outlook

American  

[out-look] / ˈaʊtˌlʊk /

noun

outlooks plural

1. the view or prospect from a particular place.

   Synonyms:

   scene

2. mental attitude or view; point of view.

   one's outlook on life.

   Synonyms:

   approach, position, viewpoint, attitude

3. prospect of the future.

   the political outlook.

   Synonyms:

   scene

4. the place from which an observer looks out; lookout.

5. the act or state of looking out.

6. a watch kept; vigilance; lookout.

   a careful outlook to prevent forest fires.

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outlook British  

/ ˈaʊtˌlʊk /

noun

1. a mental attitude or point of view

2. the probable or expected condition or outcome of something

   the weather outlook

3. the view from a place

4. view or prospect

5. the act or state of looking out

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• outlooks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of outlook

First recorded in 1660–70; out- + look

Explanation

The word outlook describes a belief about the future. Your outlook on the awful present situation might make your outlook for the future turn grim. The noun outlook can also mean the practice of looking out. A guard's outlook on the bank vault must stay watchful and attentive in case there's an attempted robbery. Your outlook on your first job out of college was one of promise and excitement. The word can also mean a characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will handle situations. A pessimistic outlook on life will make you see only the negative.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outlook outlooks

With his impish attitude and energetic outlook, maturing on his own terms, he seems far off from any sort of valedictory phase.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Even if they are pleased with a company’s quarterly results, investors will be more excited by a rosy outlook.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

American Express raised its full-year sales growth forecast to 10% but maintained its earnings outlook of $17.30 to $17.90 a share.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

However, SAP cut its outlook for the year, citing a €100 million impact from the acquisition of data platforms Prior Labs and Dremio.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Even children’s art is subject to the taste and outlook of the society that shapes his or her personality.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Airbus and Boeing presented differing outlooks for their commercial aircraft in coming years, as the aviation sector gathered near London for this week's Farnborough airshow.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

However, from those early outlooks, “things can change quite a bit. Things will change quite a bit.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Citi remains selective on South Korean stocks, preferring names with resilient earnings outlooks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

A subrange of the Appalachian Mountains along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the Smokies are known for hiking trails with waterfalls and scenic outlooks.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

In reality, I regularly observe in New Guinea that native societies there differ greatly from each other in their prevalent outlooks.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• chance
• expectation
• forecast
• opportunity
• possibility
• prospect
• risk