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away from, or not in, the normal or usual place, position, state, etc.:
out of alphabetical order; to go out to dinner.
away from one’s home, country, work, etc., as specified:
to go out of town.
in or into the outdoors:
to go out for a walk.
to a state of exhaustion, extinction, or depletion:
to pump a well out.
to the end or conclusion; to a final decision or resolution:
to say it all out.
to a point or state of extinction, nonexistence, etc.:
to blow out the candle; a practice on the way out.
in or into a state of neglect, disuse, etc.; not in current vogue or fashion:
That style has gone out.
so as not to be in the normal or proper position or state; out of joint:
His back went out after his fall.
in or into public notice or knowledge:
The truth is out at last.
seeking openly and energetically to do or have:
to be out for a good time.
not in present possession or use, as on loan:
The librarian said that the book was still out.
on strike:
The miners go out at midnight.
so as to project or extend:
to stretch out; stick your tongue out.
in or into activity, existence, or outward manifestation:
A rash came out on her arm.
from a specified source or material:
made out of scraps.
from a state of composure, satisfaction, or harmony:
to be put out over trifles.
in or into a state of confusion, vexation, dispute, variance, or unfriendliness:
to fall out about trifles.
so as to deprive or be deprived:
to be cheated out of one’s money.
so as to use the last part of:
to run out of gas.
from a number, stock, or store:
to point out the errors.
aloud or loudly:
to cry out.
with completeness or effectiveness:
to fill out.
thoroughly; completely; entirely:
The children tired me out.
so as to obliterate or make undecipherable:
to cross out a misspelling; to ink out.
not at one’s home or place of employment; absent:
I stopped by to visit you last night, but you were out.
not open to consideration; out of the question:
I wanted to go by plane, but all the flights are booked, so that’s out.
wanting; lacking; without:
We had some but now we’re out.
removed from or not in effective operation, play, a turn at bat, or the like, as in a game:
He’s out for the season because of an injury.
no longer having or holding a job, public office, etc.; unemployed; disengaged (usually followed by of):
to be out of work.
inoperative; extinguished:
The elevator is out. Are the lights out?
finished; ended:
before the week is out.
not currently stylish, fashionable, or in vogue:
Fitted waistlines are out this season.
unconscious; senseless:
Two drinks and he’s usually out.
not in power, authority, or the like:
a member of the out party.
Baseball.

(of a batter) not succeeding in getting on base:
He was out at first on an attempted bunt.
(of a base runner) not successful in an attempt to advance a base or bases:
He was out in attempting to steal second base.

beyond fixed or regular limits; out of bounds:
The ball was out.
having a pecuniary loss or expense to an indicated extent:
The company will be out millions of dollars if the new factory doesn’t open on schedule.
incorrect or inaccurate:
His calculations are out.
not in practice; unskillful from lack of practice:
Your bow hand is out.
beyond the usual range, size, weight, etc. (often used in combination):
an outsize bed.
exposed; made bare, as by holes in one’s clothing:
out at the knees.
at variance; at odds; unfriendly:
They are out with each other.
moving or directed outward; outgoing:
the out train.
not available, plentiful, etc.:
Mums are out till next fall.
external; exterior; outer.
located at a distance; outlying:
We sailed to six of the out islands.
Cricket. not having its innings:
the out side.
of or relating to the playing of the first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course (opposed to in):
His out score on the second round was 33.
(used to indicate movement or direction from the inside to the outside of something):
He looked out the window. She ran out the door.
(used to indicate location):
The car is parked out back.
(used to indicate movement away from a central point):
Let’s drive out the old parkway.
begone! away!
(used in radio communications to signify that the sender has finished the message and is not expecting or prepared to receive a reply.)
Compare over (def 52).
Archaic. (an exclamation of abhorrence, indignation, reproach, or grief (usually followed by upon):
Out upon you!
a means of escape or excuse, as from a place, punishment, retribution, responsibility, etc.:
He always left himself an out.
a person who lacks status, power, or authority, especially in relation to a particular group or situation.
Usually, outs. persons not in office or political power (distinguished from in).
Baseball. a put-out.
(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) a return or service that does not land within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of a court (opposed to in).
something that is out, as a projecting corner.
Printing.

the omission of a word or words.
the word or words omitted.

