The phrase “looking forward to it” is a formal way to express anticipation or excitement.
While there’s nothing wrong with using it, especially if you truly mean it, sometimes a more casual or situation-appropriate phrase might work better.
Whether you’re writing an email, a letter, or simply chatting, choosing the right words can make your message feel more natural and relatable.
In this guide, we’ve put together 20 alternative ways to say “looking forward to it.” Plus, we’ve included tips on when each option works best. Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
- “Looking forward to it” sounds formal to indicate you are anticipating something.
- You can say “Excited for it” or “Eagerly anticipating it” to sound more casual.
- If you want to be more dramatic, say “Can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t wait!”
What you expect to happen and your relationship with the person you’re talking to play a big role in how you express yourself.
For example, “We look forward to” is great for formal or neutral business situations, like saying, “We look forward to receiving your application to our school.”
On the other hand, if you’re reminding someone about an unpaid bill, you might say something stronger, like, “We expect you to pay before additional penalties are applied.”
Keeping these points in mind, we’ve created a list of 20 different ways to express anticipation or eagerness.
List of the Best Other Ways to Say “Looking Forward to It”
- Excited for it
- Eagerly anticipating it
- Can’t wait for it
- Counting down the days
- Thrilled about it
- Pumped for it
- So ready for it
- Totally hyped!
- Stoked for it!
- All set for it!
- So ready!
- I’m down for it!
- Psyched about it!
- Let’s do this!
- Can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t wait!
- Practically vibrating with excitement over here!
- I’m all in!
- I dream of it already.
- Bring it on!
- So hyped!
The main thing is to consider what exactly you’re looking forward to.
If you’re trying to get someone to settle an overdue payment, you might use a firm tone like, “We expect you to pay before additional penalties apply.”
With a friend, you can boost their confidence by saying something reassuring like, “We have every faith you’ll handle this beautifully,” or the straightforward and encouraging, “We know you can do it.”
So there are many situations to consider. You don’t have to be in a hurry. Keep reading to understand when each option works best.
1. Excited for it
One of the coolest ways you can tell someone you’re looking forward to something is to say “excited for it.”
It sounds brief, but helps you to naturally express how eager you are about whatever the occasion is.
This alternative phrase works best for a situation where you’re elated about what is about to happen, usually something that leans towards your favor or benefit.
How to use:
- The show is happening next week friday. Excited for it.
2. Eagerly anticipating it
Another interesting way you can indicate that you’re looking forward to something is to tell the person you’re eagerly anticipating it.
This synonym sounds more profound because you combine the words “eager” and “anticipate.” The core meaning of these words instantly shows how “on-the-edge” you are about what’s coming.
You can use this alternative phrase for something that is a long time coming and is finally going to be happening for sure.
How to use:
- They ought to have announced the grand finale date since. Now that it has been fixed, I’m eagerly anticipating it.
3. Can’t wait for it
Sometimes, you want to retain the formal tone of “looking forward to it” but you want to also sound cool while at it. In such a case, “can’t wait for it” works fine.
You can use it if you’re writing an email that is not entirely formal. For example, a work email with your employer or colleague.
This is a popular one. Some people argue that it makes you sound desperate. But the point is that you use it when the context matches.
How to use:
- Thanks for sharing the opportunity with me. Can’t wait!
4. Counting down the days
“Counting down the days” instantly creates the mental picture of you ticking each day on the calendar until it’s the date of what you’re looking forward to.
That’s why it’s a better way to say you’re looking forward to something. It sounds more convincing and interesting.
How to use:
- I know it’s too early to be giddy about your birthday. But I’m just counting down the days.
5. Thrilled about it
When you’re thrilled about something, it means you’re excited about it, especially because it can bring you pleasure.
This is the exact thing that comes to mind when people say “looking forward to it.” So you can use both phrases interchangeably.
How to use:
- I’m thrilled about your wedding. It will be an honor to attend.
6. Pumped for it
If you’re looking for a more casual way to say “looking forward to it,” try “pumped for it.”
It may sound like slang that many people won’t get easily, but when said in the right context it sounds so natural and chill.
When you’re pumped for something, it means you’re full with joy that you’ll get to experience that thing. Meanwhile, people also get “pumped” when they hear good news. So this is a versatile option.
How to use:
- Your convocation is next week? Pumped for it!
7. So ready for it
You can also say “so ready for it” instead of repeating “looking forward to it”
There aren’t too many differences between these two phrases which is why they go hand-in-hand in most contexts and scenarios.
You can, in fact, use both phrases within a paragraph and it will still make sense.
How to use:
- Our team will be playing with the juniors this evening. So ready for it!
