Cool MateExplore vs Looked into
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Explore
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Looked into
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Explore
| Explore | Looked into | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈsplɔː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈsplɔːr// | 🇬🇧 //lʊkt ˈɪntuː//🇺🇸 //lʊkt ˈɪntu// |
| Meaning | To travel around a place to learn about it. | To investigate or check something. |
| Example | We decided to explore the ancient ruins during our vacation. | The manager looked into the employee's complaint. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | explore options, explore ideas, explore a topic | look into a problem, look into options, look into issues, look into solutions, look into complaints |
| Antonyms | ignore, neglect, overlook | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'explain' which means to make something clear., Using it without an object, e.g., 'explore' should be followed by a place or subject. | Confusing 'look into' with 'look at', 'Look into' is sometimes incorrectly used with non-count nouns, Mixing up the tenses, e.g., saying 'look into' instead of 'looked into' for past actions |
| Usage notes | Use 'explore' when discussing travel, research, or discovery. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. | Use 'looked into' when referring to checking details or investigating something. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Explore vs Looked into
What's the difference between Explore and Looked into?
Explore: To travel around a place to learn about it. Looked into: To investigate or check something.
Which is more common: Explore and Looked into?
Explore is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Explore: We decided to explore the ancient ruins during our vacation. Looked into: The manager looked into the employee's complaint.
Can I use Explore and Looked into interchangeably?
Not always. Explore and Looked into are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.