# out

Pronunciation: say "OWT" US/UK /aʊt/, AUS /æɔt/

## Adverb

1. Away from the inside or the center, toward the outside.
   - Simple: Away from the inside of something, to the outside.
   - _She opened the box and the kitten climbed out._
   - _Smoke poured out through the windows._
3. Used after certain verbs as an intensifier, adding emphasis rather than direction.
   - Simple: Used after some verbs to make them stronger, not to show direction.
   - _The room was all tricked out with lights._
   - _She kitted herself out for the climb._
5. Away from, or at some distance from, a point of reference.
   - Simple: Away from a central point, or far from it.
   - _The farm is a long way out from town._
   - _Boats were anchored well out from the shore._
6. To the end; completely, until nothing is left or until one is exhausted.
   - Simple: Until it is finished or used up, or until someone is very tired.
   - _Let him talk himself out._
   - _The fire burned itself out by morning._
7. Away from home or one's usual place, especially for a meal or an evening's entertainment.
   - Simple: Away from home, at a restaurant or somewhere else.
   - _They dine out most weekends._
   - _She's been out every night this week._
8. Into a state of not operating or not existing.
   - Simple: So that something stops burning or working, or is removed and no longer there.
   - _The candle blew out in the draft._
   - _They crossed out every name on the list._
11. So as to come into existence or into view.
   - Simple: So that something can be seen or starts to exist.
   - _One by one, the stars came out as the sky grew dark._
   - _The scandal brought out the worst in everyone._
14. Outdoors, in the open air, rather than indoors.
   - Simple: Outside, in the open air, not inside a building.
   - _The children have been out in the garden all afternoon, building a snowman._
   - _We left our muddy boots out on the porch overnight._
19. In cricket and baseball, of a player, so as to be dismissed from further play by an action of the opposing team, such as being stumped or struck out.
   - Simple: In baseball or cricket, so that a player must stop batting because of what the other team did.
   - _The shortstop fielded the grounder and threw the runner out at first._
   - _Their opener was caught out on the boundary for twelve runs._
30. At a distance in time from some point, often after a stated span and with from. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Away in time from a certain point, often used with 'from'.
   - _Two weeks out from the wedding, the dress still wasn't ready._
   - _Delivery may shift out by as much as a month._
35. Of a ball or other object in play, so as to pass or end up beyond the edge of the playing area.
   - Simple: Of a ball in a game, so that it goes past the lines of the playing area.
   - _Her backhand clipped the top of the net and sailed out._
   - _The goalkeeper punched the ball out over the sideline._

## Preposition

2. Moving from the inside to the outside of something; out of.
   - Simple: From the inside of something to the outside of it.
   - _Somebody threw a soda can out the car window and it bounced across the road._
   - _"I can't get that song out my head," she groaned._
4. Followed by of, to single out members of a group or to state a number as a portion of a given total, as in scores and ratings.
   - Simple: Used with of to choose from a group, or to give a number as part of a total, like a score.
   - _Critics gave the new film four out of five stars._
   - _Out of all the applicants, she was the only one who spoke Spanish._
42. Used with of to state the emotion or motive that leads someone to act, as in out of pity or out of spite.
   - Simple: Used with of to say what feeling or reason made someone do something, as in "out of fear".
   - _Out of respect for the family, the newspaper did not print the photos._
   - _He stayed in the job for years, mostly out of fear of starting over._
43. Used with of to name the material or source from which something is made.
   - Simple: Used with of to say what material or thing was used to make something.
   - _She sewed a quilt out of her late father's shirts._
   - _Several startups are now making jet fuel out of used cooking oil._

## Verb

9. To emerge or escape, and especially to become public or apparent.
   - Simple: To escape or appear, and especially to become known by everyone.
   - _Murder will out, as the old detective liked to remind his team._
   - _However carefully they hid it, the truth was bound to out sooner or later._
22. To reveal that a person is gay, trans, or otherwise LGBTQ+, whether oneself or, without consent, someone else.
   - Simple: To make it known that someone is gay or trans, sometimes against their wishes.
   - _A gossip column outed the actor years before he was ready to talk about it._
   - _Nobody should out a colleague, whatever the reason._
27. To reveal that a person or organization has a particular secret, such as being a secret agent or an undercover detective.
   - Simple: To tell people a secret about a person or group, such as that they are a spy.
   - _The leaked memo outed two diplomats as intelligence officers._
   - _Bloggers threatened to out the bank as the hidden owner of the failing fund._

