ichidan verb, transitive verb
look up at; raise one's eyes to
Used when directing one's gaze upward toward something physically above the speaker, such as the sky, a building, or a person's face.
子どもが夜空を見上げている。
The child is looking up at the night sky.
駅前で高いビルを見上げた。
I looked up at the tall building in front of the station.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
Figurative extension of looking upward: to regard someone as admirable or superior. Often overlaps with 尊敬する, but 見上げる keeps the image of looking up to someone.
生徒たちはその先生を心から見上げていた。
The students truly looked up to that teacher.
彼の正直さは見上げたものだ。
His honesty is admirable.