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Glite Dictionary
to look out over

to look out over

20 3.4
To have a view of an area from a high place like a balcony or window
  • phrasal verb
: dar a
  • I had a room that looked out over a garden.

And it's a beautiful place, like right when you walk up to check in, you're like looking out over the the beach and it's amazing.

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Examples

  • Charlie stands by a twelve-foot-high window, looking out over the trees along Fifth Avenue to Central Park beyond.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • We sit, a family gathered, on the screened-in porch, looking out over the lake.

    Academic text (1990)

  • So this is our view from lunch, looking out over the beautiful city.

  • I looked out over the water to see if I could see her.

    Lake Mungo (2009)

  • And we could look out over the whole factory.

    The Intern (2015)

  • And we stood there, the two of us, holding hands, looking out over the destruction.

    The Big Kahuna (1999)

  • Originally I thought I should put my desk here so I could look out over the pond.

    Funny Farm (1988)

  • The mothers met at the edge of the half-circle and looked out over the valley.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Alex and I sit side by side in lounge chairs, looking out over the huge expanse of lawn.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • From the balcony, I could look out over the entire city skyline.

Synonyms

to see
vsto look out over
∞ 1.0

To notice something with your eyes

involves occupying a place giving a wide scene rather than simple perception
to take a look
vsto look out over
∞ 1.3

To look at something to check it or find information

is about a stationary viewpoint facing a scene rather than a brief check
to view
vsto look out over
323 1.0

To look at something carefully

emphasizes holding a vantage position that shows a whole scene
to have a look
vsto look out over
192 1.3

To check something carefully, for example an essay or a machine

is about holding a position that faces an area, not a quick check
to look across
vsto look out over
45 3.0

See something on the other side from where you are

is about facing a direction to view something, not close inspection
to overlook
vsto look out over
26 3.7

To look down at a place from above

focuses on facing a scene from height rather than mere observation
to look out on
vsto look out over
12 3.5

To face and have a view of a place

is about seeing from a specific position, often from higher ground
to command
vsto look out over
4 6.2

To have a view of an area from a higher place

faces a scene from a raised viewpoint rather than from ground level

Antonyms

to turn away from
65 3.7

To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something

How Wide

to command
4 6.2
to overlook
26 3.7
to look out over
20 3.4
to face
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

look out over infinitive
looked out over past
looked out over past participle
looking out over present participle
looks out over third person singular

Morphology

look + out + over

The sense ‘to have a view of’ is directly built from 'look' (to direct one's gaze) combined with directional particles 'out' (toward the exterior/vantage) and 'over' (across/above), so the overall meaning is compositional and predictable. This verb + particle/preposition pattern is common in English and in many other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would very likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Look out over comes from the simple image of someone standing on a high place and using their eyes to look out across an area over fields, a river, or a city. So, it means 'to have a view of' or 'to face' a scene from that position.