looking down
Eyes aimed downward
Looking down describes directing one's gaze downward, toward something below eye level: She was looking down at her phone.
The phrase commonly implies condescension or contempt when followed by "on" or "at": He's always looking down on people without degrees.
This figurative sense treats social judgment as a matter of physical elevation—those who look down consider themselves above others.
Hostile dismissive feeling
- disdainScornful disregard
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
sneer · snobbery · derision · dismissiveness · arrogance · patronizing · belittling · demeaning
Sensation of spinning
- acrophobiaDread of elevated positions
- cliffVertical rock wall
- precipiceSteep rock face
- ledgeProjecting horizontal surface
balcony · summit · peak · rooftop · parapet · railing · elevation · aerial view
Measuring and charting terrain
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- gazingProlonged, intent looking
- peeringStudying something with concentration
- watchingActively looking at something
inspecting · examining · scrutinizing · studying · viewing · overseeing · monitoring · spotting
Sad or despondent
- dejectedLow in spirits
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- sadnessState of emotional pain
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
despair · hopelessness · despondency · low spirits · heavyhearted · crestfallen · disheartened · forlorn
scorn
Hostile dismissive feeling
- disdainScornful disregard
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
haughtiness · sneer · snobbery · derision · dismissiveness · arrogance · patronizing · belittling · demeaning · supercilious
vertigo
Sensation of spinning
- acrophobiaDread of elevated positions
- cliffVertical rock wall
- precipiceSteep rock face
ledge · balcony · summit · peak · rooftop · parapet · railing · elevation · aerial view · drop
surveying
Measuring and charting terrain
- scanningSystematic visual examination
- gazingProlonged, intent looking
- peeringStudying something with concentration
watching · inspecting · examining · scrutinizing · studying · viewing · overseeing · monitoring · spotting · noticing
downcast
Sad or despondent
- dejectedLow in spirits
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- sadnessState of emotional pain
gloom · despair · hopelessness · despondency · low spirits · heavyhearted · crestfallen · disheartened · forlorn · morose
- head and neck movementsnodding, head tilt, neck rotation, turning, head shake
- riding mistakesbad posture, slouching, leaning forward, death grip, bouncing
- condescendingpatronizing, disdainful, scornful, dismissive, belittling
- disrespectinsulting, belittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing
- snobberysnob, snobbery, snooty, elitism, snoot
- posesstanding pose, sitting pose, seated pose, kneeling pose, reclining pose
looking downlooking up to
Admiring and respecting greatly
admiring · respecting · revering · esteeming · venerating
looking downhead held high
Bearing showing self-respect
chin up · standing tall · looking forward · facing forward · engaging
look, down, looks, looking, outlook, looked, overlook, downward, downwards