out

SayOWTUK/aʊt//æɔt/

60 meanings of out

1
away from insideadverb
Away from the inside of something, to the outside.
A rabbit jumped out of the hat.
All the water leaked out.
UsageUsually say out of before a place: out of the house.
Oppositein
Note
2
preposition
From the inside of something to the outside of it.
"Just toss it out the window!" he yelled.
The dog ran out the door as soon as I opened it.
UsageIn formal writing, out of is the safer choice: out of the window.
Similarthrough
Oppositeinto
Note
3
adverb
Used after some verbs to make them stronger, not to show direction.
The hall was all decked out for the party.
The kids were all kitted out in new football shirts and boots.
4
preposition
Used with of to choose from a group, or to give a number as part of a total, like a score.
She got nine out of ten on her spelling test.
Only one out of every four kids in my class walks to school.
UsageSay eight out of ten.
5
at a distanceadverb
Away from a central point, or far from it.
The boat was far out on the lake.
My cousin moved out to a small farm in Montana last year.
UsageSay a long way out for far from a place.
Similaraway
Oppositein
6
adverb
Until it is finished or used up, or until someone is very tired.
Let's just wait the storm out here in the car.
Sorry, we've sold out of bananas.
UsageSay hear me out for listen to the end.
Note
7
adverb
Away from home, at a restaurant or somewhere else.
We eat out on Fridays because nobody wants to cook.
We're going out for a drink.
UsageSay eat out for eat at a restaurant.
Oppositein
8
adverb
So that something stops burning or working, or is removed and no longer there.
The wind blew the candles out before we could make a wish.
Put the fire out before you go to bed.
UsageSay blow out the candle.
9
verbintransitive
To escape or appear, and especially to become known by everyone.
Truth will out, however long it takes.
Murder will out, as the old saying goes.
UsageSay the truth will out for the truth will be known.
Similaremerge, surface
Note
10
adjective
Having none left of something, because it has all been used.
Sorry, we're out.
I'm out of milk, can you get some?
UsageSay We're out of milk or We ran out of milk.
11
adverb
So that something can be seen or starts to exist.
The stars came out as soon as the sun went down.
The sun brought the flowers out.
UsageSay The stars came out.
12
publishedadjective
On sale or available, as a new record or book.
Did you hear? Their new album is out!
The book is out in paperback next month.
Similaravailable, published
13
adjective
Not inside a place, especially one you are usually in.
Is the cat out? Please close the back door if she is.
I cleaned the pipe until all the gunk was out.
Similaroutside
Oppositein
14
adverb
Outside, in the open air, not inside a building.
The kids played out in the yard until it got dark.
It's cold out.
UsageSay It's cold out for cold outside.
Similaroutside, outdoors
Oppositeinside, indoors
Note
15
unconsciousadjective
Unconscious or deeply asleep, after a blow, a faint, or great tiredness.
The boxer was out after one hard punch to the jaw.
He was out cold on the sofa.
Similarunconscious, senseless
Oppositeconscious, awake

