look in on
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To check that (someone or something) is okay or that a process is continuing appropriately; to check up on; to monitor (someone) through brief, often surreptitious checks.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Atticus would flee to his office directly after dinner, where if we sometimes looked in on him, we would find him sitting back in his swivel chair reading.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “look in on” mean?
To check that (someone or something) is okay or that a process is continuing appropriately; to check up on; to monitor (someone) through brief, often surreptitious checks.
Is “look in on” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.