Dictionary

look through en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see look, through.
   • He looked through the binoculars at the bird.
2. To take a view of the contents of; search in, either with the eyes or by hand.
   • I looked through the magazine, but it didn't seem very interesting.
   • Airport security looked through her purse and confiscated her nail scissors.
3. (archaic, transitive) To penetrate with the understanding; to see through.
   • But a man should have serious consideration enough to look through this deception. 1832, The Christian Offering, page 205:
   • I got a small ring to make; when I brought back the finished trinket to him he stared at me with his sparkling eyes, as if he would look through my very soul, and then said: 'Thou art a clever expert fellow […] 1829, Richard Holcraft, Tales of Humour and Romance: Selected from Popular German Writers:
   • The village women were bad enough, but this man looked through me, past all the walls I had built to protect myself from pain. I do not think I could have hidden anything from him, even with a lifetime's practice of hiding what I felt. 2012, Mary Young, Through Love's Eyes, page 3:
4. (idiomatic, often, with "right") To appear or pretend not to see something or someone who is clearly visible.
   • I tried to get Michele's attention at the party, but she looked right through me!

Forms

Relateds

go through · read through · through

Translations (1)

eo trarigardi (take a view of the contents of)