The verb to look · Conjugation
Past Simple of look
The answer: looked
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to look is looked.
Example: She looked tired.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | looked |
| You | looked |
| He / She / It | looked |
| We | looked |
| You (pl.) | looked |
| They | looked |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I'm looking my keys ❌
With this meaning, look needs a small word before the object. Choose the right one: look at (turn your eyes to), look for (try to find), look after (take care of), look up (find in a dictionary). I'm looking for my keys.
2. She looks happily ❌
When look means to seem, it is a state verb. Use an adjective after it, not an -ly adverb: She looks happy. He looked tired after the match.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of look?+
Look is regular: its Past Simple is looked, the same for every person. She looked tired.
Is it look, see or watch?+
Look at: you turn your eyes to something for a moment, on purpose. See: something comes into your eyes, even when you don't try. Watch: you look at something for a long time, like a film or a match. I looked at the clock, saw that it was late and stopped watching TV.
What does look for mean?+
Look for means to try to find something: I'm looking for my keys. I looked for my phone everywhere.
What does look after mean?+
Look after means to take care of someone or something: Can you look after my dog this weekend? She looked after her little brother.
How do you use look with an adjective?+
Look + adjective means to seem: She looked tired. You look great! Here look is a state verb, so use an adjective (happy), not an adverb (happily).
Related pages: look Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/look/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to look are coming soon.