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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | ut |
Related topics:
1 from inside an object, container, building, or place [≠ in]: 
She opened her suitcase and took out a pair of shoes.Lock the door on your way out. Charlotte went to the window and looked out. Out you go! (=used to order someone to leave a room)
from inside
She opened her suitcase and took out a pair of shoes.Lock the door on your way out.Charlotte went to the window and looked out.Out you go! (=used to order someone to leave a room) out of The keys must have fallen out of my pocket. Get out of here! Someone had torn several pages out of her diary. I don't think I'd have the courage to jump out of a plane. All the roads out of the city were snowbound.
The keys must have fallen out of my pocket.Get out of here!Someone had torn several pages out of her diary.I don't think I'd have the courage to jump out of a plane.All the roads out of the city were snowbound.2 not inside a building [= outside]: Many of the homeless have been sleeping out for years. Children were out playing in the snow. Brrr, it's cold out there.
outside
Many of the homeless have been sleeping out for years.Children were out playing in the snow.Brrr, it's cold out there.3
not at home
a) away from your home, office etc, especially for a short time [≠ in]: Did anyone call while I was out? My parents are both out at the moment. He went out at 11 o'clock.
Did anyone call while I was out?My parents are both out at the moment.He went out at 11 o'clock.b) to or in a place that is not your home, in order to enjoy yourself : You should get out and meet people. Let's eat out tonight (=eat in a restaurant). At first he was too shy to ask her out.
You should get out and meet people.Let's eat out tonight (=eat in a restaurant).At first he was too shy to ask her out. be/get out and about (=go to places where you can meet people) Most teenagers would rather be out and about with their friends.
Most teenagers would rather be out and about with their friends.4
distant place
a) in or to a place that is far away or difficult to get to : He went out to New Zealand.
He went out to New Zealand.b) used to say how far away something is : The Astra Satellite is travelling some 23,000 miles out in space.
The Astra Satellite is travelling some 23,000 miles out in space. out of a little village about five miles out of Birmingham
a little village about five miles out of Birmingham5XX used to say that something is given to many people : The examination will start when all the question papers have been handed out. Have you sent out the invitations yet?
given to many people
The examination will start when all the question papers have been handed out.Have you sent out the invitations yet?6 used to say that someone gets rid of something or makes it disappear : Have you thrown out yesterday's paper? Mother used washing soda to get the stains out.
get rid of something
Have you thrown out yesterday's paper?Mother used washing soda to get the stains out.7 a fire or light that is out is no longer burning or shining : Turn the lights out when you go to bed. The firefighters arrived, and within minutes the fire was out.
not burning/shining
Turn the lights out when you go to bed.The firefighters arrived, and within minutes the fire was out.8 if the sun, moon, or stars are out, they have appeared in the sky : When the sun came out, a rainbow formed in the sky.
sun/moon etc
When the sun came out, a rainbow formed in the sky.9 if the flowers on a plant are out, they have opened : It's still February and already the primroses are out.
flowers
It's still February and already the primroses are out.10 used to say that something is done carefully or completely : I spent all morning cleaning out the kitchen cupboards. In the summer months the soil dries out quickly.
completely/carefully
I spent all morning cleaning out the kitchen cupboards.In the summer months the soil dries out quickly.11 not included in a team, group, competition etc : The Welsh team was surprisingly knocked out in the semi finals.
not included
The Welsh team was surprisingly knocked out in the semi finals. out of Daniels will be out of the team until he recovers from his injury.
Daniels will be out of the team until he recovers from his injury.12 used to say where something comes from or is taken from
come from something
out of A lot of good music came out of the hippy culture in the 1960s. The money is automatically taken out of your bank account every month.
A lot of good music came out of the hippy culture in the 1960s.The money is automatically taken out of your bank account every month.13 away from the main part or edge of something : I swam out into the middle of the lake. A long peninsula juts out into the sea.
away from the edge of something
I swam out into the middle of the lake.A long peninsula juts out into the sea. out of She stuck her head out of the window to see what was happening.
She stuck her head out of the window to see what was happening.14 if a machine, piece of equipment etc is out, it is not working : I don't believe it - the elevator's out again!
not working
especially American EnglishI don't believe it - the elevator's out again!➔ be out of order
at order1 (8)15 used to say that a product is available to be bought : Is the new Harry Potter book out yet? Sony have brought out a new portable music system.
product
BBTIs the new Harry Potter book out yet?Sony have brought out a new portable music system.16XX no longer in a particular state or situation
not in a situation
out of She's not completely cured, but at least she's out of danger. This whole situation is getting out of control. How long have you been out of work now?
She's not completely cured, but at least she's out of danger.This whole situation is getting out of control.How long have you been out of work now?17
having left an institution
a) having left the institution where you were
out of a kid just out of college His wife isn't out of hospital yet.
a kid just out of collegeHis wife isn't out of hospital yet.b) no longer in prison : Once he was out, he returned to a life of crime.