## Adjective

10. Having no more of something, with the supply used up.
   - Simple: Having none left of something, because it has all been used.
   - _We're out of time, I'm afraid._
   - _The shop was out of everything but tinned peaches._
16. Away from home or from one's workplace, not available there.
   - Simple: Not at home or not at work right now.
   - _The doctor is out until two._
   - _They were out when we called, so we left a note._
12. Published or released, and available to buy, download, or use.
   - Simple: On sale or available, as a new record or book.
   - _The update is out, so install it tonight._
   - _Her first novel is still out in hardback._
13. Not inside or within a place, especially one the person or thing was in before or normally is in.
   - Simple: Not inside a place, especially one you are usually in.
   - _The dog's out again, someone left the gate open._
   - _By noon every last splinter was out._
17. Of a service, device, or facility: not working or not available; of a person or home: without such a service.
   - Simple: Not working or not available, like the power during a storm. It can also mean left without power or phone service.
   - _The elevators are out, so take the stairs._
   - _Phone lines were out for two days after the storm._
15. Unconscious, whether from a blow, a faint, or deep sleep.
   - Simple: Unconscious or deeply asleep, after a blow, a faint, or great tiredness.
   - _One punch and the challenger was out._
   - _She was out like a light by nine._
18. Dismissed from play under the rules of a game, used especially of a batter in baseball or a batsman in cricket.
   - Simple: In a game, removed from play under the rules, especially as a batter in baseball or cricket.
   - _With two runners on base and two batters already out, the coach called a timeout._
   - _The bowler appealed, the umpire raised his finger, and the captain was out._
21. Openly acknowledging that one is gay, trans, or otherwise LGBT+, not hiding it.
   - Simple: Open about being gay, trans, or otherwise LGBT+.
   - _He's been out since college, but he only recently told his coworkers._
   - _He was out to his friends long before he told his family._
23. No longer kept secret; known to others.
   - Simple: Not secret anymore, and now known by other people.
   - _Now that word of the merger is out, the company's shares have jumped._
   - _The truth about the missing funds was finally out._
24. No longer in fashion or popular.
   - Simple: No longer in fashion, replaced by something newer.
   - _That band was out by the time I discovered them._
   - _Wide ties are in one year and out the next._
25. Of an option, no longer acceptable, permitted, or possible.
   - Simple: Used about a choice that is no longer allowed or possible.
   - _Camping is out, my back won't take it._
   - _With the strike on, the train is out._
26. Of a lamp, fire, or other light, extinguished and not burning or shining.
   - Simple: Used about a lamp, fire or light that is no longer burning or shining.
   - _By midnight every window was dark and the street lamps were out._
   - _The candles were out before the cake was cut._
29. Free, no longer in jail, prison, or captivity.
   - Simple: Free again after prison or another kind of confinement.
   - _The lion was out and nobody knew how._
   - _When he gets out, he wants to start again._
31. Of the sun, moon, or stars, visible and not hidden by cloud.
   - Simple: Shining in the sky, not hidden by clouds.
   - _The moon was out and the path was easy to follow._
   - _Once the sun came out, the frost was gone in minutes._
32. Of a school, a legislature, or another body, not in session; closed for a holiday or break.
   - Simple: Closed or not meeting for now, as a school is in the holidays.
   - _Congress is out for the August recess, so the bill will have to wait._
   - _With Congress out for the August recess, the bill will have to wait until fall._
34. Of a ball or other object in play, landing, passing, or lying beyond the edge of the playing area.
   - Simple: Of a ball in a game, outside the lines of the playing area.
   - _The line judge called the shot out, and the crowd groaned._
   - _The goal was disallowed because the ball was out before the winger crossed it._
36. Of flowers, open and in bloom.
   - Simple: Of flowers, open and blooming.
   - _By mid-April the cherry blossoms are out and the park fills with visitors._
   - _The lilacs were already out when we arrived at the cottage._
37. Of the tide, at or near its lowest level.
   - Simple: Of the tide, low, with the sea pulled back from the shore.
   - _With the tide out, the harbor turned into a wide stretch of wet sand._
   - _Fishermen dig for clams on the flats whenever the tide is out._
38. Of a calculation or measurement, containing errors or discrepancies, or wrong by a stated amount.
   - Simple: Of numbers or measurements, wrong, or wrong by a certain amount.
   - _The auditors found that the quarterly figures were out by nearly two thousand dollars._
   - _If the first measurement is out even slightly, none of the shelves will fit._
40. Eliminated from a tournament or competition, whether by defeat or by failing to qualify, said of a player or team.
   - Simple: Of a player or team: no longer in a competition after losing or not doing well enough to go on.
   - _The defending champions are out after a shock defeat in the quarterfinals._
   - _Despite winning its final group game, the team was out on goal difference._
41. Short by a stated amount, particularly of money, that has been lost or spent and will not be recovered. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: Having lost or paid a certain amount, often money, that you will not get back.
   - _After a bad night at the poker table, Mike was out three hundred dollars and his watch._
   - _When the contractor vanished with the down payment, the Garcias were out five thousand dollars._

