Quick Answer:
“Looking forward to seeing you” expresses anticipation and positive expectation about a future meeting. Popular alternatives include I’m excited to see you, I can’t wait to meet you, I look forward to our meeting, Eager to see you, and Anticipating our time together.
The phrase “looking forward to seeing you” is commonly used to show excitement, warmth, or polite anticipation before meeting someone. You’ll hear it in emails, conversations, invitations, and professional sign-offs.
However, repeating the same phrase can make your English sound limited or overly casual. Learning alternatives to looking forward to seeing you helps you sound more fluent, expressive, and tone-aware.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to express excitement in English using natural, professional, and context-appropriate alternatives.
Pull Quote: “Fluent English isn’t about harder words. It’s about better choices.”
Quick Categories
Formal alternatives to “looking forward to seeing you”
Polite, respectful, and suitable for formal writing or senior communication.
Casual alternatives
Relaxed and friendly phrases for everyday conversations.
Professional alternatives
Work-appropriate expressions for emails, meetings, and business settings.
Informal expressions
Natural spoken English used with friends, family, or peers.
Pro Tip: Always match your phrase to the relationship and setting. Tone matters more than vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in very formal documents
Example: “I am looking forward to seeing you at the court hearing.” - Overusing it in every email
Example: Ending every work email with the same phrase. - Using it with strangers too casually
Example: “Looking forward to seeing you” to someone you’ve never met. - Using it when no meeting is planned
Example: “Looking forward to seeing you” without a confirmed event. - Using it instead of clearer professional language
Example: When “I look forward to our meeting” is more precise.
What Does “Looking Forward to Seeing You” Mean?
It means you feel happy, positive, or excited about meeting someone in the future. Grammatically, it uses looking forward to + gerund (verb + ing).
Example:
“I’m looking forward to seeing you next week.”
When to Use “Looking Forward to Seeing You”
- Friendly emails
- Informal professional communication
- Personal messages
- Event confirmations
Spoken vs Written: Both
Formal vs Informal: Mostly informal to semi-professional
Is It Professional or Polite to Say “Looking Forward to Seeing You”?
Polite? Yes
Professional? No (in most cases)
Business Example:
“I look forward to our meeting on Monday.”
Pull Quote: “Professional English favors clarity over friendliness.”
Pros and Cons of Using “Looking Forward to Seeing You”
Pros
- Simple and natural
- Friendly tone
- Common usage
- Easy to understand
Cons
- Too informal for work
- Overused
- Limited emotional range
- Not suitable for formal writing
Other Ways to Say “Looking Forward to Seeing You” (With Examples)
These other ways to say looking forward to seeing you help you sound confident and natural in different situations. Choose based on tone, audience, and purpose.
1. Phrase: I look forward to our meeting
Meaning: Anticipation of a scheduled meeting
Explanation: More formal and professional
Example Sentence: I look forward to our meeting on Thursday.
Best Use: Business emails
Worst Use: Casual chats
Tone: Polite, professional
Context Variability: professional
2. Phrase: I’m excited to see you
Meaning: Strong positive anticipation
Explanation: Shows clear enthusiasm
Example Sentence: I’m excited to see you after so long.
Best Use: Friends, family
Worst Use: Formal emails
Tone: Warm, enthusiastic
Context Variability: casual, spoken
3. Phrase: I can’t wait to see you
Meaning: High excitement
Explanation: Emphasizes eagerness
Example Sentence: I can’t wait to see you this weekend.
Best Use: Personal messages
Worst Use: Work emails
Tone: Emotional, eager
Context Variability: casual
4. Phrase: Eager to see you
Meaning: Keen anticipation
Explanation: Slightly more refined
Example Sentence: I’m eager to see you again.
Best Use: Semi-formal
Worst Use: Very formal
Tone: Polite, positive
Context Variability: spoken, professional
5. Phrase: Anticipating our meeting
Meaning: Expecting a meeting positively
Explanation: Neutral and professional
Example Sentence: I’m anticipating our meeting next week.
Best Use: Business
Worst Use: Casual talk
Tone: Neutral, professional
Context Variability: professional
6. Phrase: Looking forward to our discussion
Meaning: Interest in conversation
Explanation: Focuses on content, not emotion
Example Sentence: Looking forward to our discussion tomorrow.
Best Use: Work
Worst Use: Personal chats
Tone: Focused, professional
Context Variability: professional
7. Phrase: Hope to see you soon
Meaning: Polite anticipation
Explanation: Softer and less certain
Example Sentence: Hope to see you soon.
