look down

The phrase 'look down' can be used both literally and figuratively, often depending on the accompanying preposition.

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Definition

A2General

(literal)To direct one's eyes towards a lower position.

Example

She looked down to find her lost earring.
He looked down from the balcony at the people below.

B2Interpersonal

(figurative, negative)To regard someone or something with a sense of superiority or disdain.

Example

She tends to look down on people who don't share her views.
He looked down on the job as beneath him.

C1Finance

(technical)To decrease in value.

Example

The stock market looked down after the company's poor earnings report.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "look down":

look down on look up and down move down get down go down down below look up look on look back thumb down press down cast down duck down call down make down look at down to come down get down on back down look off drop down fall down while you're down there bow down light down face down laugh down look around down there short down come on down have a look pull down look into look to turn down ball down lengthen down down the way put down cry down let down look over look ahead look through come down to sit down keep down thumbs down look at me send down talk down don't look now look upon