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the outer , surface, or part; exterior:
The outside of the house needs painting.
the external aspect or appearance.
the space without or beyond an enclosure, institution, boundary, etc.:
a prisoner about to resume life on the outside.
a position away or farther away from the inside or center:
The horse on the outside finished second.
an outside passenger or place on a coach or other vehicle.
Northern Canada and Alaska. (sometimes initial capital letter) the settled or more populous part of Canada or the U.S.
being, acting, done, or originating beyond an enclosure, boundary, etc.:
outside noises; news from the outside world.
situated on or pertaining to the outside; exterior; external:
an outside television antenna.
situated away from the inside or center; farther or farthest away from the inside or center:
the outside lane.
not belonging to or connected with a specified institution, society, etc.:
outside influences; outside help.
extremely unlikely or remote:
an outside chance for recovery.
extreme or maximum:
an outside estimate.
being in addition to one’s regular work or duties:
an outside job.
working on or assigned to the outside, as of a place or organization:
an outside man to care for the grounds.
Baseball. (of a pitched ball) passing, but not going over, home plate on the opposite the batter:
The fastball was high and outside.
on or to the outside, exterior, or space without:
Take the dog outside.
in or to an area that is removed from or beyond a given place or region:
The country’s inhabitants seldom travel outside.
on or toward the outside of:
There was a noise outside the door.
beyond the confines or borders of:
visitors from outside the country.
with the exception of; aside from:
She has no interests outside her work.
at the outside, at the utmost limit; at the maximum:
There weren’t more than ten at the outside.
outside of, other than; exclusive of; excepting:
Outside of us, no one else came to the party.
Contemporary Examples

They offer some of the freshest Italian outside of the boot.
The Easygoing Flair of San Francisco Jolie Hunt April 9, 2010

Crowder is wary of journalists from outside the conservative world.
The Unmaking of a Conservative Pundit Caitlin Dickson November 2, 2013

outside, Matt Schultz supporters in Boy Scout uniforms made pancakes and handed out cups of Tang.
The Bizarro World Of Iowa’s GOP Convention Ben Jacobs June 22, 2014

Unable to punish Truman from inside the party, pro-segregation Democrats determined to punish him from outside.
David’s Bookclub: Strom Thurmond’s America David Frum April 15, 2013

It feels really retro, to have a piece of paper with no computer windows open and no electronic umbilical to the outside world.
Karen Russell: How I Write Noah Charney February 5, 2013

Historical Examples

“But it’s true all the same,” he went on when they got outside, almost as if he had not broken his speech.
Changing Winds St. John G. Ervine

That it is one tree seems to be evident from the growth of the bark only on the outside.
The Grand Old Man Richard B. Cook

There was nothing but tobacco and pipe in the outside pockets of his coat.
The Night Riders Ridgwell Cullum

Then, as in Fig. 9, cut the core loose from the outside skin.
Woman’s Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5 Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

“Uh-huh,” says I, pokin’ in some frostin’ that had lodged on the outside.
Torchy Sewell Ford

preposition (ˌaʊtˈsaɪd)
(sometimes foll by of) on or to the exterior of: outside the house
beyond the limits of: outside human comprehension
apart from; other than: no-one knows outside you and me
adjective (ˈaʊtˌsaɪd)
(prenominal) situated on the exterior: an outside lavatory
remote; unlikely: an outside chance
not a member of
the greatest possible or probable (prices, odds, etc)
(of a road lane, esp in a dual carriageway or motorway) situated nearer or nearest to the central reservation, for use by faster or overtaking vehicles
adverb (ˌaʊtˈsaɪd)
outside a specified thing or place; out of doors
(slang) not in prison
noun (ˈaʊtˈsaɪd)
the external side or surface: the outside of the garage
the external appearance or aspect
the exterior or outer part of something
(of a path, pavement, etc) the side nearest the road or away from a wall or building
(sport) an outside player, as in football
(pl) the outer sheets of a ream of paper
(Canadian) (in the north) the settled parts of Canada
(informal) at the outside, at the most or at the greatest extent: two days at the outside
outside in, another term for inside out See inside (sense 5)
n.

c.1500, “outer side,” from out + side (n.). The adjective is attested from 1630s; the preposition from 1826; the adverb from 1813. Phrase outside of “with exception of” is from 1859.

Related Terms

get outside of
In addition to the idiom beginning with outside also see: at most (the outside)