LOOKING FOR Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

looking for

phrase

present participle of look for

as in pursuing

to go in search of She had been looking for a job for months.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wooing

to act so as to make (something) more likely They were just looking for trouble.

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in expecting

to believe in the future occurrence of (something) They were looking for their first win of the season.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of looking for The deal announced by Banijay Kids & Family on Wednesday at Mipcom o underscore that what the market is looking for is evergreen brands, not necessarily brand new linear TV shows. — John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 The pom-pom sandals at Givenchy were wonderful, fun, unexpected and exactly what fashion lovers are looking for from a spring runway show. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 About 300 military personnel, police and rescue workers searched along Ensenada’s El Pipila stream Tuesday, while the Mexican Navy continued looking for the missing fishermen, state civil protection authorities said. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 While its lawyers have not hesitated to send cease-and-desist letters to AI companies, Disney is among the big media companies looking for ways to get in the AI game and profit from its boom. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 Crocs' appeal soon stretched beyond water enthusiasts to gardeners, healthcare workers, chefs and really anyone looking for a comfortable, waterproof, easy-to-clean shoe with good traction and slip-on convenience. — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Tonight, the Rays are looking for a way to even up the series. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Scarlett is smart, curious, a little complicated, and like so many of us, looking for love. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 The founder who overhears the right conversation wasn’t looking for it. — Jennifer Hoffmann, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Cite this Entry

Style

“Looking for.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looking%20for. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of looking for

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes