What does "out" mean?
A means of exit, escape, reprieve, etc.
Out
/aʊt/ adj, adv, intj, noun, prep, verb, slang
adj, adv, intj, noun, prep, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A means of exit, escape, reprieve, etc.
- Grammar: out is listed as adj, adv, intj, noun, prep, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ab-, abandoned, aberrant, abjured.
- Useful contrasts: closeted, in the closet, not out.
- Usage evidence: Excuse me; allow me to point out three errors in the above article.
How to use "out"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "out" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "out" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "out" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "out" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "out" is acting as adj, adv, intj, noun, prep, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ab-" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "out", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A means of exit, escape, reprieve, etc.
"They wrote the law to give those organizations an out."
- 2 (baseball) a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball wordnet
- 3 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.
"The first time I saw Amity we were in front of her house playing work-up, a baseball variation where you move from position to position by outs until you get to bat."
- 4 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.
- 5 A card which can make a hand a winner.
"As a beginner, when you are in a hand, you should practice counting your outs, or those live cards left in the deck that can improve your hand."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A trip out; an outing. dated
"Us London lawyers don't often get an out; and when we do, we like to make the most of it, you know."
- 7 One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office. in-plural
"This memoir has nothing to do with the question between the ins and the outs; it is intended neither to support nor to assail the administration; it is general in its views upon a general and national subject; […]"
- 8 A place or space outside of something; a nook or corner; an angle projecting outward; an open space.
- 9 A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission. dated
- 10 An outtake. colloquial
"It's an interesting film. I've always felt that he made it out of our outs [outtakes]: which was like he was trying to prove something."
- 11 A dram glass. obsolete
"[…] one gentleman called to the waiter, 'Bring me a quartern of gin and two outs (glasses), for me and this chap to drink Mullens' health.'"
Verb
- 1 To eject; to expel. transitive
"a king outed of his country"
- 2 be made known; be disclosed or revealed wordnet
- 3 To come or go out; to get out or away; to become public, revealed, or apparent. intransitive
"Truth will out."
- 4 reveal (something) about somebody's identity or lifestyle wordnet
- 5 To reveal (a person or organization) as having a certain secret, such as a being a secret agent or undercover detective. transitive
"2009 March 16, Maurna Desmond, "AIG Outs Counterparties" (online news article), Forbes.com."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality wordnet
- 7 To reveal (a secret). transitive
"A Brazilian company outed the new mobile phone design."
- 8 To reveal (a person) as LGBTQ+ (gay, trans, etc). transitive
"She throws her head back and lets out a warm laugh before she continues, “After that I thought, What am I so worried about? So I began to tell more people, and the more I outed myself, the easier it got.”"
- 9 To kill; to snuff out.
""In my own case, I was beaten about the head by their wings, so we have had a remarkable exhibition of their various methods of offence." "It has been touch and go for our lives," said Lord John, gravely, "and I could not think of a more rotten sort of death than to be outed by such filthy vermin.""
Adjective
- 1 Not inside or within a place, especially a place that someone or something was formerly inside or is customarily inside not-comparable
"I worked away cleaning the U-bend until all the gunge was out."
- 2 Not inside or within a place, especially a place that someone or something was formerly inside or is customarily inside:; Not at home, or not at one's office or place of employment. not-comparable
"I'm sorry, Mr Smith is out at the moment."
- 3 Not inside or within a place, especially a place that someone or something was formerly inside or is customarily inside:; Not in jail, prison, or captivity; freed from confinement. not-comparable
"Sentenced to five years, he could be out in three with good behavior."
- 4 Not inside or within a place, especially a place that someone or something was formerly inside or is customarily inside:; Not fitted or inserted into something. not-comparable
"The TV won't work with the plug out!"
- 5 Not inside or within a place, especially a place that someone or something was formerly inside or is customarily inside:; Falling or passing or being situated beyond the bounds of the playing area. not-comparable
"I thought the ball hit the line, but the umpire said it was out."
Show 19 more definitions
- 6 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; Dismissed from play under the rules of the game. not-comparable
"He bowls, Johnson pokes at it ... and ... Johnson is out! Caught behind by Ponsonby!"
- 7 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; Discarded; no longer a possibility. not-comparable, usually
"Right, so that idea's out. Let's move on to the next one."
- 8 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; No longer acceptable or permissible. not-comparable
"I've got diabetes, so cookies are right out."
- 9 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; Not available; out of service. not-comparable
"Power is out in the entire city."
- 10 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; Not having availability of a service, such as power or communications. not-comparable
"Most of the city got service back yesterday, but my neighborhood is still out."
- 11 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; Not shining or burning. not-comparable
"I called round to the house but all the lights were out and no one was home."
- 12 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; Temporarily not in operation, or not being attended as usual. not-comparable, usually
"School is out tomorrow due to snow. When college is out for the summer, I'll head back to my home state."
- 13 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; Unconscious. not-comparable
"I had a whack on the head and was out for a few seconds."
- 14 Not (or no longer) acceptable or in consideration, play, availability, or operation:; No longer popular or in fashion. not-comparable
"Black is out this season. The new black is white."
- 15 Open or public (about something).; Openly acknowledging that one is LGBT+ (gay, trans, etc). not-comparable
"It's no big deal to be out in the entertainment business."
- 16 Open or public (about something).; Open, public; public about or openly acknowledging some (usually specified) identity. broadly, not-comparable, uncommon
"She was “out” as a survivor for the first time in her life. “I had friends who had known me many, many years who are totally astounded, shocked,” she said. “They could not believe that I was a Holocaust survivor. […]”"
- 17 Freed from secrecy. not-comparable
"My secret is out."