Northern British Dialect. an outing.
to go or come out.
to become public, evident, known, etc.:
The truth will out.
to make known; tell; utter (followed by with):
Out with the truth!
to eject or expel; discharge; oust.
to intentionally expose (a secret homosexual, a spy, etc.).
all out, with maximum effort; thoroughly or wholeheartedly:
They went all out to finish by Friday.
be on the / at outs with, Informal. to be estranged from (another person); be unfriendly or on bad terms with:
He is on the outs with his brother.
out and away, to a surpassing extent; far and away; by far:
It was out and away the best apple pie she had ever eaten.
out for, aggressively determined to acquire, achieve, etc.:
He’s out for all the money he can get.
out from under, out of a difficult situation, especially of debts or other obligations:
The work piled up while I was away and I don’t know how I’ll ever get out from under.
out of,

not within:
out of the house.
beyond the reach of:
The boat’s passengers had sailed out of hearing.
not in a condition of:
out of danger.
so as to deprive or be deprived of.
from within or among:
Take the jokers out of the pack.
because of; owing to:
out of loyalty.
foaled by (a dam):
Grey Dancer out of Lady Grey.

out of it, Informal.

not part of or acceptable within an activity, social group, or fashion:
She felt out of it because none of her friends were at the party.
not conscious; drunk or heavily drugged.
not alert or clearheaded; confused; muddled.
eliminated from contention:
If our team loses two more games, we’ll be out of it.

out of sight. sight (def 25).
out of trim, Nautical. (of a ship) drawing excessively at the bow or stern.
adverb
(often used as a particle) at or to a point beyond the limits of some location; outside: get out at once
(particle) out of consciousness: she passed out at the sight of blood
(particle) used to indicate a burst of activity as indicated by the verb: fever broke out
(particle) used to indicate obliteration of an object: the graffiti were painted out
(particle) used to indicate an approximate drawing or description: sketch out, chalk out
public; revealed: the secret is out
(often used as a particle) away from one’s custody or ownership, esp on hire: to let out a cottage
on sale or on view to the public: the book is being brought out next May
(of a young woman) in or into polite society: Lucinda had a fabulous party when she came out
(of the sun, stars, etc) visible
(of a jury) withdrawn to consider a verdict in private
(particle) used to indicate exhaustion or extinction: the sugar’s run out, put the light out
(particle) used to indicate a goal or object achieved at the end of the action specified by the verb: he worked it out, let’s fight it out, then!
(preceded by a superlative) existing: the friendliest dog out
an expression in signalling, radio, etc, to indicate the end of a transmission
(Austral & NZ, archaic) in or to Australia or New Zealand: he came out last year
out of

at or to a point outside: out of his reach
away from; not in: stepping out of line, out of focus
because of, motivated by: doing it out of jealousy
from (a material or source): made out of plastic
not or no longer having any of (a substance, material, etc): we’re out of sugar

adjective (postpositive)
not or not any longer worth considering: that plan is out because of the weather
not allowed: smoking on duty is out
(also prenominal) not in vogue; unfashionable: that sort of dress is out these days
(of a fire or light) no longer burning or providing illumination: the fire is out
not working: the radio’s out
unconscious: he was out for two minutes
(Austral & NZ, informal) out to it, asleep or unconscious, esp because drunk
not in; not at home: call back later, they’re out now
desirous of or intent on (something or doing something): I’m out for as much money as I can get
Also out on strike. on strike: the machine shop is out
(in several games and sports) denoting the state in which a player is caused to discontinue active participation, esp in some specified role
used up; exhausted: our supplies are completely out
worn into holes: this sweater is out at the elbows
inaccurate, deficient, or discrepant: out by six pence
not in office or authority: his party will be out at the election
completed or concluded, as of time: before the year is out
in flower: the roses are out now
in arms, esp, in rebellion: one of his ancestors was out in the Forty-Five
(also prenominal) being out: the out position on the dial
(informal) not concealing one’s homosexuality
preposition
out of; out through: he ran out the door
(archaic or dialect) outside; beyond: he comes from out our domain
interjection

an exclamation, usually peremptory, of dismissal, reproach, etc
(in wireless telegraphy) an expression used to signal that the speaker is signing off

out with it, a command to make something known immediately, without missing any details
noun
(mainly US) a method of escape from a place, difficult situation, punishment, etc
(baseball) an instance of the putting out of a batter; putout
(printing)

the omission of words from a printed text; lacuna
the words so omitted

ins and outs, See in1 (sense 30)
verb
(transitive) to put or throw out
(intransitive) to be made known or effective despite efforts to the contrary (esp in the phrase will out): the truth will out
(transitive) (informal) (of homosexuals) to expose (a public figure) as being a fellow homosexual
(transitive) (informal) to expose something secret, embarrassing, or unknown about (a person): he was eventually outed as a talented goal scorer
adv.

