# outbox

Pronunciation: say "OWT-boks" US /ˈaʊtbɑks/, UK /ˈaʊtbɒks/

## Noun

1. A digital folder where outgoing email messages are stored until they are transmitted.
   - Simple: A computer folder that holds email messages waiting to be sent.
   - _The email lingered in her outbox because the mail server was down._
   - _Messages queue in the outbox and send automatically once a connection is restored._
2. A container holding papers and documents to be transmitted to others, usually by mail.
   - Simple: A tray or box that holds letters and papers waiting to be sent to other people.
   - _Memos piled up in the outbox until the courier collected them each afternoon._
   - _He placed the invoice in his outbox for the morning mail run._

## Verb

Pronunciation: say "owt-BOKS" US /aʊtˈbɑks/, UK /aʊtˈbɒks/

3. To box more skillfully than an opponent, winning the exchanges in a bout.
   - Simple: To beat someone in a fight by being the better boxer.
   - _He outboxed the defending champion to claim the belt._
   - _Smaller fighters sometimes outbox taller opponents by staying mobile._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2** — Formed from "out" plus "box".
**Meaning 3** — Formed from the prefix "out-" plus "box".

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