outlook

noun

out·​look ˈau̇t-ˌlu̇k 

1

a

: a place offering a view

b

: a view from a particular place

2

: point of view

a positive outlook on life

3

: the act of looking out

4

: the prospect for the future

the outlook for steel demand in the U.S.

—Wall Street Jour.

Synonyms

• lookout
• observatory
• overlook

Choose the Right Synonym for outlook

prospect, outlook, anticipation, foretaste mean an advance realization of something to come.

prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern.

the prospect of a quiet weekend

outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

a favorable outlook for the economy

anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

the anticipation of her arrival

foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

the frost was a foretaste of winter

Examples of outlook in a Sentence

The students all seemed to have the same outlook.

Despite our differences in outlook, we got along together very well.

scenic outlooks along the highway

Recent Examples on the Web

Volkswagen cut its profit outlook for 2024 Friday to around 5.6% from the previous expectation of between 6.5 and 7% and lowered its sales expectations to close to 9 million compared with its previous forecast of an up to 3% rise from 9.24 million in 2023. —Neil Winton, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Patchy areas of dense fog will be possible tonight into Tuesday morning, per a hazardous weather outlook. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 30 Sep. 2024

The weather service has an even hotter outlook, warning temperatures in the greater Las Vegas area could reach as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit. —Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell spoke at the National Association for Business Economics conference in Nashville and fielded questions about his monetary policy outlook. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

outlook

noun

out·​look ˈau̇t-ˌlu̇k 

1

a

: a place offering a view

b

: a view from a particular place

2

: point of view

3

: conditions that seem to lie ahead

the outlook for business