look out for
Idioms-
See to the welfare of, as in Mary was assigned to look out for the youngsters on the playground . Similar to look after , this expression appears in such terms as look out for number one , meaning “see to one's own best interests,” as in Looking out for number one is Barbara's first priority . Versions of this expression, such as take care of number one , date from 1700.
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Be careful of or watchful for something or someone, as in Look out for broken glass on the floor , or Look out for Mary—she'll be coming any minute . [Second half of 1600s] Also see look out .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dehghani advises that parents look out for shifts in the boundary between themselves and the group that they’re beginning to align with.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
You need to look out for each other, and protect your own interests too.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026
"We all have worked together at some point in our careers, so we look after each other and we look out for each other."
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
"We have learned a few more things to look out for and it has given me a little more confidence."
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
“Because he shouldn’t. Chrissie told me to look out for him and not let him climb even the littlest hill. And this one—” She looked behind them at the steep path.
From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
