look down

think you are better than someone else

B2

What does "look down on sb" mean?

To look down on someone means to think you are better than them and to treat them with contempt or a lack of respect. It describes an attitude — a sense of superiority that one person or group has towards another, often based on differences in class, education, wealth, or social status. The person who looks down on others is typically portrayed negatively, as snobbish or elitist. For example, someone might look down on colleagues who didn't go to university, or on people who work in trades rather than offices. It is almost always used figuratively to describe this attitude, not a physical action.

Examples

How to use it

subject + look down on + person/group

The most common pattern — a person or group regards another with contempt. The object always follows 'on' and can be a noun or noun phrase.

Some of the senior staff look down on the new recruits because of their lack of experience.

subject + look down on + pronoun

Pronouns always come after 'on', never between the parts of the phrasal verb.

He knew his in-laws looked down on him because he hadn't gone to university.

subject + look down on + someone + for + noun/gerund

Use 'for' to specify the reason why someone is regarded with contempt.

She looked down on her neighbours for their lack of formal education.

subject + feel/be + looked down on

The passive is natural and common, especially when focusing on the experience of the person being treated with contempt. 'Feel looked down on' is a particularly frequent construction.

He often felt looked down on at family gatherings because he worked in a trade rather than a profession.

tend to / used to / refuse to + look down on

Adverbial and modal constructions like these are common and natural with this phrasal verb.

She tends to look down on anyone who didn't attend the same kind of school she did.

Common Collocations

look down on peoplelook down on the poorlook down on womenlook down on workerslook down on otherslook down on someone for their background

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'look down on' with 'look down at'

These two phrases look similar but mean very different things. 'Look down at' describes a physical downward gaze, while 'look down on' describes an attitude of contempt or superiority. The preposition completely changes the meaning.

✗ She looked down at her colleagues for coming from working-class backgrounds.
✓ She looked down on her colleagues for coming from working-class backgrounds.
Confusing 'look down on' with 'look up to'

'Look up to' and 'look down on' are direct opposites — 'look up to' means to admire or respect someone, while 'look down on' means to regard them with contempt. The up/down contrast mirrors the meaning, which can help you remember the difference.

✗ She looked down on her mentor, who had inspired her throughout her career.
✓ She looked up to her mentor, who had inspired her throughout her career.
Dropping 'on' to make a shorter form

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'look down on' cannot be shortened by dropping 'on' and the object. Saying 'she looks down' on its own suggests a physical action, not an attitude of contempt. The full three-part form is always needed for the figurative meaning.

✗ He always looks down at those less fortunate than himself. (intending the contempt meaning)
✓ He always looks down on those less fortunate than himself.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and can be used in both conversation and formal writing. It is almost always used figuratively to describe an attitude of contempt or superiority, never to describe a physical action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'look down on' refer to a physical view, like a building overlooking a town?

Yes, 'look down on' can sometimes describe something physically positioned above something else, like 'The old mansion looks down on the village below.' However, when the object is a person or group, the contempt meaning is strongly implied. Context usually makes it clear which sense is intended.

Is 'feel looked down on' a natural thing to say?

Yes — 'feel looked down on' is a very natural and common construction. It combines the passive with the verb 'feel' to describe the subjective experience of being treated with contempt. For example: 'She always felt looked down on by the other parents at school.'

What kinds of people or groups are typically the object of 'look down on'?

The object is almost always a person or identifiable group of people — for example, 'look down on manual workers', 'look down on people without degrees', or 'look down on newcomers'. The attitude is usually rooted in differences of class, education, wealth, profession, or social background. You would not use this phrase with a place or object in the contempt sense.

Does 'look down on' always sound critical of the person doing it?

Almost always, yes. Using 'look down on' to describe someone's behaviour implies that you disapprove of their attitude — it frames them as snobbish or elitist. It's rarely used in a neutral way. If you want to describe admiration rather than contempt, 'look up to' is the opposite phrase.

Can I use 'look down on' in formal writing, like an essay or article?

Yes, 'look down on' is neutral in register and works well in both conversation and formal writing. It appears regularly in journalism, social commentary, and academic discussion of topics like class, prejudice, and social attitudes. There is no need to replace it with a different expression in formal contexts.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →