An explanation of the different meanings of the English phrasal verb 'look out', with lots of examples in context
Hello and welcome to my website for English learners all about phrasal verbs!
How familiar are you with the phrasal verb 'look out'? I am sure that many of you have heard it before, perhaps as a warning or in its noun form, however do you know the different ways that it can be used in English? In this post, I will explain the various meanings and applications that it has in everyday English, with lots of examples to help you understand, learn and use them. So, without further ado, let's make a start! Don't forget to leave a comment at the end 😀
LOOK OUT: KEY INFORMATION
Usage | Common |
Number of meanings | 6 |
Past tense forms | Looked out / Looked out |
Separable? | Sometimes |
THE BASICS
As per usual, let's start our exploration of our nominated phrasal verb 'look out' by considering the words 'look' and 'out' and what they mean on their own.
Firstly, we have the verb 'to look', which is a common verb whose main meaning is to direct your eyes in a certain direction or towards a specific thing in order to see it.
Look at my new shoes. Aren't they amazing?!
She looked at me and smiled.
Additionally, 'to look' can also be used without a direct object (intransitively), specifically to refer to how something or someone appears.
You don't look very well. Do you feel ill?
Lisa's new haircut looks lovely. It really suits her.
It is often combined with prepositional particles to form phrasal verb constructions, which have meanings that can range from simply adding directional information about where the person is looking, to less obvious, idiomatic meanings (this is English, after all).
One such prepositional particle is 'out', which you will all of course be very familiar with as it is such a common word in the English language. When used an an adverb and preposition, 'out' typically refers to a state of being in, or moving towards, an external space and therefore functions as the natural opposite of the particle 'in'. When used in phrasal verbs, 'out' can often add ideas of revelation, distribution, removal or appearance, among others.
So, now that we have looked at the basics, let's move on to the main event, i.e. meanings of the phrasal verb 'look out' 🙂
MEANING 1: To view somewhere from an internal space
CEFR Language Level | A2 - Elementary |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To view out, to peer out |
Potential antonyms | To look in |
Separable? | No |
The first meaning of the phrasal verb 'look out' that we will cover is a nice and easy one as it is just the literal meaning of the combination of the two words i.e. to look from an internal space out to an external place.
For this first usage, the most obvious and commonly used example would be looking out through a window from the inside of a building to the outside.
The first thing I did this morning when I woke up was look out of the window to see if it had snowed overnight.
Sometimes, I get so bored in business meetings that I find myself looking out at the people on the street, rather than listening to what is being said.
Of course, we can use this application when talking about looking out of any internal space from which people can view the outside and this would typically include things like cars, planes and other types of transport in which people are inside.
John looked out from the plane and saw a mass of white cloud below it.
The dog looked out of the car window in fascination.
You may have noted from the examples in this section that one of the additional prepositions 'of' or 'from' is normally used before the noun with this application. Out of the two of these, I would say that 'of' is definitely more commonly used than 'from'. These are also omitted in informal spoken English, especially British English.
The dog looked out the car window in fascination.
MEANING 2: To try to notice something
CEFR Language Level | B1 - Intermediate |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To beware, to watch out, keep an eye out for, to keep your eyes peeled, to be alert |
Separable? | No |
For the second meaning of 'look out', we require the additional preposition 'for' as the construction 'to look out for' means to try and notice something.
When we use this, it doesn't mean that we want people to stop what they are doing and search for something in the present moment, but rather that we want them to remain alert and vigilant for something in case they see it or come across it.
The usage can be applied in many different areas of life but here are some typical scenarios when you are likely to hear it...
When you lose something - If you lose something, you might tell people what you have lost and ask them to let you know if they see it, or ideally give it back to you if they do find it.
I've lost my favourite pen. Please could you look out for it and if you do see it, please return it to me.
Criminals / danger - If we are ever in a place where there are criminals or where we may potentially face danger, we could be warned to look out for it.
Look out for pickpockets on the underground trains.
Disease symptoms - If you think that you may have a disease or if a disease is prevalent, you may be told to look out for certain symptoms. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, people were advised to look out for such symptoms as a loss of taste and smell and a persistent cough.
Look out for a rash that does not disappear under pressure.
Desired item - If you want to buy something rare, scarce or in limited supply from a shop or store, you may say that you will look out for it or a nice person may look out for it for you.
I'll look out for some of that Manuka honey for you and buy it if I see it.
Aside from these uses, this application of 'look out' can be used for any situations in which you need to remain alert or vigilant for something.
BONUS INFORMATION In addition to the phrasal verb, 'lookout' also exists as a noun (more on this later in the post). There are a couple of common expressions that can be used with this noun which mean the same thing as the application of 'look out' in this section: "to be on the lookout for" and "to keep a lookout for something".
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MEANING 3: To alert someone to danger
CEFR Language Level | B1 - Lower intermediate |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | Be careful, watch out, to beware |
Separable? | No |
In the last section, I explained how 'look out' can be used to mean to remain vigilant or alert in a potentially dangerous or hazardous place and this third usage is simply an extension of that as it means to alert someone to danger.
