1
a(1)
: in a direction away from the inside or center
went out into the garden
(2)
: outside
it's raining out
b
: from among others
c
: away from the shore
d
: away from home or work
out to lunch
e
: away from a particular place
2
a
: so as to be missing or displaced from the usual or proper place
left a word out
threw his shoulder out
b
: into the possession or control of another
lend out money
c
: into a state of loss or defeat
was voted out
d
: into a state of vexation
they do not mark me, and that brings me out—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
e
: into groups or shares
sorted out her notes
parceled out the farm
3
a
: to the point of depletion, extinction, or exhaustion
the food ran out
turn the light out
all tuckered out
b
: to completion or satisfaction
hear me out
work the problem out
c
: to the full or a great extent or degree
all decked out
stretched out on the floor
4
a
: in or into the open
the sun came out
b
: out loud
cried out
c
: in or into public circulation
the evening paper isn't out yet
hand out pamphlets
the library book is still out
5
a
: at an end
before the day is out
b
: in or into an insensible or unconscious state
she was out cold
c
: in or into a useless state
landed the plane with one engine out
d
: so as to end the offensive turn of another player, a side, or oneself in baseball
threw him out
fly out
6
—used on a two-way radio circuit to indicate that a message is complete and no reply is expected
outed; outing; outs
1
transitive
: to identify (someone) publicly as being such secretly
Ever feel as if your achievements are a fluke or that you're one conversation away from being outed as a fraud?—Gillian Fox
Gillian FoxFoster … was the man who outed the journalist Joe Klein as the author of the novel "Primary Colors."—Walter Kirn
Walter Kirn
especially
: to reveal the covert sexual orientation or gender identity of (someone)
outed her to her coworkers
In our case, a cross-section of writers and editors—male and female, gay and straight—agreed that it would be inappropriate to "out" this Pentagon official. —Richard Goldstein
Richard Goldstein 2
intransitive
: to become publicly known
the truth will out
Murder will out.
3
transitive
: to put out : to eject (someone) from a place, office, or possession : expel
During the suppression, we privately kept outed vicars as chaplains and attended secret Anglican services …—Rose Macaulay
Rose Macaulay
—used as a function word to indicate an outward movement
ran out the door
looked out the window
1
a
: situated outside : external
b
2
: situated at a distance : outlying
the out islands
3
: not being in power
4
: absent
5
: removed by the defense from play as a batter or base runner in a baseball inning
two men out
6
: directed outward or serving to direct something outward
the out basket
7
: not being in vogue or fashion
8
: not to be considered : out of the question
9
: determined sense 1
was out to get revenge
10
: engaged in or attempting a particular activity
won on his first time out
11
: having one's LGBTQ sexual orientation or gender identity publicly known
an out trans person
wasn't out during college
1
: outside
2
: one who is out of office or power or on the outside
a matter of outs versus ins
3
a
: an act or instance of putting a player out or of being put out in baseball
b
: a player that is put out
4
: a way of escaping from an embarrassing or difficult situation
: in a manner that exceeds or surpasses and sometimes overpowers or defeats
outmaneuver
Synonyms
Adverb
Verb
Adjective
- bent (on or upon)
- bound
- decisive
- determined
- do-or-die
- firm
- hell-bent (on or upon)
- intent
- purposeful
- resolute
- resolved
- set
- single-minded
Noun
Examples of out in a Sentence
Adverb
He went out to the garden.
He looked out at the snow.
She poured the tea out.
The girl stuck her tongue out.
His shirttail was hanging out.
I heard a noise in the bushes and out jumped a cat!
He waited out in the hall.
I cleaned my car inside and out.
A car pulled up and two men got out.
He grabbed his coat and out he went.
Verb
a gay actor who was outed in a magazine article
He is threatening to out other players who have used steroids.
Adjective
he's out to get even with the guy who beat him last time around
half the staff is out with the flu
Noun
The play resulted in an out.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, he hit a home run to win the game.
He changed the wording of the contract to give himself an out.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Sam is putting herself out there in such a huge way for her.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Sean Piccoli, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2024
While Taylor looks stressed, the conversation is interrupted by Jennifer's return from being missing in action after her fight with Zac about the women's Chippendale outing the night before.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Stat padding: The Buffs have occasionally gotten greedy airing it out late in games this season when milking the clock should be a priority.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Joe Kottke, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $177,581.
—Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
David Ingram, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
The final six outs were stressful, with Blake Treinen taking care of the eighth, and — in another unthinkable turn — starting pitcher Walker Buehler emerging for the save in the ninth.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for out 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
Of course, everybody’s out there trying their hardest to play hard to win and make the play to win the game.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Sam is putting herself out there in such a huge way for her.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
Eddie and Venom are fugitives on the run, outed from the big finale fight in Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
—Sean Piccoli, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2024
While Taylor looks stressed, the conversation is interrupted by Jennifer's return from being missing in action after her fight with Zac about the women's Chippendale outing the night before.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024
Preposition
Not necessarily as the guy who’s getting the ball, but boxing out, being in the right spot.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Stat padding: The Buffs have occasionally gotten greedy airing it out late in games this season when milking the clock should be a priority.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Burns, an out lesbian, was the only LGBTQ district administrator as of February, according to court documents.
—Joe Kottke, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $177,581.
—Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
There has been intense speculation about the long-term viability of the relationship, given the ambitions and personalities of the two men, with many people on social media predicting an eventual falling-out.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
The final six outs were stressful, with Blake Treinen taking care of the eighth, and — in another unthinkable turn — starting pitcher Walker Buehler emerging for the save in the ninth.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for out
Dictionary Entries Near out
Cite this Entry
“Out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/out. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
out
1 of 6 adverb1
a
: in a direction away from the inside, center, or surface
look out of a window
b
: outdoors entry 1
it's raining out
c
2
: from among others
picked out a hat
3
: away from home, business, or the usual or proper place
out to lunch
left a word out
4
: into a state of loss or defeat
was voted out of office
5
: into the possession or control of another
lent out money
6
: into groups or shares
sorted out her notes
7
a
: so as to be exhausted, completed, or discontinued
the food ran out
the light burned out
b
: at an end
before the week is out
8
a
: in or into the open
the sun came out
b
: aloud
cried out
9
a
: to completion or satisfaction
work the problem out
b
: to the full or a great extent or degree
stretched out on the floor
all decked out
10
: so as to put out or be put out in baseball
the catcher threw the runner out
grounded out to shortstop
out
2 of 6 verb
: to become known
the truth will out
out
3 of 6 preposition(ˌ)au̇t
—used to indicate an outward movement
ran out the door
looked out the window
out
4 of 6 adjectiveˈau̇t
1
a
: located outside or at a distance
the out islands
b
2
: not being in power
the out party
3
: not allowed to continue batting, to occupy a base, or to score in baseball
the runner was out
4
: directed outward or directing something outward
put the letter in the out basket
5
: absent entry 1 sense 1, missing
a basket with its bottom out
6
: no longer in fashion
that style of pants is definitely out
7
: not to be considered
that choice was out as far as we were concerned
8
: determined sense 1
was out to get revenge
9
: engaged in or attempting a particular activity
won on his first time out
out
5 of 6 nounˈau̇t
1
: one who is out of power
2
a
: the putting out of a batter or base runner in baseball
b
: a player who has been put out
3
: a way of escaping from an embarrassing situation or a difficulty
out-
6 of 6 prefix
: in a manner that goes beyond
outmaneuver
Etymology
Prefix
derived from out (adverb)
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