Definition of "outlook" in English

noun

1. A place from which something can be viewed.

   • Perched on the edge of the cliff was a hidden outlook.

2. The view from such a place.

3. An attitude or point of view.

   • He has a positive outlook on life.

4. Expectation for the future.

   • The outlook for temperature rises is worrying.

verb

1. (intransitive, archaic, literary) To face or look in an outward direction.

   • 1610, Gervase Markham, Markhams Maister-peece, or, What Doth a Horse-man Lack? London, Chapter 103 “Certaine speciall Notes to be obserued in buying of a horse,” pp. 204-205, … marke his colour and his shape, that is to say, a comely well proportioned head, with an outlooking eye, good well raised shoulders, and a thicke large breast …

2. (transitive, archaic) To look at (someone) so long or intently that they look away; to win or prevail over (someone or something).

3. (transitive, obsolete) To be more attractive than (someone or something).

   • 1731, Mary Delany, letter dated 4 October, 1731, in George Paston (ed.), Mrs. Delany (Mary Granville): A Memoir, 1700-1788, London: Grant Richards, 1900, p. 64, Nobody’s equipage outlooked ours except my Lord Lieutenant’s, but in every respect I must say Mrs. Clayton outshines her neighbours …
   • 1793, Hester Piozzi, letter dated 22 May, 1793, in Oswald G. Knapp (ed.), The Intimate Letters of Hester Piozzi and Penelope Pennington, 1788-1821, London: The Bodley Head, 1914, p. 89, … Sally quite outlooked her sister by the bye, and was very finely drest.
   • 1862, B. F. Taylor, diary entry dated 5 November, 1862, in E. R. Hutchins (ed.), The War of the Sixties, New York: The Neale Publishing Company, 1912, p. 36, Burnside, handsome, stately, outlooked his chief on horseback as on foot.

4. (transitive, obsolete) To inspect throughly; to select.

   • 1689, Charles Cotton, “The Angler’s Ballad” in Poems on Several Occasions, London: Thomas Bassett et al., p. 76, Away to the Brook, All your Tackle out look, Here’s a day that is worth a year’s wishing; See that all things be right, For ’tis a very spight To want tools when a man goes a fishing.

5. (transitive, obsolete) To look beyond (something).

noun

1. (Hong Kong, colloquial) look; appearance