Unlike most other phrasal verb meanings, this particular usage only really tends to exist as an imperative, i.e. to give someone a command or a warning and therefore it is often shouted or said in a loud voice. The reason being is that it is something that we say spontaneously when we see that someone is in immediate danger of being injured or killed.
Look out! There is a car coming!
Look out you idiot! You almost got yourself killed!
The man saw that the tiles were about to be blown off the roof by the strong winds and he quickly shouted "look out" to the people standing underneath it to alert them to the danger.
MEANING 4: To search for and find something
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | British |
Potential synonyms | To find out, to get out, to find, to dig out |
Separable? | Yes |
The fourth meaning of 'look out' is a primarily British usage that means to search for and find something, normally with the intention of showing it to someone.
This application is really a cross between the two phrasal verbs 'look for' and 'get out' as it combines elements of both of them; looking for the item and then getting it out of the place that it is stored, which is normally somewhere in your home amongst your possessions.
On a grammatical note, unlike the previous meanings of 'look out' that we have looked at so far in this post, this usage takes a direct object (the item that you are searching for to get out) and this usage is therefore separable, with the direct object going either between 'look' and 'out' or after them.
I will look the photos of your parents out for when you come to see me the next time.
John looked out his driving license from his desk and presented it to the policeman.
I have got a spare phone charger if you need one. I'll go and look it out now in the bedroom.
MEANING 5: To act selfishly
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To be selfish, to care for |
Separable? | No |
For the fifth meaning of 'look out', we need to enlist the additional particle 'for' again. This time however, instead of looking out for something, we are instead looking out for someone, which can either be ourselves or another person.
If we look out for ourselves (note the usage here with the reflexive -self pronoun), then it means that we are prioritising our own interests and ignoring others peoples needs and requirements. This is of course something that we all need to do in life from time to time, however if people look out for themselves too much, it can be perceived as selfishness and therefore 'to look out for yourself' can often be used to mean to be selfish, self-serving or egotistical.
You need to stop doing everything for your children and look out for yourself for a change.
Alan has already gone and didn't offer to give anyone a lift. He's just looking out for himself again, as per usual.
Marie accused Helen of only ever looking out for herself and not caring about what anybody else wanted.
It is also common to use the word 'own + noun' instead of the reflexive '-self' pronoun here, and examples of these nouns could be family, career, job and perhaps most commonly and generically, interests.
Roger was just looking out for his own family and didn't really give any consideration to anyone else.
Debbie will always look after her own interests first. Some people say she is selfish but I think she is sensible.
Interestingly, if we change the reflexive pronoun or 'own' noun from ourselves to another person, then the meaning completely changes to the opposite. If you look out for someone, it means that you care a lot about them and you always try to make sure that they are safe and do not come to harm. This is not quite the same meaning as 'looking after someone' as you are not caring for their needs all the time, but rather you are more watching from a distance, much like an aunt or uncle would, and you will always be there to help if they have a problem.
I've been looking out for you ever since you were a little boy.
Will you look out for Calum this week whilst we are away on holiday? He's fine to look after himself, but I just want to be be sure there is someone around in case he has any problems.
MEANING 6: To give a view to something
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Rare |
Where is it used? | Everywhere but more American |
Potential synonyms | To face, to overlook, to afford |
Separable? | No |
Nouns commonly used with | View, sea, ocean, mountain, valley, field, church |
The final meaning of 'look out' that we will cover is one that means 'to give a view to something' and is used specifically for buildings.
I know that this may sound strange as the verb 'to look' is one that is normally only ever used for something with eyes, however this is not always the case. If a building looks out to something, such as the sea, then it means it affords (gives) a view of the sea when you are inside it. As such, you are likely to see this in property listings and holiday brochures as it is a great way to sell somewhere because we all love a beautiful view!
For this usage, we require the additional preposition 'to' to specify the thing that can be seen from the building.
The house looks out to the rainforest on three sides.
This 18th Century country cottage looks out to views of rolling hills and green fields.
When I was growing up, my house looked out to mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. I was so lucky!
BONUS: LOOKOUT AS A NOUN
I mentioned earlier in the post that the noun 'lookout' can be used in certain expressions and before I finish the post, I just want to make you aware of a couple of other meanings that it has as a noun...
Lookout as a place - In British and Australian English, the noun 'lookout' is used to mean a place where you can go to see beautiful views. This is normally somewhere elevated, such as up a mountain or hill, from which you can see for a long distance, often in different or all directions.
Lookout as a person - The noun lookout can also be used to describe a person who has been designated to watch for any danger or trouble and who can then alert the rest of the community. It is not really something that we use or need in our everyday lives now, however it can still be heard when talking about history, in literature and in tv shows and movies.
We have now reached the end of this post and I just want to say thank you for clicking on my post and reading it. I hope that you've enjoyed it and have been able to learn something new.
Now it is YOUR turn. Can you think of a sentence yourself using 'look out'. Write it in the comments section below if you can, or alternatively any comments, suggestions or feedback that you may have....don't be shy!!!
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