outlook

noun

out·​look ˈau̇t-ˌlu̇k 

1

a

: a place offering a view

b

: a view from a particular place

2

: point of view

a positive outlook on life

3

: the act of looking out

4

: the prospect for the future

the outlook for steel demand in the U.S.

—Wall Street Jour.

Synonyms

• overlook
• observatory
• lookout
• tower

Choose the Right Synonym for outlook

prospect, outlook, anticipation, foretaste mean an advance realization of something to come.

prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern.

the prospect of a quiet weekend

outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

a favorable outlook for the economy

anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

the anticipation of her arrival

foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

the frost was a foretaste of winter

Examples of outlook in a Sentence

The students all seemed to have the same outlook.

Despite our differences in outlook, we got along together very well.

scenic outlooks along the highway

Recent Examples on the Web

What does the outlook look like for Reaves in Los Angeles? —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

The technical outlook turned positive on April 24th (line a) as the NDX 100 Advance/Decline line moved above its downtrend, line a, and its WMA. —Tom Aspray, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Public records released by the CFTC this week provide an update of the program’s budget outlook after years of warnings about a funding lapse. —Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Full-year outlooks were lowered again, now projecting a 4%–6% decline in same store sales. —Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outlook

• betook
• casebook
• chapbook
• checkbook
• chinook
• codebook
• cookbook
• fishhook
• forsook
• guidebook
• handbook
• hornbook

Kids Definition

outlook

noun

out·​look ˈau̇t-ˌlu̇k 

1

a

: a place offering a view

b

: a view from a particular place

2

: point of view

3

: conditions that seem to lie ahead

the outlook for business