lookout

C2 Topic:Places & Geography

Also spelled look-out

US /ˈlʊkaʊt/ See IPA manual

Freq #8239

Meanings

1

noun
A vantage point with a view of the surrounding area.

Gulangyu island has a spectacular crows-nest lookout reached by winding stone staircases. From so high, the Nationalist islands look like lumps of cookie batter dropped onto the smooth harbor, with picturesque sailing junks not far away.
2

noun
A session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.

We kept a lookout all night, but nobody came.
3

noun
A person on watch for approaching enemy, police, danger, etc.

The raid failed when the lookout noticed the enemy group.
4

noun
A subject for observation; a prospect or view.

Looking, seeing: search or searching; Looking-for (B.), expectation; Lookout, a careful watching for: an elevated place from which to observe: one engaged in watching. And, you know, she OUGHT to keep enough to pay for her season-ticket; but no, she comes to me about that, and I have to find the money." "It's a poor lookout," said Mrs. Morel bitterly.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 noun · a person on watch for... lookout manwatchout

More sentry surveillance vigil watch

Word family

Derived forms be-on-the-lookout

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

lookout station
a place or structure from which people watch a wide surrounding area

Noun + noun

Etymology

Deverbal from look out.

Topics

Places & Geography

External links

# lookout

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlʊkaʊt/
**Frequency rank:** 8239

## Meanings
1. A vantage point with a view of the surrounding area.
2. A session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
3. A person on watch for approaching enemy, police, danger, etc.
4. A subject for observation; a prospect or view.

## Examples
- Gulangyu island has a spectacular crows-nest lookout reached by winding stone staircases. From so high, the Nationalist islands look like lumps of cookie batter dropped onto the smooth harbor, with picturesque sailing junks not far away.
- We kept a lookout all night, but nobody came.
- The raid failed when the lookout noticed the enemy group.
- Looking, seeing: search or searching; Looking-for (B.), expectation; Lookout, a careful watching for: an elevated place from which to observe: one engaged in watching. And, you know, she OUGHT to keep enough to pay for her season-ticket; but no, she comes to me about that, and I have to find the money." "It's a poor lookout," said Mrs. Morel bitterly.

## Synonyms
- sentry
- surveillance
- vigil
- watch

## Derived Forms
- be-on-the-lookout

## Etymology
Deverbal from look out.

## Topics
- Places & Geography

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