Word
lookout
Phoneticslook·out, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫʊˌkaʊt/
UK/lˈʊkaʊt/
Definitions
01a person on watch
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who is responsible for watching for danger or for something approaching.
n. a person stationed to keep watch for approaching danger, enemies, or specific events.
“The bank robbers left one man outside to act as a lookout for the police.”
“The ship's lookout was the first to spot the distant lights of the harbour through the thick morning fog.”
Usage
Often used with the indefinite article 'a'.
02the act of watching
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of watching carefully for something, often used in the phrase 'on the lookout'.
n. the act or state of keeping a systematic watch for someone or something.
“You should be on the lookout for a blue car parked near the entrance.”
“Security teams remained on the lookout for any suspicious activity during the high-profile political summit.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the idiomatic phrase 'on the lookout for'.
03a vantage point
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a high place where you can see a long way, like a balcony or a hill.
n. an elevated place or structure that affords a wide view of the surrounding area.
“We stopped at a mountain lookout to take photos of the valley below.”
“The coastal lookout provided the rangers with an unobstructed view of the migrating whale pods.”
04personal concern
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun British English · Informal
n. your own problem or responsibility.
n. an individual's personal concern, prospect, or responsibility.
“If he chooses to ignore the warning, that is his lookout.”
“The manager made it clear that if the staff failed to meet the deadline, it would be their own lookout during the performance review.”
Teaching tip
This sense is primarily British and can sound slightly dismissive or cold.
Real-World Examples
“They’re easy to miss, but shoppers like Mateus Gujrel are on the lookout.” “Japanese media report a lookout had signalled the workers were clear of the tracks.” Etymology
Deverbal from look out.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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