outlook

American  

[aut-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

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Etymology

Origin of outlook

First recorded in 1660–70; out- + look

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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

The interest-rate outlook looks certain to fuel a decline in house prices of around 15% from peak to trough, which will weigh on already deeply depressed consumer and business confidence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

The outlook for reviving the deadlocked talks remains bleak.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

Some companies are holding off on raising billions of dollars in debt sales until the midterm elections bring clarity to the regulatory outlook.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

Japanese chipmaker Kioxia plunged more than 15 percent after giving a cautious outlook that fell short of forecasts.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 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

The weight of high interest rates on Americans’ financial outlooks showed up in consumer sentiment data from the University of Michigan last week.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

While growth was strong across earnings, credit and margin outlooks, investors are still feeling nervous about the potential of a Fed rate hike and its impact on banks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

On Tuesday, the IMF will unveil its global economic forecast, along with detailed regional outlooks through the week, as policymakers set about tackling the challenges darkening the economic horizon.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

In total, 116 S&P 500 companies had put out earnings-per-share outlooks for the third quarter, according to the report.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 4, 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

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Related Words

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