be on the lookout for
idiom
variants
or keep a lookout for
: to watch or search for (something or someone) : be alert to
Be on the lookout for flooded roads after heavy rainstorms.
The police officer walked through the neighborhood, keeping a (sharp) lookout for any suspicious activity.
Examples of be on the lookout for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department will be on the lookout for voting rights violations on Election Day in communities across the country, including Detroit.
—
John Wisely, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024
More specifically, animal control officials at the Martin County Sheriff's Office are urging people to be on the lookout for snakes.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
The researchers, based at the university’s Center for an Informed Public (CIP), were on the lookout for rumors about the election process—or at least, clues to what rumors might come.
—science.org, 30 Oct. 2024
The cases suggest doctors should be on the lookout for this historic illness, particularly among patients experiencing poverty, food insecurity and social isolation.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for be on the lookout for 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
John Wisely, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024
More specifically, animal control officials at the Martin County Sheriff's Office are urging people to be on the lookout for snakes.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
The researchers, based at the university’s Center for an Informed Public (CIP), were on the lookout for rumors about the election process—or at least, clues to what rumors might come.
—science.org, 30 Oct. 2024
The cases suggest doctors should be on the lookout for this historic illness, particularly among patients experiencing poverty, food insecurity and social isolation.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for be on the lookout for
Dictionary Entries Near be on the lookout for
Cite this Entry
“Be on the lookout for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20on%20the%20lookout%20for. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share