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 Not a promising recipe for anyone looking for long-term employment in the Premier League. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 As environments become more complex, integrators and their customers are looking for partners who can simplify that complexity and deliver measurable outcomes. — Dirk Naylor, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Wilson’s 2017 interpretation of the 2,800-year-old poem — the first major English translation published by a woman — is widely considered a faithful, top-notch rendition, particularly for readers looking for an accessible take on Homer’s work. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Assassination-for-hire is the tragicomic domain of people looking for someone to kill a spouse or a rival but getting blackmailed by teenagers pretending to be hit men in the process. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 Managing partner Gaetano Guarducci said Sant Ambroeus had been looking for the right Beverly Hills location for years before securing the former Il Fornaio space at North Beverly Drive and Dayton Way. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Travelers looking for an in-state getaway can also book vacation packages from Denver that combine the train with hotel stays and attractions in Glenwood Springs. — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026 For students commuting to campus, parents tackling school-season errands, or workers looking for an alternative to taking the car on shorter journeys, an e-scooter can also eliminate some familiar motoring expenses. — New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026 The new structure could leave graduate and professional students looking for other ways to cover their education costs. — Deane Biermeier, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

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“Looking for.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looking%20for. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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