Once he was out, he returned to a life of crime.18 no longer fashionable [≠ in]: You can't wear that - maxi skirts have been out for years.
not fashionable
DCYou can't wear that - maxi skirts have been out for years.19 no longer a secret : Her secret was out. The word's out that Mel Gibson is in town. Eventually the truth came out.
not secret
Her secret was out.The word's out that Mel Gibson is in town.Eventually the truth came out.20 to say something in a voice that is loud enough for others to hear : Someone called out my name. We all listened as he read the statement out loud.
read/shout etc something out (loud)
Someone called out my name.We all listened as he read the statement out loud.21 not conscious : She fainted - she was out for about ten minutes.
unconscious
She fainted - she was out for about ten minutes.22 used to say that there is none of something left because you have used it all, sold it all etc : The album was sold out within minutes.
none left
The album was sold out within minutes. out of We're out of milk. They've run out of ideas.
We're out of milk.They've run out of ideas.23 before the day, year etc has ended : Don't cry, I'll be back before the week's out.
before the day/year etc is out
Don't cry, I'll be back before the week's out.24 if a measurement, result etc is out, it is wrong because the numbers have not been calculated correctly : He was out in his calculations, so there was a lot of carpet left over. The bill was out by over £10.
not correct
He was out in his calculations, so there was a lot of carpet left over.The bill was out by over £10.➔ not far off/out/wrong
at far1 (2)25 to have a particular intention : Andrew's just out for a good time. I was convinced he was out to cheat me.
be out for something/be out to do something
informalAndrew's just out for a good time.I was convinced he was out to cheat me.26PG used to say that someone, especially a political party, no longer has power or authority [≠ in]: It's time we voted the Republicans out.
not in power
It's time we voted the Republicans out. out of The party has been out of office for a long time.
The party has been out of office for a long time.27 used to say that someone has stopped working as a way of protesting about something : The railway workers have come out in sympathy with the miners.
on strike
British EnglishBELThe railway workers have come out in sympathy with the miners.28 if a homosexual is out, they have told people that they are homosexual
homosexual
29 if a particular suggestion or activity is out, it is not possible : We don't have enough money to rent a car, so that's out.
not possible
spokenWe don't have enough money to rent a car, so that's out.30 when the tide is out, the sea by the shore is at its lowest level [≠ in]: You can walk across the sands when the tide is out.
sea
You can walk across the sands when the tide is out.31
sport
a) DS a player or team that is out in a game such as cricket or baseball is no longer allowed to bat : Sussex were all out for 365.
Sussex were all out for 365.b) DS a ball that is out in a game such as tennis or basketball is not in the area of play [≠ in]
32 used to tell someone to say something which they have been unwilling to say or have difficulty saying : OK, out with it! What really happened?
out with it!
spokenOK, out with it! What really happened?33 because of a particular feeling that you have
reason
out of They obeyed him out of fear rather than respect. Just out of curiosity, why did you take that job?
They obeyed him out of fear rather than respect.Just out of curiosity, why did you take that job?34 used to say what substance or materials a particular thing is made of
made of something
out of a tombstone carved out of black marble toy boats made out of old tin cans
a tombstone carved out of black marbletoy boats made out of old tin cans35XX used to say how common something is, or how large a part of a group you are talking about Apparently they've lost three games out of seven already.
how many of a group
Apparently they've lost three games out of seven already.36
out of it
informala) slightly unhappy because you feel different from the rest of a group of people and cannot share their fun, conversation etc : I felt a bit out of it because I was the only one who couldn't speak French.
I felt a bit out of it because I was the only one who couldn't speak French.b) unable to think clearly because you are tired or drunk, or have taken drugs : You were really out of it last night. What were you drinking?
You were really out of it last night. What were you drinking?37
out there
a) in a place that could be anywhere except here : My real father is out there and one day I plan to find him.
My real father is out there and one day I plan to find him.b) where someone or something can be noticed by many people : Jerry Lewis is out there all the time raising money for disabled kids.
Jerry Lewis is out there all the time raising money for disabled kids.38
out front
especially American Englisha) in front of something, especially a building, where everyone can see you : There's a blue car out front.
There's a blue car out front.b) taking a leading position : As a civil rights leader, he was always out front.
As a civil rights leader, he was always out front.c) informal very honest and direct : Molly is very out front in talking about her mistakes.
Molly is very out front in talking about her mistakes.➔ out of your mind
at mind1 (24); ➔ out of the blue
at blue2 (4); ➔ out of luck
at luck1 (10); ➔ out of this world
at world1 (15); ➔ be out of the question
at question1 (9); ➔ out front
at front1 (8); ➔ out back
at back2 (2); ➔ out of sorts
at sort1 (10)word choice
word choice 
out, outside, outdoors, out of doors If you are out, you are away from a building, especially the place where you live or spend a lot of time • Debbie's out. She'll be back later. • Why don't we go out for the day? If you are outside a room or building, you are not in it but are close to it • Meet me outside the library. • I sat on a chair outside his office. • You'll have to wait outside in the corridor. When outside is an adverb, it can also mean 'not inside any building' • It's cold outside.Outdoors or out of doors always mean 'not inside any building' • We usually spend summers outdoors. • I like weddings that are held out of doors.!! Do not confuse outdoors (with an -s) and outdoor (without an -s). Outdoors is an adverb • I like playing outdoors. Outdoor is an adjective that can only be used before a noun • outdoor activities such as fishing