- 18 Available to be seen, or to be interacted with in some way:; Released, available for purchase, download or other use. not-comparable
"Did you hear? Their newest CD is out!"
- 19 Available to be seen, or to be interacted with in some way:; In bloom. not-comparable
"The garden looks beautiful now that the roses are out."
- 20 Available to be seen, or to be interacted with in some way:; Visible in the sky; not obscured by clouds. not-comparable
"The sun is out, and it's a lovely day."
- 21 Available to be seen, or to be interacted with in some way:; Of a young lady: having entered society and available to be courted. not-comparable, obsolete
""Pray, is she out, or is she not?—I am puzzled.—She dined at the Parsonage, with the rest of you, which seemed like being out; and yet she says so little, that I can hardly suppose she is.""
- 22 At or near its lowest level. not-comparable
"You can walk to the island when the tide's out."
- 23 Without; no longer in possession of; not having any more. not-comparable
"Do you have any bread? Sorry, we're out."
- 24 Containing errors or discrepancies, or in error by a stated amount. Australia, not-comparable
"Nothing adds up in this report. All these figures are out."
Adjective
- 1 being out or having grown cold wordnet
- 2 knocked unconscious by a heavy blow wordnet
- 3 outer or outlying wordnet
- 4 outside or external wordnet
- 5 no longer fashionable wordnet
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 directed outward or serving to direct something outward wordnet
- 7 excluded from use or mention wordnet
- 8 not worth considering as a possibility wordnet
- 9 not allowed to continue to bat or run wordnet
- 10 out of power; especially having been unsuccessful in an election wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Away from the inside or centre. not-comparable
"The magician tapped the hat, and a rabbit jumped out."
- 2 Away from, or at a distance from, some point of reference or focus. not-comparable
"Once they had landed, the commandos quickly spread out along the beach."
- 3 Away from, or at a distance from, some point of reference or focus.; Specifically, away from home or one's usual place. not-comparable
"Let’s eat out tonight"
- 4 Away from, or at a distance from, some point of reference or focus.; Away from the doer, especially vigorously. not-comparable
"hit out, lash out, speak out, shout out, yell out"
- 5 Away, or at a distance, in time (relative to, and usually after, the present or a stated event) (often preceded by a stated time period and followed by "from") informal, not-comparable
"Five years out from the passing of the law, nothing had actually changed."
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 Outside; not indoors. not-comparable
"Last night we slept out under the stars."
- 7 Of the ball or other playing implement, so as to pass or be situated beyond the bounds of the playing area. not-comparable
"The football caught the edge of the line but then bounced out."
- 8 Into a state of non-operation or non-existence. not-comparable
"Turn the lights out."
- 9 To the end; completely; so that nothing remains. not-comparable
"I haven’t finished. Hear me out."
- 10 To the end; completely; so that nothing remains.; Shows that an activity has been completed to the point of exhaustion. not-comparable
"After hours at the party, she was all danced out."
- 11 Used to intensify or emphasize. not-comparable
"The place was all decked out for the holidays."
- 12 Into a state of existence or visibility. not-comparable
"The singer is bringing out a new album next month."
- 13 Into a state of existence or visibility.; So as to be visible in the sky, and not covered by clouds, fog, etc. not-comparable, usually
"The sun came out after the rain, and we saw a rainbow."
- 14 So as to be disqualified from playing further by some action of a member of the opposing team (such as being stumped in cricket or a forced out in baseball). not-comparable
"Wilson was bowled out for five runs."
Adverb
- 1 away from home wordnet
- 2 from one's possession wordnet
- 3 moving or appearing to move away from a place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden wordnet
Preposition
- 1 From the inside to the outside of; out of. informal, proscribed, sometimes
"throw it out the window; get it out your mind"
Intj
- 1 A radio procedure word meaning that the station is finished with its transmission and does not expect a response. especially
"Destruction. Two T-72s destroyed. Three foot mobiles down. Out."
- 2 A radio procedure word meaning that the station is finished with its transmission and does not expect a response.; Used as a brusque or dramatic farewell especially, humorous, slang
"Welp, I got nothing else to say. Mikey out."
- 3 Get out; begone; away!
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!"
Example
"Excuse me; allow me to point out three errors in the above article."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "out"?
Common synonyms include: ab-, abandoned, aberrant, abjured, abroad, absent.
How do you use "out" in a sentence?
Excuse me; allow me to point out three errors in the above article.
How do you pronounce "out"?
Pronounced /aʊt/.
Etymology
From Middle English out, oute, from a combination of Old English ūt (“out”, preposition & adverb), from Proto-West Germanic *ūt, from Proto-Germanic *ūt (“out”); and Old English ūte (“outside; without”, adverb), from Proto-Germanic *ūtai (“out; outside”); both from Proto-Indo-European *úd (“upwards, away”). Cognates Cognate with Scots oot (“out”), Yola out, outh, udh, ut, uth (“out”), North Frisian üt, ütj (“out”), Saterland Frisian uut (“out of”), West Frisian út (“out”), Cimbrian aus, auz (“out, outwards”), Dutch uit (“out”), German, Luxembourgish aus (“out”), Yiddish אויס (oys, “over, finished”), Danish ud (“out; outside”), Icelandic út (“out”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish ut (“out”), Gothic 𐌿𐍄 (ut, “out of”).