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look out

A2 informal inseparable intransitive

A warning to be alert to immediate danger, or to watch carefully for something.

In plain English

Watch out! There's danger close by!

What does "look out" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

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
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."

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."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To direct your eyes outward, as when looking out a window.

Actually means

Watch out! There's danger close by!

Usage tip

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.

Words that pair with "look out"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

danger warning hazard traffic ice trouble

How to conjugate "look out"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

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

Hear "look out" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "look out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "look out"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

be careful beware mind out pay attention take care watch out

Keep exploring

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