Cool MateFashionable vs Looking good
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fashionable
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Looking good
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Fashionable
| Fashionable | Looking good | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfæʃnəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfæʃnəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡʊd//🇺🇸 //ˈlʊkɪŋ ɡʊd// |
| Meaning | Having a good sense of style or being popular in clothes. | To appear attractive or stylish. |
| Example | She always wears the most fashionable clothes. | After the makeover, she was looking good and feeling confident. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, become, extremely, highly, very, among, be, look, become, extremely, highly, very, among | looking good today, you're looking good, always looking good, really looking good, feeling and looking good |
| Antonyms | unfashionable, outdated, old-fashioned | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fashional' which is not a word., Using 'fashionable' to describe things other than clothing, like ideas or places., Misusing it as an adverb; 'fashionably' is the correct form for that. | Using it in a formal setting, like a job interview., Confusing it with 'looking well', which refers to health., Saying it when someone is clearly not trying to look good. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fashionable' to describe clothing or styles that are currently popular. It is suitable for casual and formal contexts, but may not be appropriate when discussing cultural or traditional attire. | Use in casual conversations to compliment someone's appearance. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fashionable vs Looking good
What's the difference between Fashionable and Looking good?
Fashionable: Having a good sense of style or being popular in clothes. Looking good: To appear attractive or stylish.
Which is more formal: Fashionable and Looking good?
Fashionable is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Fashionable: She always wears the most fashionable clothes. Looking good: After the makeover, she was looking good and feeling confident.
Can I use Fashionable and Looking good interchangeably?
Not always. Fashionable and Looking good 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.