8. Totally hyped!
It doesn’t always have to be an anticipated social activity that you can say you’re “hyped.”
Even for official-related matters that allow you to sound casual, you can replace “looking forward to it” with “totally hyped.”
The latter sounds more dramatic and genuine. It reflects the genuine element of excitement in your spirit towards something that is about to happen soon.
How to use:
- I heard the news about the sales pitch happening tomorrow. Totally hyped about our presentation.
9. Stoked for it!
“Stocked for it” is an informal American slang term. So you have to be careful about how and when you use the term so you’re not misunderstood.
But the phrase means to be very excited or happy about something, which is why it effectively replaces “looking forward to it”
Meanwhile, this alternative phrase leans more to a situation where you’re anxious about how well something will turn out, while still being excited it’s happening anyway.
How to use:
- We’re really stoked about our new album which is actually experimental this time.
10. All set for it
Being set for something is another way to say you’re ready for it. Without explanation, it carries the same meaning as looking forward to something.
You can only look forward to something happening when you’re ready for it and even tired of waiting.
How to use:
- I understand the actual interview will be held tomorrow morning. I’m all set for it. Thank you.
11. So ready!
Instead of trying to use many words to explain how prepared you are towards something, simply say “So Ready!”
It sounds more casual and genuine than “looking forward to it.”
How to use:
- Wait, they promised to turn up for the event? Well, good thing we’re so ready too!
12. I’m down for it!
If your intention of using “looking forward to it” was to confirm to be part of the engagement, then it’s better to say “I’m down for it”
This is especially a perfect replacement when someone invites you for dinner or any occassion and you need to indicate you’re willing to attend.
How to use:
- Dinner tonight is a nice idea. I’m down for it!
13. Psyched about it
It’s tricky when you tell someone psyched about it, especially when they are not familiar with American English slang.
But no matter who you’re speaking with, understand that “psyched about it” is a popular way people say “looking forward to it” in a casual way.
Think of it as a more casual way to say you can’t wait. The term “psyched” comes from the idea that you’re mentally already living in the moment yet to be experienced which shows how excited you are about it.
How to use:
- The school management has said there will be an extension of the holiday by extra five weeks. I’m psyched up about it!
14. Let’s do this!
When you tell someone “let’s do this!,” you’re reflecting a level of enthusiasm and a shared commitment towards engaging in an activity together.
This is exactly what it means to tell someone “looking forward to it” which means you can swap both phrases in various contexts.
15. Can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t wait!
Sometimes, when trying to indicate that you’re looking forward to something, it’s better to sound dramatic with your words.
For some people, that’s the only way they genuinely realize and agree that you’re excited about it yourself.
If you want to be more dramatic about saying you’re looking forward to something, say “Can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t wait!”
16. Practically vibrating with excitement over here!
If you’re looking for a funny way to say “looking forward to it,” then tell the person “Practically vibrating with excitement over here!”
While it will be an obvious exaggeration, it already achieves the purpose of making the person laugh. It’s a simple joke to still communicate that you’re excited about the thing to come.
How to use:
- You have no idea how happy I am that this is happening. Practically vibrating with excitement over here!
17. I’m all in!
There are many meanings you can read to the term “I’m all in” which is why it’s tricky to use it in replacing the phrase “looking forward to it.”
When people hear “I’m all in” the first thing they think is “are you talking about a relationship or taking a big risk?”
But in this context it’s to indicate that you’re fully committed to or involved in something.
18. I dream of it already
You can use a witty or sarcastic remark to indicate that you look forward or anticipate an activity. “I dream of it already” sounds more interesting.
You can use this kind of phrase when the activity you’re looking forward to has to do with fun engagement.
It shows you’re fantasized about it which reflects a sense of excitement.
How to use:
- I can’t wait for tomorrow’s visit to the zoo. I dream of it already.’”
19. Bring it on
You can say “bring it on” instead of “looking forward to it” especially when the thing you’re anticipating is a challenge.
It helps you to establish confidence in meeting up to expectations and still express how excited you are about the challenge happening.
20. So hyped!
If you want to say something more emotional, “looking forward to it” won’t work. You need something as profound as “so hyped!”
When someone is hyped, they have an emotional attachment to the thing that elicits joy from them.
How to use:
- I’m so hyped about my convocation next year.
Final Thoughts
“I’m looking forward to that” is a perfectly fine choice.
There’s nothing wrong with saying it, and most English speakers will understand exactly what you mean. The best thing is to say what feels natural to you.
The goal of these other suggestions is to help make your English richer, especially when you want to express your excitement in a way that fits the situation better.
