noun

looking

LUU-kihng

noun

The act of directing one's eyes toward something; a glance or gaze.

"A quick looking around the room told her nobody was home."

"His constant looking at his phone annoyed the teacher."

How to Use Looking

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe act of using your eyes to see or search for something.

Common mistake

Usually used as the -ing verb form ("I am looking") rather than a standalone noun; as a true noun it sounds old-fashioned or overly formal.

lookings plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

A quick _____ around the room told her nobody was home.

From Old English lōcung, the noun form of look, with the -ing ending that turns a verb into an action-noun.

joking poking smoking cooking booking choking hooking stroking provoking