Standard Lemma guide

lookout

name · noun · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈlʊkaʊt/
  • British, Southern, Standard: /ˈlɵkawt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ˈlʊkæɔt/
  • New-Zealand: /ˈlʊkæʊt/
  • Scotland: /ˈlʉkʌʊt/
  • Northern-Ireland: /ˈlʉkɐʏt/
  • CMU ARPABET: L UH1 K AW2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A census-designated place in Modoc County, California, United States.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A vantage point with a view of the surrounding area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lookout man, watchout

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A subject for observation; a prospect or view.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

One's perspective, outlook; hence, one's responsibility. (used with a possessive pronoun or a noun in a possessive form).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Every person's interest is his own lookout.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

An observation window.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A joist that extends in cantilever out from the exterior wall (or wall plate) of a building, supporting the roof sheathing and providing a nailing surface for the fascia boards.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, construction, manufacturing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: outlooker

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

the act of looking out

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: outlook

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: look, looking, looking at

10

noun

Meaning 10

a structure commanding a wide view of its surroundings

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: observation tower, lookout station, observatory

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: structure, construction

Narrower terms: observation dome, widow's walk

11

noun

Meaning 11

an elevated post affording a wide view

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: observation post

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: post, station

Narrower terms: meteorological observation post, weather station

12

noun

Meaning 12

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lookout man, sentinel, sentry, watch, spotter, scout, picket

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: watchman, watcher, security guard

History

Etymology

Deverbal from look out.

Across languages

Translations

100 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مَطَل (maṭal) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Armenian: դիտակայան (ditakayan) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Bulgarian: наблюда́телен пункт (nabljudátelen punkt) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Czech: pozorovatelna — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Czech: vyhlídka — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Czech: rozhledna — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Danish: udkig — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Danish: udkigspost — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Danish: udkigspunkt — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Finnish: näköalapaikka — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Finnish: tarkkailupiste — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • French: poste de guet — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Galician: miradoiro — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Greek: παρατηρητήριο (paratiritírio) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Hebrew: מִצְפֶּה (mitspé) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Hungarian: kilátó — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Hungarian: kilátóhely — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Hungarian: megfigyelőhely — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Hungarian: őrhely — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Irish: ionad faire — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Irish: crannóg — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Italian: vedetta — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Latin: specula — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Macedonian: набљу́дувачница (nabljúduvačnica) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Māori: tūtainga — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Māori: tūteinga — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Māori: matairangi — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Māori: taumata matira — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Māori: matira — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Norwegian Bokmål: utkikk — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: utkikk — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Portuguese: ponto de vigia — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Portuguese: posto de vigia — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Portuguese: miradouro — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Russian: наблюда́тельный пункт (nabljudátelʹnyj punkt) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Russian: ата́нда (atánda) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Russian: ата́с (atás) — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Spanish: mirador — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Swedish: utkik — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Welsh: gwylfa — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Welsh: gwylfeydd — vantage point with a view of the surrounding area
  • Bulgarian: наблюде́ние (nabljudénie) — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Finnish: vartio — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Finnish: vahti — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Hungarian: őrködés — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Italian: turno di guardia — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Macedonian: набљуду́вање (nabljudúvanje) — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Russian: дозо́р (dozór) — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Russian: наблюде́ние (nabljudénije) — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Swedish: utkik — session of watching for an approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Arabic: نَاطُور (nāṭūr) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Armenian: պահակ (pahak) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Bulgarian: страж (straž) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Czech: hlídka — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Czech: pozorovatel — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Danish: udkig — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Danish: udkigsmand — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Danish: vagtpost — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Finnish: vartiomies — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Finnish: tähystäjä — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • French: sentinelle — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • French: guetteur — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • French: guetteuse — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Greek: παρατηρητής (paratiritís) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Ancient Greek: σκοπός (skopós) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Hebrew: צוֹפֶה (tsofé) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Hungarian: őrszem — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Italian: sentinella — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Italian: guardia — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Italian: vedetta — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Latin: prōvīsor — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Macedonian: набљу́дувач (nabljúduvač) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Māori: matira — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Norman: dgetteux — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Norwegian Bokmål: utkikk — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: utkikk — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Portuguese: vigia — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Portuguese: sentinela — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Russian: дозо́рный (dozórnyj) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Russian: наблюда́тель (nabljudátelʹ) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Russian: ва́хта (váxta) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Russian: на ата́нде (na atánde) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Russian: на ата́се (na atáse) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Swedish: utkik — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Tibetan: གཡུལ་བསྲུང (g.yul bsrung) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Tibetan: བྱ་ར་བ (bya ra ba) — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Tibetan: སོ་པ — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Turkish: gözcü — person on watch for approaching enemy, police, etc.
  • Finnish: näköala — subject for observation
  • Finnish: näkymä — subject for observation
  • Hungarian: kilátás — subject for observation
  • Hungarian: távlat — subject for observation
  • Russian: забо́та (zabóta) — subject for observation
  • Russian: де́ло (délo) — subject for observation
  • Finnish: asia — perspective, outlook, responsibility
  • Finnish: ongelma — perspective, outlook, responsibility
  • Finnish: murhe — perspective, outlook, responsibility
  • Hungarian: feladat — perspective, outlook, responsibility
  • Hungarian: gond — perspective, outlook, responsibility
  • Hungarian: baj — perspective, outlook, responsibility
Real reading context

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