lookout

1 of 2

noun

look·​out ˈlu̇k-ˌau̇t 

1

: one engaged in keeping watch : watchman

2

: an elevated place or structure affording a wide view for observation

3

: a careful looking or watching

on the lookout

4

: view, outlook

5

: a matter of care or concern

look out

2 of 2

verb

looked out; looking out; looks out

intransitive verb

: to take care or concern oneself

—used with for

looking out for number one

Synonyms of lookout

Noun

• overlook
• observatory
• tower

Verb

• watch out (for)
• guard (against)
• notice
• beware (of)

Examples of lookout in a Sentence

Noun

The troops posted a lookout for the night.

The mountain road had several lookouts where you could enjoy the view.

Verb

if you go in those woods, look out for snakes!

as a fiduciary, she has an obligation to look out for our interests

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There, Pike and Shipp violently tortured Slemmer before killing her, while Peterson acted as lookout. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026

The third defendant, then-18-year-old Shadolla Peterson, who acted as a lookout while her two friends carried out the attack, testified for the state and avoided the death penalty. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

In addition, surprise guests — look out for a festival favorite that won a significant award at Cannes — are likely to be in the mix. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026

For much of the story, Xu Fu looks out for himself and treats the war as someone else’s problem. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1752, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lookout

• be on the lookout for
• keep a lookout for
• on the lookout for
• someone's lookout

Rhymes for lookout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

lookout

noun

look·​out ˈlu̇k-ˌau̇t 

1

: a person who keeps watch

2

: a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible

3

: a careful looking or watching

4

: outlook sense 1b

5

: a matter of care or concern

the plants are wilting, but that's not my lookout