out
Looking for the meaning of out? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.
Advertisement
Placeholder for content ad unit
A means of exit, escape, reprieve, etc.
“They wrote the law to give those organizations an out.”
A state in which a member of the batting team is removed from play due to the application of various rules of the game such as striking out, hitting a fly ball which is caught by the fielding team before bouncing, etc.
A dismissal; a state in which a member of the batting team finishes his turn at bat, due to the application of various rules of the game, such as the bowler knocking over the batsman's wicket with the ball.
A card which can make a hand a winner.
A trip out; an outing.
(chiefly in the plural) One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office.
A place or space outside of something; a nook or corner; an angle projecting outward; an open space.
A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission.
To eject; to expel.
To reveal (a person) as LGBT+ (gay, trans, etc).
To reveal (a person or organization) as having a certain secret, such as a being a secret agent or undercover detective.
To reveal (a secret).
“A Brazilian company outed the new mobile phone design.”
To come or go out; to get out or away; to become public or apparent.
Not at home; not at one's office or place of employment.
“I'm sorry, Mr Smith is out at the moment.”
Not inside or within something.
“I worked away cleaning the U-bend until all the gunge was out.”
Freed from confinement or secrecy.
“My secret is out.”
Not fitted or inserted into something.
“The TV won't work with the plug out!”
Of the ball or other playing implement, falling or passing outside the bounds of the playing area.
“I thought the ball hit the line, but the umpire said it was out.”
Released, available for purchase, download or other use.
“Did you hear? Their newest CD is out!”
(in various games; used especially of a batsman or batter in cricket or baseball) Dismissed from play under the rules of the game.
“He bowls, Johnson pokes at it ... and ... Johnson is out! Caught behind by Ponsonby!”
Openly acknowledging that one is LGBT+ (gay, trans, etc).
“It's no big deal to be out in the entertainment business.”
(by extension) Open, public; public about or openly acknowledging some (usually specified) identity.
(of flowers) In bloom.
“The garden looks beautiful now that the roses are out.”
(of the sun, moon or stars) Visible in the sky; not obscured by clouds.
“The sun is out, and it's a lovely day.”
(of lamps, fires etc.) Not shining or burning.
“I called round to the house but all the lights were out and no one was home.”
(of ideas, plans, etc.) Discarded; no longer a possibility.
“Right, so that idea's out. Let's move on to the next one.”
(of certain services, devices, or facilities) Not available; out of service.
“My wi-fi is out.”
(of a user of a service) Not having availability of a service, as power or communications.
“Most of the city got service back yesterday, but my neighborhood is still out.”
(of an organization, etc.) Temporarily not in operation, or not being attended as usual.
“when school gets out for today, when college is out for the summer”
Of the tide, at or near its lowest level.
“You can walk to the island when the tide's out.”
No longer popular or in fashion.
“Black is out this season. The new black is white.”
Without; no longer in possession of; not having more
“Do you have any bread? Sorry, we're out.”
(of calculations or measurements) Containing errors or discrepancies; in error by a stated amount.
“Nothing adds up in this report. All these figures are out.”
Of a young lady: having entered society and available to be courted.
Away from the inside, centre or other point of reference.
“For six hours the tide flows out, then for six hours it flows in.”
Away from home or one's usual place.
“Let's eat out tonight”
Outside; not indoors.
“Last night we slept out under the stars.”
Away from; at a distance.
“Keep out!”
Into a state of non-operation; into non-existence.
“I painted out that nasty mark on the wall.”
To the end; completely.
“I haven't finished. Hear me out.”
Used to intensify or emphasize.
“The place was all decked out for the holidays.”
(of the sun, moon, stars, etc.) So as to be visible in the sky, and not covered by clouds, fog, etc.
“The sun came out after the rain, and we saw a rainbow.”
Of a player, so as to be disqualified from playing further by some action of a member of the opposing team (such as being stumped in cricket).
“Wilson was bowled out for five runs.”
From from the inside to the outside of; out of.
(procedure word) A radio procedure word meaning that the station is finished with its transmission and does not expect a response.
“Destruction. Two T-72s destroyed. Three foot mobiles down. Out.”
Get out; begone; away!
Understanding "out"
The word **"out"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **/æɔt/**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"out"** in our dictionary below.
The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "out" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "out" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.
For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "out" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as /æɔt/. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "out" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.
When deciding how to use "out" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "out" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.
Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "out". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (/æɔt/), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "out" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.
Dictionary Helper
How do I use out in a sentence?
Refer to the usage examples above to see how "out" can be used in academic and casual conversations.