look-after

IPA/lˈʊkˈaftə/
IPA/lˈʊkˈæftɚ/

look-after — phrasal verb

  • look-afterbase form
  • look-afters3rd person singular
  • look-aftering-ing form
  • look-afteredpast simple

1. to accept the duty of caring for a person, animal, or thing so that they stay sa

1.phrasal verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to accept the duty of caring for a person, animal, or thing so that they stay safe and well

Example

Putri looks after her younger brother while their parents are at work.

look after + family member (inseparable)

Karim asked his neighbour to look after his cat during the holidays.

inseparable phrasal verb: look after + object

Common collocations
  • look after + children / the kids / a baby
  • look after + a pet / a dog / a cat
  • look after + the house / the garden / the flat
  • look after + yourself / oneself (reflexive)
  • look after + elderly parents / grandparents / a relative
Synonyms
  • take care of

    most direct synonym, same level of formality

  • care for

    slightly more emotional or formal, often used for people

  • mind

    informal, used especially in British English for short-term supervising

Antonyms
  • neglect

    opposite meaning — to fail to give proper care to someone or something

  • ignore

    to pay no attention to someone who needs help

Grammar Patterns

look after + noun phrase

Usage Note

This phrasal verb is inseparable — the object must come after 'after', not between 'look' and 'after'. ❌ 'She looks her grandmother after.' ✅ 'She looks after her grandmother.'

Common Mistakes

Can you look my dog after this weekend?
Can you look after my dog this weekend?
'look after' is an inseparable phrasal verb; the object must follow the whole phrase.
She looks after to her sick mother.
She looks after her sick mother.
No preposition 'to' is needed after 'look after'.

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Formed from the verb 'look' (Old English 'lōcian', meaning 'to see, to gaze') and the preposition 'after' (Old English 'æfter', meaning 'behind in time or position'). The phrase originally meant 'to look behind' or 'to follow with the eyes', then shifted to 'to watch over' by the 1300s, and finally to its modern meaning of 'to take care of'.