Old English ut “out, without, outside,” common Germanic (cf. Old Norse, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic ut, Middle Dutch uut, Dutch uit, Old High German uz, German aus), from PIE root *ud- “up, out, up away” (cf. Sanskrit ut “up, out,” uttarah “higher, upper, later, northern;” Avestan uz- “up, out,” Old Irish ud- “out,” Latin usque “all the way to, without interruption,” Greek hysteros “the latter,” Russian vy- “out”). Meaning “into public notice” is from 1540s. As an adjective from c.1200. Meaning “unconscious” is attested from 1898, originally in boxing. Sense of “not popular or modern” is from 1966. As a preposition from mid-13c.

Sense in baseball (1860) was earlier in cricket (1746). Adverbial phrase out-and-out “thoroughly” is attested from early 14c.; adjective usage is attested from 1813; out-of-the-way (adj.) “remote, secluded” is attested from late 15c. Out-of-towner “one not from a certain place” is from 1911. Shakespeare’s It out-herods Herod (“Hamlet”) reflects Herod as stock braggart and bully in old religious drama and was widely imitated 19c. Out to lunch “insane” is student slang from 1955; out of this world “excellent” is from 1938; out of sight “excellent, superior” is from 1891.
v.

Old English utian “expel, put out” (see out (adv.)); used in many senses over the years. Meaning “to expose as a closet homosexual” is first recorded 1990 (as an adjective meaning “openly avowing one’s homosexuality” it dates from 1970s; see closet); sense of “disclose to public view, reveal, make known” has been present since mid-14c.

Eufrosyne preyde Þat god schulde not outen hire to nowiht. [Legendary of St. Euphrosyne, c.1350]

Related: Outed; outing.

n.

1620s, “a being out” (of something), from out (adv.). From 1860 in baseball sense; from 1919 as “means of escape; alibi.”

adjective

Attractive; au courant; hip, way out: Man, that Modigliani is really out (1942+ Beat & cool talk)
Not modern, popular, or in accord with current taste: Those neckties are out this year (1966+)
Openly avowing homosexuality; out of the closet (1970s+ Homosexuals)
also out cold) Unconscious or intoxicated: The folks who use it are usually too luded out or preoccupied (1936+)
Rejected; not to be considered •Said to be fr the editing or cutting room in a movie studio: Ask him again? No, that’s out (1923+)

adverb

To the point of surfeit or exhaustion: I’m coffeed out for the time being/ I don’t want them to think I’m losered out (1990s+)

noun

A way of escape; a plausible alibi or evasive course; let out: You have an out, though. You can talk (1919+)

verb

: Some gay activists have undertaken a campaign of outing, exposing well-known people who are believed to be gay (late 1980s+)

Related Terms

all get out, far out, get out, way out

out and about
out and away
out at the elbows
out back
out cold
out for the count
out for, be
out from under
out front
out in left field
out in the cold
out in the open
out like a light
out loud
out of a clear blue sky
out of bounds
out of breath
out of business
out of character
out of circulation
out of commission
out of condition
out of control
out of date
out of fashion
out of favor
out of gas
out of hand
out of harm’s way
out of humor
out of it
out of joint
out of keeping
out of key
out of kilter
out of line
out of luck
out of nowhere
out of one’s
out of one’s depth
out of one’s element
out of one’s hair
out of one’s mind
out of one’s shell
out of one’s system
out of one’s way
out of order
out of phase
out of place
out of pocket
out of practice
out of print
out of proportion
out of reach
out of season
out of shape
out of sight
out of sorts
out of square
out of step
out of stock
out of the blue
out of the corner of one’s eye
out of the frying pan into the fire
out of the hole
out of the loop
out of the mouths of babes
out of the ordinary
out of the picture
out of the question
out of the rain
out of the running
out of the way
out of the window
out of the woods
out of the woodwork
out of thin air
out of this world
out of touch
out of town
out of turn
out of wedlock
out of whack
out of whole cloth
out of work
out of, be
out on a limb
out on bail
out on one’s ear
out on the town
out to lunch
out with it