look down vs Look down on

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and are used in different contexts. 'Look down' typically means to direct your gaze downward, while 'look down on' means to regard someone or something as inferior or unworthy. They are not interchangeable.

Last updated: April 05, 2024 • 127 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"look down"

This phrase means to direct your gaze downward. It is often used when someone is looking at the ground or at something below eye level.

Examples:

She looked down and saw a small puppy at her feet.
He looked down to avoid making eye contact.
The child looked down at the ants crawling on the sidewalk.

Show examples from the web [+]

You look down and it's not pretty.
Come here to the edge and you can look down.
All elegant brides must look down.
Don't look down, Tamale.
Volunteers minors for rescue eagerly concerns can look down their comrades.
Please look down and recognise us poor sinners.
Gently descending, you don't look down.
People have to learn not to look down.
Naturally, we always must look down.
Guys, be sure to look down the whole time.
Don't look down, Murakami-san.
Now look down and to your left.
So you look down and you see a tortoise.
Can't look down from high up.
I am even scared to look down.
I mean, I sometimes look down when walk.
You look down the whole time.
I look down then this bed sheet.
Should I turn away if you guys want to look down...
I get queasy when I look down there.

Alternatives:

gaze downward
look at the ground
lower your eyes
stare at the floor
glance downward

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Look down on"

This phrase means to regard someone or something as inferior or unworthy. It is often used to describe a condescending or disdainful attitude towards others.

Examples:

She always looks down on people who don't have a college degree.
He tends to look down on anyone who doesn't share his interests.
The wealthy family looked down on their less fortunate neighbors.

Show examples from the web [+]

There is this very real need in society for someone whom almost anyone can look down on and ridicule.
I get why rich people look down on us.
Don't look down on someone who's good at his job, Nairobi.
Cam thinks I look down on his farm life.
And normal people only look down on you as a cripple.
Absolutely not. I look down on no one.
Those you look down on are people of honor.
In other words, you look down on your customers.
I already said I didn't look down on small money.
I don't look down on you, Hodgins.
I sit magnificently and look down on people's lives
The young people no longer look down on Fårö.
Even if you look down on us because we're simple country people, you should be discrete about it.
You look down on everybody that works.
I know you feel like I look down on your career, but that is so not true.
No wonder aliens look down on us!
The career you abhor and look down on?
And you look down on me!
Lord in heaven Look down on him in mercy
Look down on a grove of veteran tingle trees known as the Ancient Empire.

Alternatives:

disdain
condescend to
treat with contempt
regard as inferior
have a superior attitude towards

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look down vs Look down on

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