look out
A2 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
Watch out! There's danger close by!
Literal meaning: To direct your eyes outward, as when looking out a window.
Meanings
1 A2 informal
An urgent exclamation warning someone of immediate danger.
"Look out! There's a car coming straight at you!"
"Look out! He's got a knife!"
— Common exclamation in countless films and TV dramas; cited in numerous English language learning corpora
Grammar: inseparable
2 A2 neutral
To be watchful and alert for something expected or potentially harmful.
"Look out for black ice on the roads this morning."
Grammar: inseparable
3 B1
idiomatic
informal
(British English) To find and retrieve something from a collection or storage.
"I'll look out those old photos for you before you visit."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
As an exclamation ('Look out!'), it is used across all English varieties. As a general instruction to be watchful, it is slightly more informal. Common in both British and American English.
Commonly used with
danger warning hazard traffic ice trouble
Forms
Base
look out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
looks out
he/she/it
Past simple
looked out
yesterday
Past participle
looked out
have + pp
-ing form
looking out
continuous
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Synonyms
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