look out

To pay attention so you notice danger or possible problems.

• Look out! A car is coming.
• We looked out for loose rocks on the path.
• Look out for thieves in crowded places.

How to use it: look out for someone/something (Look out for cyclists when you open the car door.)

Similar words: watch out, be careful, beware

Common phrases: look out for cars, look out below

To direct your eyes from inside a place towards what is outside.

• Look out of the window.
• He looked out through the door at the rain.
• The children were looking out as the train crossed the bridge.

How to use it: look out of something (She looked out of the window.); look out through something (He looked out through the open door.)

Similar words: look outside

Common phrases: look out the window, look out through something

If a room or window does this, it faces a particular place or view.

• Our room looks out on the sea.
• The kitchen windows looked out onto a busy road.
• Does the balcony look out over the mountains?

How to use it: look out on/onto something (The bedroom looks out onto a small garden.); look out over something (Our windows look out over the valley.)

Similar words: overlook, face

Common phrases: look out on something, look out over something

To search for something and find it, usually among your possessions.

• I will look out some blankets.
• She looked out her old school photographs for us.
• Could you look the receipt out before tomorrow?

How to use it: look out something / look something out (I will look those papers out for you.)

Similar words: find, dig out, hunt out

Common phrases: look out something, look out old photographs