lookout

1 of 2

noun

look·​out ˈlu̇k-ˌau̇t 

1

: one engaged in keeping watch : watchman

2

: an elevated place or structure affording a wide view for observation

3

: a careful looking or watching

on the lookout

4

: view, outlook

5

: a matter of care or concern

look out

2 of 2

verb

looked out; looking out; looks out

intransitive verb

: to take care or concern oneself

—used with for

looking out for number one

Synonyms

Noun

• observatory
• outlook
• overlook

Verb

• beware (of)
• guard (against)
• mind
• ware
• watch out (for)

Examples of lookout in a Sentence

Noun

The troops posted a lookout for the night.

The mountain road had several lookouts where you could enjoy the view.

Verb

if you go in those woods, look out for snakes!

as a fiduciary, she has an obligation to look out for our interests

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Despite the road’s nauseating twists and turns, each lookout proved worthy of pause. —Jennifer Hope Choi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025

There’s a nice shade structure and lookout point here. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025

Verb

In that vein, centering a parent-child relationship like Flamingo and Lidia’s (and having several transgender aunts look out for a cisgender child by encircling her like a lion’s pride) is a stern rebuke of bigoted narratives about trans predation. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 May 2025

Contact support Powered By Here are the 10 most intriguing games to look out for as the season (slowly but surely) approaches. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1752, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lookout

• be on the lookout for
• keep a lookout for
• on the lookout for
• someone's lookout

Rhymes for lookout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

lookout

noun

look·​out ˈlu̇k-ˌau̇t 

1

: a person who keeps watch

2

: a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible

3

: a careful looking or watching

4

: outlook sense 1b

5

: a matter of care or concern

the plants are wilting, but that's not my lookout