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look out for meaning and examples

2025-09-20

Meaning

"Look out for" is a phrasal verb that means to be alert or pay attention in order to notice or avoid something. It can also mean to take care of or protect someone.

Grammar and Usage

  • Verb type: Phrasal verb (inseparable).

  • Common patterns:

    • "Look out for + noun" → to watch for danger or something specific.
    • "Look out for + person" → to take care of someone or protect them.

Common Phrases

  • "Look out for danger"
  • "Look out for each other"
  • "Look out for traffic"
  • "Look out for number one" (informal: focus on your own interests)

Collocations

  • look out for opportunities
  • look out for signs
  • look out for friends
  • look out for mistakes
  • look out for yourself

Examples

  1. You should look out for cars when crossing the street.
  2. Teachers are trained to look out for signs of bullying.
  3. I always try to look out for my younger brother.
  4. The police told us to look out for suspicious packages.
  5. He only cares about himself; he always looks out for number one.
  6. We need to look out for each other in difficult times.
  7. When hiking in the mountains, look out for loose rocks.
  8. She promised to look out for me during my first week at the new job.
  • watch out for
  • be alert to
  • be on the lookout for
  • guard
  • protect

Antonym

  • ignore
  • neglect
  • overlook