look after — to take care of or be responsible for someone or something
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to take care of or be responsible for someone or something
Pronunciation (IPA): /lʊk ˈæftər/
Example Sentences
- My cat thinks I'm just a servant hired to look after his royal highness.
- Can you look after my plants while I'm on vacation? They're more dramatic than soap opera characters.
- The nurse will look after the patients during the night shift.
look after
VERB[/lʊk ˈæftər/]
to take care of or be responsible for someone or something

Grandma looks after the twins while their parents are at work.

Look after with laughter, chapter by chapter
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old English 'look' (to direct one's gaze) combined with 'after' (behind, following). The phrase developed from the literal sense of watching someone depart to the figurative sense of watching over or caring for someone.
Breakdown
look (to direct gaze, from Old English 'locian') + after (behind/following, from Old English 'æfter') = look after (to watch over, care for)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat thinks I'm just a servant hired to look after his royal highness.”
“Can you look after my plants while I'm on vacation? They're more dramatic than soap opera characters.”
“The nurse will look after the patients during the night shift.”
“He promised to look after the family business when his father retires.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.