outlook

noun

out·​look ˈau̇t-ˌlu̇k How to pronounce outlook (audio)
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.
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 Two more airlines cut their third-quarter outlook Wednesday, adding to a recent trend, with their shares falling as a result. WSJ, 13 Sep. 2023 The group, which is meeting in India this weekend, plans to say that uncertainty on the economic outlook remains high and the balance of risks is tilted to the downside, the person said. Jorge Valero Bloomberg News, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2023 The National Weather Service in Kansas City issued a hazardous weather outlook Thursday for poor air quality in Northwest, North Central and West Central Missouri, as well as Eastern Kansas. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2023 That first action, sharing an optimistic outlook to a group of soldiers that’s a complete 180 from his survivalist attitude in his first appearance, is the culmination of his emotional arc. Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2023 That outlook bodes well for Beck and her partner, Tyler Trotter, who between them have logged almost 40 years in the beer industry and whose passion for potables is embodied in their selection of an old Unitarian church as the home for their flagship temple of beer. Valerie Rains, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2023 Also incorporated are snippets of many early-1960s British dramas, some of them directed by Schlesinger, that shifted U.K. cinema’s outlook from stuffy to edgy. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023 Almost immediately, the economic outlook began to darken. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023 Mike Halliday said customers are growing nervous about the outlook for the economy. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outlook.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of outlook was in 1667

Dictionary Entries Near outlook

Cite this Entry

“Outlook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outlook. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

outlook

noun
out·​look ˈau̇t-ˌlu̇k How to pronounce outlook (audio)
1
a
: a place offering a view
b
: a view from a particular place
2
3
: conditions that seem to lie ahead
the outlook for business

More from Merriam-Webster on outlook

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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