Best Use: Friendly emails
Worst Use: Formal writing
Tone: Warm, gentle
Context Variability: casual
8. Phrase: Can’t wait for our meeting
Meaning: Excited about a meeting
Explanation: Informal enthusiasm
Example Sentence: Can’t wait for our meeting!
Best Use: Relaxed workplaces
Worst Use: Formal settings
Tone: Energetic
Context Variability: spoken
9. Phrase: I’m pleased about our upcoming meeting
Meaning: Polite satisfaction
Explanation: Formal and respectful
Example Sentence: I’m pleased about our upcoming meeting.
Best Use: Corporate emails
Worst Use: Friends
Tone: Formal, courteous
Context Variability: professional
10. Phrase: Excited about seeing you
Meaning: Emotional anticipation
Explanation: Casual enthusiasm
Example Sentence: Excited about seeing you tomorrow.
Best Use: Informal
Worst Use: Official writing
Tone: Friendly
Context Variability: casua11. Phrase: I await our meeting
Meaning: I am expecting our scheduled meeting
Explanation: Very formal and reserved; often used in official writing
Example Sentence: I await our meeting on Friday as scheduled.
Best Use: Formal letters
Worst Use: Casual chats
Tone: Formal, reserved
Context Variability: professional
12. Phrase: Looking forward to reconnecting
Meaning: Anticipation of meeting again after time apart
Explanation: Warm and relationship-focused
Example Sentence: Looking forward to reconnecting after so long.
Best Use: Networking
Worst Use: Legal writing
Tone: Warm, positive
Context Variability: casual, professional
13. Phrase: Happy to see you soon
Meaning: Positive expectation of a future meeting
Explanation: Friendly and approachable
Example Sentence: Happy to see you soon and catch up.
Best Use: Friendly emails
Worst Use: Formal reports
Tone: Friendly, light
Context Variability: casual
14. Phrase: Keen to meet you
Meaning: Strong interest in meeting someone
Explanation: Polite with mild enthusiasm, common in professional English
Example Sentence: I’m keen to meet you and discuss the project.
Best Use: Professional introductions
Worst Use: Very formal documents
Tone: Polite, interested
Context Variability: professional
15. Phrase: Glad we’ll be meeting
Meaning: Expresses satisfaction about an upcoming meeting
Explanation: Neutral and sincere
Example Sentence: I’m glad we’ll be meeting next week.
Best Use: Semi-formal emails
Worst Use: Legal communication
Tone: Neutral, friendly
Context Variability: professional, spoken
16. Phrase: Anticipating seeing you
Meaning: Expecting a meeting with positive feelings
Explanation: Slightly formal and controlled
Example Sentence: I’m anticipating seeing you at the conference.
Best Use: Business events
Worst Use: Casual texting
Tone: Polite, measured
Context Variability: professional
17. Phrase: I’m happy we’ll meet
Meaning: Expresses personal satisfaction about meeting
Explanation: Simple and emotionally open
Example Sentence: I’m happy we’ll meet in person soon.
Best Use: Friendly conversations
Worst Use: Corporate emails
Tone: Warm, sincere
Context Variability: casual
18. Phrase: Hope our paths cross soon
Meaning: Wishing for a future meeting
Explanation: Soft and indirect
Example Sentence: Hope our paths cross soon.
Best Use: Social messages
Worst Use: Professional scheduling
Tone: Gentle, optimistic
Context Variability: casual
19. Phrase: Excited for our meetup
Meaning: High enthusiasm about meeting
Explanation: Casual and expressive
Example Sentence: Really excited for our meetup tomorrow.
Best Use: Friends
Worst Use: Formal workplaces
Tone: Energetic, informal
Context Variability: casual
20. Phrase: I welcome the opportunity to meet
Meaning: Polite acceptance of a meeting
Explanation: Formal and respectful
Example Sentence: I welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss this matter.
Best Use: Business proposals
Worst Use: Casual chat
Tone: Formal, courteous
Context Variability: professional
21. Phrase: Looking ahead to seeing you
Meaning: Future-focused anticipation
Explanation: Slightly formal but friendly
Example Sentence: Looking ahead to seeing you next month.
Best Use: Professional emails
Worst Use: Very casual texting
Tone: Polite, positive
Context Variability: professional
22. Phrase: Delighted to meet you
Meaning: Strong polite pleasure in meeting
Explanation: Common in first-time or formal meetings
Example Sentence: I’m delighted to meet you in person.
