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• lookout
  lookout

  noun

  the act of looking out or keeping watch.
• Lookout
  Lookout

  noun

  Cape Lookout, a sandy reef in the Outer Banks, off eastern North Carolina, southwest of Cape Hatteras: known for its lighthouse.

lookout

¹ American  

[look-out] / ˈlʊkˌaʊt /

noun

1. the act of looking out or keeping watch.

2. a watch kept, as for something that may happen.

3. a person or group keeping a watch.

   Synonyms:

   guard, patrol, sentry, sentinel

4. a station or place from which a watch is kept.

5. an object of care or concern.

   That's not my lookout.

6. tailpiece.

7. Chiefly British. view; prospect; outlook.

   The business lookout is far from optimistic.

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Lookout ² American  

[look-out] / ˈlʊkˌaʊt /

noun

1. Cape Lookout, a sandy reef in the Outer Banks, off eastern North Carolina, southwest of Cape Hatteras: known for its lighthouse.

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lookout British  

/ ˈlʊkˌaʊt /

noun

1. the act of keeping watch against danger, etc

2. a person or persons instructed or employed to keep such a watch, esp on a ship

3. a strategic point from which a watch is kept

4. informal worry or concern

   that's his lookout

5. outlook, chances, or view

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verb

1. to heed one's behaviour; be careful

   look out for the children's health

2. to be on the watch

   look out for my mother at the station

3. (tr) to search for and find

   I'll look out some curtains for your new house

4. to face in a particular direction

   the house looks out over the moor

lookout Idioms  

1. see keep an eye out for (sharp lookout); on the lookout. Also see entries beginning with look out.

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Etymology

Origin of lookout

First recorded in 1690–1700; noun use of verb phrase look out

Explanation

The neighborhood kids might use a tree house as a lookout, from which they can keep an eye out for the local bully. A lookout is usually so high that a person can see for a long distance in many directions when she stands on or in it. Armies sometimes use lookouts to scout for approaching troops, and navy ships include a lookout at the top of a tall mast, also called a "crow's nest." Lookout can also be spelled as a hyphenated word, "look-out," and used as well to refer to the person whose job it is to stay in the lookout and keep watch.

Example Sentences

In the future, she is hopeful for more projects like this one and says they are on the lookout for some more land.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

Last quarter, the Gemini app had over 750 million monthly active users, and investors will be on the lookout for more signs of increased adoption in the beginning of 2026.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Be on the lookout for a giant shovel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

He was “worried about retirement and on the lookout for a final score,” Mr. Keefe writes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Orville Payne told me to be on the lookout for you.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

Related Words

• sentry