## Noun

20. In baseball, the removal of a member of the batting side from play, by a strikeout, a caught fly ball or other means: three outs end a team's half of the inning.
   - Simple: In baseball, when a batter or runner is put out of play.
   - _He struck out for the second out of the inning._
   - _The pitcher needed one more out to win the game._
28. A way of escape from an obligation or a difficulty, such as a loophole or excuse.
   - Simple: A way to escape from a duty or a difficult situation.
   - _The contract has an out if the funding falls through._
   - _She took the first out she was offered._

## Interjection

33. Away with you or begone, used as a command to leave.
   - Simple: A shout meaning go away or get out.
   - _Out! The referee pointed to the tunnel._
   - _Out, out, all of you, this instant._
39. Used in radio communication, especially military, to show that the speaker has finished transmitting and does not expect a response.
   - Simple: Said at the end of a radio message to show you are finished and need no answer.
   - _"Bravo Two, bridge secured, no casualties. Out."_
   - _"Roger, convoy halts at the checkpoint until further notice. Out."_

## Other meanings

- (adverb) Away from the person acting, usually with force, as in lash out, kick out or hit out.
- (adverb) So as to come into view in the sky, clear of cloud or mist, as when the sun comes out.
- (noun) In cricket, the dismissal of a batter under the rules, ending that player's innings, as when a bowled ball breaks the wicket.
- (noun) In poker and similar games, a card still to come that would turn a hand into a winning one.
- (noun) A short trip or excursion for pleasure.
- (noun) A person or thing not in, especially a politician or party no longer in power.
- (noun) An outer place or corner, such as a nook, a jutting angle, or an open area.
- (noun) In printing, a word or passage the typesetter skipped by mistake when setting the copy.
- (noun) A take or scene cut from the final version of a film or recording.
- (noun) A small glass for a measure of whisky or other spirits.
- (verb) To drive or throw someone from a place.
- (verb) To make hidden information known to others.
- (verb) To kill someone, putting an end to their life.
- (adjective) Not in place inside something, such as a removed drawer or unplugged cable.
- (adjective) Open in public about a particular identity or background, as in 'out as an atheist'.
- (adjective) Of a young woman, formally introduced into society and so free to receive suitors.
- (interjection) Used as an abrupt or theatrical way to say goodbye.

## Origin

From Middle English out, from a blend of Old English ūt ("out") and ūte ("outside"), both from Proto-Germanic and ultimately the Proto-Indo-European root *úd ("upwards, away"). It is related to Dutch uit, German aus, and Swedish ut.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/out (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).