What does 'look up to someone' mean?

What it means: To admire and respect someone, usually because of their achievements, character, or experience. It often implies that the person is a role model.

"She looks up to her older sister."
"He's always looked up to his mentor."
"The team really looks up to the new manager."

The physical metaphor: Looking up suggests the person is elevated — you're looking at them from below, not as an equal. This implies genuine admiration rather than just liking someone.

Opposite — "look down on": To feel superior to someone, to condescend. "He looks down on people who didn't go to university."

Related — "look up to" vs "admire": They're nearly synonyms. "Look up to" is slightly warmer and implies ongoing admiration, often of a role model. "Admire" is more formal and can be about a single quality.

Register: Neutral. Works in all contexts.

Tags: phrasal verbs, admiration, relationships, vocabulary