Less common meanings

16
adjective
Not at home or not at work right now.
The doctor is out until Monday, but the nurse can see you.
Mom's out, can I take a message?
UsageSay She's out when she is not at home.
Similaraway, absent, unavailable
Oppositein
17
not workingadjective
Not working or not available, like the power during a storm. It can also mean left without power or phone service.
Power is out in the whole city.
My wi-fi is out again.
UsageSay The power is out.
Similardown, broken, dead
Oppositeworking, up
18
adjective
In a game, removed from play under the rules, especially as a batter in baseball or cricket.
The ball was caught before it hit the ground, so he was out.
Three players were out before we scored a single run.
UsageSay He's out when a player must stop batting.
Similardismissed
Oppositesafe
Note
19
adverb
In baseball or cricket, so that a player must stop batting because of what the other team did.
Our best pitcher struck out the first three batters.
She was run out when she tried to sneak a quick extra run.
Note
20
baseballnouncountable
In baseball, when a batter or runner is put out of play.
Two outs and the bases loaded.
The catch made the third out.
Note
21
openly gayadjective
Open about being gay, trans, or otherwise LGBT+.
My cousin is out at work, and her coworkers have been very supportive.
She has been out since college.
UsageOften out to someone: out to her family. To come out is to tell people.
Oppositecloseted
Note
22
verbtransitive
To make it known that someone is gay or trans, sometimes against their wishes.
The paper outed him before he was ready.
She decided to out herself to the whole office.
UsageSay come out about yourself; out someone is to tell about them.
Similarexpose
Note
23
adjective
Not secret anymore, and now known by other people.
The secret is out, so we might as well tell everyone.
Once the news was out, her phone didn't stop ringing.
UsageUsed after be with words like secret, word, or truth: The secret is out.
Similarpublic, known
Oppositesecret
Note
24
not in fashionadjective
No longer in fashion, replaced by something newer.
Black is out this season.
Long skirts are out, apparently.
Similarunfashionable, dated
Oppositein, fashionable, trendy
25
not an optionadjective
Used about a choice that is no longer allowed or possible.
With my bad knee, running is out, but I can still swim.
Driving is out after two glasses of wine.
Note
26
not litadjective
Used about a lamp, fire or light that is no longer burning or shining.
The candles were out by the time we finished dinner.
By morning the campfire was out and the ashes were cold.
UsageUsed with be or go: The lights went out. Say put out a fire to make it stop burning.
Similaroff, extinguished
Oppositeon, lit, alight
27
verbtransitive
To tell people a secret about a person or group, such as that they are a spy.
Please don't out me as the one who planned the surprise party.
A news story outed the police officer as an undercover agent.
UsageSay out someone as a spy.
Similarexpose, unmask, reveal
Note
28
escape routenouncountable
A way to escape from a duty or a difficult situation.
The law was written to give those organizations an out.
He always leaves himself an out.
UsageCommon with need, give and leave: give someone an out.
Similarloophole, escape, excuse, exit
29
adjective
Free again after prison or another kind of confinement.
He could be out in three years with good behavior.
She's out on bail until the trial.
UsageSay When he gets out of prison.
Similarfree, loose
30
away in timeadverbcolloquial
Away in time from a certain point, often used with 'from'.
We are only three days out from the wedding.
The election is still a long way out.
31
adjective
Shining in the sky, not hidden by clouds.
The moon is out tonight, so we can see the path clearly.
The stars were out by the time we left.
UsageSay The sun came out.
Similarvisible
Oppositehidden
Note
32
on breakadjective
Closed or not meeting for now, as a school is in the holidays.
School is out tomorrow because of the snow.
When school is out for the summer, the kids sleep late.
UsageSay School is out for the summer.
Similarclosed
Note
33
go awayinterjection
A shout meaning go away or get out.
Out! And don't come back.
Out, both of you, before I lose my temper.
Note
34
adjective
Of a ball in a game, outside the lines of the playing area.
Was the ball in or out?
Her serve looked good, but the judge said it was out.
UsageSay The ball was out.
Oppositein
Note
35
adverb
Of a ball in a game, so that it goes past the lines of the playing area.
The ball hit the edge of the line and rolled out.
He kicked the ball out to stop the other team's attack.
Oppositein
Note
36
adjective
Of flowers, open and blooming.
The tulips are out early this year.
When the apple blossoms are out, the whole yard smells sweet.
UsageSay The roses are out.
Similaropen, blooming
Note
37
adjective
Of the tide, low, with the sea pulled back from the shore.
When the tide is out, we look for crabs on the rocks.
The tide was out, and the boats sat on the mud.
UsageSay The tide is out.
Similarlow
Oppositein, high
Note
38
adjective
Of numbers or measurements, wrong, or wrong by a certain amount.
My total is out by ten dollars, so I must have made a mistake.
The map's distances were out, and we walked much farther than planned.
UsageSay out by ten for wrong by ten.
Similaroff, wrong, inaccurate
Oppositeaccurate, correct
39
interjection
Said at the end of a radio message to show you are finished and need no answer.
"We are heading back to base now. Out."
"Message received, all units stay where you are. Out."
Oppositeover
Note
40
adjective
Of a player or team: no longer in a competition after losing or not doing well enough to go on.
If we lose this game, we're out.
Our school team was out after the first round.
UsageSay The team is out of the cup.
41
adjectivecolloquialUSus
Having lost or paid a certain amount, often money, that you will not get back.
The concert got canceled with no refunds, so I'm out sixty bucks.
If the car breaks down again, we'll be out another thousand dollars.
UsageSay I'm out fifty dollars for I lost fifty dollars.
Similardown
Oppositeup
Note
42
preposition
Used with of to say what feeling or reason made someone do something, as in "out of fear".
He opened the box out of curiosity.
They gave the old man some food out of kindness.
UsageUse a noun after out of: out of curiosity (not ~~incorrect: out of curious~~).
Note
43
preposition
Used with of to say what material or thing was used to make something.
The kids built a fort out of old boxes.
This table is made out of wood from an old barn.
UsageSay made out of paper.
44
adverb
Away from yourself, often with force, as when you kick out or hit out.
45
adverb
Into view in the sky, no longer hidden by clouds, as when the sun comes out.
46
noun
In cricket, a batter's dismissal under the rules, for example when the ball knocks over the wicket.
47
noun
A card that would make your hand win if you got it.
48
noundated
A short trip for fun.
Us London lawyers don't often get an out; and when we do, we like to make the most of it, you know.
1852, Charles Dickens, Bleak House
49
noun
Someone who has lost power, especially in politics.
50
noun
A space outside something, or a corner or part that sticks out.
51
noundated
Words that were skipped by mistake when a text was printed.
52
nouncolloquial
A part of a film or recording that was not used.
53
nounobsolete
A small glass for a drink of strong alcohol.
54
verb
To force someone to leave.
55
verb
To let people learn something hidden.
56
verb
To kill.
57
adjective
Removed from where it usually fits, like an unplugged cord.
58
adjectiverare
Open with others about a part of who you are, such as your beliefs or past.
59
adjectiveobsolete
In the past, of a young woman, introduced to society and ready to meet possible husbands.
"Pray, is she out, or is she not?—I am puzzled.—She dined at the Parsonage, with the rest of you, which seemed like being out; and yet she says so little, that I can hardly suppose she is."
1814, [Jane Austen], Mansfield Park
60
interjectionslang
Used to say goodbye in a short, dramatic way.

Practice

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Origin

From Old English words meaning "out" and "outside," going back to Proto-Germanic and ultimately a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "upwards, away."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Out derives from Old English words meaning out and outside. en.wiktionary.org
These Old English words descend from Proto-Germanic. en.wiktionary.org
Their ultimate Proto-Indo-European source means upwards, away. en.wiktionary.org