Best Use: Formal introductions
Worst Use: Casual friends
Tone: Polite, formal
Context Variability: professional
23. Phrase: Pleased to see you soon
Meaning: Calm satisfaction about an upcoming meeting
Explanation: Professional and restrained
Example Sentence: I’ll be pleased to see you soon.
Best Use: Business correspondence
Worst Use: Casual talk
Tone: Polite, professional
Context Variability: professional
24. Phrase: Awaiting our meeting
Meaning: Waiting for a scheduled meeting
Explanation: Neutral and formal
Example Sentence: Awaiting our meeting on Monday.
Best Use: Official emails
Worst Use: Personal messages
Tone: Formal, neutral
Context Variability: professional
25. Phrase: Eager for our meetup
Meaning: Strong enthusiasm about meeting
Explanation: Casual and expressive
Example Sentence: I’m eager for our meetup this weekend.
Best Use: Friends
Worst Use: Corporate emails
Tone: Enthusiastic
Context Variability: casual
26. Phrase: Happy to catch up soon
Meaning: Friendly anticipation of conversation
Explanation: Informal and conversational
Example Sentence: Happy to catch up soon over coffee.
Best Use: Social plans
Worst Use: Formal writing
Tone: Friendly, relaxed
Context Variability: casual
27. Phrase: I value our upcoming meeting
Meaning: Emphasizes importance of the meeting
Explanation: Respectful and professional
Example Sentence: I value our upcoming meeting and discussion.
Best Use: Business communication
Worst Use: Casual chat
Tone: Respectful, professional
Context Variability: professional
28. Phrase: Looking forward to reconnecting again
Meaning: Positive expectation of meeting again
Explanation: Warm and relationship-oriented
Example Sentence: Looking forward to reconnecting again soon.
Best Use: Networking
Worst Use: Legal documents
Tone: Warm, friendly
Context Variability: casual, professional
29. Phrase: Excited for our time together
Meaning: Emotional enthusiasm about shared time
Explanation: Personal and expressive
Example Sentence: Excited for our time together this weekend.
Best Use: Personal relationships
Worst Use: Workplace emails
Tone: Emotional, warm
Context Variability: casual
30. Phrase: Hope to meet you shortly
Meaning: Polite wish to meet soon
Explanation: Mildly formal and time-focused
Example Sentence: Hope to meet you shortly to finalize details.
Best Use: Professional follow-ups
Worst Use: Very casual texting
Tone: Polite, neutral
Context Variability: professional
Pull Quote: “The best phrase is the one that fits your audience.”
Comparison Table: Top Alternatives
| Phrase | Tone | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| I look forward to our meeting | Professional | Business emails |
| I’m excited to see you | Warm | Friends |
| Anticipating our meeting | Neutral | Corporate |
| Hope to see you soon | Friendly | Casual emails |
| Delighted to meet you | Formal | Introductions |
| Eager to see you | Polite | Semi-formal |
| Looking forward to reconnecting | Warm | Networking |
| Awaiting our meeting | Formal | Official letters |
| Happy to see you soon | Friendly | Personal |
| Excited for our meetup | Casual | Spoken English |
Mini Quiz: Self-Check
- Which phrase is best for a formal email?
a) Can’t wait to see you
b) I look forward to our meeting
c) Excited to hang out - Which phrase sounds too casual for work?
a) Anticipating our meeting
b) I’m pleased about our meeting
c) I can’t wait to see you - Choose the best option for a friend:
a) Awaiting our meeting
b) Delighted to meet you
c) I’m excited to see you
FAQs
1. Is “looking forward to seeing you” informal?
Yes, it’s generally informal to semi-professional.
2. What’s the most professional alternative?
“I look forward to our meeting.”
3. Can I use it in business emails?
Only in friendly or internal communication.
4. How do I sound more formal?
Focus on meetings or discussions rather than emotions.
5. Why should I learn alternatives?
They improve fluency, tone control, and confidence.
Conclusion
Learning other ways to say looking forward to seeing you helps you communicate with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. The right phrase makes your English sound intentional and polished.
Practice using different expressions daily, and always consider tone, audience, and context before choosing your words.
CTA: Try replacing this phrase in your next email with one new alternative from this list.
Tom Sanders is a professional writer at Wordsmirror.com, with a strong focus on creating informative, engaging, and easy-to-read content. He brings clarity and depth to a wide range of topics, helping readers understand ideas quickly and confidently. Tom is committed to delivering high-quality writing that is both accurate and reader-focused.
