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Glite Dictionary
to look out over

to look out over

21 3.4
To have a view of an area from a high place like a balcony or window
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : 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 have a look
vsto look out over
412 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 view
vsto look out over
357 1.0

To look at something carefully

emphasizes holding a vantage position that shows a whole scene
to overlook
vsto look out over
100 3.7

To look down at a place from above

focuses on facing a scene from height rather than mere observation
to look across
vsto look out over
26 3.0

See something on the other side from where you are

is about facing a direction to view something, not close inspection
to command
vsto look out over
12 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
to look out on
vsto look out over
11 3.5

To face and have a view of a place

is about seeing from a specific position, often from higher ground

Antonyms

to turn away from
15 3.7

To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something

How Wide

to command
12 6.2
to overlook
100 3.7
to look out over
21 3.4
to face
549 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.