Looking Forward to Meeting You: Meaning, Examples, & More

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An easy guide on how and when to use this colloquial phrase

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Tami Claytor

Last Updated: October 2, 2023 Fact Checked

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Meaning

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When & How to Use It

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Alternative Phrases

“Looking forward to meeting you” is a casual way to express anticipation about an upcoming meeting, especially if you’ve never met the other person in real life. In this article, we’ll teach you when and how to use this common phrase, plus explain whether it’s appropriate for professional settings. We’ll also provide several alternative phrases you can use to sound even more polite, thoughtful, and formal.

Things You Should Know

“Looking forward to meeting you” is a casual way to express anticipation about meeting someone in person.
In formal and professional settings, use the phrases “I look forward to meeting you” or “I am looking forward to meeting you” to be grammatically correct.
Alternatively, use the phrases “I’m excited to meet you” or “I can’t wait to meet you” to let the other person know you’re eager to meet them for the first time.

Section 1 of 3:

Meaning

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“Looking forward to meeting you” shows excitement for a future meeting. People often use this phrase if they’re meeting someone in person for the first time. It’s a casual and friendly way to let the other person know you’re eager to see them, so reserve it for informal relationships like online friends and dates. Once you’ve established when and where you plan to meet, use “Looking forward to meeting you” to politely end the conversation.^{[1]
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- Technically speaking, “I am looking forward to meeting you” is more grammatically correct than “Looking forward to meeting you” because it includes the proper subject “I.” So, use “I am looking forward to meeting you” to be polite in formal and professional settings.
- If you want to sound even more formal in the workplace, use the phrase “I look forward to meeting you.”^{[2]
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- If you’ve met the other person before, use the phrases “I am looking forward to meeting with you” or “I am looking forward to seeing you.”

Section 2 of 3:

When & How to Use “Looking forward to meeting you”

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1
Use “Looking forward to meeting you” to show excitement for a meetup. If you’re meeting someone you met online for the first time, text them this friendly phrase to make them feel good inside! It lets them know you’re excited to meet them in person and hopefully become friends with them in real life.
- Them: “So, we’ll meet for dinner at 7 at Grimaldi’s?”
- You: “Sounds good! Looking forward to meeting you🤠”
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Use “Looking forward to meeting you” to confirm the details of a date. Did you make plans to meet your Tinder match in person? Send them a flirty text to make them feel desired and build anticipation for your date! Confirm the location and time you plan to meet the night before (or the morning of), and feel free to express how excited you are to see them.
- “Looking forward to meeting you! I’ll pick you up at your place around 6.”
- “Looking forward to finally meeting you in person! See you at the bowling alley at 8😊”
- “Looking forward to meeting you tonight. I’ve been waiting to hear this band for ages! You’re still down to meet at 7, right?"
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Use “I am looking forward to meeting you” to show you’re eager to meet at the office. Are you seeing a new boss, client, or coworker for the first time? Use this formal phrase to be professional at work. If you want to sound more genuine, briefly mention why you’re excited to speak to the other person, and don’t forget to thank them for the opportunity (if applicable).^{[3]
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- “I am looking forward to meeting you and the rest of the team.”
- “I am looking forward to meeting you, and I am super excited to start this new position.”
- “I’m looking forward to meeting you and learning more about the company. Thank you for this incredible opportunity!”

Section 3 of 3:

Alternative Phrases

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1
I look forward to our discussion. Whether you’re communicating with someone over the phone or through email, use this phrase when you want to express anticipation for a business meeting. It lets the other person know you’re interested in hearing what they have to say, and it sounds slightly more friendly and thoughtful than “I look forward to meeting you.”^{[4]
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- Them: “I have scheduled our meeting on Friday at 9 AM.”
- You: “Perfect. I’m looking forward to our discussion and hearing your thoughts about the marketplace.”
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I look forward to learning from you. If you want to show the ultimate respect, use this phrase to let someone know you admire their knowledge and experience. It shows you respect their time and energy, so it’s a great expression to use in formal and professional settings.^{[5]
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- Them: “My presentation will be this Friday at 6 PM.”
- You: “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll definitely be in attendance, and I look forward to learning from you.”
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I’m looking forward to seeing you. Use this common phrase when you want to sound more relaxed and casual. It’s used to express anticipation for a future meeting with someone, even if you’ve met them in person before. “I’m looking forward to seeing you” is appropriate for casual and professional settings, but it’s slightly less formal than “I’m looking forward to meeting you.”^{[6]
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- Them: “I’m glad you reached out to me, and I'll hand you the papers on Friday.”
- You: “It’s been a pleasure speaking to you. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the conference.”
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I’m excited to meet you. Are you really looking forward to meeting someone new? Use “I’m excited to meet you” to let the other person know just how eager you are to see them in person. It’s sweet, casual, and best for informal situations with people you’ve met online. Plus, you can replace the word “excited” with any adjective that fits your mood!^{[7]
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- “Perfect, we’ll meet in front of the Met at 8. I’m pumped to meet you in person!”
- “Omg I can’t believe we’re finally seeing each other in person. I’m excited to meet you🥰”
- “Wow, I can’t wait for our date. I’m sooo excited to meet you!”
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Can’t wait to meet you. If you’re meeting an online friend or date in person, text this phrase if you want to convey joy and excitement. It’s another way of saying you’re super happy to meet them, so feel free to throw in emojis, gifs, or exclamation marks to express even more emotion.
- “Can’t wait to meet you! We’re going to have a blast!!”
- “Ahhh, I can’t wait to meet you in person❗"
- “Omg, we’re finally meeting IRL. I can’t wait to meet you tonight🤩”