needs central door locking, which will be no mean feat on a 4-VEP with 60 passenger doors. 2024 February 7, Philip Haigh, “Railway's fragile resilience”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 3:

Forms

Relateds

roll on

Translations (63)

ro aștepta cu nerăbdare (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · ro abia aștepta (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · sv se fram emot (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · fr espérer (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · es quedar a la espera de (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · ca esperar amb il·lusió (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · nl zich verheugen op (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · nn gle seg til (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · is hlakka til (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cy edrych ymlaen at (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · tr iple çekmek (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cmn 盼望 (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · ja 楽しみにする (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cs těšit se (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · pt estar ansioso para (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · bg очаквам (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · pt ansiar por (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · da glæde sig til (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · el ευελπιστώ (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cmn 期待 (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · fa مشتاق بودن (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · nb se frem til (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · eo antaŭĝoji (pri) (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · pt mal poder esperar para (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · it non vedere l'ora (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cmn 期盼 (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · uk не могти дочекатися (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · es estar/sentirse entusiasmado/emocionado/ávido por (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · ru не мочь дожда́ться (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · da se frem til (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · tr dört gözle beklemek (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · el προσβλέπω (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · ru предвкуша́ть (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · pt não ver a hora de (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · pl nie móc się doczekać (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · nn sjå fram til (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cmn 向往 (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · sl veseliti se (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · el ανυπομονώ (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · ru ждать с нетерпе́нием (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · fr avoir hâte de (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · es sentir/haber/tener entusiasmo/emoción/expectación/avidez por (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · fr attendre avec impatience (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · hu örömmel vár (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · fi odottaa mielenkiinnolla (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · fi odottaa jännityksellä (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · ga bheith ag súil le (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · sga fris·accai (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · fi odottaa innolla (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · id nantikan (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cmn 等不及 (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · de sich freuen auf (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · pl wyczekiwać na (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · nb glede seg (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · es no ver la hora de (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · gd dèan fiughair ri (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · hu alig vár (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · pt mal poder esperar por (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · cmn 巴望 (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · te ఎదురుచూచు (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · sk tešiť sa (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · nl uitkijken naar (anticipate, expect, or wait for) · sh radovati se (anticipate, expect, or wait for)